“Junkyard” covers four quite different businesses, and which one you call can change your payout by several hundred dollars on the same vehicle. It is worth knowing the difference before you start ringing round.
The Four Kinds of Buyer
The scrap yard. Weighs the car, pays a metal rate, crushes it. Fast and simple, but a good engine earns you nothing — it is priced the same as the sheet metal around it.
The U-pull lot. Puts the car on blocks so customers can remove parts themselves. Their revenue comes largely from entry fees and self-service sales, so purchase offers tend to be conservative.
The licensed recycler. Dismantles the vehicle, recovers and resells the parts that have demand, then scraps the shell. Because parts are priced before metal, this usually produces the highest offer on a complete car. This is what we are.
The broker. Does not own a tow truck or a yard. Quotes you a high number by phone, sells your details to a local yard, and that yard re-inspects and re-prices the car in your driveway. Most complaints about this industry start here.
Why the Same Car Gets Different Numbers
Say you have a 2008 Accord with a failed transmission but a healthy engine.
A scrap yard weighs it. Around 3,200 lbs of steel at the current rate — the engine is irrelevant to the price.
A recycler looks at it differently: the engine has resale demand, the doors are straight, the catalytic converter is attached, the alternator and starter are good. Those come off and sell as parts, and the shell is scrapped afterwards. That is why the number comes out higher.
Neither is dishonest. They are different businesses. But it explains why quotes vary so much for one car, and why “I’ll call a few junkyards” produces such a wide spread.
How to Tell Who You Are Talking To
Ask two questions:
“Are you the one sending the truck?” A broker will get vague here. If the company that quotes you is not the company that collects, your number can change on arrival.
“What’s your licence number?” Illinois licenses vehicle recyclers through the Illinois Commerce Commission. Ours is ILICC #224719, and you can check it. A licensed buyer is legally required to record seller identification and report the purchase, which creates documentation that the car left your ownership on a specific date. That record is what protects you if it later turns up abandoned or ticketed.
You Should Not Have to Deliver It
Some yards quote you a price that assumes you get the car to them. If it does not run, that is a tow you pay for out of your own proceeds — often $100 to $200, straight off the top.
We come to the vehicle, anywhere in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and the tow is included. The quoted figure is the cash you are handed.
What We Pay
| Vehicle type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Compact sedan, 2000–2010 | $500 – $900 |
| Midsize sedan, 2005–2015 | $600 – $1,400 |
| SUV or crossover | $700 – $2,200 |
| Full-size pickup | $900 – $3,500 |
| Late-model, rebuildable damage | $2,500 – $15,000 |
Call (773) 939-3333 with the year, make, model and what is wrong. You get a firm number on the call, and the paperwork handled at pickup.
Licensed ILICC #224719 · 4.4 stars across 543 Google reviews · 6 AM to 9 PM, seven days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will a junkyard pay for my car?
It depends heavily on what kind of yard you call. A pure scrap yard weighs the vehicle and pays a metal rate. A licensed recycler evaluates recoverable parts first and scrap second, which usually produces a higher figure for a car with a usable drivetrain. The same vehicle can differ by several hundred dollars between the two.
What is the difference between a junkyard and a licensed recycler?
A recycler is licensed by the state, must record seller identification and report each purchase, and dismantles vehicles for parts recovery before scrapping the shell. Many places calling themselves junkyards are scrap operations that pay by weight, and some are brokers who do not own a truck at all.
Do I have to bring the car to the junkyard?
Not with us. We come to the vehicle anywhere in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and towing is free. Some yards require you to deliver the car yourself, which means paying for a tow out of your own proceeds.
Which pays more, a U-pull yard or a recycler?
Usually a recycler. A U-pull lot makes its money on customer entry fees and self-service part sales, so its purchase offers tend to be conservative. A recycler pricing on recoverable parts will typically bid higher on a complete vehicle.
How do I know a junkyard is legitimate?
Ask for the licence number. In Illinois, vehicle recyclers are licensed by the Illinois Commerce Commission — ours is ILICC #224719. A licensed buyer is required to document the sale, which creates a record that the vehicle left your ownership on a specific date.