What's My Car Worth
as Scrap Metal?
How much do you get for scrapping a car?
A typical car is worth $150 to $500 in scrap metal alone, based on its weight and the current price of shredded steel — roughly $150 to $260 a ton. With the catalytic converter and reusable parts included, most complete cars bring $250 to $750 or more from a licensed buyer.
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Quick answer: scrap car prices
The short version, before the details:
- ✓A car's scrap-metal value alone is usually $150 to $500, set by its weight times the price of shredded steel (about $150–$260 a ton in 2026).
- ✓Add the catalytic converter and reusable parts, and a complete car typically brings $250 to $750 or more.
- ✓Scrap prices move weekly with the steel and metals markets, so the same car can be worth noticeably more or less month to month.
- ✓Non-ferrous metals — copper, aluminum, brass — are worth far more per pound than steel, but a car has relatively little of them.
- ✓You almost always net more selling the car whole to a licensed yard than stripping it and selling loose metal yourself.
Current scrap metal prices by material
Scrap prices change constantly, but these 2026 ranges show how the materials in a car stack up. Most of a car's weight is steel, which is why steel prices drive the scrap value even though copper and aluminum pay far more per pound.
| Material | Typical price | Where it's found in a car |
|---|---|---|
| Shredded auto steel | $150–$260 / ton | The body and frame — the bulk of a car's weight and scrap value. |
| #1 HMS (heavy steel) | $180–$300 / ton | Thicker steel components; sometimes priced separately from shred. |
| Cast iron | $120–$220 / ton | Older engine blocks, brake rotors, some manifolds. |
| Aluminum (cast/wheels) | $0.30–$0.70 / lb | Wheels, some engine and transmission cases, modern body panels. |
| Copper (wire) | $2.50–$4.00 / lb | Wiring harness, starter and alternator windings — small amount, high value. |
| Brass / radiators | $1.20–$2.20 / lb | Older radiators, fittings, some connectors. |
| Catalytic converter | $50–$1,200+ each | Priced on platinum, palladium, and rhodium content — often the single most valuable part. |
Estimates only. Scrap prices vary daily by region, yard, and market conditions. Use these as a frame of reference, not a guaranteed quote — always confirm a current price before selling.
How scrap yards price a whole car
Four factors turn a pile of metal into a dollar offer.
Weight in tons
The starting point. The yard estimates your car's curb weight and multiplies by the current shredded-steel price per ton. Heavier vehicles start higher.
Metal grade and mix
Clean steel pays more than rusted or contaminated metal. A small amount of copper and aluminum adds value, but steel sets the baseline.
Whole car vs. stripped
A complete car earns premiums for the catalytic converter and reusable parts. A stripped hull is worth steel-only scrap and quotes far lower.
Region and demand
Scrap prices vary by how close you are to a mill or shredder and by local demand. Two yards 50 miles apart can quote noticeably different numbers.
How to get the best scrap price
Weigh the value before you scrap
Find your car's curb weight and multiply by the current shredded-steel price per ton for the scrap floor. Add the converter and good parts to see the real number you should expect.
Sell the car whole, not as loose metal
A complete car is worth more than separated scrap because the converter and reusable parts carry premiums. Don't strip it unless a single part clearly beats the whole-car offer.
Compare buyers and confirm free towing
Scrap prices vary by yard and region. Get two or three quotes, confirm towing is free, and pick the offer that nets the most after pickup.
Scrap pricing terms, explained
A few terms come up at every scrap yard. Here's what each one means.
- Ferrous metal
- Iron-based metal that a magnet sticks to — steel and cast iron. It makes up most of a car's weight and is priced per ton.
- Non-ferrous metal
- Metals a magnet won't stick to — copper, aluminum, brass. Worth far more per pound than steel, but a car contains relatively little.
- HMS (heavy melting steel)
- A standard scrap grade for thicker steel. #1 HMS is cleaner and pays more than #2.
- Shredded steel / shred
- Auto bodies fed through a shredder and sorted. The benchmark grade most car scrap is priced against.
- Mill price
- What steel mills pay scrap yards per ton. It sets the ceiling for what a yard can pay you and moves with the steel market.
- Tare weight
- Weight subtracted for non-metal content like fluids, tires, and trash before paying on a load. Matters more for loose scrap than a whole car.
Scrap Car Prices — FAQ
Q: How much do you get for scrapping a car?
A car's scrap-metal value alone is usually $150 to $500, based on weight and the current steel price. With the catalytic converter and reusable parts, a complete car typically brings $250 to $750 or more from a licensed buyer.
Q: How are scrap car prices calculated?
Yards estimate your car's weight in tons and multiply by the current shredded-steel price (about $150–$260 a ton in 2026), then add value for the catalytic converter and any reusable parts. Region and metal grade adjust the final number.
Q: Why do scrap prices keep changing?
Scrap tracks global steel and metals markets, which move weekly with demand from mills and manufacturers. The same car can be worth noticeably more or less than it was a month earlier.
Q: Is it better to scrap a car whole or part it out?
For most people, whole. A complete car earns premiums for the converter and reusable parts that you'd lose by selling loose metal. Only part it out if a single component is worth more than the whole-car offer.
Q: Do I get more for non-ferrous metal like copper and aluminum?
Per pound, yes — copper and aluminum pay far more than steel. But a car contains relatively little of them, so steel still drives the total. Stripping wire for copper rarely beats a clean whole-car offer.
Q: How do I find the current scrap price near me?
Call two or three local scrap yards or licensed car buyers for today's per-ton or whole-car price, or use our scrap metal prices page for current ranges. Prices vary by region, so a couple of quotes is the fastest way to know.