Steel and iron (ferrous)
The body, frame, doors, suspension parts and many engine blocks. This is the bulk of the weight and the base of the price. Truck frames and body-on-frame SUVs carry extra steel compared with unibody cars.
Cash for Scrap Cars Edmonton
What Your Scrap Car Is Really Worth
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A clear number for your car
Cash for Scrap Cars in Edmonton: What Your Scrap Car Is Really Worth
A scrap car's value isn't a mystery. It comes down to how much it weighs, what it's made of, and what metal is selling for this month.
Once you understand that, it's easy to tell a fair offer from a lowball. Here's the full picture, followed by a firm offer from us with free pickup anywhere in Edmonton.
Get your scrap price: [PHONE].
How the number is built
The Scrap Car Formula
Scrap value = (weight × steel price) + catalytic converter + aluminum and copper + resellable parts − recycling and transport costs
Recycling costs cover depollution (draining fluids and recovering refrigerant), removing the battery, tires and mercury switches, and moving the vehicle to a shredder. Some buyers subtract these on your paperwork. We build them into the quote and still pick up for free, so the number we give you is the number you get.
The base value
Weight
Weight sets the base value of every scrap car. Here are typical curb weights for common vehicle types in Alberta.
| Vehicle type | Approx. curb weight | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Subcompact / compact car | 1,100 to 1,400 kg | Yaris, Fit, Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Cruze |
| Mid-size sedan | 1,400 to 1,650 kg | Camry, Accord, Altima, Malibu, Fusion, Sonata |
| Compact SUV / crossover | 1,500 to 1,750 kg | Escape, CR-V, RAV4, Rogue, Equinox, Tucson |
| Minivan | 1,900 to 2,150 kg | Grand Caravan, Odyssey, Sienna, Sedona |
| Mid-size SUV | 1,800 to 2,250 kg | Explorer, Highlander, Pilot, Pathfinder, Traverse |
| Half-ton pickup | 2,000 to 2,500 kg | F-150, Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Ram 1500 |
| Full-size SUV | 2,300 to 2,750 kg | Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, Expedition |
| Heavy-duty pickup | 2,800 to 3,600 kg | F-250/350, Silverado 2500/3500, Ram 2500/3500 |
Weights vary with engine, trim, cab and box size. A missing engine or transmission removes several hundred kilograms.
What the car contains
What's Inside the Car
Aluminum (non-ferrous)
Alloy wheels, many modern engine blocks and cylinder heads, transmission housings, radiators, and on some newer trucks, body panels. Aluminum is worth several times more per kilo than steel.
Copper
Wiring harnesses, the alternator and starter motor windings, and older radiators. A car holds a modest amount, but it adds up.
Lead
The battery. Leave it in. It's counted in the offer and handled by a battery recycler.
Platinum group metals
The catalytic converter coats a ceramic honeycomb with tiny amounts of platinum, palladium and rhodium. These metals are expensive, so a converter can be one of the most valuable single parts on a scrap car. Value varies a lot between models.
Today's market
Today's Metal Prices
Steel, aluminum, copper and platinum group metals are traded globally. Prices move with construction and manufacturing demand, trade policy, shipping and energy costs. That's why:
- Any price you saw online months ago may not apply today
- A fair buyer quotes from current prices rather than a fixed list
- Prices "per tonne" you see advertised are for loose scrap at a yard scale, not the price for a whole car picked up from your home
A fair buyer quotes from current prices rather than a fixed list.
More than metal
Parts Worth More Than Their Weight
Sometimes a "scrap" car isn't really scrap. If it's a popular model and the engine, transmission or body panels are good, they're worth more resold than shredded. We check this on every quote. If your car is worth more as a junk car or used car, that's how we'll price it.
Protect your offer
How to Get the Best Scrap Price
Keep it complete.
Every missing part lowers the weight or the value.
Don't pull the converter or wheels to sell separately.
You'll rarely get more than they add to the whole-car price, and selling a loose converter now involves extra ID and reporting.
Describe it accurately.
A quote built on accurate details doesn't change on pickup.
Compare guaranteed quotes.
Ask every buyer whether their number is guaranteed and whether towing comes out of it.
Sell sooner.
Parked cars lose parts value to rust, rodents and theft.
Know the difference
Scrap Yard Drop-Off vs Our Pickup
| Driving or towing to a yard | Cash For Junk Cars YEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting the car there | Your tow bill, often $100+ | Free pickup |
| Price basis | Often weight only | Weight + converter + parts |
| Price known | At the scale | Before booking |
| Payment | Traceable, at the yard | E-transfer at your door |
Common questions
Cash for Scrap Cars FAQs
How much is a scrap car worth in Edmonton?+
It depends on weight, what's still on the car (especially the converter, engine and aluminum wheels) and current metal prices. Call with the year, make and model for an exact number.
Do you pay cash for scrap cars?+
We pay at pickup by e-transfer. Alberta requires traceable payment for scrap transactions.
Is a truck worth more than a car for scrap?+
Usually, because trucks weigh far more and have more steel in their frames.
My catalytic converter was stolen. Will you still buy the car?+
Yes. The offer will be lower, but the rest of the car still has value.
Can you give me the price per tonne?+
We quote the whole vehicle, picked up, based on today's prices. That's more useful than a per-tonne yard price that doesn't include towing.
Ready when you are
Get Your Scrap Car Offer
Call or text [PHONE]. Free pickup anywhere in Edmonton.
Get a Quote