How to sell a car to a junkyard
Selling a dead car to a salvage yard is usually a phone call, a tow and some paperwork. Here is how to do it without surprises, and what decides the offer.
A car that no longer runs, failed inspection or would cost more to fix than it is worth still has value to a salvage yard. The yard can sell its parts, and in the end it sells the metal. That is why many yards buy cars, running or not.
Of the 5,296 junkyards in this directory, 1,470 are shown to buy junk cars, in 50 states. A yard gets that label only when a customer review describes selling a car there or the yard's own website says it buys cars. Plenty of other yards buy cars too; call and ask.
How it works
- Gather the details. Year, make, model, mileage, whether it runs, what is wrong with it, and what is missing. Have the VIN ready; it is on the title, the registration and the dashboard by the windshield.
- Call a few yards. Give each one the same description. Ask for an offer, whether towing is included, and what paperwork they need.
- Get the offer in writing. A text or email is fine. It should say the amount, that towing is included (or what it costs), and when they will pick up.
- Get the car and the papers ready. Clean out the car, find the title, and take the plates off if your state says to.
- Hand over the car. The driver or the yard checks the car, you sign the title over and get paid. Get a receipt or bill of sale.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Report the sale if your state asks you to, then cancel the insurance.
What affects the offer
No two cars get the same offer, and the same car can get a different offer next month. These are the things a yard weighs:
- Weight. In the end most of a junk car is sold as metal by weight, so a heavy truck or SUV is usually worth more to a yard than a small car in the same shape.
- Condition. A car that runs and drives can be worth more than one that doesn't, and a car that was in a fire or a flood can be worth less.
- Parts the yard can resell. A yard that sells used parts looks at what it can pull and sell: engine, transmission, body panels, lights, wheels. Popular models with parts in demand can get better offers.
- What is missing. A car with no engine, no catalytic converter or no wheels is worth less than a complete one. Tell the yard up front; if the driver finds parts missing that you didn't mention, the offer can drop on the spot.
- Metal markets. Scrap metal prices go up and down, and yards adjust their offers to match.
- Towing distance. A yard that has to send a truck far out of town has more cost to cover.
Because of all this, any number you read online is a guess. The only way to know what your car will bring is to ask yards near you. We don't publish prices or payouts for that reason.
Phone offers can change once the truck arrives. Ask the yard to text or email the offer with the year, make and model, the amount, and whether towing is included. If the driver tries to lower it, you can point to the written offer, or decline and call the next yard.
The paperwork
Most yards ask for two things:
- The title, signed over to the yard. Follow the instructions printed on the title for where the seller signs.
- A photo ID that matches the name on the title.
If you still owe money on the car, the lender may hold the title or a lien on it, and you will need it released before you can sell. If the title is lost, many states let you order a duplicate.
Selling a car without a title is where rules differ the most. Some states allow it for older cars with other proof of ownership, some don't, and many yards have their own rules on top. Ask the yard what it accepts and check with your state's DMV. Nothing here is legal advice.
After the sale, many states have a way to tell the DMV you sold the car, often called a notice of sale or release of liability. It helps protect you if the car later racks up parking fines or toll bills in your name. Your DMV's website will say whether your state has one.
Before the tow truck comes
- Clean out the car. Check the glove box, the trunk, under the seats and the door pockets. Once it leaves, you won't get things back.
- Take off the license plates if your state says plates stay with the owner.
- Remove toll tags and parking stickers, and unpair your phone from the car's system.
- Keep the title in your hand, not in the car, until you are paid.
- Tell the yard about anything that changes the offer, like a missing part or a flat tire that makes towing harder.
Towing
Most junk cars leave on a tow truck. Many yards that buy cars include towing in the offer, some charge for it, and some take it out of the price. The words "free towing" mean the most when they are in the written offer.
In this directory, 291 listed yards have a customer review or website that mentions free towing, 262 of them among the yards shown to buy cars. Those yards are marked on the sell a junk car pages. Other yards may tow for free too; ask.
If your car still runs and you can drive it legally, some yards will make a better offer if you bring it in yourself. Ask.
What sellers say
Sentences from 4 and 5 star Google reviews where customers describe selling a car to a listed yard:
“They gave me a fair quote for my old car and arranged pickup without any hassle and Rey showed up quick!”
“He was very understanding while I was sad to have to junk my first ever car.”
“I got cash for my junk car in Rowlett, Texas.”
Find a yard that buys cars
The sell a junk car pages list all 1,470 yards shown to buy cars, by state and for 217 cities with two or more, each with the review sentence or website note that shows it. For 660 of them the proof is a customer review. For a state-by-state count, see where to sell a junk car.
Not sure whether you want a salvage yard or a scrap yard? See junkyard vs scrap yard.
Quick answers
- How much do junkyards pay for cars?
- It depends on the car and the day. Yards look at the weight of the car, whether it runs, which parts they can resell, current scrap metal prices and how far they have to tow it. We don't publish payouts because they change daily. Call two or three yards with the same details and compare written offers.
- Can I sell a car to a junkyard without a title?
- Rules for selling a car without a title vary by state, and some yards won't buy without one. Ask the yard what it accepts and check with your state's DMV about getting a replacement title or what other proof of ownership is allowed.
- Will a junkyard tow my car for free?
- Many yards that buy cars include towing in the offer, and some charge for it or take it out of the price. Ask whether towing is included before you agree.
- What paperwork do I need to sell my car to a junkyard?
- Most yards ask for the title signed over to them and a photo ID that matches the name on the title. If there is a loan on the car, you may need a lien release. Your state may also have a form to report the sale. Ask the yard and your DMV.
General information, not legal or safety advice. Yard rules, title and paperwork rules vary by yard and by state, so ask the yard and check with your state's DMV. We don't quote prices or payouts: what a yard charges for parts or pays for a car changes daily.
