California Scrap Metal Prices - USA

The most populated state in the whole of the US, California has over 40 million people living there. This makes it one the best states for finding and selling scrap metal.

Before we go through the best locations that will give you the best scrap metal price in the California, we need to discuss the laws surrounding the buying and selling of scrap metal.

First make sure to bring your ID. If you're selling scrap you must present a valid driving license so that the scrap yard can make a copy. In addition, they will keep a record of the car that you visit the scrap yard with. This means they take your license plate and a brief description of your car (make, model, color, etc.). The scrap yard will also need to take fingerprints, normally the right index, and a photo or video of the seller and any material that they bring. All this may seem intrusive for the seller; however, it is vital in protecting the market from scrap theft.

Scrap yards are legally required to keep records of all purchases for 2 years and law enforcement have the right to inspect these records at any time. Payments will be made via cheque, which can be picked up or sent to the seller home address 3 days after the sale.

The final law specific to California and probably the strictest is that law enforcement can force a scrap yard to hold any materials with a value of over $20 for up to 90 days. This is over 10 times longer than most states.

If you want to check out some of the bills that the California State Legislature passed to make it more difficult for thieves to earn money selling stolen metal, then have a look at SB 691 (2008), AB 844 (2008) and AB 1859 (2008). Please note that local ordinances may also exist which impact  scrap metal recycling.

If you want to get more details on current scrap prices and the best scrap yards for each large city in California, then please have look at the cities below.

Best Scrap Yards in California

We will give you a couple recommended scrap yards in each of these cities plus a few other large cities in California. If you need more info on a scrap in California that is closer to you please contact us.

The state capitol, Sacramento and its largest city by population Los Angeles are home to over half the states' inhabitants. The scrap yards in Sacramento that we recommend are Rudy's metals and Junk King Sacramento.

In Los Angeles, the most reliable are C & M Metals and Los Angeles Scrap Metal Buyers. For those in the San Diego area we recommend Ekco Metals, SA Recycling and Ecology Recycling. These scrap yards offer great prices and the staff are helpful.

If you are in San Jose then the scrap yards, that we recommend, are Alco Iron & Metal Company, Sims Metal Management and San Jose Metals Recycling. Each of these scrap yards have great customer service and competitive prices. If you are in the San Francisco area, we think you should go to Circosta Iron & Metal Co, A-1 Scrap Metals and GreenWorx. These have the most competitive prices in the San Francisco area.

Finally, for those in the Fresno area we recommend Western Metal Co, Bruno's Iron and Metal and Schnitzer Recycling Centre. You will not regret visiting any of the scrap yards that we recommend - all offer the best prices and have helpful staff.