Truck Scrapping in Hong Kong: Prices and Quote Factors for 5.5- to 30-Tonne Lorries
Scrapping a truck is not simply "worth several times a private car". What really differs is the body equipment, towing difficulty, company paperwork, ex-gratia payment deadlines and managing several vehicles at once. This guide follows the order in which transport companies and owner-drivers actually meet each step.
Key takeaway: There is no fixed truck scrap price by tonnage. Quotes depend on permitted gross vehicle weight, body type, condition, special equipment and towing. Compare the net amount, deregister within 15 days of dismantling, and check the ex-gratia payment deadline for Euro IV diesel lorries.
Six things to confirm when scrapping a truck
- Vehicle class: the permitted gross vehicle weight and body type in the log book, not a casual tonnage.
- Quote conditions: condition, missing parts, equipment status and what still needs checking on site.
- Real amount: purchase price, towing and other fees, and the expected net payout.
- Special bodies: residual refrigerant, hydraulic oil and tank contents, and safe removal.
- Company paperwork: authorisation, certificate of incorporation, agent ID and who receives payment.
- Government steps: ex-gratia deadline, dismantling certificate, TD184 and 15-day deregistration.
This guide gives no fixed price table by tonnage and no "real deal" case studies, because trucks of the same tonnage can be quoted very differently.
"5.5 tonnes" and "30 tonnes" are slang: use the permitted gross vehicle weight
The Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Regulations define a medium goods vehicle as over 5.5 tonnes and up to 24 tonnes permitted gross vehicle weight, and a heavy goods vehicle as over 24 tonnes and up to 38 tonnes; 5.5 tonnes or below is a light goods vehicle.
| Class | Permitted gross weight | Common names | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light goods vehicle | Up to 5.5 t | 5.5-tonner, van | Simpler towing; modifications and missing parts still matter. |
| Medium goods vehicle | Over 5.5 t to 24 t | 10, 16, 20, 24-tonner | Many body types; describe tail lifts, refrigeration units and cranes separately. |
| Heavy goods vehicle | Over 24 t to 38 t | 30, 38-tonner, tractor unit | Confirm towing equipment, ground load and dismantling in advance. |
Quote using the log book: permitted gross weight, body type, first registration date, chassis number and class are far more accurate than "about ten-something tonnes". Tractor units and semi-trailers may be registered separately, so say whether you are scrapping the tractor, the trailer or both.
The difference is equipment, towing, paperwork and management, not a fixed multiple
Claims such as "trucks fetch 3 to 8 times more" and price tables by tonnage have no verifiable basis, so we don't repeat them. These are the real differences.
| Area | Private car | Truck over 5.5 t |
|---|---|---|
| What is assessed | Overall condition and main parts | Chassis, engine, gearbox and axles, plus the body and special equipment |
| Towing | A standard tow truck usually works | Equipment chosen by weight, length, steering and site |
| Residues | Normal fluids | Possibly refrigerant, hydraulic oil, cargo or tank residue, to be declared first |
| Documents | HKID, log book, TD184 | Certificate of incorporation, authorisation, agent ID and a list matching each vehicle |
| Government schemes | The One-for-One scheme for electric private cars ended on 31 March 2026 | The Euro IV diesel commercial vehicle ex-gratia payment still has deadlines |
| Handover | Usually one car, one visit | Possibly batches and sites, checked against a master list |
Heavy weight does not automatically mean a high price: dismantling, sorting, transport and handling cost more too, and serious chassis rust, missing major parts or damaged equipment all affect the assessment. Don't treat "weight × metal price" as a floor price. For private cars, see our professional car scrapping service guide.
What to send when asking for a truck quote
Vehicle identity
- Make, model, first registration year
- Permitted gross weight and class
- Body type (box, tipper, refrigerated, flatbed, crane, tanker)
- Emission standard (Euro IV, V, VI) if known
- Whether the chassis number is legible
Condition and equipment
- Starts, steers and moves? Air system working?
- Mileage and known faults
- Missing engine, gearbox, axles, battery or tyres
- Chassis rust and accident damage
- Equipment status and any residual materials
Location and handover
- Location, access, ground load and height limit
- Who releases the vehicle, and time limits
- Preferred date; batches or all at once
- Any cargo or company items still on board
Documents and ownership
- Individual or company owner
- Log book and licence complete?
- Any finance, claims, seizure or investigation
- Applying for ex-gratia payment or keeping the plate?
Send photos of the front, rear, both sides, underside, cab, odometer, engine bay, body equipment and damage, plus the chassis number location. Don't start, dismantle or move a truck showing danger signs, tank residue or air-system faults just to raise the quote.
Why truck quotes vary so much
Brand multipliers, fixed component values and set deductions have no reliable source, so we don't use them. These are directions for assessment, not a formula every company must follow.
| Factor | How to read it | Don't assume |
|---|---|---|
| Weight and body type | Affects recoverable material, equipment and handling | Same tonnage, same price |
| Engine, gearbox, axles | Completeness and usability matter | Each part has a fixed value |
| Rust and structural damage | Affects safety and recovery | Any rust means a fixed deduction |
| Special equipment | Condition of refrigeration, crane, tail lift and hydraulics | Equipment always adds value |
| Missing parts, modifications | Must be declared honestly | A complete-truck price applies to a stripped truck |
| Towing and site | Weight, length, mobility and access affect cost | Same district, same towing fee |
| Documents | Log book, authorisation, finance and claims affect completion | Paperwork can be sorted out later at no cost |
If undisclosed missing parts or structural problems turn up on site, a re-assessment can be fair, but problems you already disclosed should not be deducted again.
Compare the net amount, vehicle by vehicle
Expected net = confirmed purchase price − fees you have agreed to pay. Towing, residue cleaning, equipment removal and agency fees are not zero until confirmed. In a fleet, give every vehicle its own line and check the totals.
| Item | Offer A | Offer B | Offer C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote | X | X − HK$3,000 | X + HK$5,000 |
| Agreed fees | Towing HK$4,000 | HK$0 | Not stated |
| Expected net | X − HK$4,000 | X − HK$3,000 | Unconfirmed |
| Special equipment | Stated | Stated | "We'll see on site" |
| Payment | Verified at handover | Verified at handover | After towing |
| Paperwork | Stated | Stated | "One-stop" only |
Offer C quotes the most, but fees, equipment handling and payment are unconfirmed, so it cannot rank first. A charging for towing does not make it unreliable, but if everything else is equal B pays more net. For choosing between companies, see choosing a scrap car company.
Refrigerated, crane, tanker and refuse trucks
| Body | Tell us first | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerated | Unit condition, refrigerant still in it, box damage | Refrigerant recovery; whether the unit counts in the quote |
| Crane truck | Crane model, hydraulics, recent inspection | Hydraulic oil handling; safe stowing and removal |
| Tanker / chemical | Previous loads, cleaning, cleaning certificate | Residue handling, acceptance and permit cancellation |
| Refuse compactor | Compactor condition; body emptied | Residue clearing and hydraulics |
| Box with tail lift | Lift operation, hydraulics, wiring | Whether the lift counts in the quote |
| Tipper | Body damage, tipping hydraulics | Body emptied, tipping system safe |
| Tractor unit | Fifth wheel, air brakes, cab | Trailer included? Trailer registration and documents |
Refrigerant, hydraulic oil, fuel, tank residue and cargo must be handled properly. Declare them honestly and never dump them. Permits for dangerous-goods vehicles should be checked with the relevant department and the permit holder; don't assume the scrap company handles them.
Heavy towing is more than "free collection"
- Drivable: confirm licence, insurance and safety, plus the drop-off time and place.
- Dead but towable: can the air brakes be released, does it steer? Confirm equipment and cost.
- Locked wheels: which axles, what ground? Lifting or special equipment may be needed.
- Warehouses, sites, yards: gate size, ground load, hours and who releases the truck.
- Several trucks at one site: vehicle list, location map and batch order.
If towing is advertised as free, confirm it covers your weight, location and condition. An unlicensed or uninsured truck, or one with brake or steering faults, must not be driven on public roads to save the towing fee. See the general scrap car process.
Company-owned trucks: match authorisation, ID and payee
The Transport Department (TD) checklist requires the owner's ID: HKID for individuals, passport for non-residents, or the certificate of incorporation for a limited company. An agent must provide a copy of the owner's ID and show their own HKID original.
- Vehicle registration document original and valid licence original, one set per vehicle
- Certificate of incorporation matching the registered name
- Company authorisation naming the vehicles, agent and scope
- Completed TD184 and dismantling certificate original for each vehicle
- Payee bank details matching the owner or the authorisation
Check with finance or leasing companies before scrapping a financed vehicle. Ask for a separate receipt per vehicle showing plate, chassis number, amount and date; a single combined receipt makes deregistration, ex-gratia claims and accounting harder.
Euro IV diesel lorries: deadlines, registered dismantlers and steps
EPD launched the ex-gratia payment scheme for phasing out Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles in October 2020, aiming to phase out about 40,000 vehicles, including goods vehicles, light buses and non-franchised buses, by the end of 2027.
| First registered | Application deadline | Exemption needed to relicense after |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 31 Dec 2026 | 31 Dec 2025 |
| 2011 | 31 Dec 2027 | 31 Dec 2026 |
EPD stresses that the statutory phase-out dates are not postponed by the longer application deadline. After those dates, owners who need to relicense must apply to EPD for an exemption.
Key eligibility points
- First registered within the period set out in Schedule 1 of the scheme.
- A registered diesel commercial vehicle on 1 January 2020 that held a valid licence on or after that date.
- Still a diesel commercial vehicle on the day its registration is cancelled.
- Dismantled by a registered dismantler under the scheme on or after 19 October 2020.
- Registration cancelled after dismantling and by the Schedule 2 deadline.
- The applicant is the registered owner at the time of cancellation.
Three steps
- Have the vehicle dismantled by a dismantler registered under the scheme.
- Submit a completed TD184 (or TD129 to keep the plate) and the registered dismantler's certificate original to TD to cancel the registration.
- Within three months of deregistration (including that day), submit TD605B to TD with the dismantler's pre-dismantling photo showing the chassis number.
Registered dismantlers must photograph and verify the chassis number before dismantling and issue a certificate in the prescribed form. They must also keep full dismantling records for TD and EPD, and complete Parts B and C of the application form for the owner. Registration is not cancelled automatically after dismantling; the owner must deal with TD. The payment amount depends on body type and vehicle age on the cancellation date, and is lower for older vehicles. Check EPD's latest list of registered dismantlers first. Enquiries: EPD 2651 1100; TD 2804 2600.
Handover day and the dismantling certificate
- Check who has come, from which company, for which vehicles; match plates and chassis numbers.
- Compare condition with the photos; don't sign a new amount until any new issue is explained.
- Confirm residues have been dealt with as agreed.
- Verify payment: count cash, or check the transfer in your own banking app.
- Record document handover, photograph the chassis number and remove company items (dashcam, GPS, permits, fuel cards).
TD requires a vehicle dismantling certificate, commonly called lau che zhi (劏車紙), from the recycling company, showing its business registration number. Check the company name, plate, chassis number and actual dismantling date, and never ask for a back-dated certificate. If the chassis number is damaged, EPD advises the owner to contact TD for verification before dismantling.
Deregister within 15 days; licence refunds by remaining days
TD guidance: after properly disposing of the vehicle, the owner should submit or post the required documents to a licensing office within 15 days. Otherwise the registered owner remains liable for everything arising from the vehicle.
Licence refund = annual licence fee × 0.24% × remaining valid days, with at least 60 days remaining. Truck licence fees vary by class and weight, and TD calculates the actual amount. To keep the plate number, submit TD129 at the Hong Kong or Kowloon Licensing Office; the mark is reserved for 12 months.
Fleet scrapping: manage each vehicle on a master list
Bulk "bonus percentages" and so-called real transport company cases have no verifiable basis. Batching can make towing and paperwork more efficient, but each vehicle should still have its own confirmed terms.
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Plate and chassis number | Match receipts, certificates and TD184 |
| Gross weight and body type | Quote and towing plan |
| First registration date and emission standard | Whether the ex-gratia scheme and its deadline apply |
| Condition and missing parts | Quote conditions |
| Location and release | Batch towing |
| Price, fees and net amount | Stop one total hiding individual differences |
| Payment status | Finance reconciliation |
| Certificate and deregistration dates | The 15-day guidance and three-month ex-gratia window |
| Ex-gratia application status | Record the TD605B filing date to avoid missing it |
Record receipts and document handovers for each batch as it happens; the deadlines run per vehicle. A single contact person does not mean a single responsible party, so know who the buyer, tower, dismantler and agent are.
Five truck scrapping scenarios
All are teaching examples, not real customer cases.
A 2010 Euro IV box truck not yet scrapped
Check the first registration date, body type and emission standard in the log book. The ex-gratia deadline is 31 December 2026, a registered dismantler must be used and TD605B filed within three months of deregistration. Check EPD's list before booking.
A refrigerated truck with a high quote, then a refrigerant charge on site
If you described the unit and refrigerant beforehand and the quote said nothing about a charge, ask them to honour the original terms. If not disclosed, a re-assessment is fair but should be itemised.
Tractor and trailer scrapped together, one certificate issued
If they are registered separately, each needs its own certificate and deregistration. Check the registration status and ask for matching documents.
An eight-truck fleet with one combined receipt
Ask for a receipt per vehicle with plate, chassis number, amount and date.
A tanker that carried chemicals, and the buyer says "no problem"
Confirm residues, cleaning certificates and permits first. "We'll take it anyway" is no reason to skip cleaning and paperwork.
Eight things to follow up
- Certificate: check company, business registration number, chassis number and date for each vehicle.
- Deregistration: file within the 15-day guidance; get trackable details from any agent.
- Ex-gratia payment: TD605B within three months, with the chassis number photo.
- Licence refund: by remaining days through the official process.
- Plate retention: TD129 if needed; note the 12-month period.
- Commercial insurance: cancellations, refunds and fleet policy changes.
- Permits and passes: dangerous-goods permits, tunnel and car park passes, fuel cards.
- Company records: fixed assets, fleet list and accounts.
If the buyer disappears or documents never arrive, gather your records and ask TD about the registration; handle payment disputes separately with evidence.
Truck and fleet scrapping enquiries
Call or WhatsApp 6799 5101 with the permitted gross weight, body type, first registration year, condition, equipment status and location, and we will confirm the quote conditions, towing, payment and paperwork.
Truck enquiry template
Hello, I'd like a truck scrapping quote from Pak Lam:
Make / model / first registration year: __
Permitted gross weight and body type: __
Emission standard (if known): __
Starts, steers and moves: __
Mileage, known faults and missing parts: __
Chassis rust and damage: __
Special equipment and residues: __
Location, access, ground load and release: __
Owner (individual / company) and documents complete: __
Any finance, claims or investigation: __
Applying for ex-gratia payment or keeping the plate: __
Number of vehicles and batches: __
Please confirm the quote stage, all fees, expected net amount, payment method, towing, who dismantles the vehicle, and the certificate and TD184 arrangements.
Service scope, schedule and fees are confirmed case by case. See about us and contact us.
Truck scrapping: 8 common questions
Is there a fixed scrap price for 5.5, 10, 20 or 30-tonne trucks?
No. Trucks of the same tonnage vary with body type, engine condition, rust, missing parts and location. Online prices are only a starting point for questions, not a deal price.
How does Hong Kong define medium and heavy goods vehicles?
Medium goods vehicles are over 5.5 tonnes and up to 24 tonnes permitted gross weight; heavy goods vehicles are over 24 tonnes and up to 38 tonnes. Use the weight in the log book, not slang tonnage.
What information do I need for a truck quote?
Make, model, first registration year, permitted gross weight, body type, whether it starts and moves, mileage, faults, missing parts, rust, special equipment, location and release arrangements, plus document and authorisation status.
What is different about refrigerated, crane or tanker trucks?
Equipment can affect the assessment, but refrigerant, hydraulic oil, residues, cleaning and safe removal must be arranged. Declare the equipment status and any residues so the buyer can confirm acceptance.
Do tractor units and trailers need separate handling?
If they are registered separately, each needs its own dismantling certificate and deregistration. Say whether you are scrapping the tractor, the trailer or both.
When is the Euro IV diesel lorry ex-gratia deadline?
EPD extended it to 31 December 2026 for vehicles first registered in 2010 and to 31 December 2027 for 2011. TD605B must be filed within three months of deregistration.
Must I use a registered dismantler for the ex-gratia payment?
Yes. The vehicle must be dismantled by a dismantler registered under the scheme, who photographs the chassis number beforehand and issues a certificate in the prescribed form. Check EPD's latest list first.
If the deadline is extended, can I still relicense the truck?
No. The statutory phase-out dates are not postponed. Vehicles first registered in 2010 and 2011 need an EPD exemption to relicense after 31 December 2025 and 31 December 2026 respectively.
General questions on documents, deregistration and refunds are covered in our car scrapping FAQ.
Check classes, procedures and deadlines against official sources (Chinese pages)
- Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Regulations (Cap. 330B)
- Transport Department: cancelling the registration of disposed vehicles
- EPD: Ex-gratia payment scheme for Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles
Updated 15 October 2026. All comparisons are hypothetical teaching examples. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance, tax or financial advice; actual quotes and services are as agreed by both parties.