If you think that you can make a lot of money on scrap metal, you're right! There's plenty of money in scrap metal; it just depends on what kind of metal you're collecting and selling.
Before looking for the highest paying scrap metal near me, it's best to take the time to learn more about the most valuable scrap metals in junk cars, aka scrap cars because there value is mostly made up of metals.
This list of scrap metal items to sell can help you maximize your earnings when trading scrap metal. You'll learn more about where to find valuable scrap metals as well as what scrap metal is worth the most money. It'll also help you in understanding how scrap car prices are impacted by the scrap metal market.
Brass
The first one on our list of scrap metal items is brass. Brass is one of the most surprisingly valuable scrap metals out there. Here's everything you need to know about how to leverage the value of brass as a scrap metal.
Car Parts That Contain Brass
Cars that were made in 1915 or earlier contain large, heavy, and valuable brass components. For example, many vehicles from the Brass Era of cars have brass radiators which are heavy and subsequently quite valuable.
Of course, if you find an abandoned vehicle from 1915 or earlier that is intact, it would be more sensible to restore the vehicle and sell it whole. On the other hand, if the vehicle is practically totaled, go ahead and tear that brass radiator out and sell it!
How Much Brass Is in an Average Car?
While there isn't much brass in modern vehicles anymore, it was previously used much more frequently in the automotive manufacturing process.
Average Prices per Pound of Brass
The average price per pound for brass is $3.24. That means that you can make over $1,000 for 350 pounds of scrap. The best strategy is to find large pieces of equipment constructed from brass to sell rather than a large number of small pieces.
While you can get a fair amount of money by scrapping a large trove of brass candlesticks, it would be far more profitable to scrap brass bed frames instead because they are so much heavier.
Why Is Brass Valuable/in Demand?
Brass is valuable because it's an excellent conductor of heat and resists corrosion.
Steel
Steel is another great scrap metal to sell. It's also fairly common and easy to find in certain areas, making it a smart choice for people who intend to sell a lot of scrap over time.
Car Parts That Contain the Steel
Car parts containing steel include body frames, roof beams, exhaust pipes, and dozens of other parts. Steel is a popular choice when it comes to automotive manufacturing because of its incredible strength and reliability.
For example, steel is commonly used to construct the chassis on an automobile and the area that houses the engine because steel can withstand the considerable weight of an automotive engine.
How Much of Steel Is in an Average Car?
The average amount of salvageable steel scrap metal in most vehicles is 2,400 pounds. Keep in mind; this is only the average figure for average vehicles. If you are going to sell the steel from an SUV for scrap, you'll get closer to 4,000 pounds of steel out of the deal.
Average Prices per Pound of Steel
Steel is worth 0.21 cents per pound, which makes it a fairly valuable scrap metal to sell. As the average car has 2,400 pounds of steel, you can expect to make at least $500 on every car that you scrap for steel.
Why Is Steel Valuable/in Demand?
Steel is valuable and in demand because it is used in the construction of so many things. It's used in everything from the construction industry to shipping and all manner of manufacturing.
Copper
If you are serious about making a lot of money on scrap metal, you'll want to go after copper. Copper is extremely valuable compared to other scrap metals and is fairly easy to find.
Car Parts That Contain Copper
The automotive industry uses a lot of copper! Due to its conductive properties, copper is used to conduct power and energy throughout your vehicle, making it very valuable. Copper is also used in the production of semiconductors and computer components which makes it all the more valuable.
How Much of Copper Is in an Average Car?
The average vehicle contains at least 55 pounds of copper. Of course, you will find more copper in SUVs, which makes such vehicles particularly profitable in terms of scrap metal.
Average Prices per Pound of Copper
The average price of copper per pound is $4.68. With such a generous price, copper is arguably one of the most profitable scrap metals to sell.
Why Is Copper Valuable/in Demand?
Copper is in demand for many reasons. It is vital for plumbing, electrical applications, vehicles, and dozens of other things as a material.
Platinum
If you want to make a fortune selling scrap, platinum is where it's at! As one of the priciest metals that you can scrap, platinum is highly sought after.
Car Parts That Contain Platinum
One of the most valuable car parts that contain platinum is a catalytic converter. Automotive manufacturers have been using platinum in catalytic converters since the 1970s. This means that vehicles from the 1970s and onwards contain platinum.
There's a lot of platinum out there that can be sold as scrap-all you have to do is get out there and find it!
How Much Platinum Is in an Average Car?
Since platinum is primarily featured in catalytic converters, you won't find much platinum in other car parts. Although platinum is mostly found in catalytic converters, these parts are very valuable.
Average Platinum Prices
Platinum is worth hundreds of dollars per ounce. This makes it very valuable to sell as scrap metal. When asking what scrap metal is worth the most money, platinum ranks towards the top of the list.
Why Is Platinum Valuable/in Demand?
The demand for platinum is very strong because of its rarity. It is also denser than silver and gold. PLatinum is so valuable, you can sell a catalytic converter for between $300 to $1,500.
Palladium
Palladium is also considered to be one of the most valuable scrap metals to sell. If you can get your hands on a sizeable quantity of palladium, you can get a lot of money for the scrap.
Car Parts That Contain Palladium
Like platinum, palladium is also commonly found in catalytic converters. There aren't many other car parts that contain palladium.
How Much Palladium Is in an Average Car?
Since palladium is primarily used in catalytic converters, the average vehicle doesn't have a great deal of palladium in it.
Average Palladium Prices
Palladium costs a lot per ounce. With a few hundred pounds of palladium, you can scrap it for a small fortune!
Why Is Palladium Valuable/in Demand?
Palladium is valuable and in-demand because it belongs to the same family of metals as platinum. 80% of palladium is used to produce automobiles, while a small percentage of it is used to make expensive jewelry.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know more about the most valuable scrap metals and where to find them, it's time to get out there and start looking for the highest-paying scrap metal near me.
There's always valuable scrap metal to be found somewhere. People throw things away all the time, and there are plenty of abandoned vehicles out there for the taking.
Selling scrap metal can be a profitable hobby or even a viable business if you take it seriously enough. The world needs more people willing to hunt after scrap and clean it all up, be one of them!
