Junk Car Prices: How Much Is Your Car Worth?

↑ +2.2% vs last month

As of February 2026, the average junk car sells for $475. Your actual payout depends on your vehicle's condition, weight, location, and whether key components like the engine, transmission, and catalytic converter are intact. Running vehicles and heavier trucks and SUVs command the highest prices.

Average Junk Car Payout	$475
Running Vehicles	$500–$5,000+
Non-Running (Complete)	$300–$800
Non-Running (Incomplete)	$100–$400
Trucks & SUVs (Any Condition)	$400–$3,500+
Scrap Metal Rate	$146–$206/ton

Based on 8,280+ recent purchases · February 2026

Find Your Car

What's Your Junk Car Worth? Quick Pricing Guide

Find the condition that sounds like your vehicle. Prices reflect what we're paying right now.

Condition	Compact / Sedan	SUV / Van / Truck
D Scrap / Shell "It's a total eyesore." End-of-Life or missing part vehicles that are valued for their scrap weight alone.	$200–$500	$350–$700
C Non-Runner "It's all there, but it's dead." Vehicles that still have the engine, transmission, and catalytic converter, they just don't run.	$300–$500	$500–$800
B Mechanic's Special "Starts up, but I wouldn't drive it far." Vehicles that run but have major issues such as blown gasket, transmission slip, or heavy body damage.	$500–$1,000	$800–$1,500
A Road-Ready "Old reliable, just time for an upgrade." Vehicles that drive, have clean title, and no major mechanical failures.	$1,000–$3,500+	$1,500–$5,000+

Get Your Exact Offer → Call (855) 476-1118

How We Price Your Car

7 Factors That Determine Your Junk Car's Value

Not all junk cars are created equal. Here's what moves the needle on your offer.

Condition

Running vehicles are worth 2–5x more than non-runners. A car that starts and drives — even with issues — commands a premium because more components are verified working.

Impact: High — $200–$2,000+ difference

Completeness

A car with all major parts — engine, transmission, catalytic converter, battery, wheels — is worth far more than one that's been stripped. A missing cat alone can reduce value by $50–$250.

Impact: High — $150–$500+ difference

Vehicle Size & Weight

Heavier vehicles contain more recyclable metal. A 5,000-lb truck has nearly twice the scrap metal value of a 2,800-lb compact. Curb weight sets the floor price.

Impact: High — $100–$400+ difference

Make, Model & Parts Demand

Popular models like Honda Civics, Toyota Camrys, and Ford F-150s have higher parts demand, which increases their salvage value. Rare or imported vehicles may have less demand.

Impact: Medium — $50–$300 difference

Your Location

Junk car prices vary by region. Cities near steel mills, ports, and recycler hubs pay more due to lower transport costs and higher competition among buyers.

Impact: Medium — $50–$200 difference

Year & Mileage

Newer vehicles (2010+) generally have more valuable parts. But age matters less than condition — a well-maintained 2005 can outvalue a wrecked 2018. High mileage reduces resale but not scrap value.

Impact: Low–Medium — $25–$200 difference

Title Status

No title means a significantly lower offer — about $160 less on average — and some buyers won't touch it at all. A clean title proves legal ownership and makes the transaction simple. Replacement titles cost $15–$50 at your DMV and can pay for themselves many times over.

Impact: Medium–High — ~$160 average difference

Price Adjustments

What Adds or Reduces Your Junk Car's Value?

These specific factors push your offer up or down from the base price for your vehicle's category.

Adds Value

Running & driveable

+$300–$2,500

Single biggest value-add. Even a rough-running engine adds significant value over a non-runner.

Factory catalytic converter intact

+$50–$250

Contains platinum, palladium, and rhodium. SUV and truck cats are worth more.

Clean title in hand

+~$160 avg

Proves ownership, simplifies transaction. Worth getting a replacement if you've lost yours.

High-demand make/model

+$50–$300

Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado — parts sell fast.

Newer model year (2010+)

+$100–$500

More modern parts, higher rebuild potential, better resale value.

Truck or full-size SUV

+$100–$400

Heavier = more metal. Parts demand for trucks is consistently high.

Reduces Value

Non-running / won't start

−$300–$2,000

Unverified engine and transmission. Buyer assumes the worst.

Missing catalytic converter

−$50–$250

One of the most commonly stolen parts. Without it, the car loses a key value component.

No title

−~$160 avg

Legal risk for the buyer. Some states require extra DMV steps. Some buyers won't make an offer at all.

Missing engine or transmission

−$200–$500

Major components gone. Value drops to near scrap-only pricing.

Missing wheels or tires

−$80–$200

Makes towing harder and more expensive. Reduces parts inventory.

Airbags deployed / major collision

−$100–$400

Deployed airbags signal structural damage. Frame damage limits rebuild potential.

Flood or fire damage

−$200–$500

Electrical systems compromised. Frame integrity questionable. Often scrap-only value.

Prices by Vehicle Type

How Much Is a Junk Car Worth by Vehicle Type?

Bigger vehicles are worth more because they weigh more and often have higher-demand parts.

Vehicle Type	Non-Running (Incomplete)	Non-Running (Complete)	Running
Compact Car Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra	$75–$250	$200–$500	$500–$2,500
Midsize Sedan Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu	$100–$350	$250–$600	$600–$3,000
Full-Size Sedan Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, Dodge Charger	$125–$400	$300–$700	$700–$3,500
Compact SUV Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape	$125–$375	$300–$650	$700–$3,500
Full-Size SUV Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon	$200–$550	$400–$900	$1,000–$5,000+
Pickup Truck Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, RAM 1500	$175–$500	$350–$850	$800–$5,000+
Minivan Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan	$100–$350	$250–$600	$500–$2,500
Luxury / European BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4	$150–$400	$300–$700	$800–$4,000

Prices by Year

Junk Car Prices by Age

Newer junk cars tend to have more valuable parts. Here's a general pricing range by model year.

Model Year Range	Running	Non-Running	Why
2015–2024	$1,500–$7,000+	$500–$1,500	High parts demand, modern safety equipment, potential rebuild value
2010–2014	$800–$4,000	$300–$800	Still-common parts, reasonable salvage market, some dealer demand
2005–2009	$500–$2,500	$200–$600	Parts demand declining but still available; older catalytic converters may be valuable
2000–2004	$300–$1,500	$150–$400	Limited parts demand; value increasingly tied to metal weight
Pre-2000	$200–$800	$100–$300	Primarily scrap metal value unless classic or collector interest

By Location

Highest-Paying Cities for Junk Cars

Ranked by average payout across recent purchases. Prices vary based on local recycler competition and proximity to steel mills.

#	City	Avg Payout
1	Irvine, CA	$1,095
2	Gilbert, AZ	$1,080
3	Houston, TX	$1,015
4	Jersey City, NJ	$960
5	Los Angeles, CA	$955
6	Newark, NJ	$950
7	San Diego, CA	$915
8	Plano, TX	$915
9	Austin, TX	$885
10	San Francisco, CA	$875
11	Anaheim, CA	$865
12	Long Beach, CA	$860
13	Arlington, TX	$860
14	Orlando, FL	$860
15	Garland, TX	$850
16	Chandler, AZ	$850
17	Miami, FL	$820
18	San Antonio, TX	$810
19	Tampa, FL	$810
20	Omaha, NE	$810
21	Chula Vista, CA	$800
22	Santa Ana, CA	$800
23	Philadelphia, PA	$790
24	Chicago, IL	$780
25	Aurora, CO	$770
26	Mesa, AZ	$765
27	Nashville, TN	$760
28	Scottsdale, AZ	$735
29	Washington, D.C., (District of Columbia)	$730
30	Phoenix, AZ	$725

Maximize Your Payout

How to Get the Most Money for Your Junk Car

These steps can add $50–$500 to your final payout.

1

Keep it complete

A car with all parts intact — engine, transmission, catalytic converter, battery — is worth significantly more. Don't let a mechanic strip parts before you sell.

2

Get multiple quotes

Offers can vary by hundreds of dollars between buyers. Get at least 3 quotes from junkyards, online buyers, and scrap dealers before accepting.

3

Be accurate about condition

Honest descriptions lead to accurate quotes. Surprises at pickup mean price adjustments — always downward.

4

Have your title ready

No-title vehicles sell for 20–40% less because the buyer takes on legal risk and extra DMV paperwork. Get a replacement title before selling if possible.

5

Time it right

Scrap prices peak in spring/summer when construction demand rises. Check our price trends page to see where the market is heading.

6

Remove personal items, leave car parts

Clean out your belongings but never strip parts to sell separately unless you're sure you'll net more. A complete car is almost always worth more whole.

By Make & Model

What We Pay for Specific Models

Average prices paid for 20 popular models. Click any model for its full scrap value breakdown.

Chevrolet 3 Avg Price Paid

Chevrolet Equinox	$518
Chevrolet Impala	$343
Chevrolet Malibu	$432

Ford 5 Avg Price Paid

Ford Escape	565
Ford Explorer	$452
Ford F-150	$636
Ford Focus	$417
Ford Fusion	$457

Honda 4 Avg Price Paid

Honda Accord	$474
Honda CR-V	$1004
Honda Civic	$564
Honda Odyssey	$482

Hyundai 2 Avg Price Paid

Hyundai Elantra	$633
Hyundai Sonata	$560

Jeep 1 Avg Price Paid

Jeep Grand Cherokee	$531

Nissan 2 Avg Price Paid

Nissan Altima	$429
Nissan Sentra	$505

Toyota 3 Avg Price Paid

Toyota Camry	$543
Toyota Corolla	$888
Toyota Prius	$914

FAQ

Junk Car Value Questions

Call (855) 476-1118

A junk car without a title is typically worth 20–40% less than the same car with a title. Without a title, the buyer assumes legal risk and must handle additional DMV paperwork to obtain a salvage title. We still buy cars without titles in most states, but we recommend getting a replacement title first if possible — it usually costs $15–$50 at your local DMV and can add hundreds to your payout.

Almost never. Repair costs rarely translate dollar-for-dollar into a higher offer. A $500 engine repair might only add $200–$300 to your junk car's value. The exception is if the repair would make the car driveable — running vehicles are worth significantly more. But if you're looking at a $2,000 repair bill on a car worth $3,000 running, it's usually better to sell it as-is.

Scrap value is the raw metal weight of your car multiplied by current per-ton steel prices — it's the absolute minimum your car is worth. Junk car value includes the scrap value plus the value of any usable parts (engine, transmission, catalytic converter, body panels, electronics). A complete vehicle is almost always worth more than its scrap weight alone.

Different buyers value different things. A scrapyard cares about metal weight. A salvage yard wants parts they can resell. An auto recycler might want the catalytic converter specifically. Some buyers include free towing, others deduct it. That's why we recommend getting at least 3 quotes. Our offers are all-inclusive — towing and paperwork are always free, so the price we quote is the amount you receive.

Yes. Vehicles with high parts demand — Honda Civics, Toyota Camrys, Ford F-150s, Chevy Silverados — consistently command higher offers because their parts sell faster and at higher prices. Trucks and SUVs also pay more simply because they weigh more. We publish specific pricing for popular models on our individual vehicle pages.

Absolutely. Non-running vehicles make up a large portion of what we buy. Dead battery, blown engine, transmission failure, seized motor — we buy them all. The vehicle just needs to be accessible for our tow truck. Non-running cars with all parts intact are still worth $300–$800 on average, depending on size and model.