Junk Car Prices Per Ton: View Scrap Prices for Cars in June 2026
The nationwide average scrap price for junk cars is currently $175 per ton. Know your state's junk car prices per ton, your car's curb weight, and you have the minimum any scrap buyer should pay. Michigan, California, and Ohio lead the country — Alaska and Hawaii sit well below average.
Have your title ready — it affects your offer. And remember: most complete junk cars are worth more than scrap prices alone suggest. See current junk car prices for the full picture including parts and converter value.
Car Scrap Prices Calculator — Prices Per Ton by State
Enter your car's curb weight and state to see the scrap floor. Results show scrap car prices per ton and what buyers typically offer on the same vehicle.
Enter weight and state to see the scrap floor for your junk car.
Junk Car Scrap Prices Per Ton by State
Current car scrap prices across 29 states, June 2026. Rates are based on direct calls to 3 to 5 scrap yards per state. States grouped by price tier.
| State | Per-ton rate | Complete car (2k–6k lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $190–$200 | $190–$600 |
| Michigan | $185–$195 | $185–$585 |
| Illinois | $180–$190 | $180–$570 |
| New York | $180–$190 | $180–$570 |
| New Jersey | $180–$190 | $180–$570 |
| Ohio | $175–$185 | $175–$555 |
| Indiana | $175–$185 | $175–$555 |
| Pennsylvania | $175–$185 | $175–$555 |
| Massachusetts | $175–$185 | $175–$555 |
| Wisconsin | $170–$180 | $170–$540 |
| Maryland | $170–$180 | $170–$540 |
| State | Per-ton rate | Complete car (2k–6k lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $170–$180 | $170–$540 |
| Minnesota | $168–$178 | $168–$534 |
| Washington | $168–$178 | $168–$534 |
| Missouri | $165–$175 | $165–$525 |
| Colorado | $165–$175 | $165–$525 |
| Arizona | $165–$175 | $165–$525 |
| Virginia | $162–$172 | $162–$516 |
| North Carolina | $160–$170 | $160–$510 |
| Tennessee | $160–$170 | $160–$510 |
| Florida | $158–$168 | $158–$504 |
| Georgia | $158–$168 | $158–$504 |
| South Carolina | $155–$165 | $155–$495 |
| Nevada | $155–$165 | $155–$495 |
| State | Per-ton rate | Complete car (2k–6k lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $152–$162 | $152–$486 |
| Alaska | $140–$150 | $140–$450 |
| Hawaii | $140–$150 | $140–$450 |
Complete car range based on vehicles 2,000–6,000 lbs. June 2026 survey data.
Scrap Value of Junk Cars by Vehicle Type
Scrap prices by vehicle type at current nationwide rates. Heavier vehicles contain more steel — higher curb weight means a higher scrap value floor regardless of condition or age.
| Vehicle type | Typical weight | Low ($150/ton) | Avg ($175/ton) | High ($200/ton) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Car Civic, Corolla | 2,500–3,000 lbs | $188–$225 | $219–$263 | $250–$300 |
| Midsize Sedan Accord, Camry | 3,200–3,600 lbs | $240–$270 | $280–$315 | $320–$360 |
| Full-Size Sedan Impala, Taurus | 3,800–4,200 lbs | $285–$315 | $333–$368 | $380–$420 |
| Compact SUV CR-V, RAV4 | 3,400–3,800 lbs | $255–$285 | $298–$333 | $340–$380 |
| Full-Size SUV Tahoe, Expedition | 5,500–6,000 lbs | $413–$450 | $481–$525 | $550–$600 |
| Pickup Truck F-150, Silverado | 4,500–5,500 lbs | $338–$413 | $394–$481 | $450–$550 |
| Minivan Odyssey, Sienna | 4,300–4,800 lbs | $323–$360 | $376–$420 | $430–$480 |
These figures are the scrap-only floor — what scrap yards pay treating your car as pure ferrous metal. Most complete cars are worth more when parts, aluminum components, copper wiring, and catalytic converter value are factored in. Buyers who price the full asset — not just steel — consistently pay more. Free towing is included, so there's no deduction at pickup. See junk car prices by make and model for full-value estimates.
Copper, Aluminum, and Steel Scrap Prices in Your Car
Steel is 65% of a typical car's curb weight, but copper and aluminum carry far higher per-pound scrap prices. This is why full-value buyers consistently outpay scrap yards on complete junk cars.
What Moves Scrap Prices — Six Variables That Affect Your Car's Value
Six factors that push car scrap prices above or below the state average in 2026.
The core scrap equation: curb weight in pounds divided by 2,000 equals tons, times the per-ton rate equals your floor. A Tahoe at 5,800 lbs has a scrap floor roughly twice a Civic at 2,800 lbs. Steel makes up about 65% of curb weight — the rest is aluminum, copper, and other components.
States near steel mills, shredder hubs, and export terminals have more buyers competing for cars — Michigan, Illinois, and California consistently lead. The spread between top states and Hawaii is ~$50/ton, or roughly $50 to $90 more cash on a typical junk car.
Car scrap prices follow a seasonal wave — spring and summer peak, winter floor. The average scrap price nationwide typically climbs 5 to 10% from January to May. Waiting for a $15/ton increase adds ~$25 on a typical car — rarely worth the holding cost.
Complete cars are worth more at scrap yards than stripped ones. Intact aluminum rims, copper wiring, engine components, and the catalytic converter all add value beyond the steel floor. Stripping parts before selling typically reduces the total you receive.
Palladium, platinum, and rhodium inside converters are priced daily on precious metal markets. High-converter cars like the Prius can see 25 to 40% of total scrap value in the converter alone. A missing converter is the single biggest price reduction on a complete car.
Having a clean title allows buyers maximum flexibility — resale, parts, or scrap. No title means extra paperwork and state-specific hoops, which reduces what scrap yards and buyers will pay. In most states you can get a duplicate title for $20 to $50, which usually more than pays for itself. Free towing is standard on full-value offers — no deduction at pickup.
Junk Car Scrap Price FAQ
Common questions about car scrap prices, nationwide averages, and how buyers calculate offers.
The scrap rate is the floor.
Your junk car is worth more.
These tables show what scrap yards pay by weight. Clunqr Buyers add parts demand, catalytic converter value, aluminum and copper components, and local competition on top. For most complete junk cars, that difference is $50 to $400.
See current junk car prices →Data sources and methodology: Per-ton scrap steel rates sourced from Fastmarkets AMM weekly trade composite and cross-referenced against publicly available Midwest busheling indices. State-level car scrap prices based on direct calls to 3 to 5 scrap yards and salvage operations per state conducted March through June 2026. Catalytic converter precious metal valuations based on Johnson Matthey monthly PGM price reports. Curb weight data from NHTSA records. Clunqr offer ranges reflect actual offers on these car types in the current market. This page is published by Clunqr, which buys junk cars — we have an interest in showing that complete-vehicle offers outperform scrap-only pricing. We've tried to report the data accurately; the best verification is to get both numbers yourself.