Overview: Junkyards & Salvage Yards
Scrapping a car here is partly an environmental job. In Ontario, nobody may crush or shred an end-of-life vehicle until the battery, mercury switches, fluids and tires are out. Most yards that store or take apart these cars must also register with the province's environment ministry.
Yards sell parts too, and rust changes what's worth buying. Salt eats brake lines, subframes and bolts long before engines and transmissions wear out. Self-serve yards let you pull parts with your own tools. Full-service yards pull, test and shelve them for you.
Selling a finished car has provincial rules. In Ontario, plates follow the owner rather than the car, so take them off before the tow truck leaves. Sign the vehicle portion of the ownership permit over to the yard by its business name. A car branded salvage there needs a structural inspection certificate before it can be rebuilt and plated again.
Our listings show what each yard says on its own website about parts, pickup and payment. The province and city lists lead to yards within reach.
Scrap car payouts and used-part costs in Canada
Selling a vehicle? Compare the amount you receive after pickup and deductions. Buying parts? Switch to the parts view before comparing prices. End-of-life vehicle offers; complete vehicles and difficult recoveries need different quotes.
| Service | Net payout | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| End-of-life midsize sedan with standard pickup | CA$200–600net payout per vehicle | Major components present; normal accessible pickup; condition disclosed.Indicative offers; a running resale vehicle can have a different value. |
| Missing parts or difficult pickup | Get a written net offernet payout per vehicle | Disclose missing engine, catalyst, battery or wheels; describe access.Get one final net offer that already includes any recovery or missing-part deductions. |
| You deliver the vehicle to the yard | Get a written net offernet payout per vehicle | Same vehicle and condition, with transport arranged by you.Compare the delivered offer minus your transport expense with the collected offer. |
What changes the price
- Vehicle size, completeness and reusable parts
- Current recycler demand and pickup distance
- Whether it rolls and can be reached by a tow truck
Ask before you book
- What exact amount will I receive after pickup and every deduction?
- Which condition changes could reduce that written offer?
- What documents do you need, and when and how will I be paid?
Comparing offers
Net payout = agreed vehicle offer minus separately agreed deductions. If the offer already includes pickup and deductions, do not subtract them again.
Cost of used parts from a salvage yard
Match the exact part and condition before comparing prices. Self-service prices assume you can remove the part safely and transport it. Used passenger-vehicle parts only; fitting, shipping and refundable core deposits are separate.
| Service | Part price or deposit | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Used starter battery | CA$40–50per compatible battery | Parts only; ask about testing, condition and removal.Core deposit and fitting are separate. |
| Used alternator, self-service | CA$35–45per compatible alternator | You remove it; fitting, testing after installation and core deposit are extra. |
| Used car door, self-service | CA$60–120per door | You remove it; confirm glass, trim and attached hardware.Paint and fitting are extra. |
| Refundable battery core deposit | CA$5–15per battery | Paid upfront if an accepted old battery is not exchanged.Confirm the return deadline and refund conditions. |
What changes the price
- VIN or part-number match and condition
- Self-service removal or a ready-to-collect part
- Warranty, core refund and return-freight terms
Ask before you book
- Does this exact part fit my VIN, and what components are included?
- What is payable today, and how much can I recover by returning the old part?
- If it fails, is replacement labour covered or only the part?
Comparing offers
Compare the part, removal, delivery and fitting together. Keep any refundable deposit separate from the final cost.
Ask whether taxes are included.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do with my plates when I scrap a car?
In Ontario, take them off and keep them. Plates there move with the owner, not the car, so they go on your next car or back to a ServiceOntario centre. Hold on to the plate portion of your permit, since you'll need it to register the plates on another vehicle. Other provinces handle plates their own way, so check with your registry before the tow.
Can a salvage-branded car go back on the road?
In Ontario, a salvage car can, but an irreparable one never can. Once a salvage car is repaired, it has to pass a structural inspection to earn the rebuilt brand, and it still needs a safety standards certificate before plates go on. British Columbia and Quebec use their own brands. Price both inspections before you pay for the car.
Do used parts come with any warranty?
Many full-service yards give a short guarantee on tested engines and transmissions, while self-serve parts usually go as is. In Quebec, the Consumer Protection Act adds a legal warranty on goods a merchant sells: fit for normal use and reasonably durable, on top of anything the yard offers. Keep the receipt and the part tag, and remember the labour to fit it is yours.
What do I need to sell them my dead car?
Photo ID, the keys, and the vehicle portion of your ownership permit, signed over to the yard by its business name. Get a bill of sale showing the date, the price and who bought the car. Clear the glovebox of anything with your address on it. Then call your insurer the same day, because a car that's gone shouldn't still be costing you premiums.
What happens to the fluids and the battery?
They come out before the car is crushed. Ontario's end-of-life vehicle rules say no one may crush, shear or shred a car until the battery, mercury switches, fluids and tires are removed. Refrigerant has to be recovered too. A tidy yard shows it: drained cars, sealed drums and no rainbow sheen in the puddles.
