First-party data · updated 2026-08-26
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 2203 real cash offers in the last 90 days across 48 US states, the typical (median) offer is $1,099, with the middle half between $798 and $1,650.
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Typical payout by state
Full accumulated history; states with fewer than 5 offers are tracked but not shown.
| State | Typical offer | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| CA | $1,088 | 225 |
| TX | $1,100 | 217 |
| FL | $1,200 | 161 |
| OH | $1,040 | 124 |
| PA | $1,080 | 115 |
| GA | $1,050 | 101 |
| NC | $1,000 | 97 |
| VA | $1,000 | 89 |
| MA | $1,176 | 62 |
| AL | $971 | 61 |
| NJ | $1,250 | 55 |
| TN | $1,075 | 53 |
| MD | $941 | 52 |
| NY | $1,380 | 50 |
| SC | $1,075 | 50 |
| IL | $1,050 | 47 |
| AZ | $1,200 | 44 |
| MN | $840 | 42 |
| MO | $950 | 38 |
| NV | $892 | 38 |
| IN | $968 | 37 |
| MI | $1,000 | 37 |
| CO | $1,400 | 31 |
| CT | $1,138 | 31 |
| ME | $1,075 | 29 |
What real offers look like right now
Across the last 90 days, 2203 real cash offers were made through our buying network in 48 US states. The typical (median) offer was $1,099, and the middle half of all offers fell between $798 and $1,650.
Typical offer by model year
| Model year | Typical offer | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 or older | $800 | 6% |
| 2006–2012 | $900 | 34% |
| 2013–2017 | $1,122 | 51% |
| 2018 or newer | $2,300 | 9% |
Typical payout by make
| Make | Typical offer | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | $1,282 | 363 |
| Ford | $950 | 249 |
| Honda | $950 | 200 |
| Hyundai | $1,125 | 183 |
| Nissan | $900 | 172 |
| Chevrolet | $900 | 171 |
| Kia | $936 | 127 |
| Dodge | $1,153 | 98 |
| Jeep | $1,376 | 74 |
| Mercedes-Benz | $1,725 | 59 |
How offers move over time
| Month | Typical offer | Middle 50% | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07 | $1,051 | $775 – $1,648 | 1141 |
| 2026-08 | $1,100 | $800 – $1,665 | 1062 |
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 2026-08-26. 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 2203 real cash offers across 48 US states, the typical (median) junk car offer is $1,099. Most offers fall between $798 and $1,650, 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 2026-08-26.)
- 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 Land Rover ($2,325), Ram ($2,175), Mercedes-Benz ($1,725). 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, WV has the highest typical (median) offer at $1,662 and DC the lowest at $778, against a national median of $1,099. (Source: Speedy's Cash For Cars, updated 2026-08-26.)
- 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 $2,300, 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 2026-08-26).
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, 2026-08-26. 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.