Salvage yards and junk car buying services that resell parts typically pay the most for junk cars. They recover more value from your vehicle than scrap-only operations. The highest-paying buyer for your specific car depends on its condition, make, model, and which components are still valuable.
Buyer types ranked by typical payout:
- Salvage yards with parts operations (highest for cars with good components)
- Online junk car buying services (competitive pricing, wide networks)
- Local junkyards (varies widely, worth checking)
- Scrap metal yards (lowest, pay by weight only)
- Dealerships (usually minimum offers, trade-in convenience)
For cars with working engines, good transmissions, or intact catalytic converters, parts-focused buyers pay premiums. For stripped or severely damaged vehicles, the difference between buyers shrinks since everyone is basically paying scrap value.
The best payer also depends on your location. In areas with many competing buyers, prices tend to be higher. In rural regions with few options, you may have less leverage.
To find who pays most for your car, get quotes from different buyer types. A salvage yard might beat an online service for one vehicle while the opposite is true for another. Check current scrap car prices to understand baseline values before you start calling.
