Sell to a junk car buyer or salvage yard if your vehicle has usable parts. Sell to a scrap yard if the car is stripped, severely damaged, or has no salvageable components. Junk car buyers typically pay more because they recover value from parts, not just metal.
Choose a junk car buyer when:
- The engine runs or is rebuildable
- The transmission works
- The catalytic converter is present
- Body panels and interior parts are intact
- The vehicle is a popular make and model
Choose a scrap yard when:
- The car has been stripped of valuable parts
- Fire or flood damage destroyed components
- The vehicle is so old that parts have no market
- You’ve already sold parts separately
- No junk car buyer will make an offer
Price difference can be significant. A complete car worth $500 to a junk car buyer might bring only $200 at a scrap yard. The junk car buyer sees parts value; the scrap yard sees only metal weight.
Get quotes from both before deciding. Sometimes scrap prices are high enough that the difference narrows. Other times, a junk car buyer might not want your particular vehicle, making the scrap yard your best option.
