Sell Your Junk Car for Instant Cash
Most junk cars sold for $250 to $800 in 2026, averaging around $535. Weight sets the floor, and the catalytic converter, drivetrain, and title set the ceiling. Free pickup and towing included.
Request Your Live Offer
Why Sell With Us?
Top Dollar Offers
Our buyers pull live scrap and metals market pricing to give you the highest cash value.
Free Towing Included
No hidden transport or pick-up fees. We tow your non-running vehicle completely free.
Licensed & Verified
We only partner with certified recyclers and scrap brokers who handle all title transfers legally.
Paid Within 24 Hours
Get paid immediately in cash or check on the spot during vehicle retrieval.
Verified Recycler Network
“We coordinate directly with local certified dismantling facilities to ensure your vehicle is recycled in full compliance with state environmental laws.”
How selling a junk car works
Five steps from first quote to filed paperwork. The order matters most at the end: take payment before the car leaves, and file the transfer notice the same day.
- 1
Describe the vehicle
Give the year, make, model, trim, and mileage, plus whether it runs, whether the catalytic converter is still on it, and whether you hold the title. Each answer moves the offer, so precise answers get better quotes than vague ones.
- 2
Get your quote
A buyer prices weight against the current per-ton scrap rate, adds the resale value of parts they can move, then subtracts towing and their margin. Ask for the quote in writing with the condition spelled out.
- 3
Schedule free pickup
Free pickup within roughly 30 miles is standard, because towing costs the buyer $75 to $150 and is already priced into the offer. Beyond that range, expect a disclosed per-mile charge rather than a surprise deduction.
- 4
Hand over the paperwork
Bring the title, a government photo ID matching the name on it, and both keys. Clean the car out first, including the glove box, center console, spare tire well, and trunk.
- 5
Get paid, then file the transfer
Take payment before the car goes on the truck. Then file a notice of transfer or release of liability with your state DMV, so the vehicle stops being yours on record.
What actually moves your offer
Nobody is bidding on your paint or your interior. A buyer prices the car as recoverable material with a few high-margin components attached. Understanding that math makes a lowball offer obvious in thirty seconds.
Curb weight
Sets the floor. Scrap car prices ran $155 to $205 per ton as of July 1, 2026, with a national average near $175 to $190. Yards subtract roughly 500 lbs for tires and fluids before paying.
Catalytic converter
The highest-value single component on most junk cars, adding $75 to $900 in 2026 depending on platform. An aftermarket replacement is worth $20 to $50, so say so if yours was already swapped.
Running or not
A running car brings $150 to $500 more than the same model that will not start, because a yard can verify the engine in ninety seconds and list it as a tested unit rather than a core.
Title status
A clean title in your name is worth 30% to 60% of the offer. Without it, most licensed yards either walk or drop the price hard, because their salvage license is worth more than your car.
Location
A car within 15 miles of a shredder or busy dismantler is worth $50 to $100 more than the same car two hours out, purely on transport cost.
Scrap steel is a commodity and the rate moves monthly with steel demand and export volume. Every figure above carries the date it was accurate. A price quoted without a date is a guess. Browse local buyers in the salvage yard directory or read more in the blog.
The paperwork that protects you after the sale
File a notice of transfer or release of liability with your state DMV as soon as the car leaves. Until you do, the vehicle is still yours on record. In California the form is REG 138 and it is due within 5 days of the sale. Other states use different names and deadlines, and several accept the filing online in under ten minutes.
Skipping this step is how sellers end up with parking citations, toll violations, or an abandoned-vehicle notice months after handing over the keys. Cancel insurance only after the notice is filed, remove your plates unless your state transfers them with the vehicle, and keep a photo of the signed title and the bill of sale for at least a year.
Common Sourcing Questions
What is my junk car worth in 2026?
Most junk cars bring $250 to $800 in 2026, with a national average near $535. A compact with no title and no catalytic converter sits near the bottom. A full-size pickup or SUV with a clean title and a running engine can reach $1,200 to $1,500. Weight sets the floor and salvageable parts set the ceiling.
What paperwork do I need to sell my car?
A title in your name, a government photo ID matching that name, and the keys. Those three items are the entire checklist for a normal sale. If the title is lost, order a duplicate from your state DMV before shopping quotes, because the wait almost always pays for itself.
Can I sell a junk car without a title?
Sometimes, but expect 30% to 60% less. Some states allow a bonded title, a salvage certificate, or a junking certificate backed by registration and photo ID. Other states prohibit the sale outright. Call your DMV before you call buyers.
Should towing come out of my payout?
No. Free pickup within roughly 30 miles is standard because the tow costs the buyer $75 to $150 and is already built into the offer. If a buyer quotes one number and then deducts a tow fee at pickup, that is a rewrite of the deal, not a fee.
How long does the pickup process take?
Most vehicles are scheduled and picked up within 24 hours of offer acceptance. Local tow drivers coordinate around your availability. Payment should be in your hand before the vehicle goes on the truck, not after delivery.
Will you buy my vehicle if it was in an accident?
Yes. Buyers purchase vehicles in any condition, including total wrecks, flood damage, seized engines, and stripped frames. Describe the damage accurately up front so the quote holds at pickup instead of being renegotiated in your driveway.
Do I need to cancel my insurance and registration?
File the notice of transfer with your DMV first, then cancel insurance. Remove your license plates unless your state transfers them with the vehicle. Keep a photo of the signed title and bill of sale for at least a year.
Why do two buyers quote very different prices?
Because they monetize the car differently. A full-service yard that dismantles vehicles pays for resale potential in the parts. A shredder that crushes everything pays weight only. Both can be honest and still land hundreds of dollars apart, which is why three quotes in the same week is the right approach.