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Prices for Scrap and Junk Cars

Scrap Car Prices

At UsJunkCars, our crew buys all types of vehicles in the U.S. We don’t turn cars away - cars, trucks, SUVs, or vans, we take them, no matter the condition. Even if your ride looks completely beat up, you can still make money off that scrap car. Some folks get surprised to walk away with cash for vehicles that seemed totally worthless. It doesn’t matter if your car is running or not, you’ll always find a reason to put some bucks in your pocket with us. Honestly, we’ve seen some wild cases in the U.S., where a customer brings a car that’s nothing but a rust bucket, and we can still pay out a decent amount. Why? Cars are packed with metals and different materials, even junkers. Once recycled right, those old parts hold value. The secret is most cars still have value inside their bones, no matter how shot they look.

How Much is Scrap Metal Worth?

  1. We get a lot of questions about scrap prices for Ferrous metals in the U.S. Ferrous means metals with iron, stuff like steel and straight iron. Every junk car has a lot of both. We keep up every day with steel scrap prices, stainless steel scrap price info, and cast iron scrap price updates. Our team is always up to speed, so when you deal with us, you’re getting the real scoop on what your steel or iron scrap is really worth.
  2. Next up is Aluminum. Think about all the car parts made with it - aluminum rims, engine covers, cast aluminum blocks, sheet aluminum in body panels, and even some trim is extruded aluminum. All that’s got value, and we check the aluminum scrap price and the scrap aluminum price in the U.S. every day to give you fair offers whether it’s thick pieces or just some old rims.
  3. Copper is another heavy hitter. If you ever scrapped a car, you probably saw a whole mess of wires and maybe a chunk of copper in the radiator. We see this every day. Bare bright copper wire, #1 and #2 copper, insulated copper wire, and copper radiators each pay out different amounts. With copper scrap price and copper wire scrap price constantly swinging, we take care to check them so you get the most out of your copper parts.
  4. Brass pops up, too. In the U.S., people bring us yellow brass in door handles, red brass mixed in with other fittings. Brass scrap price, yellow brass scrap price, and red brass scrap price can vary, and we keep an eye on the numbers so you always know what to expect from your junk car’s brass extras.
  5. Stainless steel comes in all over the place - bumpers, exhaust parts, trims, sometimes even fasteners. The stainless steel scrap price and stainless steel price in the U.S. might not match regular steel, but stainless can be pretty valuable if you’ve got a good chunk of it in your scrap car. We make sure to spot anything that’ll make your payout bigger.
  6. Lead shows up less in today’s cars, but it’s still there especially in older U.S. rides or inside lead-acid batteries. We keep up with the lead scrap price and scrap lead prices so you aren’t missing out on easy cash hiding in the battery or leftover lead weights.
  7. Catalytic converters get a lot of buzz because they can bring in serious bucks. Used catalytic converter values change customer to customer, and scrap catalytic converter prices even change from week to week in the U.S., depending on the metals inside. We see people shocked by the difference between a plain old cat and one loaded with precious metals.
  8. Old electronics? They’re treasure chests in disguise. Circuit boards out of car computers and radios can bring in a nice payout, depending on the type. We check circuit board scrap prices so our U.S. customers get every cent those electronics are worth.
  9. Electric motors, starters, alternators - we see these every day. Don’t toss them out. Parts like that can hold value and we follow market circuit board scrap prices linked with the parts. Folks bringing them in get a fair shake every time.
  10. Wheels get their own lane - especially if you got aluminum rims or steel rims still attached to your junk car. Current aluminum rims scrap price and scrap price for aluminum rims both matter in your final payout. We take care to price each part fair, so you don’t leave money behind.
Come to UsJunkCars in the U.S. if you want honest numbers and cash, even from what looks like nothing but piles of parts or a heap of rust. We make scrap car recycling easy, quick, and worth your time - every time.
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Scrap Value of a Car

The average price for used and broken cars and vehicles is based on data from the UsjunkCars website, the prices we can offer our customers in every US state for their cars in any condition.

The price of a scrap car depends on many factors, so feel free to contact our professionals, who will be happy to advise you on how much your vehicle might cost.

Average
Scrap Car Price per Ton
$172
Car price

Scrap Car Prices by Vehicle Type

Vehicle Type Average Weight (lbs) Average Weight (tons) Low Value ($145/ton) Average Value ($172/ton) High Value ($195/ton)
Compact / Subcompact Car 2,500 – 3,000 1.25 – 1.5 $180 – $220 $215 – $260 $245 – $295
Mid-Size Sedan 3,200 – 3,500 1.6 – 1.75 $230 – $255 $275 – $300 $310 – $340
Full-Size Sedan 3,800 – 4,500 1.9 – 2.25 $275 – $325 $325 – $390 $370 – $440
Crossover / Small SUV 3,300 – 4,000 1.65 – 2.0 $240 – $290 $285 – $345 $320 – $390
Large SUV / Full-Size SUV 5,000 – 6,000+ 2.5 – 3.0 $360 – $435 $430 – $515 $490 – $585
Pickup Truck 4,800 – 7,000+ 2.4 – 3.5 $350 – $510 $410 – $600 $470 – $680
Van (Cargo or Passenger) 4,500 – 6,000+ 2.25 – 3.0 $325 – $435 $385 – $515 $440 – $585
RV – Class B (Camper Van) 6,000 – 8,000 3.0 – 4.0 $435 – $580 $515 – $690 $585 – $780
RV – Class C (Mid-Size Motorhome) 10,000 – 12,000 5.0 – 6.0 $725 – $870 $860 – $1,030 $975 – $1,170
RV – Class A (Large Motorhome / Bus) 13,000 – 30,000+ 6.5 – 15.0 $945 – $2,175 $1,120 – $2,580 $1,270 – $2,925

Scrap Metals & Materials

Category Type / Material Avg Weight (lbs) Tons Low Value Avg Value High Value Extra Value
Ferrous Mixed Scrap Steel 1 ton $145 $172 $195 Base junk car price
Ferrous Steel 1 ton $150 $175 $200 Main car material
Ferrous Iron 1 ton $140 $170 $190 Heavy parts

Aluminum

Category Type Avg Weight Tons Low Avg High Extra
Aluminum Aluminum Rims $0.70 – $1.20/lb
Aluminum Cast Aluminum $0.40 – $0.80/lb
Aluminum Sheet Aluminum $0.30 – $0.60/lb
Aluminum Extruded Aluminum $0.60 – $1.00/lb

Copper

Category Type Avg Weight Tons Low Avg High Extra
Copper Bare Bright Copper $3.50 – $4.50/lb
Copper #1 Copper $3.20 – $4.20/lb
Copper #2 Copper $2.80 – $3.80/lb
Copper Insulated Wire $1.00 – $2.50/lb
Copper Radiators $2.50 – $4.00/lb

Brass Stainless Lead

Category Type Extra Value
Brass Yellow Brass $1.80 – $2.80/lb
Brass Red Brass $2.20 – $3.20/lb
Stainless Steel Scrap $0.40 – $0.90/lb
Lead Scrap Lead $0.30 – $0.60/lb
Lead Lead-Acid Batteries $0.20 – $0.50/lb

Auto Parts Value

Category Type Value
High Value Parts Catalytic Converter $50 – $1,500+
Electronics Circuit Boards $0.50 – $5.00/lb
Electric Components Electric Motors $0.20 – $0.50/lb
Electric Components Starters $5 – $15
Electric Components Alternators $10 – $25
Wheels Aluminum Rims $10 – $50 each
Wheels Steel Rims $5 – $15 each

FAQ

How Much Is Aluminum Per Pound?

Over the past year, we’ve watched aluminum prices go up and down more than once. Right now, in the U.S., you can usually get between $0.55 and $0.77 per pound for scrap aluminum in 2026. We always tell folks - the exact payout depends on the current market and your local scrap dealers. Most car hoods, rims, or other parts can add up to decent cash, especially if you’ve got a large haul to sell.

How Much Does Copper Sell For?

Copper is always hot stuff for recycling. Right now in the U.S., scrap copper goes for about $3.40 to $4.15 per pound. From what we've seen, if you’re scrapping something like a junk car in America, those copper wires, radiators, and starter motors can really boost your final price. No kidding, sometimes you find old copper in the oddest places.

How Much Is Brass Per Pound?

Brass holds some value, for sure. We pay attention to rates since they change but for 2026, scrap brass usually nets around $1.85 to $2.45 per pound. If you pull the brass parts out of cars - like radiator fittings or some locks - you’ll get more than just dropping the whole car as-is. Some sellers make this effort for the extra cash.

How Much Is Steel Per Pound?

Steel’s price stays pretty steady in the U.S. but it’s often lower than other metals. Right now, we see scrap steel going for $0.08 to $0.13 per pound for 2026. If you’ve got a whole junk car in your yard, remember it’s heavy. So even small payouts per pound add up when you’re talking about a full-size car.

How Much Is Scrap Metal Worth?

It really depends on the kind of metal and the local demand. From experience, a mixed pile of scrap metal in the U.S. might get you $100 to $500 for an average car, sometimes more if there’s a bunch of copper or aluminum. Scrap prices shift all the time, so the best way to know is to call us or check the local market when you’re ready to sell.

How Much Is Stainless Steel Per Pound?

Stainless steel definitely pays better than basic steel. Right now, you’re looking at about $0.28 to $0.41 per pound in 2026. Lots of car parts - exhaust systems, trims, and fittings - use stainless steel. You’d be surprised at how much cash you get from recycling stainless compared to regular scrap.

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