Scrap car value explained
Scrap value is the floor under every junk car - what a recycler pays for the metal. Here's exactly how that number is built.
Last updated June 2026
Weight times scrap price
A junk car is roughly 70% recyclable steel by weight. Recyclers pay a price per ton for that steel, so a heavier car is worth more as scrap. Multiply the recoverable steel weight by the current scrap-steel price per ton and you have the metal value.
Scrap-steel prices move weekly with the metals market, so the same car can be worth a bit more or less month to month.
Add the catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is counted separately because it contains precious metals. An intact original converter can add anywhere from around $50 to several hundred dollars. Together, the steel and converter make up the scrap floor.
Why scrap is only the floor
Pure scrap value systematically undersells a car that runs or has valuable parts. That is why a fair offer is usually above scrap - the buyer is also paying for resale and parts. Treat scrap value as the minimum, not the market price.
Frequently asked questions
Recoverable steel weight (about 70% of curb weight) times the scrap-steel price per ton, plus the catalytic converter. That sum is the scrap floor.
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