How Much Is a Scrap Car Worth in Vancouver?
As of November 2026, our offers for a complete scrap car in Vancouver start around $200. The final number depends on the car’s weight, the current metal price, whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still in it, and how easy the pickup is. Send us the year, make, model and a few photos and we’ll give you one firm price.
- One firm price
- Same price at the curb
- Free towing within 10 km
- Paid before we tow
Get Your Firm Price
It takes a few minutes. Photos of the outside, the dash and the engine bay help.
Prefer to talk? Call or text 236-300-2712, 7 am to 11 pm.
The Short Version
- Most of a scrap car’s value is the metal in it, so weight matters most.
- The engine, transmission, catalytic converter and wheels all add to the price.
- Metal prices move week to week, so a quote is for that day.
- “Up to” prices online are not offers for a scrap car.
- Our quote is the price we pay if the car matches what you told us.
Why Weight Matters Most
A scrap car is mostly steel. Once a car has no resale value left, the biggest part of what it’s worth is the metal in it. That’s why a full size pickup or a minivan usually gets a higher offer than a small hatchback in the same shape.
What curb weight means
The weight that counts is the curb weight, which is what the empty car weighs with no passengers or cargo. You’ll often find it on the sticker inside the driver’s door. You don’t need to know it; we look it up from the year, make and model.
Why prices move
The metal price follows the wider market, so it can rise or fall from one week to the next. A quote from two months ago may not match one today. That’s also why we don’t print a price list.
What Raises or Lowers Your Offer
Raises the offer
- A heavier vehicle (truck, SUV, van)
- Engine and transmission still in
- Original catalytic converter in place
- All four wheels and tires on
- A model with parts still in demand
- An easy pickup (driveway or street)
- Registration in your name, ready to sign
Lowers the offer
- A small, light car
- Engine or transmission pulled
- Catalytic converter missing
- Missing wheels, sitting on blocks
- A model with little parts demand
- A hard pickup (no wheels in a tight spot)
- Paperwork missing on the day
A car that doesn’t run isn’t automatically worth less. If it has all its parts, a dead battery or a blown engine changes the number less than most people expect. Our page on non running car removal covers those cars in detail.
Parts That Add Value
Catalytic converter
It holds small amounts of precious metals, so a car with its original converter is worth more. We only buy it as part of the whole car, never on its own.
Engine and transmission
Even a tired engine adds weight and parts value, so leave it in.
Alloy wheels
Aluminum wheels are worth more than steel ones.
Battery
A battery left in the car is part of the price, so leave it in for the pickup.
If you or a mechanic already pulled parts, just tell us when you ask for a quote. It keeps the price honest and avoids any surprise at the curb.
Why Online “Up To” Prices Miss
You’ll see ads promising “up to $9,999” or “top dollar for any car”. Those numbers are ceilings for the rare running, late model car, not offers for a scrap car. Some buyers also quote high on the phone, then drop the price once the truck shows up.
People on Vancouver forums mostly report a few hundred dollars for a basic scrap car, and that matches what weight and metal prices support. We do it the other way around: one realistic number on the phone, and the same number at the curb if the car matches what you told us.
Get My Firm Price
What We Check When We Arrive
When our driver gets there, they take a quick look to confirm the car is the one you described.
The VIN
It matches your registration.
The big parts
The engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still in, if you said they were.
The wheels
They’re on the car, if you said they were.
Your ID
It matches the registered owner.
If everything matches, you get the price you were quoted. If something major is different, the driver tells you before anything is signed, and you can say no at no cost. Every step is laid out on our how it works page.
How to Get the Most for Your Scrap Car
Leave the car complete
Selling the battery, wheels or converter separately rarely makes you more than it takes off the offer.
Describe it honestly
Mention missing parts or damage up front. An accurate description means the price doesn’t change.
Send clear photos
Outside from all four sides, the dash with the odometer, and the engine bay.
Have your paperwork ready
Registration in your name and photo ID. Our guide on how to scrap a car in BC lists everything.
Make the car easy to reach
If it’s in a parkade or behind a gate, tell us so we bring the right truck.
Should You Scrap It or Fix It?
It usually makes sense to scrap a car when:
- The quote to fix it is more than the car would sell for once it’s running again
- It’s more than 15 years old and needs a new engine or transmission
- Rust has reached the frame
- It has sat so long that the tires, brakes and battery all need replacing
Not sure? Call us with the quote you got and we’ll tell you what we’d pay for the car as it sits, so you can compare the two numbers side by side. Once you say yes, our scrap car removal truck can often be there within 3 to 4 hours.
Scrap Car Value Questions
Do you pay more for a car that still runs?
Sometimes. A running car with good parts can be worth more than its weight alone. Tell us it runs and we’ll factor that in.
Will the price change when the driver arrives?
Only if something major wasn’t mentioned, like a missing engine or converter, or a different vehicle. If that happens, the driver tells you before anything is signed and you can say no at no cost.
Do you charge for towing?
Towing is free anywhere within about 10 km of our office on West 42nd Avenue. For pickups further out, we tell you any towing cost before you book.
Why is my offer lower than one I saw online?
Most online figures are “up to” numbers for late model running cars. Our offer is based on your car’s real weight and parts, and it’s the number we pay.
How long is a quote good for?
Metal prices move, so we confirm the number on the day of pickup. If nothing about the car has changed, it’s normally the same number.
Find Us
Cash for Cars at 49th
2105 W 42nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2B7
236-300-2712
info@cashforcarsat49th.ca
Open daily, 7 am to 11 pm
Questions before you call? Reach us here, or just text a photo of the car.
Open in Google MapsFind Out What Your Car Is Worth
One firm price in a few minutes. Free towing within 10 km, and you’re paid before we tow.
Call 236-300-2712 Get My Quote