Cash for Junk Cars in California

How do I get cash for a junk car in California?

Enter your year, make, model and CA ZIP in the form for an instant online offer. Accept it, choose a pickup window, hand over the title and keys, and you're paid at pickup. The offer amount is not reduced by towing.

Can I sell my junk car in California online?

Yes. The whole sale, from offer to pickup scheduling, happens online for any California address, from Los Angeles and San Diego to small towns. You only meet the tow driver at pickup.

Who are the junk car buyers in California?

Local salvage yards, auto recyclers and scrap yards, plus online instant-offer services.

Is junk car removal free in California?

Yes. Towing is included when you accept an offer for a car anywhere in California, and no tow fee is taken out of your payment.

Do you buy damaged or non-running cars in California?

Yes: non-running, wrecked, flood- and fire-damaged cars, blown engines, failed transmissions and salvage titles. A non-running CA sedan typically brings $225–$1,000; a wrecked one $150–$725.

Is same-day junk car pickup available in California?

Sometimes. Pickup windows depend on the local tow partner's schedule for your address. You'll see the available times, including same-day where offered, when you accept your offer.

Can I sell a junk car without a title in California?

California lets 1980-and-older vehicles sell on a bill of sale without a title; newer cars need one. If it's lost, California DMV issues a replacement (REG 227 (Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title)). File a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) with the DMV within 5 days — this is what ends your liability.

Source: California DMV · Full California no-title guide

How much are junk cars worth in California?

As of October 2026, California sedans typically bring $225–$1,000, SUVs $450–$1,975 and pickups $650–$3,850, based on ~$190/ton West-region scrap steel. Your offer depends on the factors below.

What sets your CA offer

• Scrap steel prices: ~$190/ton in the West region right now; export demand out of West Coast ports plus long tow distances shape offers.
• Vehicle weight: heavier trucks and SUVs carry more metal.
• Year, make and model: parts demand is higher for common, newer models.
• Condition: whether it runs, and whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are intact.
• Title status: a clean title in your name is part of how the offer is set.
• Location: metro offers in CA often run higher than rural ones because tow distances are shorter.

What are junk cars selling for in California?

Median instant offer in California: $350 across 3,921 real instant offers in our price index (Mar 2022–Oct 2026); the middle half ranged $250–$600. $0 offers are excluded as outliers. Offers vary by vehicle, condition and location.

Which models show up most in offers in California?

By number of offers: Honda Accord (median $275, 123 offers); Toyota Camry (median $325, 121 offers); Honda Civic (median $375, 102 offers); Nissan Altima (median $300, 96 offers); Toyota Corolla (median $550, 71 offers). Each model shown has at least 5 offers. Offers are not guaranteed.

How is this figure calculated?

It is the median of real instant offers in our price index with an amount above $0, rounded to the nearest $25; groups with fewer than 5 offers are hidden. Last updated 2026-10-26. Offers vary by vehicle, condition and location.