# How junkyards price cars

> A junkyard's offer starts with what it can earn from your car, mainly reusable parts, the catalytic converter and the scrap metal, and then subtracts its costs, such as towing, handling and processing. That's why two yards can quote very different prices for the same car on the same day, and why the same car can be worth more or less from one month to the next.

Reviewed 2026-10-12 by the Junk Cars Nation editorial team. Canonical: https://junkcarsnation.com/guides/how-junkyards-price-cars/

A junkyard prices your car by estimating what it can earn from it and subtracting what it will cost to get it and process it. You can't see the yard's spreadsheet, but you can understand what goes into it and make sure you're quoted on the right facts.

## What the yard can earn from your car

### Reusable parts

Many yards resell used parts. The Automotive Recyclers Association describes the industry's approach as reclaiming parts for reuse first, then recycling the steel and aluminum that's left.[^1] A common model with working parts in demand can be worth more to a yard than its metal alone. A rare or very old model may have few parts buyers.

That's why the yard asks for the **year, make, model, trim and mileage**, and whether the engine and transmission work. You can confirm those details with a [VIN decoder](/vin-decoder/).

### Scrap metal

Whatever can't be resold goes to scrap. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, automobiles are the primary source of old steel scrap in the U.S., and more than 13 million tons of steel per year are recycled from automobiles at car shredders in North America.[^2]

Scrap prices move, and offers tend to move with them. USGS reports these average delivered prices for No. 1 heavy melting steel scrap:[^2]

| Year | Average price per metric ton |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $417.66 |
| 2022 | $381.72 |
| 2023 | $333.28 |
| 2024 | $314.85 |
| 2025 (estimate) | $319 |

Within 2025, monthly composite prices ranged from a high of $366.26 per ton in March to a low of $303.46 per ton in November.[^2] These are steel mill prices, not what a yard pays for a car, but they show why a quote from last spring may not match one today.

### The catalytic converter

Converters contain platinum, palladium and rhodium. NICB has pointed to the rising market value of these precious metals as one reason converters became a target for thieves.[^3] A car with its original converter is generally worth more to a yard than one without it. See [catalytic converters and junk cars](/guides/catalytic-converter-and-junk-cars/).

### Other materials

Aluminum wheels, batteries and some other components may be sold separately. Each yard handles these differently.

## What the yard subtracts

- **Towing.** Picking up a car costs the buyer driver time, fuel and truck use. The farther you are from the yard and the harder the car is to reach, the more this cuts into the offer. Ask whether towing is included. See [junk car towing](/guides/junk-car-towing/).
- **Processing.** The yard has to remove fluids and parts and get the car ready for the crusher or shredder. That labor is built into every offer.
- **Paperwork risk.** Junk and salvage yards must report every vehicle they receive to NMVTIS, including the VIN, the date and who they got it from.[^4] A car without a clean title takes more work and carries more risk, so offers drop and some yards won't buy at all.
- **Missing parts.** If the engine, transmission, converter or wheels are gone, the offer drops to reflect it.

## Factors you control

| Factor | Why it matters | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Accurate description | The quote assumes what you told them | List what's missing or damaged, and whether it starts and drives |
| Title in hand | More buyers, less risk for the buyer | Find it or [get a duplicate](/guides/how-to-get-a-duplicate-title/) |
| Completeness | Parts and converter are part of the value | Don't strip the car before quoting |
| Access | Easier pickup costs the buyer less | Make sure the car is reachable and the tires hold air if possible |
| Comparing quotes | Yards value cars differently | Get several offers for the same description |

## Why quotes differ so much

Two yards can look at the same car and see different things. One may need parts from your model for its inventory, and another may only want it for scrap. One is 5 miles away and another is 50. One may resell parts itself while another sells whole cars to a shredder. That's normal. The way to protect yourself is to describe the car the same way to everyone and compare.

Watch out for a quote far above the others. A buyer who wins your business with a high number and then cuts it at pickup is a known pattern. See [junk car scams](/guides/junk-car-scams/).

## What a yard won't usually pay extra for

- **Recent repairs or new tires,** unless they make a part resellable.
- **A full gas tank.** Leave only what the car needs to be loaded.
- **Cleaning.** It's worth removing your belongings and trash, but detailing won't change a scrap quote.

## Putting it together

The offer you get roughly reflects: parts the yard can sell + converter + metal − towing − processing − paperwork risk. Your car's [junk car value](/guides/junk-car-value/) is whatever a buyer will pay after doing that math. The best you can do is give accurate details, have your paperwork ready and compare offers. When you're ready, you can [get an offer for your car](/cash-for-junk-cars/).

For what happens after the car leaves your driveway, see [how car recycling works](/guides/how-car-recycling-works/).

[^1]: Automotive Recyclers Association, "Industry statistics", https://www.a-r-a.org/industry-statistics/
[^2]: U.S. Geological Survey, "Iron and Steel Scrap", Mineral Commodity Summaries, February 2026, https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-iron-steel-scrap.pdf
[^3]: National Insurance Crime Bureau, "As Catalytic Converter Thefts Continue To Increase Nationwide, NICB Partners With Local Businesses To Help Protect Consumers", January 27, 2023, https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/catalytic-converter-thefts-continue-increase-nationwide-nicb-partners-local-0
[^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, NMVTIS, "NMVTIS Reporting Entities: For Auto Recyclers, Salvage Yards, and Junk Yards", https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis_auto

## Questions people ask

**Do junkyards pay by weight?**

Weight matters because the metal is sold as scrap, but most yards also consider parts value, the catalytic converter, completeness, paperwork and towing distance. A heavy car with nothing reusable and a lighter car with in-demand parts can get very different offers.

**Why did my quote change from last month?**

Scrap metal prices move. USGS reports that composite prices for No. 1 heavy melting steel scrap ranged from $366.26 per ton in March 2025 to $303.46 per ton in November 2025. Yards' offers tend to follow these markets.

**Does a car that runs get more money?**

Often, because a running car can be moved more easily and its engine and transmission can be tested and resold. How much more depends on the buyer and the model.

**Why does the yard want my title?**

Junk and salvage yards must report each vehicle they take in to NMVTIS, including the VIN and who they got it from, and state title rules apply when a vehicle is transferred or retired. A missing title usually means fewer buyers and lower offers.