Get the Value of Your Scrap Car Instantly

What Is A Scrap Car?

A scrap car is an end-of-life, old or damaged car that is set to be processed by a licensed metal recycler.

Typically, scrap cars have been on the road for over 15, 20, or more years and have high-mileage with body and mechanical damage.

As a general rule, a scrap vehicle is worth the material that it is made of.

Due to their components, some older cars with low mileage hold higher value. Check out our instant value calculator and find out what your scrap car is worth near you.

If you’ve got a vehicle that is not roadworthy anymore, read on to find out how to get the most money and sell it conveniently.

Scrap Car Value Calculator

If you want to get an idea of the value of your old or damaged car, and even receive an offer for it, you can use a scrap car value calculator. The calculator takes into account factors such as the weight of your vehicle and current market prices for scrap metal, but keep in mind that the prices provided are general estimates and may vary based on your location, the condition and weight of your car, and current market conditions.

Additionally, certain components of the car, such as the engine, transmission, and catalytic converter, may fetch a higher price if sold separately. If your car is in relatively good condition, you may also be able to sell it for more money privately rather than scrapping it. To receive an instant quote for your scrap car, click here.

What’s The Scrap Value Of My Car?

Scrap car prices are usually calculated by the weight of the vehicle. The average value for mid-size cars range between $150 – $300. Meanwhile, the scrap value of smaller vehicles can be as low as $100.

Insurance companies however, will use the following formula to calculate scrap value:

Scrap Value = Cost of Asset - ( Useful life in years * Depreciation)

If you're trying to get the most money for your old car, selling it for parts is probably your best option. Certain parts of the vehicle can yield you a couple hundred dollars alone!

Today, with the average price of scrapping a car at record highs, now’s a good time to get the most value for your car. Read on to find out if scrapping your car is worth it.

Scrap Car Prices

Selling your car as a scrap car is a common approach for disposing of old, damaged, or non-functional vehicles. Junk car buyers specialize in purchasing these vehicles, extracting valuable components, and recycling the remaining materials. Understanding the scrap metals commonly found in cars, such as steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and precious metals like Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium, is crucial to getting the most value for your vehicle.

By extracting and recycling these scrap metals, valuable resources can be conserved, and the environmental impact of manufacturing new metals can be reduced. Check out our guide below for average scrap prices per pound to ensure fair pricing for your vehicle.

Please keep in mind that the prices provided in this guide are general estimates and may vary depending on factors such as your location, the condition and weight of your vehicle, and current market conditions. It's also important to be aware of any specific regulations or requirements in your state or local area regarding the sale of junk cars.

How Are Scrap Cars Priced?

In terms of strict scrap metal prices, cars may be worth about $200 (assuming the car weighs about 1.3 tons). However, if your vehicle is in pretty good condition you can get more cash for it.

That said, there are other factors that can drive the car scrap values higher or lower.

1. Make & Model - If your vehicle’s make and model is in high demand, then expect to net a greater return by scrapping it than for less desired vehicles. If your car is a more recent model, then its components are considered more reliable and, therefore, worth more.
2. Location - Scrap metal isn’t usually processed at the scrap yard that purchases it. It has to be transported elsewhere and if that “elsewhere” happens to be far away, the scrap yard will give you less money for your metal in order to offset the costs of increased transportation.
3. Vehicle’s Age - Unfortunately the older the car is, the more it depreciates in value. While scrap yards will price vehicles by their weight in tons, newer vehicles and their reusable components can fetch a higher price from other buyers.

Check out the average weight of popular vehicles here to get an idea of how much your car is worth in scrap value.

How to Get the Best Price for Your Scrap Car

You can get the most money for scrapping your vehicle near you by selling the car’s parts first, and then selling the shell for scrap metal.

Certain components, like your engine, transmission or catalytic converter, can fetch a pretty penny, while other parts can be reused and recycled (like your oil or engine fluid).

However, parting your vehicle requires both the time to remove each component and the expertise to do so without damaging them.

Other parts that can net you some extra cash include:

• Airbags
• Rims
• Alternator
• Transmission
• Radiators
• Doors
• And More!

With the continued rise in the global demand for recycled steel, expect the scrap car market to stay hot and provide greater returns for anyone selling their old car.

Is It Better To Scrap Or Sell A Car?

Selling your vehicle to a scrap yard might get you a quick sale, but don’t expect much more than the scrap value of the whole car (weight times the price of scrap metal).

Even if your car is rusty or non-running it is in your best interest to sell it. There will be buyers interested in it as is and give you more money for it than a junkyard.

If money is the main driving force for getting rid of your old vehicle, then junkyards are not worth it. You’ll always get more cash for your broken down car by selling it online or privately.

At JunkCarMasters, we buy vehicles in all conditions and always try to get our customers the best possible deal for their cars.

Just give us some details of your vehicle’s condition and we’ll give you a quote in 90 seconds or less. Zero obligation, zero pressure.

If you think your car is worth a bit more, you can always talk to one of our representatives and (especially if you have pictures) we can work on getting you a better price.