A scrap car in Melbourne is worth the value of the metal it contains, plus any parts a buyer can resell, minus what it costs that buyer to collect and process it. That is why two quotes for the same car can be far apart, and why nobody can give you an honest figure without knowing the make, model, condition and location of your car. This guide explains each part of that sum so you can tell a fair offer from a poor one.
It is written by the operations team at Johny Metal Recycling, a Melbourne metal recycler trading since 2021. Every vehicle quote we give is worked out the way this page describes.
Why there is no single price for a scrap car
A used car has a market price because buyers want to drive it. A scrap car does not, because each buyer is paying for something different:
- A metal recycler is mainly paying for the metal, so weight and current metal prices matter most.
- A parts wrecker is paying for parts it can resell, so the make, model and the condition of the engine and gearbox matter most.
- A private buyer is paying for a car to drive, so registration and roadworthiness matter most.
The same car can be worth more to one of these buyers than to another. An old sedan with a failed engine is worth little to a private buyer, may be worth something to a parts wrecker, and is worth its metal to a recycler.
The six things that decide what your car is worth
1. Weight and the metal it contains
Weight sets the floor under every scrap car’s value. Most of a car is steel, which is one of the lower value metals per kilo, so a heavier vehicle such as a ute, van or large four wheel drive generally has more metal value than a small hatchback.
Some parts contain more valuable metals. Aluminium wheels and engine parts, copper in the wiring and starter motor, and the catalytic converter all add value. If those are missing, the offer reflects it.
2. Current scrap metal prices
Metal prices move with the market, sometimes week to week. As a guide, Johny Metal Recycling’s stated rates in July 2026 were 30 to 42 cents a kilo for heavy melting steel and $1.80 to $2.80 a kilo for aluminium, with copper far higher. Those are rates for sorted metal, not a price for a whole car, but they show why steel content sets a modest floor and why missing aluminium or copper parts matter. You can see the full list on our scrap metal prices Melbourne page.
Because prices change daily, any car quote should be confirmed by phone on the day of collection.
3. Make, model and year
When parts can be resold, the make and model matter. A popular model whose parts are still in demand can be worth more than its weight alone. An older or uncommon model, whose parts few people need, will usually be valued mainly on its metal.
4. Condition of the major parts
The engine and gearbox are the biggest single items. A working engine can add value. One that has seized usually means the car is valued closer to its metal.
This is where an accurate description matters most. Our team once quoted for a car described over the phone as “basically running”. When the driver arrived, the engine was locked solid, and the revised offer was about 35% lower than the first quote. The car had not changed; the information had. Describe the engine honestly, and the quote you receive is the one you keep.
5. Completeness
A complete car is worth more than one that has been stripped. Missing wheels, a removed catalytic converter, a missing engine or gearbox, or large parts taken off all reduce the offer. If you have already removed parts, say so when you call.
6. Location and access
Collecting a car costs the buyer time, fuel and a truck. A car that is easy to reach is simpler to collect than one on a narrow lane, at the back of a property or with flat tyres in soft ground. At Johny Metal Recycling, towing for vehicles is free, so you will not see a towing charge taken off the price. Where a buyer does charge for towing, compare its offers on the amount you actually receive.
How vehicle type changes the picture
The kind of vehicle you have shifts where its value comes from.
- Small hatchbacks and sedans. Lighter, so less metal. If the model is common and the parts are in good order, parts can add to the offer. If not, the value is mainly the metal.
- Utes and four wheel drives. Heavier frames and bodies mean more metal, and parts for popular work vehicles are often in demand.
- Vans and light commercial vehicles. Usually heavy for their size, so the metal value is higher. Fit out such as shelving or racks is often steel too.
- Trucks. These are quoted individually because size, weight and loading vary so much. Our truck removal page explains how those collections work.
When a private sale is worth more
Selling for scrap is not always the best choice. If your car is registered, roadworthy and still in reasonable order, a private sale or trade in will usually return more than its metal and parts value. Scrap makes sense when one or more of these is true:
- Repairs, or a roadworthy, would cost more than the car is worth
- The car does not run and you cannot easily get it running
- It is written off, flood damaged or badly damaged
- It has been sitting unregistered and you want it gone without the cost of advertising and inspections
If you are unsure, ask for a scrap quote first. It gives you a floor price to compare any private offer against.
What does not change the price much
A few things worry owners more than they affect a scrap offer:
- Lapsed registration. A car bought for recycling is not going back on the road.
- No roadworthy certificate. For the same reason, it is not needed.
- Cosmetic damage. Dents, scratches and worn paint barely matter when the value is in the metal.
- A flat battery. A car that will not start can still be loaded and collected.
Our guide to selling a written off, unregistered or non running car covers these situations in more detail.
Why advertised “up to” prices are not a valuation
Many car buyers advertise a maximum figure. That number is the most the buyer pays for the best vehicle it sees, usually a late model car in demand for its parts. It tells you nothing about what an old, damaged or non running car is worth. A quote for your actual car, based on an accurate description, is the only figure worth comparing.
How we work out your quote
When you call Johny Metal Recycling on 0449 894 456, we ask for:
- Make, model and year
- Whether it starts and drives
- Major damage, and any missing parts
- Where the car is and how a truck can reach it
From that we give you a quote. On the day, the driver checks that the car matches the description. If it does, the agreed price stands. If something significant was not mentioned, the driver explains the difference before anything is signed, and you are free to decline.
Payment is made on the day of collection by bank transfer or cheque.
How to get the best price for your scrap car
- Describe the car accurately. Photos of the engine bay, the body and any damage help.
- Leave it complete. Stripping parts yourself rarely pays unless you know what they are worth and have a buyer ready.
- Compare quotes on the same basis. Ask whether towing is included, how you will be paid and whether the price is firm if the car matches the description.
- Ask how long the quote holds. Metal prices change, so confirm the price on the day.
- Have your paperwork ready. Photo ID and proof of ownership avoid delays at pickup.
Our guide to how selling a car for scrap works covers the full process, including the paperwork and VicRoads steps.
Frequently asked questions
How much will a recycler pay for my scrap car?
It depends on the car’s weight, the metals and parts it contains, its condition and how easy it is to collect. Give us the make, model, year and condition and we will give you a quote for that car, confirmed on the day of collection.
Do you buy cars that do not run?
Yes. A car that does not start can still be collected, because our crew brings the equipment to load it. The value of a non running car sits mostly in its metal.
Does the scrap metal price really affect what I get?
Yes. Most of a scrap car’s value is its metal, so when metal prices move, offers move too. That is why quotes are confirmed on the day.
Is free towing actually free?
At Johny Metal Recycling it is. Towing for vehicles is free and there are no hidden fees, so the quoted price is what you receive.
How will I be paid?
By bank transfer or cheque on the day of collection.
Can I get a higher price by removing parts first?
Sometimes, if you have a buyer for those parts. Otherwise a complete car is usually worth more, because missing parts lower the offer.
Find out what your car is worth
Call Johny Metal Recycling on 0449 894 456 or visit our sell my car Melbourne page to request a quote. You will get a fair price based on the car you actually have, free towing, and same day payment by bank transfer or cheque.
About this guide. Written by the operations team at Johny Metal Recycling, a Melbourne metal recycler trading since 2021 from 1/9 Braeside Drive, Braeside VIC 3195 (ABN 48 654 008 572). Metal rates quoted are our stated rates for July 2026 and change with the market. Updated October 2026.