Current Prices for Scrap Automotive Starters in the US
Check current Automotive Starters prices and find the highest-paying scrap yards in the US. Our market data tracks national and local rates so you know exactly what your scrap starters are worth before hitting the scale.
Average Automotive Starters Price
- Low (up to $0.30): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.39): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.50+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 21 live board rates today.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Automotive Starters US
Before you toss those heavy cores into the truck, check out these local buyers in the US to compare current payouts for Automotive Starters. National averages give you a solid baseline, but local demand dictates the final ticket, so always call ahead to lock in your rate.
Stuff Recycling
Conservit, Inc.
Elkins Metal Recycling
Three Rivers Iron Metal
YS Catalytic Recycling
Paz Metals Inc.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Compare Automotive Starters with Similar Breakage
The #1 rule at scrap yards: if you mix grades, they’ll weigh everything at the lowest rate. See the price gap below — if you have higher-value metal, always sort and weigh each grade separately to avoid leaving money on the table.
Automotive Starters Price Trends & Market History
This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it’s dropping, don’t wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.
Automotive Starters: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
Automotive Starters: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $1.31 | -$4.46 (77.4%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $2.30 | -$3.58 (60.9%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $2.21 | -$3.68 (62.4%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $1.47 | -$4.03 (73.3%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $1.77 | -$3.29 (65%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $1.81 | -$3.24 (64.1%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $1.95 | -$2.71 (58.2%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $1.81 | -$2.67 (59.7%) |
| July 2025 | $5.482645 | $2.49 | -$2.99 (54.5%) |
| June 2025 | $4.883233 | $2.24 | -$2.65 (54.2%) |
| May 2025 | $4.686194 | $2.81 | -$1.87 (40%) |
| April 2025 | $4.654267 | $1.85 | -$2.80 (60.2%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $2.27 | -$2.65 (54%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $1.89 | -$2.67 (58.5%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $1.68 | -$2.59 (60.7%) |
| December 2024 | $4.157855 | $2.50 | -$1.66 (40%) |
| November 2024 | $4.199383 | $1.90 | -$2.30 (54.7%) |
| October 2024 | $4.431839 | $2.66 | -$1.77 (40%) |
| September 2024 | $4.292683 | $2.58 | -$1.72 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $4.121839 | $2.13 | -$1.99 (48.4%) |
| July 2024 | $4.375242 | $1.61 | -$2.76 (63.2%) |
| June 2024 | $4.491083 | $2.70 | -$1.80 (40%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $2.85 | -$1.90 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $2.62 | -$1.74 (40%) |
| March 2024 | $3.983645 | $2.19 | -$1.80 (45.1%) |
| February 2024 | $3.801776 | $1.77 | -$2.03 (53.3%) |
| January 2024 | $3.811306 | $2.29 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| December 2023 | $3.871226 | $1.78 | -$2.09 (54.1%) |
| November 2023 | $3.720817 | $2.23 | -$1.49 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $3.609306 | $2.05 | -$1.56 (43.3%) |
| September 2023 | $3.759833 | $1.88 | -$1.88 (49.9%) |
| August 2023 | $3.776097 | $2.27 | -$1.51 (40%) |
| July 2023 | $3.8455 | $2.31 | -$1.54 (40%) |
| June 2023 | $3.804983 | $1.96 | -$1.85 (48.6%) |
| May 2023 | $3.751484 | $2.07 | -$1.69 (44.9%) |
| April 2023 | $4.007367 | $2.40 | -$1.60 (40%) |
| March 2023 | $4.02821 | $1.83 | -$2.20 (54.5%) |
| February 2023 | $4.06475 | $2.44 | -$1.63 (40%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| December 2022 | $3.820726 | $1.87 | -$1.95 (51.1%) |
| November 2022 | $3.674017 | $1.68 | -$2.00 (54.4%) |
| October 2022 | $3.430419 | $2.06 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| September 2022 | $3.455283 | $2.07 | -$1.38 (40%) |
| August 2022 | $3.616468 | $2.17 | -$1.45 (40%) |
| July 2022 | $3.4195 | $2.05 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| May 2022 | $4.257274 | $1.99 | -$2.27 (53.3%) |
| April 2022 | $4.649533 | $2.79 | -$1.86 (40%) |
| March 2022 | $4.707694 | $2.83 | -$1.88 (40%) |
| February 2022 | $4.502304 | $2.70 | -$1.80 (40%) |
| January 2022 | $4.4345 | $1.71 | -$2.72 (61.4%) |
| December 2021 | $4.332226 | $2.60 | -$1.73 (40%) |
| November 2021 | $4.367567 | $2.62 | -$1.75 (40%) |
| October 2021 | $4.432371 | $2.01 | -$2.42 (54.6%) |
| September 2021 | $4.2864 | $1.97 | -$2.32 (54.1%) |
| August 2021 | $4.302984 | $2.34 | -$1.96 (45.6%) |
| July 2021 | $4.347452 | $1.60 | -$2.75 (63.2%) |
| June 2021 | $4.388783 | $2.63 | -$1.76 (40%) |
| May 2021 | $4.618871 | $2.77 | -$1.85 (40%) |
| April 2021 | $4.192633 | $1.67 | -$2.53 (60.3%) |
| March 2021 | $4.084726 | $1.88 | -$2.21 (54%) |
| February 2021 | $3.861 | $2.32 | -$1.54 (40%) |
| January 2021 | $3.607435 | $1.66 | -$1.95 (54%) |
| December 2020 | $3.546903 | $1.81 | -$1.73 (48.9%) |
| November 2020 | $3.21755 | $1.74 | -$1.48 (45.9%) |
| October 2020 | $3.060177 | $1.10 | -$1.96 (64%) |
| September 2020 | $3.0352 | $1.82 | -$1.21 (40%) |
| August 2020 | $2.909726 | $1.75 | -$1.16 (40%) |
| July 2020 | $2.867581 | $1.72 | -$1.15 (40%) |
| June 2020 | $2.5983 | $1.56 | -$1.04 (40%) |
| May 2020 | $2.377403 | $1.43 | -$0.95 (40%) |
| April 2020 | $2.28595 | $1.37 | -$0.91 (40%) |
| March 2020 | $2.356968 | $1.14 | -$1.22 (51.6%) |
| February 2020 | $2.574707 | $1.45 | -$1.13 (43.8%) |
| January 2020 | $2.759935 | $1.23 | -$1.53 (55.3%) |
| December 2019 | $2.774145 | $1.67 | -$1.11 (39.9%) |
| November 2019 | $2.660717 | $1.60 | -$1.06 (40%) |
| October 2019 | $2.621613 | $1.19 | -$1.43 (54.5%) |
| September 2019 | $2.615533 | $1.18 | -$1.44 (55%) |
| August 2019 | $2.576597 | $1.55 | -$1.03 (40%) |
| July 2019 | $2.693468 | $1.62 | -$1.08 (40%) |
| June 2019 | $2.671833 | $1.60 | -$1.07 (40%) |
| May 2019 | $2.7395 | $1.64 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| April 2019 | $2.914283 | $1.75 | -$1.17 (40%) |
| March 2019 | $2.902032 | $1.74 | -$1.16 (40%) |
| February 2019 | $2.845929 | $1.71 | -$1.14 (40%) |
| January 2019 | $2.675468 | $1.61 | -$1.07 (40%) |
| December 2018 | $2.724823 | $1.64 | -$1.09 (40%) |
| November 2018 | $2.7578 | $1.65 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| October 2018 | $2.768435 | $1.66 | -$1.11 (40%) |
| September 2018 | $2.712817 | $1.63 | -$1.09 (40%) |
| August 2018 | $2.706081 | $1.62 | -$1.08 (40%) |
| July 2018 | $2.807597 | $1.69 | -$1.12 (40%) |
| June 2018 | $3.1238 | $1.87 | -$1.25 (40%) |
| May 2018 | $3.080177 | $1.85 | -$1.23 (40%) |
| April 2018 | $3.08635 | $1.85 | -$1.23 (40%) |
| March 2018 | $3.080758 | $1.85 | -$1.23 (40%) |
| February 2018 | $3.17875 | $1.91 | -$1.27 (40%) |
| January 2018 | $3.215161 | $1.93 | -$1.29 (40%) |
| December 2017 | $3.134855 | $1.88 | -$1.25 (40%) |
| November 2017 | $3.105817 | $1.86 | -$1.24 (40%) |
| October 2017 | $3.103887 | $1.86 | -$1.24 (40%) |
| September 2017 | $3.00865 | $1.80 | -$1.20 (40%) |
| August 2017 | $2.957097 | $1.77 | -$1.18 (40%) |
| July 2017 | $2.732484 | $1.32 | -$1.42 (51.8%) |
| June 2017 | $2.605467 | $1.52 | -$1.09 (41.8%) |
| May 2017 | $2.556677 | $1.53 | -$1.02 (40%) |
| April 2017 | $2.595367 | $1.56 | -$1.04 (40%) |
| March 2017 | $2.653452 | $1.59 | -$1.06 (40.1%) |
| February 2017 | $2.69925 | $1.62 | -$1.08 (40%) |
| January 2017 | $2.622903 | $1.57 | -$1.05 (40%) |
| December 2016 | $2.567774 | $1.54 | -$1.03 (40%) |
| November 2016 | $2.478267 | $1.49 | -$0.99 (40%) |
| October 2016 | $2.148903 | $1.29 | -$0.86 (40%) |
| September 2016 | $2.139533 | $1.28 | -$0.86 (40%) |
| August 2016 | $2.14129 | $1.29 | -$0.86 (40%) |
| July 2016 | $2.210419 | $1.33 | -$0.88 (40%) |
| June 2016 | $2.093733 | $1.26 | -$0.84 (40%) |
| May 2016 | $2.111387 | $0.97 | -$1.14 (53.8%) |
| April 2016 | $2.183033 | $1.31 | -$0.87 (40%) |
| March 2016 | $2.24029 | $1.34 | -$0.90 (40%) |
| February 2016 | $2.076759 | $0.93 | -$1.15 (55.2%) |
| January 2016 | $2.022419 | $1.21 | -$0.81 (40%) |
| December 2015 | $2.094355 | $1.26 | -$0.84 (40%) |
| November 2015 | $2.150933 | $1.29 | -$0.86 (40%) |
| October 2015 | $2.368065 | $1.42 | -$0.95 (40%) |
| September 2015 | $2.360633 | $1.42 | -$0.94 (40%) |
| August 2015 | $2.326516 | $1.09 | -$1.24 (53.3%) |
| July 2015 | $2.490129 | $1.50 | -$0.99 (39.9%) |
| June 2015 | $2.6549 | $1.23 | -$1.42 (53.6%) |
| May 2015 | $2.866032 | $1.72 | -$1.15 (40%) |
| April 2015 | $2.745367 | $1.65 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| March 2015 | $2.697548 | $1.62 | -$1.08 (40%) |
| February 2015 | $2.600036 | $1.17 | -$1.43 (54.8%) |
| January 2015 | $2.636548 | $1.58 | -$1.05 (40%) |
| December 2014 | $2.877161 | $1.35 | -$1.53 (53%) |
| November 2014 | $2.993826 | $1.73 | -$1.26 (42.2%) |
Automotive Starters Scrap Price History — Daily Data
A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/9/2026 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 2/17/2026 | $0.38 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.30 - $0.50 |
| 2/3/2026 | $0.40 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.40 - $0.40 |
| 1/8/2026 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 1/1/2026 | $0.32 / lb | -$0.11 | $0.32 - $0.32 |
| 12/12/2025 | $0.43 / lb | +$0.12 | $0.40 - $0.45 |
| 12/6/2025 | $0.31 / lb | +$0.11 | $0.31 - $0.31 |
| 12/5/2025 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 11/25/2025 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.26 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 11/3/2025 | $0.56 / lb | +$0.21 | $0.54 - $0.58 |
| 10/9/2025 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.29 - $0.41 |
| 10/6/2025 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 9/18/2025 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 8/30/2025 | $0.25 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 8/27/2025 | $0.21 / lb | -$0.09 | $0.21 - $0.21 |
| 7/23/2025 | $0.30 / lb | — no change | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 6/20/2025 | $0.30 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 4/30/2025 | $0.38 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.35 - $0.40 |
| 4/27/2025 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 3/17/2025 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.07 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 2/16/2025 | $0.32 / lb | -$0.13 | $0.32 - $0.32 |
| 2/14/2025 | $0.45 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.45 - $0.45 |
| 1/29/2025 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.06 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 1/25/2025 | $0.29 / lb | -$0.01 | $0.28 - $0.30 |
| 11/9/2024 | $0.30 / lb | — no change | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 8/5/2024 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 7/29/2024 | $0.25 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 7/25/2024 | $0.24 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.24 - $0.24 |
| 3/3/2024 | $0.23 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.23 - $0.23 |
| 3/1/2024 | $0.22 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.22 - $0.22 |
| 12/8/2023 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.15 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 10/2/2023 | $0.35 / lb | +$0.07 | $0.35 - $0.35 |
| 6/5/2023 | $0.28 / lb | +$0.13 | $0.25 - $0.30 |
| 3/13/2023 | $0.15 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.15 - $0.15 |
| 12/6/2022 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.10 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 11/30/2022 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.18 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 5/26/2022 | $0.38 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.35 - $0.40 |
| 1/22/2022 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.10 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 1/18/2022 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 10/18/2021 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 9/22/2021 | $0.28 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.20 - $0.35 |
| 8/3/2021 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 7/24/2021 | $0.25 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.25 - $0.25 |
| 4/22/2021 | $0.30 / lb | +$0.15 | $0.30 - $0.30 |
| 4/19/2021 | $0.15 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.15 - $0.15 |
| 3/9/2021 | $0.23 / lb | — no change | $0.23 - $0.23 |
| 1/25/2021 | $0.23 / lb | +$0.08 | $0.23 - $0.23 |
| 12/5/2020 | $0.15 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.15 - $0.15 |
| 10/25/2020 | $0.13 / lb | +$0.03 | $0.13 - $0.13 |
| 10/22/2020 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 10/20/2020 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 3/6/2020 | $0.13 / lb | +$0.06 | $0.10 - $0.15 |
| 1/18/2020 | $0.07 / lb | -$0.03 | $0.07 - $0.07 |
| 10/19/2019 | $0.10 / lb | — no change | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 9/11/2019 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 7/7/2017 | $0.18 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.18 - $0.18 |
| 5/12/2016 | $0.14 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.14 - $0.14 |
| 2/29/2016 | $0.12 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.12 - $0.12 |
| 8/13/2015 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 6/28/2015 | $0.22 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.22 - $0.22 |
| 2/14/2015 | $0.20 / lb | -$0.08 | $0.20 - $0.20 |
| 12/9/2014 | $0.28 / lb | -$0.02 | $0.28 - $0.28 |
Cashing In On Automotive Starters
If you're pulling parts from junkers or running a shop in the US, Automotive Starters are a heavy, reliable source of cash. Because they house a thick copper armature inside a heavy steel casing, buyers classify them as a specific breakage grade. Right now, our market data shows yards are paying anywhere from $0.30 to $0.50 per pound for clean, whole units, with the national average sitting right around $0.39. Since a single starter can weigh 10 to 25 pounds, a 55-gallon drum full of them translates to a serious payout.
Don't Let the Scale Boss Downgrade Your Load
A rookie mistake is throwing all your automotive breakage into a single bin. If you get lazy and dump your premium Automotive Starters in with lower-yield material like Aluminum & Steel Transformers, the yard manager is going to pay you the cheapest rate for the whole gaylord. That simple lack of sorting can cost you about $0.24 per pound instantly. Keep your starters segregated to maximize your payout.
- Aluminum & Dirty Motors: Keep these separate; they typically trade between $0.09 to $0.22/lb.
- Aluminum & Steel Transformers: Lower yield means they usually fetch around $0.10 to $0.15/lb.
- Automotive AC Compressors: These have a different recovery profile, generally commanding $0.25 to $0.30/lb.
Prepping the Core for the Scale
When prepping your load, the goal is to give the yard exactly what they want: a clean starter core. You don't need to break them down, but you do need to remove excess garbage that drags down the copper-to-weight ratio. Take a few seconds to clean up your cores and you will guarantee the top-tier starter rate every time.
Yard Pro Tip: Do not waste your time trying to crack open Automotive Starters for the internal copper armature. The thick steel casing requires industrial shears or a massive amount of labor to break efficiently, which destroys your hourly profit margin. Instead, sell them whole, but make sure you unbolt any oversized steel mounting brackets or heat shields first. Excess steel attachments ruin the expected recovery ratio and can trigger a downgrade to a generic 'dirty motor' price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do yards pay a specific rate for Automotive Starters?
It comes down to reliable copper recovery. Starters have a dense, tightly wound copper armature that processors can easily predict. Because of this consistent yield compared to the steel shell, the national average holds steady at about $0.39 per pound, which is often better than generic electric motors.
How does the commodities market affect starter prices?
Since the main value is the internal copper winding, the price tracks the spot copper market on the COMEX. However, because the yard and shredder still have to do the heavy lifting to separate the thick steel shell from the copper, the price buyers offer typically runs about 92.7% below the spot price to cover their processing overhead.
Does a broken or burnt-out starter pay less?
No. Scrap yards are buying the unit strictly for the base metal weight, not its functionality. As long as the starter is whole and the internal copper is still inside, a burnt-out solenoid, worn gears, or a cracked casing won't hurt your scrap value at all.
Automotive Starters scrap prices — find in your state on the map
The map shows states where we have Automotive Starters scrap prices. Click a state on the map or use the links below to see current Automotive Starters prices in that region.