The bottom line: No single company always pays the most money for junk cars, because offers shift constantly with scrap metal prices, parts demand and each buyer’s current needs. The junk car buyers to get quotes from are Peddle, CarBrain, Wheelzy and CashForCars.
The same car is offered very different amounts depending on who you ask. Across cars 10 years and older quoted by two or more buyers on the same day, the gap between the best and worst offer was typically $314, and in 39% of cars the best offer was at least double the worst.
Compare offers from several buyers on the same day, which gives you the best chance of finding the most money for your car.
What would buyers pay for your junk car?Fill in one form and see real offers for your car, not an average.
Key Takeaways
- Wheelzy offered the highest amount on 7 of 15 cars we tested across 6 condition types, but required a phone call to get a quote on 8 of those 15 cars.
- Peddle gave instant online quotes on all 15 cars and offered the most on 6 of them, making it the most reliable starting point if you want a quote without calling.
- Peddle offered a lot more on both bad-transmission cars: $1,875 vs $1,258 on a 2010 Toyota RAV4, and $680 vs $539 on a 2007 Honda Accord.
- The widest gap in our test was on a 2008 Toyota Prius that won’t run: Peddle offered $1,405 while CashForCars offered $595, a difference of $810.
- Pickup trucks carried the highest typical offer of any body type in our data and minivans the lowest, a few hundred dollars apart; the best and worst offer on the same car are often further apart than that, so the buyer you pick matters as much as the body.
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- You can cancel before pickup at no cost
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
- Buys damaged cars, even ones that can't be driven
- The engine and transmission must still be in
- Free towing, included with every offer
- Picks up within 48 hours, sometimes the same day
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
- Owned by Copart, the salvage auction company
- Buys almost any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Free towing, and it handles the title transfer
- Hands you a check at pickup, or mails it
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Compare Instant Offers
Top Companies to Get Quotes From
Peddle
Peddle buys junk, salvage, and non-running cars
- Free towing
- Fast payment
- Buys non running cars
- Pays by check at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
Peddle is strongest on older cars that still have life left in them. If yours is from the 2000s or earlier and still runs, Peddle’s offer often reflects what it has left.
Peddle also buys cars that would scare away a private buyer, such as ones with salvage titles or mechanical issues. Our guide to the best online junk car buyers covers the rest of the field.
Peddle has a 4.7/5 on Trustpilot. You get up to seven days to accept, so line up your other quotes before you do.
Towing is free nationwide, and the driver guides you through signing the title at pickup.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy buys cars in any condition, running or not
- Buys cars without keys
- Buys cars missing parts, engine and transmission in
- Pays cash or check at pickup
- Quote often needs a phone call
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
Wheelzy buys true junk cars: ones that don’t run, have heavy damage or are missing parts, as long as the engine and transmission are still in the car.
Wheelzy holds a 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot from 85,842 reviews.
It prices in salvageable parts, scrap metal and export potential, so it makes offers on cars other buyers might turn down.
Towing is free and you’re paid at pickup, so Wheelzy is a strong option when your car is ready for the scrapyard.
CashForCars
CashForCars is owned by Copart and buys cars in any condition
- Free towing from nearly 200 locations
- Buys any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Backed by Copart auction yards
- Pays a check right at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
CashForCars buys junk cars, wrecked vehicles, and cars that won’t run. It’s owned by Copart, one of the largest auto auction companies in the country.
The company handles all kinds of damage, including flood, collision, fire, and major mechanical failures. In our test, CashForCars offered $774 on a salvage 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix, $209 more than Peddle’s $565.
The car’s model year, damage and current market value set the offer. Free towing is included, and quotes are good for a limited time and can change until you’re paid.
CarBrain
CarBrain specializes in wrecked and broken-down vehicles
- Pickup 24 to 48 hours after accepting
- Buys totaled and wrecked cars
- Buys cars with blown engines
- Handles bad transmission sales
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Offer amount 30% 3/5
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Quote speed 20% 4/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 3/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
CarBrain buys damaged and high-mileage cars, including vehicles that won’t run. It specializes in cars with blown transmissions, engine problems, or electrical issues that cost more to fix than buyers would offer for the car.
CarBrain has been buying problem cars since 2007.
Most cars get an instant quote online without a callback. Quotes are valid for seven days, and free towing covers the lower 48 states.
Who Gives the Most Cash for Junk Cars? What Each Buyer Offered
We tested Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars on 15 cars spanning six condition types, using a Florida ZIP code for every quote. Wheelzy offered the most on 7 of 15 cars but required a phone call on 8 of them.
Peddle gave instant online quotes on all 15 and offered the most on 6. CashForCars offered the most on 2.
All Offers at a Glance
| Vehicle | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Oldsmobile Alero | $345 | $409 | $402 |
| 2007 Nissan Frontier | $1,750 | Required call | $1,256 |
| 2006 Ford Escape | $380 | $462 | $402 |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | $1,405 | Required call | $595 |
| 2004 Mazda 3 | $355 | $409 | $375 |
| 2007 GMC Sierra | $825 | Required call | $833 |
| 2010 Nissan Cube | $385 | $432 | $402 |
| 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix | $565 | Required call | $774 |
| 2005 Chevy Silverado | $1,465 | Required call | $1,049 |
| 2010 Toyota RAV4 | $1,875 | Required call | $1,258 |
| 2007 Honda Accord | $680 | Required call | $539 |
| 2003 BMW X5 | $410 | $501 | $447 |
| 2006 Pontiac G6 | $345 | $478 | $375 |
| 1999 Acura 3.2TL | $380 | $436 | $424 |
| 2008 Toyota 4Runner | $3,765 | Required call | $3,566 |
2001 Oldsmobile Alero
2007 Nissan Frontier
2006 Ford Escape
2008 Toyota Prius
2004 Mazda 3
2007 GMC Sierra
2010 Nissan Cube
2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2005 Chevy Silverado
2010 Toyota RAV4
2007 Honda Accord
2003 BMW X5
2006 Pontiac G6
1999 Acura 3.2TL
2008 Toyota 4Runner
2001 Oldsmobile Alero
117,800 miles · Old and rusted
| $409 |
| $402 |
| $345 |
2007 Nissan Frontier
143,594 miles · Old and rusted
| $1,750 |
| $1,256 |
| Required call |
2006 Ford Escape
260,813 miles · Old and rusted
| $462 |
| $402 |
| $380 |
2008 Toyota Prius
54,148 miles · Does not run
| $1,405 |
| $595 |
| Required call |
2004 Mazda 3
190,555 miles · Does not run
| $409 |
| $375 |
| $355 |
2007 GMC Sierra
116,098 miles · Does not run
| $833 |
| $825 |
| Required call |
2010 Nissan Cube
159,556 miles · Salvage title
| $432 |
| $402 |
| $385 |
2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
305,000 miles · Salvage title
| $774 |
| $565 |
| Required call |
2005 Chevy Silverado
237,000 miles · Salvage title
| $1,465 |
| $1,049 |
| Required call |
2010 Toyota RAV4
140,603 miles · Bad transmission
| $1,875 |
| $1,258 |
| Required call |
2007 Honda Accord
116,321 miles · Bad transmission
| $680 |
| $539 |
| Required call |
2003 BMW X5
240,647 miles · Mechanical issues
| $501 |
| $447 |
| $410 |
2006 Pontiac G6
99,000 miles · Mechanical issues
| $478 |
| $375 |
| $345 |
1999 Acura 3.2TL
270,849 miles · Over 200k miles
| $436 |
| $424 |
| $380 |
2008 Toyota 4Runner
246,579 miles · Over 200k miles
| $3,765 |
| $3,566 |
| Required call |
We got these quotes with a Florida ZIP code. Your offers can be higher or lower, because they depend on where you live, your car’s condition and what buyers need in your area.
The state matters more than most sellers expect. On cars 10 years and older, Montana has the highest typical offer of any state and Oklahoma the lowest, about $295 apart across the states with enough offers to count. Our guide to junk car buyers near you covers which buyers reach which areas and how the local pickup works.
Typical junk car offer by state 12,196 offers across 44 statesShow the numbers
State Typical offer Offers MT $695 55 TX $690 901 CO $680 312 NJ $670 395 NY $640 528 LA $610 126 FL $605 763 CA $605 1,816 PA $605 505 MD $600 267 DE $600 41 AZ $593 280 MA $573 312 VA $565 383 NV $563 108 KS $543 76 CT $530 177 GA $525 441 MS $525 54 RI $525 49 NE $515 61 ME $510 63 IL $500 440 UT $495 140 OH $490 454 SC $490 170 MI $488 338 ID $488 54 WI $485 190 MO $485 235 NC $480 431 TN $480 268 NH $475 55 NM $475 61 AR $473 60 KY $470 122 MN $460 237 IA $455 88 IN $455 211 OR $443 206 WA $435 405 AL $413 130 WV $405 69 OK $400 119 
How to Get the Most Money for a Junk Car
Get Quotes from 4+ Companies on Same Day
Timing matters because scrap prices and inventory needs change constantly. When the same car was quoted again a month or more later, buyers typically offered $40 less, and 59% of those quotes came back lower.
Get all your quotes within a few hours, so you compare them on the same day’s prices. It’s worth doing: the best and worst offer on the same car, same day, were typically $314 apart, and in 39% of cars the best was at least double the worst, across the cars quoted by more than one buyer.
Give each company the same details, because quotes on different details can’t be compared and can lead to disputes at pickup.
How far apart the best and worst offer are on the same car 998 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same dayShow the numbers
Best offer against worst Share of cars Offers Within 10% 9.5% 95 10% to 25% apart 11.7% 117 25% to 50% apart 17.5% 175 50% to 100% apart 21.8% 218 Double to triple 18.8% 188 More than triple 20.5% 205
Be Honest About Your Car’s Condition
Describe the car exactly, because the buyer checks it at pickup.
Buyers adjust offers for damage you didn’t mention, and an accurate description is what keeps the quote steady through that final inspection.
Take photos of major damage, missing parts, and overall condition. Photos help buyers give an accurate first quote and protect you from price changes at pickup.
Factor in Total Value
All major online junk car buyers include free towing, so focus on comparing the base offers.
Look at how and when you’re paid, too: cash at pickup is money in hand, while a check needs a trip to the bank.
What Affects Your Junk Car’s Value?
Vehicle Weight and Metal Content
Heavier vehicles contain more recyclable metal, which raises the scrap floor, but the offer follows the body type more than the scale. On cars 10 years and older, buyers offer a typical $855 for a pickup truck and $495 for a minivan or van, across every buyer in our data; the chart shows the rest, and our guide to how much you get for junking a car covers the other factors in depth.
Cars with aluminum bodies or components get higher offers from buyers who separate metals before recycling.
Typical junk car offer by body type 10,170 offers, cars 10 years and olderShow the numbers
Body type Typical offer Offers Pickup truck $855 1,035 SUV / crossover $665 3,437 Car (sedan, coupe, hatch) $505 5,115 Minivan / van $495 583
Valuable Components (Catalytic Converter, Battery, etc.)
The catalytic converter is the part that moves the offer most. Buyers offer about 57% less for a car with its converter gone than for the same car with it, the largest single effect in our data. Hybrid converters carry the most precious metal, which is part of why buyers offer more for an old Prius than for a Corolla or Civic of the same age; the most valuable junk cars list has the model figures.
Running vs. Non-Running Condition
Buyers offer about 46% less for a car that doesn’t start than for the same car running, compared inside groups of the same age and mileage, because a running car can be resold, exported, or driven to a processing yard.
Even a car that starts but can’t be driven keeps some of that: buyers offer about 29% less for it than for one that drives, a smaller cut than for a car that won’t start at all.
A car that doesn’t run has to be towed and processed right away, which lowers the offer.
What the condition of a car does to its best offer 1,564 cars of every age quoted by up to three buyers, compared inside matched mileage and age groupsShow the numbers
Condition Change in best offer Offers Catalytic converter missing -57% 389 Does not start -46% 916 Starts but does not drive -29% 686 Sitting at a mechanic -23% 485 Dashboard warning light on -18% 1,434 Broken glass, mirror or light -14% 867 Body damage -13% 867 Loan outstanding -5% 645 Interior damage -3% 867 Accident history 1% 1,434
Title Status and Paperwork
A clear title adds the most to the offer, because the buyer can resell or export the car straight away. A rebuilt or salvage brand costs some of that, and a missing title narrows who will buy the car at all: buyers who take one offer less than for the same car with a clean title in hand.
Every state asks for the title, and nine of them exempt cars above a certain age; the no-title guide has the rules state by state.
Why No Company Always Pays the Most?
Scrap Metal Prices Change Daily
Steel, aluminum and copper prices move with global demand, and when steel rises, every buyer’s scrap floor for your car rises with it.
Each company reacts at its own speed, which opens short-lived gaps between buyers that same-day quotes can catch.
Parts Demand Fluctuates by Season
The month you ask matters, and not the way most sellers guess. Pooling every year of offers on cars 10 years and older, April is the high month and September the low, $145 apart in the typical offer; winter sits nearer the high end than the low, and the dip comes from summer into early fall. Summer brings demand for AC components and convertible parts, but the offer follows the season more than the part.
The month you ask changes the offer 12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older, all five years pooledShow the numbers
Month Typical offer Offers Jan $590 1,066 Feb $610 853 Mar $613 1,052 Apr $625 942 May $610 892 Jun $550 997 Jul $540 1,193 Aug $525 1,384 Sep $480 1,184 Oct $530 985 Nov $575 907 Dec $565 857
Each Buyer Has Different Profit Models
Local junkyards make money from scrap metal, and online buyers often resell parts or export cars overseas.
Salvage yards focus on reusable parts. That’s why buyers offer very different amounts for the same car.
Your Car’s Value Depends on Buyer’s Current Inventory Needs
A buyer with 50 Honda Civics in stock won’t offer much for another one.
But one that’s short on Toyota parts will offer more for your Camry, which is a big reason to compare several buyers.
Why Online Junk Car Buyers Pay the Most?
Online junk car buyers usually offer more than traditional options because they evaluate more than scrap weight.
How Online Buyers Calculate Value?
Buyers like Peddle and CarBrain price in parts that can be resold, export demand and rebuild potential.
That’s why they offer more: a yard prices the car by weight at that day’s scrap rate and an online buyer prices in the converter, the running parts and the export market. We don’t collect yard quotes, so the honest test is your own: take the best online offer to a local yard and ask the yard to beat it.
The Convenience Factor
Online buyers handle the towing, the paperwork and payment at pickup, so you don’t research local yards, check their credentials or arrange the pickup yourself.
Red Flags to Avoid When Selling
Pressure to Decide Immediately
A reputable buyer gives you time to compare offers; one pushing you to decide right away usually wants to stop you finding a better one.
Take the time to compare all your quotes, even if a buyer says its offer expires soon.
Hidden Fees or Deductions
Most online buyers tow for free, but some less established companies add charges at pickup. Sticking with the four companies we recommend avoids that.
No Physical Inspection Required
A legitimate buyer checks the car before it pays, and that check should confirm what you described, not turn up new problems.
A Flat Price Before Anyone Asks About the Car
If an ad promises “$300 for any junk car” before anyone has asked what the car is, that figure is a floor, not an offer: the scrap rate on the lightest car the buyer expects to see. In our data, a quarter of offers on cars 20 years and older came in at or below $275 in the last 90 days, so a flat figure tells you the scrap rate and nothing about your car. Get a quote that names your car before you compare it with anything.
What Do These Offers Tell Us?
- Wheelzy’s offers are often the highest when it quotes online, but it sends a large share of cars to a required phone call. For sellers who want to compare fast without calling anyone, Peddle is the more reliable option.
- Peddle offered more than CashForCars on six cars, by $141 to $810: the Frontier, Prius, Silverado, RAV4, Accord and 4Runner. On the seven cheapest cars, CashForCars offered $17 to $57 more.
- CashForCars, backed by Copart’s auction network, won the salvage-title Corolla Matrix outright and came second on the salvage Cube, but on the higher-value salvage Silverado Peddle offered more.
- Wheelzy offered the same $409 on two cars in different condition categories (the rusted Alero and the non-running Mazda 3), which looks like a floor price for the cheapest cars rather than a per-car valuation.
- Buyers offered both bad-transmission cars more than their model’s typical offer across all conditions: the RAV4’s $1,875 against $1,808 for 2006 to 2012 RAV4s and the Accord’s $680 against $525 for 2003 to 2007 Accords. Buyers treat these as repairable, so the offer reflects the working car minus the repair rather than parts and metal.
- The widest gap in our test was on a non-running car: on the 2008 Toyota Prius, Peddle offered more than twice what CashForCars offered.
- Your location affects which buyers can work with you and how much they offer. Getting quotes from Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars takes a few minutes total, and on one car in four the best offer beat the worst by $823 or more.
How Does Recycling a Junk Car Work?
Recycling a junk car for cash is the sale itself: you sell the car, and the recycling happens after the tow truck leaves. Peddle, for one, says a car it buys can end up with a dealer, a salvage yard, a junk yard, a wholesaler or a recycler. Once a car reaches a recycler, a dismantler pulls the parts worth reusing, the stripped car is flattened and shredded, and steelmakers melt the scrap into new steel, as the EPA describes it.
Leave the car as it is, battery included. Peddle and Wheelzy count a car as starting only if it starts on its own battery at pickup, and Peddle offers more for a car with a working battery and key, so pulling the battery to sell it separately can lower your offer. If the battery is already dead, say so when you ask for quotes, because Peddle counts a car that needs a jump as one that doesn’t start.
There’s nothing to drain or take apart before pickup. Peddle asks you to take out your belongings and takes the car as it is, and under federal rules recovering the air-conditioning refrigerant is the scrap recycler’s job, not yours.
Everywhere but Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon, the plates stay with you, not the car, so take them off when the tow truck arrives. What you do with them next is a state rule, and our guide to handling license plates when you sell a car covers it.
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
FAQ
How much do junk car buyers pay?
Over the last twelve months, four in five offers on cars 10 years and older fell between $245 and $2,410, and half of them between $355 and $1,105. Heavier bodies, running cars and cars with the converter still on land in the top half.
Is a recycling company or a towing service the better junk car buyer?
A towing service that buys cars is a middleman: it sells the car on to a yard and offers you the yard’s price minus its profit. A recycler, or an online buyer with its own tow network, offers the whole amount and still collects free.
Get the online offers first, then decide.
Do dealers or auctions offer more for a junk car?
A dealer that takes a junk car in trade sends it to auction and offers you what it expects the auction to leave after its fee, so the trade-in figure is usually the lowest on the table.
CashForCars is owned by Copart, an auction company, and prices its quote from real-time market data; compare it against Peddle and Wheelzy the same day.
What paperwork do I need to sell my junk car?
You need the vehicle title, your driver’s license, and any lien release documents if you still owe money. Without the title, the buyer will tell you what your state accepts in its place.
Methodology
We selected 15 vehicles across six condition categories: junk cars (old and rusted), non-running cars, salvage title cars, cars with bad transmissions, cars with mechanical problems, and cars with over 200k miles. Vehicles ranged from a 1999 Acura 3.2TL to a 2010 Toyota RAV4, covering sedans, trucks, and SUVs at varying mileage levels.
We submitted each vehicle to Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars using the same Florida ZIP code. We answered all condition questions honestly and recorded the exact quote amount shown. We took screenshots of every result, including screens showing a required phone call when no instant quote was available.
Peddle gave instant online quotes on all 15 vehicles. Wheelzy gave instant online quotes on 7 of 15 and required a phone call on 8. CashForCars gave instant online quotes on all 15 vehicles.
We did not accept any offers. Your results may differ based on your location, vehicle condition, and which buyers are active in your area at the time you get quotes.
Article Update History
Now covers how a junk car is recycled after pickup and what to leave in it, from the EPA and Peddle's and Wheelzy's own pages.
Offers on this page now come from new test quotes from Peddle, Wheelzy and CashForCars.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"Fact Sheet on National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026.
Typical junk car offer by state, Junk Car Value Statistics
"12,196 offers across 44 states" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
How far apart the best and worst offer are on the same car, Junk Car Value Statistics
"998 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same day" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Typical junk car offer by body type, Junk Car Value Statistics
"10,170 offers, cars 10 years and older" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
What the condition of a car does to its best offer, Junk Car Value Statistics
"1,564 cars of every age quoted by up to three buyers, compared inside matched mileage and age groups" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
The month you ask changes the offer, Junk Car Value Statistics
"12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older, all five years pooled" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Junk Car Value Statistics, Sell Car Advisor
"On this page: 18 figures from 17,628 instant cash offers, and 8 figures from same-day quotes by several buyers" Accessed Oct. 19, 2026
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