Turn your old clunker into cash. Use our professional vehicle scrap value calculator to estimate the current market value of your end-of-life vehicle based on curb weight and local scrap metal prices.
Vehicle Scrap Value Calculator
Estimated Scrap Value
$0.00Vehicle Scrap Value Calculator Formula
Variables:
- Curb Weight: The total weight of the vehicle with standard equipment and all necessary operating consumables.
- Scrap Price: The current market rate paid by recycling centers for mixed auto steel.
- Salvageable Parts: High-value components like functioning GPS units, catalytic converters (precious metals), or intact engines.
- Deductions: Costs for towing, administrative processing, or removal of non-metallic materials (tires/fluids).
Related Calculators
- Car Depreciation Estimator
- Salvage Title Value Calculator
- Metal Weight to Volume Converter
- Used Part Resale Value Tracker
What is a Vehicle Scrap Value Calculator?
A vehicle scrap value calculator is a specialized tool used by car owners and salvage yards to determine the “melt-down” value of a car. Unlike traditional valuation tools like Kelley Blue Book, which focus on drivability and resale, a scrap calculator focuses primarily on the weight of the steel, aluminum, and copper within the chassis.
As a vehicle nears the end of its life, its value shifts from its utility as a machine to its utility as raw material. This calculation provides a baseline “floor price” for any vehicle, regardless of its mechanical condition.
How to Calculate Vehicle Scrap Value (Example)
- Identify Weight: A standard sedan weighs approx. 3,500 lbs.
- Check Market Rates: If scrap steel is $200 per ton (2,000 lbs).
- Math: (3,500 / 2,000) = 1.75 tons.
- Base Value: 1.75 × $200 = $350.
- Adjust: Add $100 for a working catalytic converter and subtract $50 for towing. Total: $400.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, significantly. Catalytic converters contain precious metals (platinum, palladium) and can be worth $50 to $500 on their own.
In most jurisdictions, a legal title is required to prove ownership before a yard can crush or recycle the vehicle.
Only indirectly. Newer cars might have more aluminum (lighter but more valuable per lb), but the primary driver is total curb weight.
If you have the tools, removing high-value parts (radiators, batteries, wheels) to sell separately often yields a higher total return than selling the car whole.