Alloy wheels are worth $5 to $20 each as scrap aluminum, or $20 to $80 total for a set of four. As resale items, clean alloy wheels in good condition sell for $50 to $150 each, or $200 to $600 per set. The gap between scrap and resale value makes wheels worth selling separately if they’re in decent shape.
Alloy wheel values:
- Scrap aluminum value: $5 to $20 per wheel
- Resale value (good condition): $50 to $150 per wheel
- Resale with good tires: $100 to $200 per wheel
- OEM wheels from luxury brands: $150 to $400+ per wheel
Factors affecting wheel resale value:
- Condition (curb rash, bends, cracks reduce value)
- Size (larger wheels generally worth more)
- Style (popular designs sell faster)
- Brand (OEM wheels from BMW, Mercedes worth more)
- Included tires (good tires add significant value)
Standard steel wheels have minimal value. At scrap steel prices, a set of four steel wheels might bring $10 to $20 total. They’re not worth removing unless you’re replacing them with alloys you want to keep.
If you’re selling to a junk car buyer, alloy wheels add to your offer but not dramatically. Buyers factor in wheel value along with everything else. For maximum return on nice wheels, consider selling them on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before junking the car, then let the buyer take the car on steel wheels or without wheels entirely.
