Junk car value in Texas
What's a junk car worth in Texas? Use the tool for your estimate, see example payout ranges with the math shown, and what to know before you sell.
Last updated 2026-07-05
Can I sell my junk car in Texas?
Answer three quick questions for a Texas estimate, the title answer, and a real offer.
Title
Does it run?
Size
Estimated value in Texas
$345 - $580
With the title in hand, selling in Texas is straightforward - you sign it over at pickup.
No phone number needed - you go straight to your offer from our partner Peddle, and we earn a commission if you sell to them, at no extra cost to you.
What junk cars are worth in Texas
Texas sits in the South, where we estimate scrap steel around $150-$180 per ton (a self-labeled regional estimate as of 2026-08, not a quoted index). Your actual payout depends on your car's weight, whether it runs, its title, and whether the catalytic converter is still attached. Here are example estimates for Texas:
| Example car | Estimated range |
|---|---|
| Midsize sedan that runs (clean title) | $630 - $1,050 |
| Compact car that won't start (clean title) | $270 - $450 |
| Full-size SUV or truck that runs | $1,165 - $1,940 |
Texas title, fees & junk-car law
Selling without a title in Texas
In Texas you generally need the properly assigned title to sell or junk a vehicle; if the title is lost, the recorded owner can apply for a certified copy (Form VTR-34) before selling. Cars only good for parts or scrap may fall under a salvage or nonrepairable title. Eligibility varies, so confirm with the TxDMV or your county tax office.
VerifiedSource
Duplicate title fee
$2
VerifiedSourceas of 2026-08mail-in; $5.45 in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center, and there is a 30-day waiting period before you can apply
Abandoned / junk vehicle law
Tex. Transp. Code Ch. 683 (Abandoned Motor Vehicles; Subch. E, Junked Vehicles: Public Nuisance; Abatement)
VerifiedSource
Where junk cars sell in Texas
Buyer demand is strongest around Texas's metros - Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin - where there are more recyclers and dismantlers competing for cars. With about 30 million residents, Texas has a deep used-parts market, but the price for any one car still comes down to local demand for that specific vehicle and its parts. Free towing should always be included and never deducted from your payout.
We have mapped 124 junkyards and salvage yards across 69 Texas cities. The densest are San Antonio (21), Amarillo (9) and Houston (7), and 2 of the Texas yards look like self-service u-pull operations by name. Yards in that group include All Tex Towing, All Japanese Used Auto Parts, C&D Scrap Metal.
A yard prices a car close to its metal plus the catalytic converter, so the counts above matter mainly as competition: more yards within towing distance means more chance one of them wants your specific car for parts rather than for weight. If the nearest yard is an hour away, the tow eats the difference and a buyer who tows free is usually ahead.
| City | Yards mapped | For example |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 21 | All Tex Towing |
| Amarillo | 9 | All Japanese Used Auto Parts |
| Houston | 7 | C&D Scrap Metal |
| Abilene | 4 | Abilene Police Vehicle Impound |
| Lubbock | 4 | Big R Surplus & Salvage |
| Austin | 3 | A1 Parts Mart |
| Canton | 3 | Canton Auto Salvage |
| Del Valle | 3 | ABS Metal Recycling |
Showing the 8 Texas cities with the most mapped yards, of 69. Locations from OpenStreetMap (ODbL 1.0), a partial list - map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
See the full Texas list, with phone numbers and what a yard pays.
Texas tip: In Texas, license plates generally stay with the seller - you can transfer them to another vehicle of the same class, keep them, or dispose of them by defacing the front; check current TxDMV guidance.
Title and paperwork in Texas
In most cases you need the title to sell, but requirements vary by state and some buyers accept a registration plus ID or a state junk certificate for very old, low-value cars. Confirm the current rules with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) before pickup. If your paperwork is not straightforward, these guides help:
Other South states
Junk car value in other states
Scrap prices and title rules differ by state. See the local estimate and what to know before you sell in any state we cover:
Frequently asked questions
Most junk cars in Texas fall in a range driven by weight, whether the car runs, the catalytic converter, and local scrap prices. For example, a running midsize sedan with a clean title estimates around $630 to $1,050. Use the Texas tool above for a number specific to your car, with the math shown.
See what your car is worth in Texas
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