How much is my junk car worth? Price the scrap before you take the first offer
Most junk cars fetch $100-$500 cash, with running trucks and SUVs reaching $600-$800+. Buyers start from scrap value: curb weight in tons x the local steel price (national quotes have run about $100-$220 a ton recently). A 3,300 lb sedan that doesn't run is worth roughly $250 at $150/ton; the same car running and driving gets closer to $500 because the buyer can resell parts or flip it whole. An intact catalytic converter, a clean title, and all four wheels add to the number; a missing converter, no title, or a stripped interior subtract from it. Get 3-5 quotes, and always insist on free towing.
Don't know the curb weight? Pick a vehicle type and we'll use a typical curb weight; the exact figure is in your door-jam sticker or owner's manual.
| Curb Weight | Tons | Steel $100/ton | Steel $150/ton | Steel $200/ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500 lb | 1.25 | $125 | $188 | $250 |
| 3,000 lb | 1.50 | $150 | $225 | $300 |
| 3,500 lb | 1.75 | $175 | $263 | $350 |
| 4,000 lb | 2.00 | $200 | $300 | $400 |
| 4,500 lb | 2.25 | $225 | $338 | $450 |
| 5,000 lb | 2.50 | $250 | $375 | $500 |
Typical curb weights: compact 2,400-2,900 lb, sedan 3,000-3,600 lb, crossover/SUV 3,800-4,500 lb, half-ton pickup 4,400-5,500 lb, van 4,500-5,300 lb. Steel prices are regional and move month to month; the $100-$220 band covers the national range seen in recent years, with $150/ton a workable default. The buyer's offer sits above pure scrap only when parts or resale add value.
| Vehicle | Curb Weight | Condition | Typical Cash Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact (Civic, Corolla) | ~2,800 lb | Not running, complete | $168 – $263 |
| Sedan (Camry, Accord) | ~3,300 lb | Not running, complete | $198 – $309 |
| Sedan (Camry, Accord) | ~3,300 lb | Runs and drives | $397 – $621 |
| SUV (Explorer, CR-V) | ~4,300 lb | Runs and drives | $481 – $752 |
| Pickup (F-150, Silverado) | ~4,600 lb | Runs and drives | $506 – $791 |
| Any of the above | — | No title | minus 10-20% |
Rows use the calculator's model at $150/ton steel: raw scrap for the weight, plus a running premium (a buyer can resell or part out a drivable car), minus deductions for a missing converter or title problems. Ranges are national labels, not quotes; your local scrap price and the buyer's inventory decide the real number.
A junk car is worth more than most sellers expect and less than most hope. The buyer's math is short: how much is the steel, what can I resell, and what will it cost me to haul. This calculator runs the same three questions so you can spot a lowball before the tow truck shows up.
Scrap value = curb weight (lb) / 2,000 x steel price per ton. On top of that, a running car earns a premium (about $150 plus $60 per ton, since the buyer can flip or part it instead of shredding it). Deductions: about $75 off for missing major parts, $100 off if the catalytic converter is gone, and 15% off the total without a title because the buyer absorbs paperwork risk. The output range is roughly 80% to 125% of the modeled midpoint, matching how widely real quotes vary.
Enter your curb weight if you know it (door-jam sticker or owner's manual), or pick your vehicle type and use its typical weight. Leave the steel price at $150/ton unless you have a local quote. Set the condition toggles to match reality, especially the converter and title. The estimate is a negotiating reference, not an appraisal; the market check is 3-5 real quotes.
Example 1: a 2011 Camry with a blown head gasket. Curb weight 3,300 lb, doesn't run, complete, clean title, converter intact. At $150/ton steel, scrap value is 1.65 x $150 = $248. No running premium, no deductions: expect roughly $198-$309 cash, with $248 the center. An offer of $75 from an instant-quote service is well below the steel alone, which is your cue to keep dialing.
Example 2: a 2005 F-150 that still drives, 4,600 lb. Scrap is 2.3 x $150 = $345, plus the running premium of $150 + (2.3 x $60) = $288, for a midpoint of $633 and a range of about $506-$791. Same truck without a title: multiply by 0.85 for roughly $538 center.
Example 3: a stripped compact. 2,600 lb, not running, no title, converter already sold: 1.3 x $150 = $195 scrap, minus $100 converter, minus $75 incomplete, then x0.85 for the title = $17. Yes, some cars are worth almost nothing, and it's cheaper to learn that here than after the buyer arrives. In that case donating the car or paying a hauler may beat the offers.
Timing matters less than competition. Steel prices drift, but the spread between your highest and lowest quote, often $100-$300 on the same car, is bigger than the market's monthly move. Sellers who name a number ("I've got $X from another yard") after running this math consistently land near the top of the range.
Most junk cars sell for $100 to $500 cash, with running trucks and SUVs reaching $600-$800. Buyers price the scrap: curb weight in tons times the local steel price (recently $100-$220 a ton), so a 3,300 lb sedan is worth about $250 in steel at $150/ton, and a 4,600 lb pickup about $345. A running engine, an intact catalytic converter, and a clean title each add to the payout.
The floor is scrap value: weight times the current price per ton, minus the buyer's towing and margin. Above that floor they pay for parts they can resell if the car runs or has desirable components, which is why a drivable car gets $150-$400 more than the same car on a tow hook. Missing wheels, a sold catalytic converter, or no title all chip away at the number.
Get 3-5 quotes and let them compete; offers on the same car routinely differ by $100-$300. Local junkyards and salvage buyers often beat national instant-quote services because there's no middleman. Towing should always be free, so treat any towing fee as a price cut. Quotes move with scrap steel prices, which swing enough that a month's delay can change the number.
Usually yes, but rules vary by state and by buyer: some states let licensed salvage buyers take a car with the registration and your photo ID, and some charge a bond or penalty fee instead. Expect 10-20% off the offer without a title even where it's allowed, because the buyer takes on the paperwork risk. This is general information, not legal advice; check your state DMV's process.
As scrap, common car converters fetch roughly $50-$300, and large-truck or hybrid units can run much higher because of their platinum, palladium, and rhodium content. Many sellers remove and sell the converter separately, but the junkyard payout drops by about what the converter was worth. Check current scrap converter quotes before deciding which way to sell it.