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First-party data · updated 2026-10-11

Junk Car Value Index

The Junk Car Value Index tracks what junk and used cars actually sell for — median cash payouts by state, make, model year, and month, computed from real offers made through our nationwide buying network and updated continuously. Based on 5040 real cash offers in the last 90 days across 48 US states, the typical (median) offer is $1,100, with the middle half between $800 and $1,683.

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Typical payout by state

Full accumulated history; states with fewer than 5 offers are tracked but not shown.

StateTypical offerOffers
TX$1,100516
CA$1,100493
FL$1,225400
OH$1,020246
GA$1,100234
NC$1,000233
PA$1,100228
VA$1,000204
MA$1,150148
MD$950144
TN$965133
NY$1,200130
NJ$1,287128
AL$1,200113
SC$1,100112
IL$1,145110
AZ$1,215104
MN$854104
IN$926103
MO$1,000100
NV$87582
MI$1,18180
CO$1,26576
CT$1,10066
LA$1,25063

What real offers look like right now

Across the last 90 days, 5040 real cash offers were made through our buying network in 48 US states. The typical (median) offer was $1,100, and the middle half of all offers fell between $800 and $1,683.

Typical offer by model year

Model yearTypical offerShare
2005 or older$8006%
2006–2012$90033%
2013–2017$1,16652%
2018 or newer$2,2009%

Typical payout by make

MakeTypical offerOffers
Toyota$1,225842
Ford$942585
Honda$931425
Hyundai$1,200403
Nissan$875388
Chevrolet$950387
Kia$1,100319
Dodge$1,025202
Jeep$1,305166
BMW$1,400138

How offers move over time

MonthTypical offerMiddle 50%Offers
2026-07$1,051$775 – $1,6481141
2026-08$1,100$800 – $1,6651162
2026-09$1,075$800 – $1,6752187
2026-10$1,150$800 – $1,819550

Methodology: figures are computed from live offers made through our buying network — real vehicles, real amounts, no estimates. Window stats cover a rolling 90-day period; make, model, and monthly tracking accumulate over our full history. Medians are shown rather than averages so outliers don't skew the picture. Last updated 2026-10-11. You're welcome to cite this data with a link back to this page.

Common questions

How much is a junk car worth in 2026?
Based on 5040 real cash offers across 48 US states, the typical (median) junk car offer is $1,100. Most offers fall between $800 and $1,683, and the full range runs from $300 to $11,000 depending on the vehicle's make, model, year, and condition. (Source: Speedy's Cash For Cars first-party offer data, updated 2026-10-11.)
Which cars are worth the most as junk cars?
In the Speedy's Cash For Cars offer data, the makes with the highest typical (median) payouts are Tesla ($4,700), Porsche ($4,550), Land Rover ($2,500). Brands that hold their value on the used market tend to command more even at the end of a car's life, which shows up in what buyers will pay for them.
How much is a junk car worth by state?
Typical payouts vary by location. Among states with enough offers to report, MT has the highest typical (median) offer at $1,686 and ID the lowest at $700, against a national median of $1,100. (Source: Speedy's Cash For Cars, updated 2026-10-11.)
Are newer cars worth more as junk cars?
Generally yes. In the Speedy's Cash For Cars data, vehicles from "2018 or newer" see a typical offer of $2,200, versus $800 for "2005 or older". Model year, vehicle weight, and parts demand are the main drivers of the difference.
Is this junk car value data an estimate or real offers?
Real offers. Every figure comes from actual cash offers made through the Speedy's Cash For Cars buying network — real vehicles and real amounts, not book values or estimates. Figures are medians (not averages) so outliers don't skew them, and the data updates continuously (last updated 2026-10-11).

Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and publishers are welcome to cite the Junk Car Value Index with attribution. Suggested citation:

Junk Car Value Index, Speedy's Cash For Cars, 2026-10-11. https://speedyscashforcars.com/data/junk-car-value-index

Need a custom cut of the data (a state, make, or time window) for a story? Reach out via our contact page — we can usually turn it around same-day.