Selling a junk car

What is the most a junkyard will pay for a car?

No law sets a ceiling, but scrap math caps most offers. A yard pricing by weight multiplies its per-ton rate by the car's weight, so a 4,000 lb pickup at $200 a ton brings about $400. One national buyer network's offer data puts the typical junk car offer at $325 to $425 across our five states, and the top quarter of offers starts somewhere between $425 and $625 depending on the state. A car beats scrap value when it still runs, is fairly new, or carries parts in demand, like a good engine, transmission or catalytic converter. At that point the buyer pays for parts, not metal, and a private buyer or an online instant offer may pay more than any yard.

Checked Oct 30, 2026