How do you calculate the scrap value of a car?
Scrap value estimator
Pick the vehicle type and the price per ton your local yard quotes for whole cars.
1.6 tons × $150 per tonAbout $240in metal, before any towing fee. Working parts add to it.
Get my real offer- Find the curb weight in the owner's manual or the manufacturer's specifications. The label on the driver's door jamb lists the GVWR, which is the maximum loaded weight, not the curb weight.
- Convert pounds to tons by dividing by 2,000. A 3,200-pound sedan is 1.6 tons.
- Ask two or three local scrap yards for their price per ton for whole cars. Some quote a lower price for incomplete cars or car bodies.
- Multiply the weight by the price, then subtract the yard's towing fee and any deduction for a missing engine, transmission or catalytic converter.
- Compare that number with an offer from a buyer that also pays for parts, which is often higher for newer or running cars.
| Vehicle | Approx. curb weight | At $130 per ton | At $210 per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) | $182 | $294 |
| Midsize sedan | 1.6 tons (3,200 lb) | $208 | $336 |
| Midsize SUV | 2.1 tons (4,200 lb) | $273 | $441 |
| Full-size pickup | 2.5 tons (5,000 lb) | $325 | $525 |
- Approx. curb weight:
- 1.4 tons (2,800 lb)
- At $130 per ton:
- $182
- At $210 per ton:
- $294
- Approx. curb weight:
- 1.6 tons (3,200 lb)
- At $130 per ton:
- $208
- At $210 per ton:
- $336
- Approx. curb weight:
- 2.1 tons (4,200 lb)
- At $130 per ton:
- $273
- At $210 per ton:
- $441
- Approx. curb weight:
- 2.5 tons (5,000 lb)
- At $130 per ton:
- $325
- At $210 per ton:
- $525
Those numbers assume the car is bought for metal only. Yards that charge for towing or deduct for missing parts will pay less. A buyer that values parts can pay more.
Why do scrap prices change?
Scrap yards set their price per ton from the steel market, so it moves month to month. The U.S. producer price index for iron and steel scrap (BLS series WPU1012) rose about 10% from September 2025 to September 2026, after falling about 15% between March and October 2025. A quote from last season can be well off today's price, so ask for a current number.
What adds value on top of scrap
- A working engine or transmission, especially from a popular model
- The catalytic converter, which contains platinum, palladium and rhodium (it has to be the original, attached to the car)
- Good tires and alloy wheels
- Undamaged body panels, doors, lights and glass
- Electronics and modules from newer cars
- A newer model year, since parts for recent cars are in higher demand
That's why two cars of the same weight can get very different offers. A ten-year-old sedan with a dead transmission might be worth several times its scrap value if the engine and body are clean.
No obligation.
What lowers a junk car's value
- Missing catalytic converter, engine or transmission
- Fire damage, which ruins most parts
- Long pickup distance, for buyers that charge towing
- No title, in states where that adds paperwork
Is it better to scrap or sell a car?
Sell it if it runs or has parts in demand. A running car or a newer model is usually worth more to a used car or parts buyer than its weight in steel. Scrap it when the car is stripped, burned or so old that only the metal has value. One offer from a buyer that prices both tells you which applies, and ours is free.
Frequently asked questions
How much do junkyards pay for cars?
Most junkyards pay by weight at their current price per ton, so a 1.6-ton sedan at $150 a ton brings about $240, and some deduct a towing fee. A buyer that also values working parts often pays more, especially for newer or popular models.
What is the minimum scrap value of a car?
There's no fixed minimum. A complete car is worth roughly its weight times the local scrap price. A stripped shell with no engine, transmission or catalytic converter is worth much less, and a yard's towing fee can wipe out most of it. Car Emptor's towing is free, so nothing is deducted for the tow.
Is my car worth more for parts or scrap?
If it's a newer or popular model with working parts, it's usually worth more for parts, because a working engine, transmission or set of body panels can sell for more than the whole car's metal. An old, stripped or burned car is mostly worth its weight in steel.
Does the catalytic converter add value?
Yes. The original catalytic converter contains platinum, palladium and rhodium, and it is often the most valuable single part on a junk car. Buyers deduct for a missing or aftermarket converter. Leave it on the car; many states restrict selling a converter separately from the vehicle.
Sources
Reviewed by the Car Emptor team. Last updated November 6, 2026.