Record Car Scrapping in Ukraine: The Most Popular Models Revealed

Car Disposal in Ukraine During Q1 2026

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine saw 4,669 passenger cars scrapped through service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The VAZ-2106 led the pack with 263 units deregistered, followed by the VAZ-2107 at 247 vehicles. The Daewoo Lanos took third place with 215 scrapped cars, while the VAZ-2101 and VAZ-2109 ranked fourth and fifth with 202 and 157 units, respectively. The average age of scrapped passenger cars was 28 years, with the oldest being a 1954 GAZ-M-20 Pobeda.

Commercial Vehicle Disposal

In the commercial sector, 1,138 trucks were deregistered during the same period. The top scrapped truck models included:

• Gazelle – 102 units
• GAZ-53 – 94 vehicles
• ZIL-130 – 78 units

Also among the scrapped buses were the PAZ-3205, passenger Gazelles, and KAvZ-3270. The average age of deregistered commercial and passenger vehicles was 29 years.

Experts from the Institute of Automotive Market Research note that

“the technical lifespan of most of these vehicles ended back at the close of the last century”

. Specialists emphasize that these figures represent

“a landmark moment, officially confirming the end of the era of the main 'people's car' of the 2000s”

. Key drivers behind the mass disposal of junk cars include rising scrap metal prices and increasing costs of gasoline and diesel fuel.

As a result, car scrapping in Ukraine continues to accelerate, reflecting an aging vehicle fleet and shifting consumer trends.

The growing pace of old car disposal could have significant implications for the environment and road safety in Ukraine. Taking outdated vehicles off the road may reduce accidents caused by technical failures and help lower pollutant emissions. Additionally, it could open up new opportunities for fleet renewal, which in turn would impact the automotive market and the broader economy.

As the trend of car scrapping accelerates, it's essential to consider the growing demand for used vehicles among Ukrainians. In April, a remarkable surge in the purchase of pre-owned cars was recorded, highlighting a shift in consumer behavior that may be influenced by the ongoing disposal of older models. For more insights into this emerging trend in the automotive market, visit the record number of used cars purchased by Ukrainians.