© 2026 Endless Holdings Limited® · Licensed Secondhand Dealer · Web Development by Graphic Detail NZ Ltd.
Endless accepts all types of scrap motors, from small fridge compressors to large industrial electric motors. Whether you are a sparkie clearing out old motors, an auto wrecker with bins of starters and alternators, or a homeowner with a dead washing machine motor, we grade your material on the spot and pay you the same day, with pricing that follows the international copper market. We update our prices weekly and publish them per yard, so you can check today’s rate before you drive in.
Visit either our scrap metal Onehunga yard or our Wairau Valley branch on the North Shore, and our team will take you through how your electric motors scrap payouts are calculated.
Priced weekly against London Metal Exchange (LME) copper. Graded on the spot. Paid same day.
What Makes Scrap Motors Valuable?
Motors are valued for the copper windings inside them. Each unit consists of copper wire wound around an iron or steel core, but the balance of copper to steel is different for every type of motor. A fridge compressor, a starter, an alternator and an electric motor each have their own material makeup and that sets the price for each grade. A fridge motor and a starter motor pay differently because they are built differently, not because one has been bumped up or down a scale.
Contamination is the one thing that moves a motor between grades. Gearboxes, fan blades, excess steel, grease and oil all push an electric motor down into the lower-paying “Other Electric Motors” grade because it costs more to process.
Knowing what type of motor you have is the difference between top-grade pricing and a downgrade at the scales.
SiteWise Gold certified
Toitū carbon reduce certified
AMR & ReMA member
Licensed secondhand dealer
know your motors
Fridge Motors
characteristics
- Small, sealed compressor units
- Must be free from gas
- Copper windings enclosed in steel shell
- Common in fridges and aircon units
- Compact with high copper content relative to size
- No brackets or nuts/bolts
high copper ratio
Starters & Alternators
characteristics
- From combustion engines
- Contain copper windings and magnets
- Compact and heavy for their size
- Aluminium housings common
- Must be free of brackets and bolts
- No water pumps or electrical attachments
copper + aluminium
Electric Motors
characteristics
- Must be less than 50kg per unit
- Contain copper windings in steel housing
- No fan blades attached
- No gearboxes or grease/oil
- Minimal ferrous attachments
- Common in industrial, automotive, and HVAC applications
under 50kg
Other Electric Motors
characteristics
- Can be over 50kg
- Many non-metal parts attached
- Fan blades may be attached
- No gearboxes
- No grease or oil
- Includes insinkerators, cast iron motors, and oversize units
over 50kg or contaminated
Fridge Motors — Scrap Grade
fridge motors
conditions
- complete copper based units
- free from gas
- no contamination:
- brackets
- nuts / bolts
- electrical attachments
examples
- motors from refrigerators
- motors from aircon units
Starters & Alternators — Scrap Grade
starters & alternators
conditions
- starter motors & alternators from combustion engines
- alternators must have copper windings visible
- no contamination:
- brackets
- nuts / bolts
- electrical attachments
- vehicle water pumps
examples
- combustion engine starter motors
- combustion engine alternators
Electric Motors — Scrap Grade
electric motors
conditions
- less than 50kg per unit
- no contamination:
- gearboxes
- grease / oil
- extra steel brackets
- fan blades
examples
- industrial electric motors
- electric fan motors
- automotive fan motors
- air condition fan motors
Other Electric Motors — Scrap Grade
other electric motors
conditions
- electric motor
- may contain:
- units over 50kg
- fan blades attached
- ferrous or non-ferrous attachments
- fan housing
- no contamination:
- gearboxes
- grease, oil or dirt
examples
- oversize electric motors
- insinkerators
- cast iron electric motors
- electric motors with fan blades
Motor with Gearbox Attached — Bought as HMS (Heavy Melting Steel)
motor + gearbox
The gears, housing and casing are predominantly steel, so the whole unit grades as steel — not a copper-bearing motor.
how we price it
- bought as HMS (heavy melting steel) — any size
- paid at the HMS rate — see our steel page
- want the motor rate? detach the motor from the gearbox first
Water Pumps & Aircon Compressors — Graded as Irony Aluminium
water pumps and aircon compressors
Water pumps and aircon compressors both have an aluminium body with a steel shaft and bearings, so they grade as irony aluminium — not as a copper-bearing motor. A water pump holds no copper; an aircon compressor only a trace, in its clutch coil.
how we price it
- bought as irony aluminium — aluminium with steel attached, not the copper motor rate
- too little copper to reach the copper motor rate
- not an alternator — an alternator's copper windings are on show (see starters & alternators)
still not sure what you've got?
Send us a pic and we'll tell you what grade your motor is and what it's worth. No obligation, no pressure. Just a fast answer from our grading team.
the recycling process
how motors are recycled
Motors contain valuable copper windings wrapped inside steel and iron housings. Recycling recovers these metals efficiently, keeping them in the supply chain and out of landfill.
1
collection & sorting
Your motors arrive at our yard and our team sorts them by grade — fridge motors, starters, alternators, electric motors, and oversize units are all separated to meet export specifications.
2
grading & inspection
Each motor is inspected for contamination. Gearboxes, fan blades, excess brackets, grease, and oil are flagged. Clean, properly graded motors command the best price.
3
processing & packing
Sorted motors are consolidated, weighed, and packed into export-ready containers. Larger motors may be cut or separated to meet shipping specifications.
4
export & recovery
Containers are shipped to international processors where motors are shredded, and the copper, steel, aluminium, and other metals are separated and recovered for reuse.
maximise your return
how to prepare your motors
A little preparation goes a long way. Presenting clean, properly sorted motors means better grades, faster processing, and higher payouts. Here's how to get the most from your scrap.
- Remove brackets and bolts: steel mounting brackets, nuts, and bolts bring down the grade. Strip them off before you bring your motors in.
- Sort by type: keep fridge motors, starters, alternators, and electric motors separate. Mixed loads get priced at the lowest grade in the mix.
- Remove fan blades: electric motors with fan blades attached are graded as "other electric motors" at a lower rate. Remove blades to qualify for the electric motor grade.
- Drain oil and grease: motors contaminated with oil or grease attract a lower price. Clean, dry motors grade higher.
- Degas fridge motors: compressors from fridges and aircon units must be degassed before recycling. If you're unsure, we can advise at the yard.
- Gearboxes: a motor with the gearbox still attached is bought as HMS (steel) — any size (see the "motor + gearbox" card). Detach the gearbox if you want the higher motor rate.
Pro tip: If you are a regular trade supplier (such as an auto wrecker, appliance repair shop, or HVAC contractor), ask our team about dedicated scrap metal bin hire and collection. We can set up a site collection system that gets you the best electrician copper scrap pricing and motor rates on every load.
sustainability
why recycle motors
Every motor recycled is copper, steel, and aluminium recovered. Recycling motors uses a fraction of the energy required to mine and refine virgin metals, and it keeps valuable resources in circulation.
85%
less energy
Recycling copper from motors uses up to 85% less energy than mining and refining virgin copper ore.
3+
metals recovered
Motors contain copper, steel, aluminium, and sometimes brass. All are separated and recovered during processing.
0
landfill required
Properly recycled motors are fully processed. The metals go back into manufacturing, not into the ground.
By choosing electric motor recycling near me with Endless, your scrap motors become new raw materials rather than ending up in landfill, directly supporting a circular economy.
what we pay
motor pricing
Motor prices move with international commodity markets and the NZD/USD exchange rate. We update our scrap engine prices and motor rates weekly and publish them per yard, so you can check today’s price before you drive in.
motor type & grade
Fridge motors and clean electric motors with high copper content command the best prices. Motors with fan blades or heavy steel housings are discounted, and motors with the gearbox still attached are bought as HMS (steel) at any size.
LME copper price
Motor value is driven primarily by the copper windings inside. When the LME copper price rises, motor prices follow.
NZD/USD exchange rate
As an export commodity, motors are priced in USD. A weaker NZ dollar means higher local prices, and vice versa.
volume & consistency
Larger, regular loads of well-sorted motors attract premium pricing. Talk to our team about contract rates for consistent supply.
For today's motor prices at your nearest yard, visit our motor pricing page or call our team directly. We provide instant quotes, no obligation.
still have questions?
Find what you’re looking for in the FAQs below.
Electric motors are priced on the copper locked in their windings, so the rate loosely tracks the copper market. We grade each motor by its type — fridge, starter, alternator, electric and other electric motors — because each has a different copper-to-steel makeup. See the pricing page or call 0800 44 88 99.
Sealed units, compressors and pumps must be drained of oil before drop-off. Once drained, we accept them and grade them on the spot.
The value is in the copper winding, with some aluminium and steel around it. What you're paid comes down to the type of motor — each has a different balance of copper to steel, which is why a fridge motor, a starter and an electric motor pay different rates.
Yes — fridge and air-conditioning compressors are accepted once drained of oil. They're graded as fridge motors (their own grade), priced on the copper inside.
No need — we accept and grade whole motors on the spot, so there's no stripping required. Just sort them by type and pull off any steel brackets, gearboxes and fan blades that drop the grade.
Drain all oil, sort your motors by type — fridge, starters, alternators, electric — and pull off the steel brackets, gearboxes and fan blades that drop the grade.
Both yards — Onehunga and Wairau Valley — take motors and other metals. Drive in during business hours; we weigh and grade on the spot.
Yes. The copper, steel and aluminium are all recovered and returned to new product, keeping valuable metal out of landfill.
ready to sell your motors?
call us, email us, or drop into either yard. We grade on the spot and pay same day.