How Much Is My Scrap Car Worth in Ontario?
Most scrap and junk cars are worth a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousand. Where yours lands depends on its weight, today's scrap metal prices, the parts still on it and whether it runs. This guide explains each factor in plain terms, so you can judge any offer you get.
How much is my scrap car worth? The short answer
Most scrap and junk cars we buy fetch $300 to $2,000. A small, older sedan with a dead engine sits near the bottom of that range. A heavy pickup or SUV with good parts can sit near the top.
A car that still runs well is a different case. It's valued as a used car, not as scrap, so it can be worth much more. If you're not sure it's even time to let the car go, start with our guide to scrapping, selling privately or trading in.
These numbers aren't fixed. Prices depend on current scrap metal rates, which rise and fall with world steel and metal markets. A quote from six months ago may not match today's offer, up or down.
What decides your scrap car's value
Six things set the price. Some you can't change, like the car's weight. Others, like keeping the car complete, are up to you.
Weight and the price of steel
Steel makes up most of a car's scrap value, so weight matters most. A full-size pickup or large SUV can weigh nearly twice as much as a compact car, and it carries more metal to match. Recyclers buy steel by the tonne, and that price moves with global markets. Buyers also allow for what isn't metal, such as glass, plastic, fabric and fluids. That's why two cars of the same weight can still get different offers.
How to find your car's real weight
Look up the curb weight in your owner's manual or the manufacturer's specs for your exact model. Curb weight is the car empty, with standard equipment. Don't go by the label in the driver's door jamb. That number is usually the gross vehicle weight rating, the most the vehicle can safely weigh fully loaded, and it will overstate the scrap weight.
The catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is often the most valuable single part on a scrap car. It contains small amounts of precious metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium. How much it's worth depends on the make and model. Original factory converters usually hold more of those metals than aftermarket replacements. A car that's missing its converter will get a noticeably lower offer.
Engine, transmission and other reusable parts
If the engine or transmission still works, it may be resold as a used part. That's worth more than its weight in metal. Body panels, lights and other parts from models still common on Ontario roads have resale value too. Aluminum alloy wheels are worth more than steel wheels. Even the battery counts, because the lead inside is recycled.
Completeness
A complete car is worth more than a stripped one. Missing wheels, a pulled engine or a removed converter all lower the offer. They rarely drop it to nothing, though, because the body and frame still hold steel. If parts are already gone, say so when you ask for a quote. An accurate description gets you a price that won't change at pickup.
Running or not running
A car that starts, drives and stops safely has used-car value. Buyers look at year, mileage, condition and demand, not just weight. That's why a running car can be worth far more than scrap, up to $10,000 when you sell a running car to us. A car that runs but needs major repairs often lands somewhere in between.
Scrap car value factors at a glance
Here's how each factor tends to push your offer up or down.
| Factor | Helps your price | Hurts your price |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavier vehicles: pickups, vans and large SUVs | Small, light cars with lots of plastic |
| Scrap metal prices | Strong steel and metal markets | Falling metal markets |
| Catalytic converter | Original factory converter still on the car | Converter missing or replaced with an aftermarket part |
| Engine and transmission | Working units that can be resold | Seized engine or failed transmission |
| Wheels and battery | Aluminum alloy wheels and a battery in place | Wheels or battery removed |
| Model demand | Common models with parts in demand | Rare or very old models with little parts demand |
| Completeness | All major parts still on the car | Stripped body or missing panels and parts |
| Running condition | Starts, drives and stops, so it's valued as a used car | Doesn't run, so it's valued mainly as scrap |
How to get the most for your scrap car
A few simple steps can add money to your offer, or at least stop it from shrinking at the curb.
- Keep it complete Leave the catalytic converter, battery, wheels and engine on the car, since buyers price the whole vehicle.
- Describe it accurately Tell the buyer what works, what doesn't and what's missing, so the price you're quoted is the price you're paid.
- Get offers in writing Written quotes are easy to compare, and at Top Cash 4 Cars, we’ll beat any written offer.
- Ask what comes off the offer Check whether towing or 'admin' fees are deducted at pickup, because a free tow can be worth more than a slightly higher quote.
- Have your paperwork ready Having your ownership (vehicle permit) and photo ID on hand avoids delays on pickup day.
- Find the keys Keys aren't always required, but they speed up the pickup and matter more if the car still runs.
- Don't wait too long A car left sitting keeps rusting and losing parts value, and scrap prices can fall as easily as they rise.
Should you sell parts yourself first?
Some owners part out a car before scrapping it. That can pay off if you have the tools, the space, the time and a good sense of which parts sell. For most people, it doesn't. Selling parts one at a time online can take weeks, and the stripped shell is then worth less to a scrap buyer.
There's a middle ground. If one item is clearly worth more on its own, such as a set of winter tires on their own rims, keep it and tell the buyer before you get a quote so they can plan the tow. You'll get a fair price on the rest of the car and keep what matters to you.
If your car was in a crash or written off by your insurer, the same factors apply, with a few extras. Our guide to selling a damaged or written-off car covers them.
What happens to your car after you sell it
Once we pick up a scrap car, it goes to a licensed Ontario recycler. Fluids are drained, reusable parts are pulled and the shell is crushed and shredded so the metal can be melted down and used again. Around 75–80% of a typical vehicle by weight can be recycled. For the full step-by-step, read how car recycling works, or see how our scrap car removal service handles the pickup.
Scrap car value FAQs
Still have a question? Call (289) 349-2006 and ask a real person.
Is my car worth more as scrap or as a used car?
If it runs, drives and stops safely, it's almost always worth more as a used car. Scrap value is based mainly on weight and parts. Used-car value looks at year, mileage, condition and demand, which is why running cars can be worth up to $10,000. If it doesn't run, or repairs cost more than it's worth, scrap value is the better guide.
Why do scrap car offers change from month to month?
Because scrap metal prices change. Steel, aluminum and the precious metals in catalytic converters trade on world markets, and recyclers adjust what they pay as those prices move. That's why a quote is usually only good for a short time. If you're ready to sell, get a firm offer and book the pickup while that price stands.
Do trucks and SUVs get more for scrap?
Usually, yes. Pickups, vans and larger SUVs weigh more and carry more steel, so their scrap value tends to be higher. That's why our minimum is $500 for a scrap SUV or minivan and $500 for a pickup, compared with $300 for a sedan. See how we buy trucks, vans and SUVs. Prices depend on current scrap metal rates.
Does towing come off my scrap car price?
Not with us. Towing is free and never deducted from your offer. Some buyers do subtract towing or 'admin' fees at pickup, so always ask whether a quote is the amount you'll actually be paid. Comparing offers on that basis is the only fair way to judge them.
What if my car is missing parts?
It still has value. The body and frame hold steel, and anything still on the car counts. Missing parts, especially the catalytic converter, engine or wheels, will lower the offer, so list what's gone when you ask for a quote. That way the price you're given is the price you're paid at pickup.
How do I get an exact price for my car?
Share the year, make, model, approximate kilometres, whether it runs and what's damaged or missing. With those details, we can usually give you a firm cash offer in about 3 minutes, by phone at (289) 349-2006 or through our online quote form. The quote is free and there's no obligation.
Find out what your scrap car is worth
Call (289) 349-2006 or send us the details for a firm cash offer in about 3 minutes. We pay cash on the spot and tow for free anywhere in our service areas.
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