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The bottom line: A junk car 10 years or older is typically offered $560 by an online cash buyer, and half of those offers land between $375 and $1,075. These are offers, not sale prices.
The figures come from 17,628 instant offers on cars of every age, plus a smaller set of cars quoted by up to four buyers on the same day.
The car’s age, model, mileage and condition move the offer most. Where it’s sold moves it less, and the month you ask moves it least.
What you control is how many buyers you ask. For 45% of old cars, the best same-day offer was double the worst or more.
What would buyers pay for your junk car?Fill in one form and see real offers for your car, not an average.
Key Takeaways
- Check the range: half of cars 15 to 17 years old were offered between $390 and $880; if yours is offered less than its age band’s range, get another offer.
- Get several offers: the best and worst same-day offers on an old car are typically $346 apart, so never stop at one.
- Find the title: a car of any age with no title in hand is offered 40% less, so replace a lost one before you sell.
- Ask every buyer: non-starters, cars without a converter and cars with a loan draw a single offer more often than others.
- Sell now: 59% of old cars quoted again a month or more later were offered less, so waiting is more likely to cost you than pay.
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
How Much Is a Junk Car Worth?
Half of all offers on cars 10 years and older in our offer data fell between $375 and $1,075, around a typical $560.
Of those offers, 27% reach $1,000 or more, and 29% come in under $400.
Those figures cover every offer in the data. The last twelve months alone hold 1,885 offers on cars 10 years and older, with a typical offer of $515 and half between $355 and $1,105.
The earlier years held more offers at higher prices, so the all-years figure sits higher than today’s market. If you’re weighing an offer you have now, hold it against the twelve-month figure.
A junk car isn’t an age. It’s a car that’s no longer worth fixing: the repair bill is more than the car would bring, or it’s so old and worn that nobody wants it. That’s the car people sell to an instant buyer, so they skip the repair, the listing and the waiting.
Where junk car offers actually land
12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older
Show the numbers
| Offer bracket | Share of offers | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Under $250 | 9.0% | 1,102 |
| $250 to $399 | 19.9% | 2,453 |
| $400 to $499 | 14.2% | 1,751 |
| $500 to $749 | 20.7% | 2,550 |
| $750 to $999 | 9.0% | 1,111 |
| $1,000 to $1,499 | 10.3% | 1,272 |
| $1,500 to $2,499 | 9.4% | 1,156 |
| $2,500 and up | 7.4% | 917 |
The typical offer is the median: half the cars got more, half got less. We use it instead of the average because a few very high offers would drag an average up.
How Does Age Change What a Junk Car Is Offered?
The offer falls fastest before 15 years. After that, each age band is offered only a little less than the one before. In our offer data, a car 15 to 17 years old was offered less than half what a car 10 to 12 years old was.
Compare your offer with the row for your car’s age. Half the cars that age were offered within the range shown, so an offer under it is a reason to ask another buyer.
| Age of the car | Typical offer | Half are offered between |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 12 years | $1,235 | $715 and $2,130 |
| 13 to 14 years | $720 | $455 and $1,320 |
| 15 to 17 years | $555 | $390 and $880 |
| 18 to 19 years | $465 | $335 and $660 |
| 20 to 24 years | $410 | $300 and $550 |
| 25 to 29 years | $360 | $250 and $490 |
| 30 years and older | $340 | $245 and $485 |
Typical cash offer by car age 12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older · Age of car when the offer was made (years)Show the numbers
Age (years) Typical offer Offers 10-12 $1,235 2,808 13-14 $720 1,746 15-17 $555 2,735 18-19 $465 1,527 20-24 $410 2,331 25-29 $360 712 30+ $340 453
A buyer rarely turns a car down until it’s very old. Across all cars 10 years and older, 2.9% of requests came back with no offer, and the share climbs sharply past 25 years.
If one buyer makes no offer, ask another before you decide there’s no offer to be had.
How often a buyer makes no offer at all 12,683 offer requests · Age of car when the offer was requested (years)Show the numbers
Age (years) Share with no offer Offers 10-12 1.5% 2,852 13-14 1.9% 1,779 15-17 2.4% 2,801 18-19 2.8% 1,571 20-24 2.8% 2,399 25-29 5.3% 752 30+ 14.4% 529
How Does Condition Change a Junk Car Offer?
A car that won’t start is offered 48% less than a comparable car that drives, and one that starts but can’t be driven 31% less.
These figures compare the best offer each car got through the comparison tool, which records the car’s condition. They include cars of every age, and each car is compared only with cars of similar age and mileage, so the figure measures the condition and not the car.
A missing catalytic converter costs the most, at 76% less than a comparable car with it. A car sitting at a repair shop is offered 43% less than one at home.
A missing title takes 40% off, about the same as a car that starts but can’t be driven. If yours is lost, price a replacement title before you sell.
Body damage takes 21% off, and an accident on the record 15%. A warning light on the dashboard takes 29% off, broken glass, a mirror or a light 18%, and damage inside the car 9%.
A loan still on the car takes less off than most conditions do: 11% less than a car owned outright.
What the condition of a car does to its best offer 1,484 cars of every age quoted by up to four buyers, compared inside matched mileage and age groupsShow the numbers
Condition Change in best offer Offers Catalytic converter missing -76% 369 Does not start -48% 869 Sitting at a mechanic -43% 295 Starts but does not drive -31% 653 Dashboard warning light on -29% 1,360 Body damage -21% 818 Broken glass, mirror or light -18% 818 Accident history -15% 1,360 Loan outstanding -11% 617 Interior damage -9% 707
Mileage is the other thing the comparison tool records. At the same age, a car with fewer miles is offered more.
Among cars 10 to 14 years old, one with 50,000 to 99,000 miles drew a typical best offer of $3,530 from the buyers on the comparison tool. One with 100,000 to 149,000 miles drew $1,555, and one past 200,000 miles $575.
By 20 years old, mileage matters much less: past 100,000 miles the bands run only from $418 to $495.
These are the best of up to four same-day offers, so they run higher than a single offer. Compare the bands with each other, not with the other figures.
What mileage does to the offer, at the same age 920 cars 10 years and older, best offer from up to four buyers · Miles on the odometerShow the numbers
Mileage 10 to 14 years old Offers 15 to 19 years old Offers 20 years and older Offers 50k to 99k $3,530 88 — 29 $635 39 100k to 149k $1,555 150 $661 97 $495 83 150k to 199k $1,203 96 $506 102 $440 69 200k and up $575 45 $516 69 $418 82
RepairPal puts a head gasket at $2,572 to $3,386 and a transmission at $6,238 to $6,764, with parts at the manufacturer’s list price.
For most cars over 15 years old, either repair costs more than the car is offered, which is when a car isn’t worth repairing.
What common repairs cost RepairPal national averages, 21 repairs, dated 2026-09-03Show the numbers
Repair Low estimate High estimate Transmission replacement $6,238 $6,764 Head gasket $2,572 $3,386 Timing chain $2,120 $2,764 Catalytic converter $2,280 $2,480 Clutch $1,630 $2,047 Radiator $1,368 $1,550 Fuel pump $1,344 $1,513 AC compressor $1,081 $1,463 Shock or strut $1,144 $1,348 Muffler $1,138 $1,190 Engine control module $1,122 $1,192 Timing belt $918 $1,338 Water pump $891 $1,135 Alternator $809 $1,088 Starter $565 $796 EGR valve $489 $632 Oxygen sensor $440 $523 Wheel bearing $346 $504 Brake pads $335 $394 Spark plugs $288 $399 Ignition coil $238 $320 
Why Get More Than One Junk Car Offer?
The best same-day offer on an old car typically beat the worst by $346 in the quotes sellers get through the comparison tool. A quarter of those cars saw a gap of $1,070 or more, and on 45% of them the best offer was at least double the worst.
The buyers rarely agree. On 9% of these cars the best and worst offers landed within 10% of each other, and on 27% the best was more than triple the worst.
The gap shrinks in dollars as the car ages, from $879 at 10 to 12 years to $163 at 20 to 24. The share of cars where the best offer doubles the worst falls much more slowly.
How far apart the best and worst offer are on the same car 944 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same day The gap between best and worst offer, by car age 944 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same day · Age of car when quoted (years)Show the numbers
Best offer against worst Share of cars Offers Within 10% 8.9% 84 10% to 25% apart 10.7% 101 25% to 50% apart 15.9% 150 50% to 100% apart 20.0% 189 Double to triple 18.0% 170 More than triple 26.5% 250
Show the numbers
Age (years) Typical gap between best and worst offer Offers 10-12 $879 224 13-14 $608 171 15-17 $283 174 18-19 $234 116 20-24 $163 176 25+ $115 83
Some cars get only one offer. Of the old cars put to up to four buyers through the comparison tool, 6% heard back from only one.
A car that won’t start typically got 2 offers against 3 for one that drives, and 11% of non-starters heard from a single buyer. With the catalytic converter gone it was 18%, and with a loan still on the car 16%.
Ask every buyer you can, not just two.
Cars that got only one offer 1,009 cars 10 years and older, each put to up to four buyersShow the numbers
Condition Share with one offer Offers Starts and drives 4% 701 Body damage 6% 132 All cars 6% 1,009 Does not start 11% 194 Sitting at a mechanic 12% 69 Loan outstanding 16% 37 Catalytic converter missing 18% 39
Which States Have the Highest Junk Car Value?
Where the car sits changes the offer by about $295 from the best state to the worst, across the states with enough offers to count. Old cars in Montana are typically offered $695, and Oklahoma sits at the bottom.
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
Which Junk Cars Get the Highest Offers?
Body type moves the offer about as much as the state does, going by the same offers. An old pickup truck is typically offered $855, against $495 for a minivan or van. SUVs and sedans sit between.
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
Porsche, whose old cars are offered far more than any other make, is left off the chart. Of the rest, Lexus leads among cars 10 years and older, and the bottom of the chart is mostly makes that are no longer built.
Typical junk car offer by make 12,181 offers across 35 makesShow the numbers
Make Typical offer Offers Lexus $1,115 243 Land Rover $1,105 61 Audi $970 186 Toyota $928 1,450 Mercedes-Benz $785 335 Mini $740 83 Ram $735 155 BMW $723 404 Honda $640 1,152 Hyundai $635 463 Kia $630 219 Infiniti $613 134 Subaru $600 338 GMC $580 273 Acura $550 210 Ford $545 1,505 Volkswagen $543 326 Jeep $540 449 Mazda $520 303 Jaguar $513 40 Nissan $505 730 Cadillac $505 181 Chevrolet $475 1,171 Dodge $440 395 Mitsubishi $440 97 Chrysler $420 243 Lincoln $418 90 Volvo $413 208 Pontiac $403 160 Buick $395 211 Suzuki $395 37 Saab $385 39 Mercury $383 114 Saturn $365 138 Oldsmobile $325 38
By model, the Toyota Tacoma gets the highest offer and the Buick LeSabre the lowest, among models with 40 or more offers. The gap between them is several times the typical offer, and the chart shows the top twenty.
The old models with the highest offers 1,727 offers across these 20 modelsShow the numbers
Model Typical offer Offers Toyota Tacoma $2,553 70 Chevrolet Camaro $2,455 43 Toyota Tundra $2,440 49 Chevrolet Corvette $2,008 44 Toyota 4Runner $1,743 72 Toyota Rav4 $1,610 108 Toyota Prius $1,463 136 Toyota Highlander $1,450 77 Lexus RX $1,335 64 Chevrolet Silverado $1,205 127 Ford F250 $1,105 67 Honda CR-V $1,093 178 BMW 328 $1,030 90 Kia Sorento $1,020 55 Toyota Corolla $835 183 Ford Edge $828 58 Subaru Outback $795 74 Mercedes-Benz E $755 65 Nissan Rogue $755 57 Ram 1500 $743 110
An old Toyota Prius is offered more than a Corolla or Civic of the same age. The gap widens as they age: +11% at 10 to 12 years and +45% at 15 to 17.
What an old Prius is offered against a Corolla or Civic 631 offers, cars 10 years and older · Age of car when the offer was made (years)Show the numbers
Age (years) Toyota Prius Offers Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic Offers 10-12 $2,065 61 $1,845 87 13-14 $1,510 31 $1,140 93 15-17 $1,060 49 $735 115
Does Waiting Get a Junk Car a Better Offer?
Usually not. Of the old cars in our offer data, 109 were quoted again by the same buyer a month or more after their first offer. The typical change was -$40, and 59% were offered less the second time.
After a year or more, the typical change was -$160, with 71% offered less.
What asking again later cost 109 cars 10 years and older, each quoted twice by the same buyer · Time between the two offersShow the numbers
Gap between offers Typical change in the offer Offers 1 to 3 months $0 40 3 to 6 months -$20 21 6 to 12 months -$135 17 More than a year -$160 31
When Is the Best Month to Sell a Junk Car?
Offers on cars 10 years and older in our offer data peak in April and bottom out in September, a swing of $145 across the year. If you can choose, sell before summer, but don’t hold the car for spring: a car quoted again six months or more later was typically offered less.
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
How Do Junk Car Offers Compare With the Used Car Market?
Kelley Blue Book puts the average used car listing at $27,028. A junk car is offered a small fraction of that, so a used-car listing price is no guide to a junk offer.
How Are These Junk Car Statistics Calculated?
The offer figures on this page come from instant cash offers made to sellers from 2021 to 2026. Every one is a real offer on a real car from an online car buyer, not a sale price.
The condition, mileage and same-day comparisons come from a second, smaller set: cars quoted by up to four buyers on the same day through the comparison tool.
Our offer data can’t see the repair bill, only the age of the car, so the offer figures use cars 10 years and older. A 10-year-old car in good shape isn’t junk.
The car’s condition is recorded only for that second set, where the seller answered a condition questionnaire. On cars 10 years and older alone, the catalytic converter comparison has too few matched cars to publish.
A naive comparison across all cars gets the answer badly wrong. It would tell you a car with a loan on it is offered several times more, because cars with loans are newer.
The twelve-month figures are marked where they appear. The headline stays all-years because the state, body, make and model comparisons need that volume to be stable.
Most charts drop any group with fewer than 30 offers rather than show it with a caveat, so a state is on the state chart only with 30 or more. The re-quote chart uses 15 per point, and the mileage figures 30 cars to a point, grouped by age band and mileage band.
The re-quote figures match a car’s year, make, model and town rather than its VIN, so a common model in a big city can occasionally pair two different cars.
Every chart carries its own sample size, and the numbers behind it are one click away under “Show the numbers”. Every figure is recomputed when new offers arrive, and the offer window it covers is shown under its chart.
Outside figures are credited to their publisher where they appear, with the day we last checked them.
Article Update History
Figures now run through September, and the condition figures cover cars of every age.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
Sell Car Advisor instant offer data
"17,628 instant cash offers from online car buyers, July 2021 to September 30, 2026, and 1,568 cars quoted by up to four buyers through the quote form" Accessed Oct. 2, 2026
"$2,572 to $3,386, head gasket replacement cost; $6,238 to $6,764, transmission replacement cost" Accessed Sep. 11, 2026
"$27,028, average used car listing price" Accessed Sep. 11, 2026
