Last updated: 20 October 2026 | By Mark Chambers, for Roter Recycling
The short answer: there is no single car crusher price. What a car baler costs depends on the size and output of the machine, its power source, the options you choose and what the supplier includes in the quote. And the purchase price is only the opening chapter. Foundation works, downtime, spare parts and freight can shape the total cost of ownership far more than the headline figure ever will.
This guide sets out the framework Roter’s engineers use when they configure a machine for a yard. It explains how to read any car baler price, how to spot what a low quote leaves out, and how to request a quote you can compare like for like. For the wider picture across the whole range, see our page on scrap baler price.
The short answer: why there is no single car crusher price
Asking “how much does a car baler cost?” is rather like asking what a lorry costs. A compact fixed machine and a heavy, trailer-mounted unit with a grapple and a cabin are not the same product, and they were never meant to be. A number found online without a specification behind it tells you very little. Prices from different suppliers become comparable only when the machine, the options, the delivery, the installation and the support behind them are the same.
That is why Roter does not publish a fixed price list. Every machine leaving Ferrara is configured around the yard it will work in, and the exact figures are confirmed in your quote.
Five factors behind every quote
- Machine model and size. The Roter RR5 has a 5,000 mm box and weighs 21 t. The RR6 has a 6,000 mm box and weighs 22 t. A longer box takes longer or bulkier material.
- Configuration. Fixed, semi-mobile, roll-on/roll-off or three-axle trailer.
- Power source. Diesel (55 or 75 kW, Perkins or CAT) or electric (75 kW, with a 90 kW option).
- Options. Grapple with rotor, cabin air conditioning, preheated oil and engine, automatic grease and more.
- Scope of supply. Installation, training, remote diagnostics, spare parts and delivery.
Our scrap baler price page explains how these drivers apply across the full Roter range.
Car flattener vs logger vs baler: how output affects what you earn
Price is one side of the equation. The other is what the machine does for your margin, day after day. A flattener is the simplest machine of the three, but it leaves air trapped between the layers. A logger improves density. A car baler produces a dense, regular bale that loads predictably every time.
The difference reveals itself in three places:
- Transport per tonne. Denser output means fewer truck movements for the same weight.
- Handling. Regular bales stack and load faster.
- Buyer acceptance. Some buyers prefer a defined bale format. The Roter RR5/RR6 offers a Bale for Mills programme for exactly this reason.
A cheaper machine that costs you more per tonne in freight can prove the more expensive choice within a few years. Before you decide, ask your scrap buyer what they prefer to receive.
What is included in a Roter quote
Roter builds its balers in Ferrara on more than three decades of heavy-engineering heritage, and its offer has always been shaped by one conviction: a machine is only as good as the support that stands behind it. When you compare quotes, ask every supplier to list the following in writing.
On-site installation
Roter includes on-site installation. Because the RR5/RR6 needs no foundation, installation centres on positioning, connection and commissioning rather than civil works.
Operator training
Operator training is part of the package, so your team can start work safely and get the most from the machine from the very first week.
Remote diagnostics
Remote diagnostics allow Roter to read the machine’s status without waiting for a technician to travel, which can shorten the time it takes to resolve a fault.
Spare parts from Ferrara
Spare parts are supplied from Ferrara, where the machines are designed and built. An emergency spare-parts kit is available as an option. Our baler spare parts and service page explains the support in full.
Costs a cheap machine hides
When one quote is markedly lower than the others, the right response is to check what is missing, not to celebrate the saving.
Foundation and civil works: none on the RR5/RR6
Many balers need a reinforced concrete base. That means excavation, materials, time and permits before the machine can even be placed. Roter states that the RR5 and RR6 need no foundation in any configuration, so this cost line simply does not exist. Read more in our no-foundation article.
Downtime and spare-part waits
A machine that stands still earns nothing. Ask each supplier where the parts come from, how quickly they can reach you, and whether remote support is offered. Parts made and stocked by the manufacturer are usually easier to obtain than parts routed through several intermediaries. Typical delivery times are not quoted here, so they are confirmed in your quote.
Freight and commissioning
Freight for a 21-22 t machine, unloading with the right crane or equipment, and commissioning all add to the bill. Ask whether the quote is ex-works or delivered, and who is responsible for each step.
| Cost item | Ask the supplier |
|---|---|
| Foundation / civil works | Is a concrete base needed? |
| Delivery | Ex-works or delivered? Who unloads? |
| Installation | On site, by whom, included? |
| Training | Included? How long? |
| Spare parts | From where? Emergency kit available? |
| Remote support | Offered? Included? |
| Documentation | CE documentation provided? |
Running costs: diesel or electric
Once the machine is working, operating cost depends mainly on how it is powered.
- Diesel (55 or 75 kW, Perkins or CAT): the diesel tank holds 90 L. Fuel cost depends on local prices and how many hours you run.
- Electric (75 kW motor, 90 kW option): runs on mains electricity and avoids fuel logistics, but needs a suitable supply.
Which is cheaper depends on your local fuel and electricity prices, your power supply and whether the machine moves between sites. Our diesel vs electric baler power guide walks through the decision. Fuel and energy figures are not quoted here because they vary with location and usage.
Payback levers: transport per tonne, labour, throughput
When yards calculate payback, three levers usually decide the outcome:
- Transport per tonne. Compare the weight you carry per trip with and without a baler.
- Labour. The RR5/RR6 comes with radio control, so one operator can run the cycle.
- Throughput. The RR5/RR6 processes 15-20 t/h of vehicle scrap. Your real figure depends on loading and material.
Run the numbers with your own volumes and your own freight rates. Our article on baler ROI, payback and TCO gives you a framework to follow, and our guide to sizing a baler for your yard’s tonnage helps you choose the right model first.
Buy, lease or finance
Not every yard wants to pay in full. Buying outright, leasing and financing each suit a different cash position and tax situation. Our article on buy, lease or finance lease options explains the trade-offs. Talk to your accountant about the treatment that fits your business, and ask Roter which options are available to you; terms are confirmed in your quote.
How to request a comparable quote
A fair comparison starts with a fair brief. Send every supplier the same information:
- Type of material (end-of-life vehicles, general scrap, or both)
- Tonnes per day or per month you want to process
- Preferred configuration (fixed, semi-mobile, roll-on/roll-off, trailer)
- Power available on site (diesel preferred, mains voltage and capacity)
- Site location and access for delivery
- What your scrap buyer requires (bale size, density)
- Options you want (grapple, cabin air conditioning, preheating, automatic grease)
- Installation, training, spare parts and remote support in writing
Then compare line by line, not just the bottom line.
Get your car baler quote
Tell us about your yard and our engineers will configure a quote around your material, your tonnage and your site. Installation, training, remote diagnostics and spare parts from Ferrara are part of the conversation from the very start.
Request a quote or view the car baler range.
FAQ
How much does a car crusher cost?
The cost of a car crusher or car baler depends on the model, configuration, power source, options and what the supplier includes. Roter configures every machine to the buyer, so the exact figure is confirmed in your quote rather than published as a list price.
Why does Roter not publish a price list?
Each machine is configured to the customer’s material, tonnage, site and options, so a single list price would be misleading. A tailored quote lets us include the correct configuration, installation, training and support. The exact figure is confirmed in your quote.
Is installation included in the price?
Yes. On-site installation is included in Roter’s offer, together with operator training. Because the RR5 and RR6 need no foundation, installation does not involve civil works. The full scope of supply is set out in writing in your quote.
Is a mobile car baler dearer than a fixed one?
It depends on the configuration and options chosen. The RR5/RR6 is available as fixed, semi-mobile, roll-on/roll-off or three-axle trailer, and none needs a foundation. The price difference, if any, is confirmed in your quote.
Can I finance a car baler?
Many buyers finance machinery through a lease, a finance lease or a loan. The right route depends on your accounts and tax position, so speak to your adviser. Ask Roter what options are available to you; terms are confirmed in your quote.
Author: Mark Chambers, digital marketing and brand consultant (Lime di Mark Chambers), writing for Roter Recycling (R.F. Srl, Via Romolo Gessi 9, 44124 Ferrara, Italy).
Last updated: 20 October 2026
Related reading: scrap baler price | car baler | baler spare parts and service | Request a quote