Scrap My Car

When selling your car for scrap, you have a few options. Each comes with  pros and cons, and the type of buyer you choose depends on what you want from the selling experience. In the sections below, we will break down the main options you have for getting rid of a junk car.

Junkyards or Auto Salvage Yards

Selling a car for scrap at a junkyard is often the first option that comes to mind for most people. It is generally an easy process, and many junk yards offer towing services. However, compared to other options like online car buyers and selling junk cars privately, you’ll get a lower price.

Scrap Metal Yards

When your car is not running or you just want to sell a damaged car, scrap metal yards can be a good option. Scrap metal yards specialize in recycling anything metal, including cars, electronics, appliances, wiring and more. However, if you have parts in your car that are still usable, you can often get more for your vehicle elsewhere.

Online Junk Car Buyers

There are online companies that will offer you an instant online quote for a scrap vehicle, tow your car for free and give you money on the spot. This option tends to give you top dollar for vehicles compared to scrap yards, and gives sellers the easiest experience overall. Many of these scrap car buyers will also buy your junk car and get rid of it at no cost to you, regardless of condition.

Scrapping a car involves calling junkyards or car recycling centers in your area and getting a few bids for your vehicle. Once you find the best offer, you can sign your title over. We’ll go over the basic steps below, but you can find more details on the process in our article on how to junk a car.

1. Locate your car’s title.
2. Note the car’s year, make, model, mileage, VIN and condition.
3. Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) to see if it requires a vehicle sale declaration form or a signed, notarized title.
4. Find a few reputable junkyards in your area.
5. Call each junkyard and get a cash offer for your vehicle.
6. Pick the best option, factoring in whether the junkyard provides free towing.
7. Sign the title over to the junkyard and make sure you get the agreed-upon price for your vehicle.
8. Cancel the car registration and complete any after-sale paperwork required by your state.

How Can I Scrap a Car for the Most Money?

Generally speaking, the best way to get the most money when scrapping your car is to research vehicle pricing before going into a sale. You can do this by using a scrap car valuation calculator or comparing offers from multiple types of buyers to get the best offer. Also, finding out pricing for car parts and selling these separately can help you get more value out of your junk car.

Average pricing for junk cars sits around $646 in 2023 across all vehicle types. Scrap car prices depend on the type of vehicle, as well as its age and condition and who the buyer is. You could get $200 to $500 if you scrap a sedan and can get more for scrapping large vehicles like SUVs because they have more materials to recycle.

Peddle gave us a cash offer of $400 for a 2004 Nissan Altima with 250,000 miles. Copart offered about $97 less for that same car.

If your car is no longer roadworthy, it may be time to scrap the vehicle. Whether you sell it to a company like Peddle or to a local junkyard, scrapping your car is the best way to salvage some value from a non-roadworthy vehicle. Photo: mino21 – stock.adobe.com

You should scrap your car if it’s no longer roadworthy. Perhaps you’ve tried to list it on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and haven’t gotten any bites. At this point, the only thing left to do might be to contact a salvage yard or an online car buyer to get a great price for the scrap value of your vehicle.

You might also want to scrap your car if it needs repairs that cost more than the vehicle is worth. That’s a good indication that it’s time to sell the old car for its scrap metal.

When scrapping a car, there is more to take into account than selling the car as-is.

Can I Scrap My Car Without a Title?

Many scrapyards will buy a car without a title, but you’ll get a lower offer. This is because the scrapyard or car recycling company will have to apply for a new title. Depending on your state’s laws, you may be able to show proof of ownership at the junkyard with your registration or a bill of sale. You could get a duplicate title before selling your scrap car, but you’ll have to pay a fee to your state’s DMV.

Can I Scrap a Car I Still Owe Money On?

You can’t sell a junk car that has any liens on its title. When you have an auto loan, your lender has a lien on your vehicle until it’s paid off. That lien must be satisfied before you can sell the scrap vehicle.

Should I Sell Car Parts for Cash?

You can sell some of your car’s parts for cash if you’re mechanically inclined. The catalytic converter is a big-ticket item and can fetch a few hundred dollars or more depending on the type and condition. You can also sell aftermarket rims, audio systems, spare tires and more.

However, if you part your salvage car out, the junkyard will give you a lower offer for it. It also takes time, energy and know-how to dismantle your vehicle and sell the parts.

Alternatives to Scrapping a Car

Out of all the options for selling your car, scrapping it will typically bring you the least amount of money. So it’s important to check your car’s value on the used market before you jump ahead to scrap it. You can get an estimate of your car’s value by using tools on sites like Kelley Blue Book and Carfax.

Here are other options you could consider before heading to the junkyard:

• Selling it to a dealership: Depending on the vehicle’s condition, you might be able to get more money from an online dealership like Carvana or CarMax.
• Selling it to a private buyer: A hobbyist or mechanic may give you a better price than the junkyard.
• Donating it: This option takes the hassle out of contacting multiple junkyards. Many organizations across the country would be happy to pick your car up for free and provide paperwork for a possible tax deduction.

The easiest way to scrap a car is to sell it to a company like Peddle or Copart. You can get an instant offer online and get your car towed away for free. An alternative is to sell your used car to a local junkyard that will dismantle it. Whatever you decide to do, research a few options first to find the best offer for your car.

Below are some frequently asked questions about scrapping a car:

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Industry standing: Our research team considers ratings from industry experts and years in business when determining this score.
• Platform: Platforms that offer a variety of features, including instant offers and multiple sales options, are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Cost: To compare providers’ average offer prices, our team conducted a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicle types. We also considered the fees companies charge to use their platforms.
• Support: Car selling companies that offer strong transaction support received the highest scores in this category. This includes offerings like free pickup service as well as how quickly you receive your payment.
• Customer experience: This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot as well as our team’s experience reaching out to each platform.

*Data accurate at time of publication