One of the first questions that pops into someone’s head when they decide to sell their used or non-functioning car for scrap is, “How much money will I get for it?” Although a quick and easy answer is often sought, the reality is that pricing the value of your vehicle is contingent upon multiple factors. The most pressing scrap car variables you need to consider are its operational status, age and condition, make and model, and its size and weight.

The 4 Most Important Scrap Car Variables You Need to Know

Keeping these 4 scrap car variables in mind when selling your vehicle can help you estimate what your car may be worth and what you can expect to receive as an offer from a scrapyard like ,Auto-Scrap:

#1 – Operational Status

One of the first scrap car variables you need to consider is your car’s operational status. If your car is road-worthy, albeit damaged, scratched, or in need of a few repairs, it will be worth more than if it is completely non-functional. This stands to reason, as a scrapyard team can easily repair the car and sell it to an eager buyer who will drive it off the lot.

That is not to say that the car is worthless if it can’t run. Even a non-functioning car is worth a fair share of money in salvageable spare parts and materials.

#2 – Age and Condition

Most scrap yards know that a majority of their purchases will be scavenged for reusable and resell-able parts. For this reason, cars that are in good condition and are either new(er) or haven’t been driven for many years fetch good prices from scrap yards. This makes perfect sense, as cars that meet these criteria have parts that are almost brand-new, need little to no repair, and can be resold at top-tier prices.

#3 – Make and Model

Perhaps the most finicky scrap car variable to account for is the make and model. Although most scrap yards will buy almost any vehicle they can, the most sought after and highly-priced makes and models are those that are popular with motorists and that are well-represented on the road. This makes perfect sense, as there are more opportunities to sell refurbished used parts for these vehicles than for any others. For example, if you’re selling a used Honda Accord (currently the most popular car in North America) expect a bigger offer from a scrap yard than if you were selling a Chevrolet Spark (one of the least popular).

Of course, vintage and classic cars (such as a 1980 Chevrolet Camaro or a 1957 Ford Fairlane) will always be sought after as valuable collectors items and be sold for top dollar, but don’t expect much of an offer if your car was a forgettable or unpopular make and model.

#4 – Size and Weight

If a scrap car is unsalvageable in terms of parts, it may be bought exclusively for its value in recyclable materials like aluminum, steel, tempered glass, and rubber. In this case, what will determine the value of the car will be the total weight of these materials; the bigger the size of the vehicle, the bigger the profit!

Even for cars that are salvaged for parts, the size and weight of the vehicle factors into its price evaluation. After all, once the parts have been removed, the rest of the chassis will be sold as recyclable material as well. In fact, many scrap yards base their pricing solely on the size and weight of the vehicle!

To learn more about scrap car variables or book an appointment to sell your car, ,contact Auto-Scrap today!