Cash Auto Salvage
Get an offer

How to sell a junk car

The full process — pricing, condition, paperwork, pickup, payment — drawn from 42,000+ purchases over 12+ years. No fluff, no callbacks, no haggling at the gate.

Get an instant offer1-855-922-3095
$400
Average payout (nationwide)
$1,090
Top 10% payout
42,000+
Cars purchased to date
The process

Selling a junk car in 4 steps

Same flow whether your car runs or sits in the driveway, has a title or doesn't, runs out of state-line considerations or sells in your home ZIP.

  1. Step 01
    Tell us about the car
    Year, make, model, ZIP. About 90 seconds.

    We ask the same questions a buyer would: does it run, do you have the title, condition of the catalytic converter, any major damage. Photos help but aren't required for a first offer.

  2. Step 02
    See your firm offer
    A locked-in number, not a guess.

    Our system calculates the offer using year/make/model, condition data you submitted, current scrap-metal prices in your region, and recent comparable sales from our 42,000+ purchase history. The number on screen is the number we pay at pickup.

  3. Step 03
    Schedule free pickup
    Same-day or next-day in most metros.

    Pick a window that works for you. Our partner tow operator coordinates the pickup — they're licensed, insured, and the tow is built into the offer (no hidden fees). Rural areas typically 1–3 business days.

  4. Step 04
    Get paid at pickup
    Cash or check, your choice.

    When the tow driver arrives, they verify the car matches the description, you sign the title (we coordinate notary if your state requires one), and you get paid before the car leaves. Most sellers prefer the check — easier to deposit, paper trail.

Full step-by-step on the “How it works” page
What it's worth

Four things that change the offer

The math isn't mysterious. Year, make, model, condition, the catalytic converter, and what your local scrap market is paying this week — that's it.

Year, make, and model

Newer cars and high-demand models pay more. Trucks and SUVs typically clear higher than sedans because they weigh more and have stronger parts demand.

Condition

Running cars pay 2–3× their non-running siblings. Salvage and rebuilt titles knock 10–25% off. Frame damage, flood, and totaled status all factor in honestly.

Catalytic converter

The single biggest swing on most cars built after 2000. Some converters are worth $150 in scrap; others (older trucks, hybrids) over $800. Cars without a converter see a reduced offer; we still buy.

Local scrap-metal market

Steel, aluminum, and copper prices set the floor and they move daily. Our offer engine pulls today's prices for your region, not a national average.

Common situations

Pick the path that matches your car

The selling process is the same regardless, but a few situations have specific deep-dives that save time.

The car runs

Working drivetrain pays the most. Even if the body is rough, a sound engine and transmission lift the offer significantly. Submit the car as-is and let the math handle the rest.

Get a firm offer
The car doesn't run

Most cars we buy don't run. Engine seized, transmission gone, electrical issues, dead battery — none of it stops the sale. Free flatbed tow either way; the offer reflects condition honestly.

Get a firm offer
Insurance totaled the car

If you took the retained-salvage settlement and have the salvage title, we'll buy. The total-loss calculator helps confirm the threshold before you settle with the insurer.

Open the total-loss calculator
You don't have the title

Often workable. Lost titles get replaced through your state DMV ($5–$50, 1–2 weeks). Inherited cars need court papers. Cars bought without one sometimes need a bonded title.

Selling without a title — full guide

What you’ll need at pickup

The list is short, and our partner tow operator handles the tricky bits.

  • The keys — if you have them. If not, no problem; we still tow.
  • Your title, signed in the seller field. We’ll send instructions specific to your state when you accept the offer. State-by-state title-signing guides →
  • A bill of sale if your state requires one separate from the title. We provide a template and the tow driver brings a printed copy to sign at pickup.
  • A photo ID matching the name on the title. Required by most state DMV regulations to legitimize the transfer.
  • Notary at pickupif your state requires title notarization (PA, OH, NC, KY, MT, OK, AZ in some cases, and a few others). We coordinate a mobile notary so you don’t need to drive anywhere.

What we don’t need

We won’t ask for the title to be mailed in advance, a deposit, an “inspection fee,” or any payment from you for any reason. The offer number is what you receive; that’s the whole transaction.

If a buyer ever asks you for money up front to release a vehicle, that’s a scam — walk away and read our guide on vetting a junk-car buyer.

FAQ

Common questions

The questions sellers ask us most often. For specific scenarios — title issues, totaled cars, no-title situations — see the linked deep-dives.

How does selling a junk car actually work?
Four steps. (1) Submit your car’s year, make, model, and ZIP for an instant offer. (2) Review the firm number. (3) Schedule a free pickup window. (4) The tow driver brings cash or a check, you sign the title, the car leaves. The whole thing usually wraps in 1–3 days. See the full process →
How much is my junk car worth?
Depends on year, make, model, condition, and your local scrap-metal market. Across our purchase history the average payout is $400 with the top 10% landing around $1,090. Working trucks pay strongest. Use our junk car value calculator for a ballpark, then submit for a firm offer.
Do you buy non-running cars?
Yes. Most of the cars we buy don’t run. Engine seized, transmission gone, electrical issues, no battery — none of it stops the sale. Free flatbed tow either way.
What if I don't have the title?
Often workable. The most common paths: request a duplicate title from your DMV, apply for a bonded title if you bought the car without one, or use a mechanic’s lien procedure for abandoned vehicles. Each state handles it differently. See the state-by-state guide →
Will I get a better offer somewhere else?
Maybe. We recommend getting 2–3 quotes and comparing. Variance of $50–$200 between buyers is normal. Variance of $500+ usually means one of them is either inflating to win the click or planning to lowball at pickup. How to vet a junk-car buyer →
How fast can you pick up the car?
Same-day or next-day in most metros. Rural areas typically 1–3 business days. Alaska and Hawaii are call-to-confirm by region.
How do I get paid?
Cash or check at pickup, your choice. Most sellers prefer the check — easier to deposit, paper trail. Either way, you get paid before the car leaves.
What about catalytic converter, missing parts, or stolen converters?
We still buy. The offer reflects what’s actually on the car — a missing or cut converter reduces the figure but doesn’t kill the sale. Disclose what’s missing up front and the offer will be honest.
Keep reading

Specific situations, specific guides

The general process is the same; these deep-dives cover the cases sellers ask about most.

Selling without a title

Lost the title or never had one? State-by-state options — duplicate titles, bonded titles, mechanic's liens.

Read guide
Selling a broken or non-running car

Engine seized, transmission gone, won't start? We buy non-runners every day. Free flatbed tow.

Read guide
Is my car a total loss?

Free calculator that shows whether your insurer is likely to total the car based on ACV and repair cost.

Read guide
What's my junk car worth?

Ballpark estimate in 30 seconds based on year, make, and condition. Backed by 42,000+ purchases.

Read guide
How to choose a junk-car buyer

Six things a legitimate buyer can show you. Six red flags that mean you'll get lowballed at pickup.

Read guide
Scrap prices by make

What current scrap-metal markets are paying — and which makes pay best when sold whole.

Read guide
Catalytic converters

The single biggest swing in a junk-car offer. $150–$800 typical, more on hybrids and older trucks.

Read guide
How to sign your car title

State-by-state title-signing guides. Where to sign, what fields to fill, notary requirements.

Read guide
Recent purchases

What we've been buying lately, what they paid, where they came from. Real numbers, not estimates.

Read guide
About 90 seconds

Get an instant offer on your junk car.

Tell us about the car, see your firm offer in under two minutes, schedule free pickup, get paid on the spot.

Get my instant offer1-855-922-3095