The difference between a junkyard and a scrap yard is that a junkyard dismantles vehicles and sells parts, while a scrap yard crushes vehicles and sells the raw metal. Junkyards also usually pay more for cars since they profit from the resale of the parts.
What this means for sellers:
- Junkyards pay more for cars with better parts
- Junkyards can be a little more selective about what they buy
- Scrap yards pay the same regardless of the parts; payment is based on weight
Although there are few, there are some hybrid businesses that do both. They can pull valuable parts and then send the shell to their scrap operation. Businesses like these do pay more since they get the maximum value of each vehicle.
Learn whether a junk car buyer or scrap yard is better for your specific vehicle.
