Cash for Cars & Scrap Car Removal: Where & How to Sell a Junk Vehicle in Canada
Your car has reached the end of its useful life, and now it’s taking up a parking spot. One glance at it and you know that it’s worth a fraction of what you paid for it, but you can still convert it into cash. What is the best way to sell a junk or scrap car? Should you sell it privately, sell it for scrap metal, or trade it in at a dealership? And how do you know what a good price is?
Unlike the used car market’s Canadian Black Book or Canada Drives' online appraisal tool, there’s no consistent method for evaluating a junk car, truck, van, or SUV. If you consider the car junk, however, you can safely assume it’s in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands anymore.
Directory of Services: Searching for cash for cars or scrap car removal services near you? At the end of this article, we offer a directory of the top providers for the major markets across Canada.
Otherwise, keep reading below to learn how you can sell your car for scrap, what cash for cars actually means, understanding the sell vs scrap vs trade options, how much money you can expect to get for your junker, how to scrap for the most money possible, and whether there are any tax incentives to scrap that old beater.
How can I sell my car for scrap?
You won’t be getting wealthy by selling your vehicle. However, with some intentional research, you can get a decent sum of cash for junk cars in one of a few ways.
1. Sell privately
Is your car unique in some way? If your vehicle has something that sets it apart – a classic car, low mileage, or hard-to-find options – there could be a potential buyer who buys junk cars like yours. Private buyers pay great prices if your car is desirable. But if your car is a run-of-the-mill model with typical rust issues, a blown motor, or accident damage, selling privately probably isn’t your best bet.
2. Sell to a local junkyard
Most cars end up here eventually. A junkyard will pay you cash for junk cars, and they aren’t picky. Scrap car removal services fall into this category too. What you’re paid for scrap cars and trucks all centres around its weight on the junkyard’s industrial-sized scale, and the going rate for scrap steel or a flat per-car rate. There’s no haggling and no consideration at all on your car’s traits.
3. Trade it in or sell at a dealership
In most cases, car dealerships accept any kind of car on trade – even a junk car – if you’re buying a new or pre-owned vehicle from them. Some might also pay cash for old cars without buying another vehicle although this less common.
Trading in an old car at a dealership has benefits that aren’t commonly known. While your trade-in value is often lower than selling it privately, if you’ve already decided to buy a vehicle at a given dealership and worked out a fair price - then understanding what they’d give you for your old car makes a lot of sense.
Occasionally, a push, pull, or drag sale at a dealership can pay you even more than your car is worth, but be careful that they aren’t just inflating the value of your vehicle at the expense of what could be a discount on the vehicle you’re looking at! There are also tax benefits of trading your vehicle in, although these are typically a minor consideration when the value of your vehicle is relatively low.
What is cash for cars?
‘Cash for cars’ is a common term for junk car removal services. These service providers pay cash for your car and resell it for parts or scrap metal to make a profit. The term ‘cash for cars’ is often confused with the federally-administered ‘cash for clunkers’ program that is no longer operating.
How do cash for cars services work?
At its core, cash for cars services are a more convenient way to get cash for junk cars without having to bring it to the junkyard yourself. The seller contacts the junk car removal service to get a quote on their car’s worth. If you agree with the quote, they’ll come tow away your car, complete the paperwork, and pay you for it.
While it’s convenient, ‘cash for cars’ services aren’t getting you the best deal. Because they in turn sell your car or its parts to someone else for more, you leave money on the table for the fast, hassle-free service. Is it worth it? Well, it depends.
Should I sell, scrap, or trade my car in?
You have options to sell a junk car, but which choice is best for you? Let’s check out the possibilities.
- If you are short on time, you should call a ‘cash for cars’ service or a junk car removal provider. You might be giving up a portion of the proceeds of the sale but you’ll be able to sell your car quickly.
- If you’re planning on purchasing another vehicle from a dealership, you should look into trading it in at the dealer. Your trade-in value might be lower than you’d like, however, you’ll save the taxes on the value of your trade-in. Plus, you could be eligible for additional incentives from the manufacturer.
- If your newer car is damaged or it’s a vehicle the dealership could potentially wholesale or retail, you could sell it to the dealership. Unlike a trade-in, there aren’t any added tax benefits for selling your vehicle to the dealer.
- If you have time and patience to advertise your car, you may be able to command a higher price by selling your car privately. This isn’t a bad place to start and if you don’t get any takers you can still call a ‘cash for cars’ service to haul it away.
How much do you get for scrapping a car?
Should you choose to pursue the quick sale and sell your car to a scrap yard, how do you know if the price you get is fair? You’ll want to find out ahead of time how much you can get for scrapping a car in Canada.
The problem is that scrap car values are regional. It depends on the demand for scrap cars in your city and province. Scrap yards are only interested in the raw materials your car contains, whether it’s the steel, aluminum, catalytic converters, or other valuable metals. They pay by weight.
Nailing down an exact value ahead of time isn’t what you should expect. Rather, determine how much your car weighs altogether, then call local scrap yards to get their current rate per pound on complete cars.
For most vehicles in Canada, you can expect between $100 and $600 for a scrap car.
How to scrap a car for the most money
It’s possible to get paid more for your car than the typical per-pound rate if major components are still in good working order. If the engine still runs, the transmission shifts, and the car drives under its own power, you might be able to collect more cash for your scrap or junk car.
To get the best offers for your scrap car, you’ll want to look for a scrap yard that sells used parts. Then, make sure your car works as well as possible—charge the battery, inflate the tires, etc.
You may need to negotiate with the scrap yard for a higher offer on your car, pointing out the parts that boost its value. It might only be a couple of hundred dollars extra, so don’t invest money into your car with the intent to increase its value.
Are there tax incentives for scrapping my car?
Depending on the method you choose to scrap your vehicle, there may be financial tax benefits beyond the money you get.
- When you trade in a car in Canada, GST is only charged on the difference between the sale price and the trade-in value. Provincial sales taxes, however, are administered differently. In BC, Manitoba, and Ontario, for example, provincial sales tax is charged on the difference only while in Saskatchewan, it’s assessed on the full purchase price.
- Scrapping a car in some provinces can net you financial benefits on other purchases. Notably, British Columbia’s SCRAP-IT program allots benefits of up to $500 toward a new or used EV purchase when you scrap a car.
- Donating a car can be just as rewarding. While you don’t have cash in hand, you’ll be issued a donation tax receipt for your vehicle’s market value that comes in handy when you file income tax.
Directory of Cash for Cars / Scrap Car Removal providers across Canada
There are many providers across the country, but we've oulined below a list of Canadian cities with the most popular searches.
Please note: we provide this list as recommendations only, and we feel these are the best ones based on customer reviews and ratings. So, please check your region for the latest information. And it's always a good idea to do some research and compare quotes from multiple companies to get the best deal for your scrap car.
The regions in this list include:
- Canada
- Ajax
- Markham
- Scarborough
- Calgary
- Toronto
- Newmarket
- Vancouver
Scrap car removal in Canada
- Scrap My Car: This company operates in several cities across Canada and offers free towing for your scrap car.
- Kijiji Autos: Kijiji Autos is a popular online marketplace where you can find buyers for your scrap car in your local area.
- Cash for Cars Canada: This company offers instant cash for your scrap car and will tow it away for free.
- Carcone's Auto Recycling: Carcone's is a family-owned and operated scrap car removal business that has been operating in the Greater Toronto Area for over 35 years.
- Pick-n-Pull: Pick-n-Pull is a national chain of self-service auto parts stores that also offers cash for scrap cars.
- Junk Car Removal: Junk Car Removal is a Canadian company that offers cash for your scrap car and free towing.
- LKQ Canada Auto Parts: LKQ Canada Auto Parts is a leading provider of recycled auto parts and also offers cash for your scrap car.
Scrap car removal in Ajax
- Ajax Towing & Scrap Car Removal: Ajax Towing & Scrap Car Removal is a family-owned business that has been serving the Ajax community for over 20 years. They offer free towing and pay cash on the spot for your scrap car.
- Scrap My Car Ajax: Scrap My Car Ajax is a reputable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays top dollar for your scrap car. They also offer same-day pickup in most cases.
- Durham Auto Wreckers: Durham Auto Wreckers is a salvage yard that buys scrap cars, trucks, and SUVs. They offer free towing and pay cash for your scrap vehicle.
- Fast Cash for Cars: Fast Cash for Cars is a scrap car removal company that pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They offer free towing and same-day pickup in most cases.
- Junk Car Boys: Junk Car Boys is a reliable and professional scrap car removal company that serves the Ajax area. They offer free towing and pay cash for your scrap car.
Scrap car removal in Markham
- Markham Towing: Markham Towing is a reputable towing and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash on the spot for your scrap car.
- Junk Car Depot: Junk Car Depot is a reliable and professional scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays top dollar for your scrap car.
- Scrap My Car Markham: Scrap My Car Markham is a well-known and trusted scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Sell My Car Markham: Sell My Car Markham is a scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car, truck, or SUV.
- Cash for Cars Markham: Cash for Cars Markham is a reputable scrap car removal company that pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They offer free towing and same-day pickup in most cases.
Scrap car removal in Scarborough
- Cash for Cars Toronto: Cash for Cars Toronto is a reputable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They serve the Scarborough area and offer same-day pickup in most cases.
- Rapid Towing: Rapid Towing is a reliable and professional towing and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
- Carcone's Auto Recycling: Carcone's Auto Recycling is a well-established auto recycling and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They serve the Scarborough area and have been in business for over 35 years.
- We Buy Junk Cars Toronto: We Buy Junk Cars Toronto is a reputable and reliable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car, truck, or SUV.
- Scrap Car Removal Toronto: Scrap Car Removal Toronto is a trusted and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They serve the Scarborough area and have been in business for over 15 years.
Scrap car removal in Calgary
- Pick-n-Pull Calgary: Pick-n-Pull is a national chain of self-service auto parts stores that also offers cash for scrap cars. They offer free towing and pay cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Calgary Scrap Car Removal: Calgary Scrap Car Removal is a reliable and professional scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
- Calgary Junk Car Removal: Calgary Junk Car Removal is a reputable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Scrap Car Removal Calgary: Scrap Car Removal Calgary is a trusted and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car, truck, or SUV.
- Junk Car Calgary: Junk Car Calgary is a reputable and reliable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
Scrap car removal in Toronto
- Scrap Car Removal Toronto: Scrap Car Removal Toronto is a trusted and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- GTA Car Removal: GTA Car Removal is a reliable and professional scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car, truck, or SUV.
- Rapid Towing: Rapid Towing is a reputable towing and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Cash for Cars Toronto: Cash for Cars Toronto is a reputable scrap car removal company that pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They offer free towing and same-day pickup in most cases.
- Toronto Scrap Car Removal: Toronto Scrap Car Removal is a well-established scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
Scrap car removal in Oshawa
- Scrap My Car Oshawa: Scrap My Car Oshawa is a trusted and reliable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Oshawa Towing: Oshawa Towing is a reputable towing and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
- Junk Car Boys Oshawa: Junk Car Boys Oshawa is a professional and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car, truck, or SUV.
- Fast Cash for Cars: Fast Cash for Cars is a reputable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Carcone's Auto Recycling: Carcone's Auto Recycling is a well-established auto recycling and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They serve the Oshawa area and have been in business for over 35 years.
Scrap car removal in Newmarket
- Scrap Car Removal Newmarket: Scrap Car Removal Newmarket is a reputable and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Cash for Cars Newmarket: Cash for Cars Newmarket is a reliable and professional scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
- Junk Car Removal Newmarket: Junk Car Removal Newmarket is a trusted and established scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Newmarket Scrap Car Removal: Newmarket Scrap Car Removal is a reputable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Carcone's Auto Recycling: Carcone's Auto Recycling is a well-established auto recycling and scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car. They serve the Newmarket area and have been in business for over 35 years.
Scrap car removal in Vancouver
- Vancouver Scrap Car Removal: Vancouver Scrap Car Removal is a reputable and reliable scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Towaway Scrap Car Removal: Towaway Scrap Car Removal is a trusted and experienced scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
- Scrap My Car Vancouver: Scrap My Car Vancouver is a professional and established scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your unwanted vehicle.
- Cash for Cars Vancouver: Cash for Cars Vancouver is a reputable and reliable scrap car removal company that pays cash for your unwanted vehicle. They offer free towing and same-day pickup in most cases.
- Vancouver Junk Car Removal: Vancouver Junk Car Removal is a well-established scrap car removal company that offers free towing and pays cash for your scrap car.
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