What are scrap car prices per ton in Canada?

Scrap steel (HMS1 grade) currently trades at $340–$550 per metric tonne across Canada, with BC and Ontario at the higher end and the Atlantic provinces slightly lower. However, yards do not pay you this rate directly — your payout is lower because it accounts for towing costs, processing overhead, and the yard's margin. A realistic yard buying rate for the steel content of a typical car is $150–$250 per tonne equivalent. Your actual payout is higher once catalytic converter value and aluminum are included.

Do scrap yards price cars by the ton?

Scrap yards in Canada typically give you a flat offer for your whole car rather than a strict per-tonne rate. That offer is based on their estimate of your car's weight, condition, and current commodity prices. If you ask them to break it down, they'll usually quote a base steel value per kilogram. The "per ton" figure is more useful as a benchmark to understand whether an offer is in the right ballpark than as a line item you'll see on an invoice.

What is the difference between a short ton and a metric tonne?

A short ton (used in the US) is 2,000 lbs (907 kg). A metric tonne (used in Canada) is 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs). Canadian scrap yards and commodity markets quote in metric tonnes. If you see a US scrap price quoted in short tons, multiply by 1.10 to convert to metric tonnes.

How much does a scrap car weigh in tonnes?

A compact car weighs roughly 1.1–1.3 tonnes. A midsize sedan is 1.3–1.6 tonnes. A half-ton pickup truck is 1.8–2.1 tonnes and a full-size SUV can reach 2.4–2.7 tonnes. Of that total weight, roughly 60–65% is steel — the rest is aluminum, copper, plastics, glass, and fluids.

Why is my payout lower than the steel price per tonne would suggest?

Because the HMS1 price is what processors pay yards — not what yards pay you. Yards deduct towing (often $50–$150), labour, processing equipment costs, and their margin before arriving at your offer. The calculator on ScrapHub accounts for this by using realistic yard buying rates, not processor spot prices.

Which province has the highest scrap car prices per ton?

British Columbia consistently has the highest scrap steel prices in Canada, typically $10–$30/tonne above Ontario. This is because BC's Port of Vancouver provides direct access to Asian export markets, which drives competition between processors. Ontario is second. The Atlantic provinces tend to have the lowest rates due to higher shipping costs to export terminals.

How do scrap metal prices per ton affect my car's value?

Every $50/tonne movement in steel prices changes your car's payout by roughly $30–$60 depending on vehicle weight. For a 1,500 kg car, a $50/tonne steel price increase adds about $45 to the base metal value (1.5 tonnes × $30 net impact after margins). The calculator updates weekly with current Canadian prices so your estimate reflects real market conditions.

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Scrap Car Prices Per Ton in Canada (2026)

Current steel scrap prices by province and what they mean for your car's actual payout.

Quick answer

Scrap steel (HMS #1 grade) currently trades at $340–$550 per metric tonne across Canada, with BC and Ontario at the top and the Atlantic provinces at the low end. A typical scrap car contains roughly 60% steel by weight — so the steel content of a 1,500 kg car is worth about $305–$495 at processor rates. Your actual payout from a scrap yard is lower ($200–$400 for steel) because yards deduct towing, processing, and their margin — but catalytic converter value and aluminum push the total back up. Running cars in good shape typically get $250–$850 all-in depending on vehicle type and province. Use the free calculator below for your specific vehicle.

Scrap Steel Prices Per Tonne by Province (2026)

HMS #1 (Heavy Melting Steel) is the benchmark grade used for scrap cars. These are processor-level prices — what yards receive. Updated weekly.

Province	Steel HMS1 (CAD/tonne)	vs Ontario
British Columbia	$380–$550	+$15
Ontario	$370–$530	baseline
Quebec	$360–$510	−$15
Manitoba	$360–$510	−$15
Alberta	$350–$500	−$25
Nova Scotia	$350–$500	−$25
New Brunswick	$350–$500	−$25
Saskatchewan	$340–$490	−$35
Prince Edward Island	$330–$480	−$45
Newfoundland	$330–$470	−$50

Source: Yahoo Finance HRC futures + Canadian yard differentials. Updated weekly via ScrapHub price pipeline. See full metal prices →

Why Your Payout Is Lower Than the Spot Price

The steel HMS1 price above is what processors pay scrap yards. Before that money reaches you, three costs come off:

Towing$50–$150 depending on distance and vehicle condition. Yards offering "free towing" build this into their offer.

Processing overheadShredding, sorting, and shipping steel to a processor costs yards roughly $50–$100/tonne.

Yard's marginLicensed yards need to operate profitably. Their net on each car is typically $50–$150 after all costs.

The net result is that the steel component of your payout is roughly $150–$250 per tonne of car weight — about half the HMS1 spot price. But scrap cars also contain a catalytic converter ($80–$220) and cast aluminum ($30–$80), which push your total offer above the steel-only number.

Estimated Scrap Car Payout by Vehicle Type

Ranges reflect all conditions — running, good-title cars fetch the high end; major damage or missing parts bring the low end. CAD prices for Ontario.

Vehicle Type	Approx. Weight	Steel Content	Est. Payout (CAD)
Compact car Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla	1.2–1.4 t	~60%	$150–$450
Midsize sedan Toyota Camry, Honda Accord	1.4–1.6 t	~60%	$200–$550
Midsize SUV Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4	1.7–1.9 t	~60%	$250–$650
Half-ton truck Ford F-150, Ram 1500	1.9–2.1 t	~62%	$400–$850
Full-size SUV Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition	2.4–2.6 t	~62%	$450–$900
Minivan Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey	1.8–2.0 t	~60%	$225–$600

Includes steel value, catalytic converter, and aluminum at current Ontario rates. Varies by province and condition.

Get Your Exact Price — Free Calculator

Instead of estimating from per-tonne rates, enter your specific vehicle. The calculator uses your car's actual curb weight, current provincial metal prices, catalytic converter type, and condition to return a real price range.

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What Moves Scrap Car Prices Per Ton

Global steel demand

HMS1 prices track global steel production. When Chinese steel mills ramp up production, demand for scrap feed increases and Canadian prices rise. A 10% swing in LME steel futures typically moves Canadian yard prices by $20–$40/tonne within 2–4 weeks.

USD/CAD exchange rate

Scrap steel is priced globally in USD. When the Canadian dollar weakens against the US dollar, Canadian HMS1 prices rise in CAD terms — your payout improves in dollar terms even if the underlying commodity hasn't moved. ScrapHub updates exchange rates weekly.

Provincial export access

BC prices are highest because the Port of Vancouver ships directly to Asian markets, creating competition among processors. Ontario ships via Great Lakes to US mills. Atlantic provinces ship through Halifax but with smaller volumes and higher per-unit freight costs.

Season

Scrap yard volumes typically increase in spring (tax season, spring cleaning) which softens per-ton prices slightly as supply rises. Prices are often firmer in late fall when yard inventories are lower.

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