Valuable Auto Scrap

Most people know that you can sell a junk car for cash through an either a local or national cash for your car company. They offer cash for cars online and offer full “buy my junk car” services. When you get cash for your car, what do these junk my car for cash do with them? Many of the companies you sell a junk car for cash to transition the used items into the aftermarket. Additionally, according to cash for cars online, they recycle the steel, aluminum, platinum and other valuable metals used in automobile production.

Changes in Auto Scrap

On September 22, 2014 the USA Today reported on the metals involved in the cash for cars online and “junk my car for cash” industries. Mark Phelan, how contributed the report for USA today had some interesting findings. “Get ready for a wave of new investments and technology as the steel industry fights back against automakers’ growing use of aluminum” Phelan states that “Ford begins producing the new 2015 F-150 pick-up (a US’ best-selling vehicle) and the first pickup with an all-aluminum body. Automakers traditionally used steel for nearly all vehicle bodies & underlying chassis. Aluminum is light & strong, but more expensive than steel. Aluminum prices averaged about $2,200 per ton over the last five years. By contrast, steel ranges between about $300 per ton for sheet metal & $500 for shredded auto scrap.  Automakers have switched many steel components to aluminum to reduce weight & improve fuel economy & performance.” Much of this need for enhanced fuel efficiency stems from governmental pressure in that direction. He adds further that “The aluminum-bodied F-150 was a wake-up call for the entire (steel) industry that they can’t count on automotive business anymore. Steelmakers will fight to protect their turf using a wave of stronger & lighter new grades of steel.” For the complete USA today article from September 2014 visit this link http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/09/22/steel-aluminum-comeback-autos/16058323/

To summarize, it seems that once the junk or scrap car has the items which can redeployed removed, the auto frame or shell, which is typically steel or aluminum is scrapped. So when you look to sell a junk car for cash, get “cash for cars online”, or request a quote from a “buy my junk car” company, much of the price you get to sell a junk car for cash is derived from the pricing fluctuations within the steel and aluminum industries.