Scrap Cars: What They Weigh, What They Hold, What They Pay
Scrap cars are priced by weight and by what that weight is made of, which is why two vehicles that look equally finished can be worth very different money. Scrap value starts from a per-ton rate that moves with the global metal market and varies by more than 30% between states, then adds whatever the vehicle carries in aluminum, copper and precious metals.
This hub covers each of those inputs separately, so you can work out where your own car sits rather than accepting a number on faith.
- Priced on real weight, not a flat rate
- Current per-ton rates published by state
- Free pickup, cash before it loads
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What sets a scrap car price
Curb weight is the foundation. A compact sedan runs around 2,800 pounds, a midsize around 3,500, and a full-size truck or SUV can exceed 5,500. Since scrap is bought per ton, that spread alone means a truck starts from roughly double the base of a small car before anything else is considered.
Composition sits on top of weight. Roughly two-thirds of a vehicle is steel and iron, which sets the floor. Around 10% is aluminum, worth several times more per pound. Copper is a small share by weight but disproportionately valuable, concentrated in the wiring harness, starter and alternator.
Then there is the catalytic converter, which contains only a few grams of platinum, palladium and rhodium but at precious-metal prices routinely represents a large share of a low-value car's total worth. Whether it is still attached changes an offer more than almost any other single fact about the vehicle.
The last input is geography. Per-ton rates track regional demand, mill capacity and freight cost, and the gap between the highest and lowest states is wide enough that the same car is genuinely worth different money depending on where it is picked up.
Current Per-Ton Scrap Rates
What yards are paying by state for complete vehicles. Use it as a sanity check on any offer you have been given.
| State | Per ton | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| California | $190–$200 | Above average |
| Michigan | $185–$195 | Above average |
| Illinois | $180–$190 | Above average |
| New York | $180–$190 | Above average |
| New Jersey | $180–$190 | Above average |
| Ohio | $175–$185 | Above average |
| Indiana | $175–$185 | Above average |
| Pennsylvania | $175–$185 | Above average |
| Massachusetts | $175–$185 | Above average |
| Connecticut | $175–$185 | Above average |
| Wisconsin | $170–$180 | Above average |
| Maryland | $170–$180 | Above average |
| Texas | $170–$180 | Average |
| Minnesota | $168–$178 | Average |
| Washington | $168–$178 | Average |
| Missouri | $165–$175 | Average |
| Colorado | $165–$175 | Average |
| Arizona | $165–$175 | Average |
| Virginia | $162–$172 | Average |
| North Carolina | $160–$170 | Average |
| Tennessee | $160–$170 | Average |
| Oregon | $160–$170 | Average |
| Florida | $158–$168 | Average |
| Georgia | $158–$168 | Average |
| South Carolina | $155–$165 | Average |
| Kentucky | $155–$165 | Average |
| Nevada | $155–$165 | Average |
| Alabama | $152–$162 | Below average |
| Alaska | $140–$150 | Below average |
| Hawaii | $140–$150 | Below average |
Rates are for complete vehicles and move with the global metal market. Parts and converter value sit on top of these figures rather than inside them, which is why a real offer usually exceeds a pure weight calculation.
Advantages of Scrapping a Car Through a Licensed Recycler
Any yard will take the metal. A licensed recycler captures value at more stages, which is what makes a higher offer possible in the first place.
Parts are recovered before shredding
An operation that only sells tonnage values your car as bare weight. One that harvests components first can pay for the drivetrain, panels and converter as well.
The converter is paid for, not pocketed
It is the single most valuable item on most junk cars. It should be reflected in the quote you are given rather than discovered afterward.
Weight is measured, not estimated
Certified scales mean the tonnage is verifiable. That is the difference between a price and a guess.
The title is retired properly
Surrendered to the state so the VIN is closed out, along with any tickets, tolls or abandonment notices it might otherwise collect.
Depollution is handled under permit
Fuel, oil, coolant and refrigerant all come out before shredding. That is a legal obligation, and doing it properly is what separates a recycler from a dumping ground. What that process involves is covered under how vehicles are actually recycled.
Scrapping a Car
You do not need to weigh it, drain it or drive it anywhere.
- 1
Tell us what it is and where
Year, make, model and ZIP. Mention whether the converter, wheels and battery are still fitted — those three facts move the number most. Yards differ in how much of that they actually pay for — see which kinds of yard capture which value.
- 2
Get a weight-and-parts based figure
Priced against your state's current per-ton rate plus whatever the vehicle carries in recoverable components.
- 3
Free pickup, scheduled around you
Flatbed and winch as standard. The car does not need to start, roll or steer, and we come to wherever it is.
- 4
Paid at the vehicle
Cash or same-day transfer in the quoted amount, before it goes on the truck. Title surrendered afterward.
Scrap Car Questions
How is a scrap car price actually calculated?
Curb weight multiplied by the current per-ton rate in your state, plus the value of recoverable parts and the catalytic converter. Anyone quoting without asking about weight class or completeness is not calculating anything.
Is it worth stripping parts off before scrapping?
Almost never. Removing the converter, wheels or battery lowers our offer by more than those parts typically fetch sold separately, and it takes tools, time and a buyer for each one.
Do I get more if I deliver it to the yard myself?
Marginally in some cases, since the pickup cost comes off. It rarely covers arranging transport for a car that does not run, which is why free pickup exists.
Why do scrap prices change so much?
Steel scrap is a global commodity tied to construction demand, mill capacity and export markets. Rates move month to month, which is why our pricing table carries a visible update date.
Does a heavier car always pay more?
On weight alone, yes — which is why trucks and SUVs consistently outpay compact cars. Completeness can override it, though: a complete compact with its converter often beats a stripped truck.
Get a figure built from your actual car
Weight, completeness and your state's current rate, not a flat number. Ninety seconds, free pickup, cash at the vehicle.
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