How Much You Can Get For Junking a Car By State

How Much Money Can You Get for a Junk Car?

Do you have a junk car collecting dust? Why not sell it for some real cash? After all, so many buyers are ready to pay you top dollar for your vehicle.

You may ask, "How much can I get for a junk car in 2023?" Well, that depends on so many factors. The range is usually $100 to $600. But the price for a junk car might be as high as $15,000, depending on the condition of your car. Keep reading as we detail the estimates for 2023, the average price for a scrap car, and which factors play a role in the price for junked cars.

How to Find out If You Have a Junk Car

If you have a car that requires a lot of repairs or isn't safe on the road, it may be considered a junk car. Even if it is falling apart, you may be able to get something from selling the car parts. You can find an auto salvage yard that can purchase some of the usable parts and even pay for the scrap metal.

Insurance companies usually give junk cars a salvage title. These are cars that are better off sold than repaired. A junk auto can also be a vehicle that you have kept for a long time and no longer want to deal with repairs. Some cars just need some slight repairs to get them back on the road. So you might consider selling it to a car dealer for the average cost of a junk car if that is the case. Let's check in detail how much for a junked car these services may pay.

Factors that Influence the Price for a Junk Car

How much can you get for a scrap car? As we mentioned above, scrap car prices may vary significantly. It depends on the car's condition and the value of scrap metal or parts on the market. When dealers offer an average price for a scrap car, it is usually calculated from the current cost of buying the same model. Buyers also take into consideration how much it would cost to repair the car.

So before selling your car, it's important to know the value on the market. The last thing you want is to sell your junk car for way less than its actual price. If you are wondering, "How can I rate my junk?" don't worry! We can help you with that. We use a scrap car value calculator that considers every factor of a junk car's price to make you the best offer.

So, to answer the question of how much money for junk cars you can get, let's contemplate the top factors that influence the average cost of a junk car:

Location

One of the most important factors determining junk car prices is the location where you sell it. This is the first thing you should think about when considering how much you can get for junking a car. That's because some cities offer way more cash to junk a car. So, suppose you stay in a city where many companies are buying old and damaged vehicles. The sheer competition between them potentially increases the price of your broken car.

Buyers in different locations may prefer specific models of cars. So, if you stay in a city where your vehicle is popular or in demand, then it could mean more money for selling. For instance, some cities may offer more for trucks. Scrap metal costs vary from city to city as well. So always keep in mind the location of the junk car.

Make and Model of a Car

When trying to figure out how much a junk car is really worth, keep in mind the make and model. A junk car buyer will make an offer based on the model of the car. Some models fetch more money than others; some are more prevalent in certain parts of the country. So do your research before deciding where to sell your wrecked car to up the ante a bit.

The Age of a Car

Chances are that the vehicle you want to sell is pretty old. Usually, junk cars are older than 10 years, but most buyers take totaled cars that are even older than 20 years.

You may ask, "How does age affect the chances of selling my wrecked car?" Well, the older the vehicle, the less money you get. Old vehicles that are falling apart will fetch far less. So whenever a scrap car buyer wants to make an offer, don't be surprised when they ask you about the age of your car or the period you've had it. Try to research when the vehicle was made if you're unsure — it helps buyers calculate a fair price.

Mileage

The final price for a wrecked car will rely on the mileage. How many miles has your car been driven? If it has less than 4,000 miles on it, you are in luck — it will definitely increase the final price. Vehicles with a mileage of more than 15,000 are likely to sell for way less cash. Cars that have a longer mileage are usually older, and a scrap car buyer wants them for their parts, that is why they offer a lower price.

For cars exceeding a mileage of 20,000, the payment is far less. Buyers won't take parts from these cars because they may be too old. Usually, they will buy such junk cars only to extract scrap metal.

Condition

The longer you have a vehicle, the more likely it will have issues on both the exterior and interior. If you have replaced parts, it may reduce the value of your car. It's even worse if some parts are missing. If you're facing challenges because my car won't pass smog, selling it as a junk car might be a viable option to consider.

Every car dealer will want to know the condition of your car before making an offer. As tempting as it may be to lie, always be honest. Buyers are vigilant and will check the condition of your vehicle when they collect it. Make sure to examine your ride closely for any damage before planning on selling it.

If the Car is Running

Besides asking you about the vehicle's general condition, buyers usually want to know if it is still running. It allows them to offer an accurate price. So you might be asking yourself again, "how much can I get for my junk car in 2023 that is still running?"

As expected, a running junk car will cost more. So what happens if you have a non-running vehicle? It all depends on the buyer. Some junk car disposals will refuse to make an offer once they find out that the car is non-running. Others will simply lower the offer drastically. Expect to get behind the wheel to prove that your vehicle is still running.

Price of Scrap Metal

The price of junk cars is also affected by scrap metal cost because most salvage companies buy junk cars exactly to extract scrap metal. When the price for a junk car metal is low, it means a low payday for you as well.

So don't be in a rush to sell your car just yet. It always helps to wait till the scrap car price is slightly higher than usual. Selling at the right time may almost double what junkyards usually offer.

Factors that Don't Influence the Price for a Junk Car

If you are wondering, "how much will I get for a junk car if it has a full tank?" here is another essential list that will help you set the best price for junk cars and be sure people buy them anyway. When discussing the price and selling junk cars at a fair cost, keep in mind factors that don't influence the price:

Filled Gas Rank

If your gas tank is filled and your car ends up in a salvage yard, the chances are that the owners will use your fuel. However, you won't be paid extra for this. So you may decide to drain your tank before selling the vehicle;

New Tires

Have you recently replaced your tires? If you have, just know that it won't increase the value of your junk, even if your tires meet the regulations to be reused. What you can do is remove them yourself before selling your vehicle;

Brakes

The junk car value isn't affected by whether your car's brakes are new or not. So even if you replaced your brakes within the last ten days, it doesn't mean a higher payday for you.

Highest and Lowest Junk Car Prices

It's not always easy to answer "how much for a junk car can I get?", but we can help to determine the highest and lowest points. The average price of junk cars may vary depending on different locations. The scrap yard prices usually range from around 20% to 40% for a similar model of vehicle. Here is a list of a few states with the highest and lowest prices for junk cars.

Highest prices:

• California
• New York
• New Jersey

Lowest prices:

• Texas
• North Carolina
• Delaware

Remember, it is still a rough estimate, and some states with the lowest prices can also offer significantly higher payouts. The price also depends on who buys salvage cars and the competition among buyers.

What Are the Junk Car Prices in 2023?

Here is an example table showing the average price for a junk car in 2023 according to the model and year it was manufactured. As you can see, the prices go from very cheap, less than $100, up to quite expensive $1,000.

JunkCarsUs — Sell Your Junk Car Easily

Are you ready to sell your car but don't know how much you can get for a junk car? We can give you an estimate and make the best offer. We buy all kinds of cars across the country. Feel free to sell all sorts of vehicles, from trucks, SUVs, vans, and even non-running vehicles.

Our professionals will calculate and pay you a decent amount for any car. Even if your ride has problems, we pay you cash for scrap metal. The best part is, we offer a free pick-up for your car.

Call us if you want to get paid for junk cars or fill in the online application form, and we will get back to you ASAP. Sell your junk car today for the highest price paid for junk cars!