# Scrap Car Removal > Scrap car removal across the GTA and Golden Horseshoe. We pay at least $300 for scrap cars, tow them free and recycle them properly. Book a pickup today. Source: https://topcash4cars.ca/services/scrap-car-removal # Scrap Car Removal – Free Towing and Cash for Your Old Car Your car's finished, but it isn't worthless. We pay at least $300 for scrap sedans, $500 for SUVs and minivans and $500 for pickups, tow the car away for free and send it to a **licensed Ontario recycler**. ## Is it time to scrap your car? Most cars give plenty of warning before they're done. If two or more of these sound familiar, scrap car removal is probably your best move: - The repair estimate is higher than what the car is worth - It failed a safety inspection because of frame or structural rust - Several big things are failing at once: engine, transmission, brakes - It hasn't moved in months, but the insurance and parking still cost you - Your insurer wrote it off and it's been branded Irreparable If the car still runs well, it may be worth more as a used car, so check our page on how to [sell my car](/services/sell-my-car) first. Otherwise, **a scrap sale turns dead weight into cash and an empty driveway**. We handle it right across the region, including [scrap car removal in Toronto](/service-areas/toronto/scrap-car-removal) and [scrap car removal in Hamilton](/service-areas/hamilton/scrap-car-removal). > **Not sure? Ask for both numbers** Describe the car's condition and we'll say whether it's worth more as scrap or as a used car. There's no charge for the quote and no pressure to accept it. ## What scrap car removal pays: how your price is set Most scrap cars bring $300 to $2,000, with minimums of $300 for sedans and $500 for SUVs and minivans. Above those floors, **your price comes down to weight and what can be recovered**. - **Curb weight:** Steel is sold by the tonne, so a full-size pickup or minivan is worth more than a compact hatchback. - **Scrap metal rates:** Steel, aluminum and copper prices follow global markets, and our scrap prices follow them month to month. - **Catalytic converter:** It holds small amounts of platinum, palladium and rhodium, which makes it one of the most valuable single parts on an old car. - **Engine and transmission:** A complete drivetrain has rebuild or core value even when it no longer runs. - **Resaleable parts:** Alternators, doors, lights and alloy wheels from common models can be sold again by recyclers. - **Completeness:** Missing parts lower the price, but even a stripped shell still has metal value. | Vehicle | Payout | | --- | --- | | Sedan, coupe or hatchback | from $300 | | SUV or minivan | from $500 | | Pickup truck | from $500 | | Running used car | up to $10,000 | _Prices depend on current scrap metal rates, which change month to month._ ## How scrap car removal works in 4 steps From first call to empty driveway, here's how we pay cash for scrap cars. ### Get a scrap quote Call (289) 349-2006 or fill in the form with the year, make and model. Tell us whether anything is missing, like the engine, catalytic converter or wheels. You'll get a firm scrap price in about 3 minutes, with no obligation. ### Book the tow Pick a time, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Same-day removal is usually possible if you call before noon. Tell us where the car sits and whether it rolls, so the driver brings the right equipment the first time. ### Sign it over Show the driver your ownership (vehicle permit) and photo ID, then sign the vehicle portion over to us. Unscrew your licence plates now if you haven't already. The handover itself usually takes about 15–20 minutes. ### Get paid while we load it You're paid in cash on the spot. The car goes onto the truck and heads to a licensed Ontario recycler, where it's drained, dismantled and broken down so the metal can be used again. Nothing is left for you to deal with. ## What happens to your car after we tow it Scrapping a car is more than crushing it. Ontario has rules for end-of-life vehicle processors, and the work happens in a set order: 1. Depollution: oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, fuel and air conditioning refrigerant are drained and captured. The battery comes out, along with mercury switches on older models and any undeployed airbags. 2. Parts recovery: engines, transmissions, alternators, body panels and wheels in good shape are pulled, checked and sold for reuse. 3. Crushing and shredding: the stripped shell is flattened, then fed through a shredder that breaks it into small pieces. 4. Sorting and melting: magnets pull out the steel, other metals are separated, and mills melt it all down for new products. **Around 75–80% of a typical vehicle by weight can be recycled.** Our guide to [how car recycling works](/guides/how-car-recycling-works) walks through each stage in more detail. > **Why it matters to you** An old car leaking oil and coolant does slow damage to soil and storm drains. Sending it through a licensed recycler gets those fluids handled properly, and your signed bill of sale shows the car left your hands. ## Where each part of your scrap car ends up A typical scrap car breaks down roughly like this once it reaches the recycler. | Part | What happens to it | | --- | --- | | Steel body and frame | Shredded, separated by magnet and sent to steel mills | | Engine and transmission | Resold as used or rebuilt units, or melted down for metal | | Catalytic converter | Sent to specialist refiners that recover the precious metals inside | | Battery | Recycled for its lead and plastic | | Aluminum wheels and parts | Sorted and recycled separately from the steel | | Fluids and refrigerant | Drained, captured and recycled or disposed of under Ontario rules | | Tires | Reused if they're still road-worthy, otherwise sent to tire recyclers | | Glass, plastics and foam | Partly recovered; the rest is disposed of as shredder residue | ## Scrap car paperwork and licence plates in Ontario Paperwork is where most scrap sales stall. Here's what you need, and what to do with your plates. ### What to have ready Your ownership, a valid government photo ID and any keys you still have. The person named on the ownership should be there to sign, or someone with written permission to act for them. If you're not sure the paperwork is in order, call before booking. ### If the ownership is lost You can get a replacement at ServiceOntario. Call us before you go, though: depending on your situation, we can tell you exactly what to bring and save you a wasted trip. Our guide to [selling a car without ownership](/guides/sell-car-without-ownership) explains the options. ### What to do with your licence plates Remove your licence plates before we tow the car. In Ontario, plates belong to you, not the vehicle, so you can keep them for your next car or return them to ServiceOntario. Returning them won't put money in your pocket, since Ontario dropped plate sticker fees in 2022. ### No safety certificate needed You don't need a safety certificate to scrap a car in Ontario. That's a big reason people choose scrap over a private sale when a car has rust or brake problems. We take it exactly as it sits, failed inspection report and all. ### Liens and loans If there's still money owing on the car, the lien must be paid off or disclosed before the sale. Call us with the details, including your lender's payout amount, and we'll explain your options before you book a pickup. Sorting it out first avoids a wasted trip. ### Scrapping a car for someone else Selling a parent's car, an estate vehicle or a company car? You'll usually need written authority or estate documents, plus your own ID. Call ahead and we'll tell you what applies to your situation, so the pickup isn't delayed on the day. ## Getting your car ready for scrap pickup Ten minutes of prep makes pickup quicker. Our [guide to preparing your car for pickup](/guides/prepare-car-for-pickup) has more detail. - **Empty it out:** Check the glovebox, door pockets, trunk and under the seats for personal items and papers. - **Unbolt the plates:** Remove both licence plates and keep them; rusted bolts may need pliers or a little penetrating oil. - **Peel off passes and transponders:** Take your 407 ETR transponder and any parking or residence passes off the windshield. - **Leave the valuable parts:** Keep the catalytic converter, battery and wheels on the car, since they're part of your price. - **Leave the fluids:** Don't drain anything; the recycler captures fluids safely and it isn't your job. - **Clear a path:** Move other vehicles, bins or snowbanks so the truck can reach the car. - **Find the keys:** Have every key ready if you have them, and if not, just tell us when you book. - **Keep paperwork handy:** Put your ownership and photo ID somewhere you can grab them when the driver knocks. ## Questions about scrapping your car ### How much will I get for my scrap car? Most scrap cars bring $300 to $2,000. We pay at least $300 for a scrap sedan, $500 for an SUV or minivan and $500 for a pickup. Weight, the catalytic converter and current metal prices decide where you land above that. Our [scrap car value guide](/guides/scrap-car-value) explains more. ### Do I pay anything for scrap car pickup? No. The tow is free and it's never subtracted from your price. We pay you, not the other way around. That stays true when the car is in a backyard, sitting on flat tires or parked in an underground garage. ### Does the car need to be complete? No. Cars missing an engine, transmission, wheels or catalytic converter still have scrap value. Missing parts lower the offer, so list them when you call. That way the price you're quoted is the price you're paid. ### What happens to my car after you take it? It goes to a licensed Ontario recycler. Fluids and the battery come out first, reusable parts are pulled for resale, and the shell is crushed and shredded so the metal can be melted down and used again in new steel. ### Should I take parts off before you come? It usually isn't worth it. The catalytic converter, battery and wheels are part of what we're paying for, so removing them lowers your offer. Personal add-ons like an aftermarket stereo are fine to keep. Just tell us what's been removed when you book. ### What do I need to scrap my car in Ontario? Just three things: your ownership, a valid government photo ID and the car itself. Keys help but aren't required, and you don't need a safety certificate. Remove your licence plates before the tow, since in Ontario they stay with you, not the car. ### Can you pick up my scrap car today? Usually, yes. Call before noon and we can come the same day in most of our service area; later calls are generally booked for the next day. We run pickups Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.. ### Do you take scrap trucks and vans? Yes. Pickups, cargo vans, minivans and SUVs are all welcome, and they usually pay more than cars because they weigh more. The minimum for a scrap pickup truck is $500. For larger work vehicles, see our page on [cash for trucks](/services/cash-for-trucks). ### Is there a charge if I live far from Burlington? No. Towing is free anywhere in our service area, from Oshawa to Niagara Falls and north to Barrie. Your distance from our Burlington base doesn't change the tow cost, which is always zero. If you're just outside the areas listed below, call and ask. ### Will you scrap a car that insurance wrote off? Yes, if the car is yours to sell. Cars branded Irreparable can only go for parts or scrap in Ontario, so a scrap sale is the natural next step. 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We tow it free, pay cash on the spot and make sure it's recycled properly.