A junk car is worth what its metal and reusable parts are worth on the day you sell it. The biggest factors are the vehicle’s weight and current scrap metal prices, its year, make and model, demand for its parts, whether the catalytic converter is still on it, its condition and where it’s located. Because every one of those factors varies, the only reliable number is an offer for your specific vehicle. This guide explains each factor and how to get the most for your junk car.
Key takeaways
- Weight and current scrap metal prices set the baseline value of most junk cars.
- Year, make and model matter because some vehicles have parts that are in higher demand.
- The catalytic converter is one of the most valuable parts on a junk car, so a missing one lowers the offer.
- Running condition, damage and missing parts all move the price.
- Describe the car accurately, leave the parts on and compare offers on the same terms.
Weight and scrap metal prices
For most junk cars, weight is the starting point. A vehicle is mostly steel, along with aluminum, copper wiring and other metals, and those metals have a market value. A heavier vehicle generally has more metal to recycle.
That’s why a full-size pickup, a body-on-frame SUV or a cargo van often brings more as scrap than a small sedan in similar condition. Weight isn’t everything, but it sets the baseline.
Why scrap prices change
Scrap metal prices rise and fall with demand for steel and other metals. They can shift from month to month, and sometimes faster. The same car can bring a different offer in spring than it did the previous fall simply because the market moved. When you ask for an offer, it reflects the market at that time.
Year, make, model and parts demand
A junk car can be worth more than its metal when its parts are in demand. Engines, transmissions, alternators, starters, body panels, doors, headlights and wheels from popular models can be reused to repair other vehicles.
Several things raise parts demand:
- Popular models. Vehicles that sold in large numbers have more of the same model still on the road needing parts.
- Newer model years. Parts from more recent vehicles fit cars people are still actively repairing.
- Working major components. A car with body damage but a good engine and transmission has parts with real value.
Older and less common vehicles still have value, mostly in their weight. Age alone doesn’t make a car worthless.
The catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is one of the most valuable single parts on most junk cars. It contains small amounts of precious metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium, which can be recovered and recycled.
The amount of those metals varies by vehicle, so converter value differs widely from one make and model to another. Prices for the metals inside also change with the market.
If your converter is missing
If the catalytic converter has been removed or stolen, the offer will be lower. Tell us up front. If you’re not sure, look under the car along the exhaust between the engine and the muffler. A cut exhaust pipe or a loud, rumbling exhaust can be a sign the converter is gone. When in doubt, say you don’t know, and the driver can check at pickup.
Running condition
A car that runs and drives is generally worth more than one that doesn’t. A running engine and working transmission suggest those parts can be reused, and a car that drives onto a truck is simpler to handle.
That said, a non-running car still has value. Dead batteries, bad starters and failed fuel pumps are common Minnesota winter problems and don’t erase a car’s worth. See our page on selling a car that doesn’t run.
Damage
Damage lowers value mainly by reducing the number of reusable parts. How much depends on what’s damaged and how badly.
- Collision damage affects the parts in the impact zone. A front-end hit can damage the radiator, headlights, hood and sometimes the engine, while the rear of the car may be untouched.
- Rust from years of Minnesota road salt weakens frames, floors and body panels. Heavy rust lowers parts value, though the metal still counts.
- Flood damage can ruin electrical systems and interiors, which limits reusable parts.
- Hail damage is often cosmetic. Mechanical parts may be fine, so a hail-damaged car can hold more value than it looks.
- Fire damage usually leaves fewer reusable parts, especially if the fire spread beyond the engine bay.
Our page on selling a damaged car covers this in more detail.
Missing parts
Missing major parts lower the offer. The engine and transmission are the heaviest and often most valuable components, so a car without them is worth noticeably less. Missing wheels, batteries, radiators or body panels also reduce the number.
Be specific about what’s gone when you ask for a quote. A car described as complete that turns out to be missing an engine at pickup will get a different offer.
Location
Where the car is parked plays a part in the offer. Pickup location affects the distance and time involved in towing. Towing is free and never deducted from your payment, but location is one of the factors behind the offer itself.
In the Twin Cities metro, same-day pickup is often available. In Greater Minnesota, pickup is usually within a day or two depending on location. Access matters too: a car that’s easy to reach is simpler to pick up than one deep in a field or wedged in a tight garage.
Paperwork
Having the Minnesota title in your name makes the sale straightforward. A Minnesota title is normally needed. If it’s lost, you can order a duplicate from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). Some cases can be worked out without a title, so call and ask. Our Minnesota title transfer guide explains the details.
What doesn’t add much value
Some things matter less than people expect. Before you spend money on the car, know that:
- Cleaning or detailing doesn’t change scrap or parts value.
- Recent minor repairs usually don’t raise the offer much on a car that has a major problem elsewhere.
- A full tank of gas doesn’t add value. Fuel is drained at the recycler.
- Aftermarket accessories such as stereos or custom wheels may not add as much as they cost. If you want to keep them, mention it before you get your offer.
How to get the most for your junk car
You get the best result by giving an accurate description, keeping the car complete and comparing offers fairly.
- Describe it accurately. Year, make, model, mileage, whether it runs, damage and anything missing. Accurate details keep the offer firm at pickup.
- Leave the parts on. Pulling the catalytic converter, battery or wheels usually lowers the offer by more than the parts are worth to you.
- Find your title. It speeds up the sale. If it’s lost, start the duplicate process with DVS early.
- Sell sooner rather than later. Cars that sit through Minnesota winters lose value as batteries die, tires flatten, rodents nest and rust spreads.
- Compare offers on the same terms. Ask whether towing is free, whether there are fees and when you’ll be paid. An offer with towing deductions can end up lower than it looks.
- Make pickup easy. Clear snow, move vehicles blocking it and mention access issues when you book.
Why we don’t publish prices
We don’t list prices or price ranges because they would be misleading. Two cars of the same model can be worth very different amounts depending on weight, condition, missing parts, the catalytic converter and the scrap market that week. A free offer for your vehicle is quicker and more accurate than any chart.
What happens to your car
Every vehicle we buy goes to a licensed recycler. Fluids, batteries, mercury switches, refrigerant and tires are removed and handled under Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules, good parts are reused and the metal is recycled into new products. Industry groups estimate roughly 80% of a vehicle by weight can be recycled. Learn more about scrap car recycling.
Get your offer
Call (763) 226-3586 for a free, no-obligation offer, usually within minutes. We buy across Minnesota, including Brooklyn Park, Mankato and Moorhead. See cash for junk cars or how it works for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest factor in a junk car’s value?
For most junk cars, weight combined with current scrap metal prices is the biggest factor. Heavier vehicles generally have more steel and other metals to recycle. On top of that baseline, year, make and model, parts demand, the catalytic converter, running condition, damage, missing parts and pickup location all move the offer up or down.
Does a missing catalytic converter lower the price?
Yes, a missing catalytic converter lowers the price, because it’s one of the most valuable parts on most junk cars. It contains precious metals that can be recovered. If yours was removed or stolen, say so when you ask for an offer. If you’re not sure, tell us that, and the driver can check at pickup.
Is a car that doesn’t run worth anything?
Yes, a car that doesn’t run is still worth something. Its metal has scrap value, and many of its parts can still be reused. A running car is generally worth more, but dead batteries, bad starters and failed fuel pumps don’t erase a vehicle’s value. Towing is free, so it doesn’t need to move on its own.
Why do junk car offers change over time?
Junk car offers change because scrap metal prices change. Prices for steel and the precious metals in catalytic converters rise and fall with demand, sometimes from month to month. A vehicle’s condition can also slip as it sits, especially through a Minnesota winter, which lowers the value of its parts over time.
Should I fix my car before junking it?
No, you usually shouldn’t fix a car before junking it. Repairs rarely raise the offer by as much as they cost, especially when the car has a major problem elsewhere. Cleaning, detailing and filling the gas tank don’t add value either. Keep the car complete, describe it accurately and get an offer as it is.
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