How To Get Rid Of A Junk Car

Ready to junk a car but not sure where to start?

Here's the deal:

It can be a time-consuming and sometimes confusing process to get the most money possible for your scrap car.

BUT it doesn't have to be!

If you are like me the first time I sold a junk car to junkyards near me, you may not be looking forward to the process. But if you handle things right on your end, and the auto junkyards handle things right on theirs it should be a smooth process.

And in today's post, I'm going to show you what you need to do before you junk a car.

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Before you junk your car, do these things.

1. Remove Your Personal Belongings

Most of us spend a lot of time in our cars. We drive them to work, to school, to go shopping, and to the movies. We take our cars on road trips, vacations, and visits to friends and relatives. We like to have some of our favorite and useful things with us, like recorded music, beverages, snacks, sunglasses, hats, and rain gear. If we have kids or pets along for the ride, there is even more stuff that needs to be taken along. It can really add up over the years.

When you sell your car to the salvage yard, it's your responsibility to take out all of your personal belongings, before the tow truck arrives to pick up the vehicle. It's tempting to leave items you no longer want inside the car, but that can cause problems with the transaction. This is why the first thing you should do when selling your car to a salvage yard is to go through your car and remove ALL of your personal items. Take your time and look everywhere. Here are some places to check:

Glove compartment
Center console
Door pockets
Rear seat console
Overhead console
Other storage areas in the dashboard, armrests, rear deck, cargo area, etc.
Sun visors
Trunk or cargo area
Under the floor of cargo area or trunk
Under the floor mats
Under the seats
Between the seat bottoms and seat backs (could be some change in there!)
CD player (remove all of your CDs)

Granted, a lot of what you find will be fit only for the trash can. But there are some items that you never want to leave in your car when you scrap it. Personal documents like registration documents, auto insurance cards, and credit card receipts should be removed and shredded. In the wrong hands, these can lead to a bad case of identity theft.

2. Get Your Paperwork in Order

The single most important thing you need in order to get cash for junk cars is to have a valid car title to the car to prove proof of ownership. You can sell your car without a title but it's much harder.

You should be especially wary of a junkyard that doesn't care if you have a title in hand. If you don't transfer ownership of the car to the junkyard, you might incur liabilities because you technically still own the car, even though it's been hauled away. The only exception for the need to produce a valid title is if the state where you live in puts a limit on the need for a title if the car is over a certain age. You'll still need to produce valid picture ID for the transaction to be legal. This exception is usually made because some abandoned cars might have been left for years in remote locations, and the property owners can find no paperwork for them. In any case, it's smart to inquire with the local department of motor vehicles if you're not sure of the regulations regarding sales to junkyards and scrap yards.

But what if you don't have the title?

Well, that depends on your state's laws about transferring a junk car. Check your state's DMV website for what's required to junk your car without a title. Some states do not require a title, and they may allow you to present an old vehicle registration, along with your driver's license. Otherwise, you can easily get a duplicate title or a copy of the current registration from your state's DMV.

3. Get Familiar With The Process to Junk Cars for Cash

Here are a few simple steps that will help you to figure out the best way to proceed when the time comes to junk cars for cash:

Assess your vehicle

What kind of condition is your car really in? Knowing this is the first step toward getting a good price for your vehicle. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is it drivable?
Are any parts of it severely damaged (like major body damage from an accident, or a blown engine or transmission)?
Are there any valuable parts, in good condition, on it that could be resold (wheels/tires, alternator, body parts, glass, seats, etc.)?

Write down the answers to these questions as you'll need them to junk cars for cash. Any service will ask you them.

4. Look for Valuable Components to Sell

Selling the valuable parts on your car may be a good idea if you have the know-how to get it done.

But a word of caution...

The majority of junk car buyers buy cars whole and won't want it if everything been pulled from it.

However, if the price you're able to get for your car doesn't reflect much more than its scrap metal value, you may be able to remove a few valuable components from the car to make a few extra bucks. These items can include:

Tires with plenty of tread left (replace with bald used tires)
Alloy wheels (replace with cheap used rims)
Battery (sell if it's fairly new, recycle if it's old)
Electronics of value (stereo systems, GPS)
Catalytic converter

Once you have done this, store all of your parts in a secure location. Next, you will need to price everything. Then you can post these items for sale on eBay and/or Craigslist.

If your car is a popular model that has been sold for several years, there is a robust market for used parts. This includes mechanical parts, body parts, and even interior parts, which can be sold if they are in decent condition. These recyclers fill a niche, for those needing usable parts at realistic prices. Auto recyclers have built nationwide networks, making these parts available online to a national audience.

If you have expensive tires with a lot of tread left on them, you can purchase four balding tires on cheap rims and swap them for the more valuable tires on the car. Your car's battery has resale value if it's almost new, and recyclers will pay for the lead inside it even if it's old. If you're handy, you can remove electronic gear like GPS or stereo systems if they're valuable.

4. Have Realistic Expectations About The Price You Will Get

It's only natural to want to get the highest possible price for your junk car. But how much is that? Let's put a few things into perspective.

Your car's value is largely based on its metal content

To the scrap metal industry, your car's metal content is the primary source of its value. The metals that your car is made of can be recycled and reused to make a wide range of items, including new car parts. There are established markets and prices for steel, iron, aluminum, copper, and even the platinum and palladium found in your catalytic converter. These all have a scrap value, based on market prices that fluctuate daily.

Generally speaking, the more metal there is in your vehicle, the more it is worth as scrap. Large trucks and SUVs have more metal in them than midsize cars, which have more metal than compact cars, and so on. So larger vehicles win on the scrap metal chart, and you will get more for them on that basis. As a point of reference, the average car is made up of 2400 lbs. of steel and 300 lbs. of aluminum.

5. Have All Of The Relevant Information About Your Car Handy

When you start shopping for the best price for your junk car, you should have all the important information about your car in front of you, so that you can provide it to all of the prospective buyers. This information consists of:

The year, make, and model of your car
Its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN – found on registration or base of the windshield)
Your car's condition (including problem areas)
- Exterior
- Interior
- Mechanical
Your car's current mileage on the odometer.
Is car in running condition?
Is car in towable condition?

This means, for example, that you should disclose that your engine has blown or the rear end of the body was smashed in, if that's the case. Why? If you are dealing with a recycler who will sell your car for parts, major parts that can't be resold will affect the price they will give you. If you are selling the car purely for scrap value, this won't matter as much, but you should still be honest about the true condition of your car.

One more thing – shoot some pictures of your car after washing it, so it looks presentable. Include shots of the exterior, the interior, and under the hood. The photos will let buyers know exactly what they can expect.

After you accept our offer, here's what you do when junking a car.

6. Cancel Your Car's Insurance

If you are selling your car for junk, you will no longer need to insure it. Once you have decided who you will be selling it to, and you have a firm date when it will be hauled or driven away, call your insurance agent or company. Explain that you are selling the car, and you wish to terminate your coverage at the end of the day on that date. This way, you will have coverage until the car arrives at its final destination. Any coverage that you have already paid for, beyond that date, will be refunded to you by the insurance company.

7. Remove The License Plates

Unlike when you sell a car on Craigslist, selling a car to a salvage yard can result in an immediate pickup situation. If your car is disabled and parked at a location like a service station or tow yard, you could have difficulty getting everyone there at the same time to complete your transaction. Time is money for the tow truck driver that's sent to get your car. It's very easy to overlook important details when everyone is in a hurry.

Be sure to remove the license plates from the car before it's towed away. The rules differ in every state regarding what to do with the plates after the sale. In many states, you must return the license plates to the Department of Motor Vehicles before your registration can be canceled. You might not be able to cancel your car insurance policy until the plates and registration have been turned in, as well. In some states, the license plates belong to the owner and can be used on another car that you purchase.

What's the worst-case scenario that could happen if you leave your license plates on your junk vehicle? They could be stolen and put on another car that is used in the commission of a crime. You definitely don't want to have to deal with the police coming to your door if that happens!

Here's how to find a junk car buyer that's right for you.

8. Find Someone Who Buys Junk Cars

Finding someone that wants to buy your junk car may not be as easy as you think. You can't just take it in to a local car dealership because they won't want it.

Do a Google search for places that buy junk cars to get started. But one thing you'll find when searching for who buys junk cars is your options may be limited.

9. Arrange For Junk Car Removal and Get Paid

The last step in selling your junk car is arranging the towing by a tow truck or flat bed. If your car still runs, that's great you may be able to drive it in. However various junk car services are located throughout the area and are on the road the majority of the time so sometimes coming to pick up your car is easier for everyone. Upon junk car removal, we'll leave you with a check on the spot that you can cash instantly.

Get Quotes From Auto Salvage Yards Or JunkCarMedics.com

Now you are ready to start the process of getting price quotes for your junk car. Contact as many junkyards and auto recyclers (if appropriate) in your area as possible, and get estimates on the best price they would give you for the scrap metal value (and resellable parts, if any) in your used vehicle. Email them the photos you shot of your vehicle, so they can see it and give you an accurate quote. Remember to get a free online quote from Junk Car Medics – we will buy your car, whatever it's condition!

Negotiate your best possible deal

Keep in mind that the places you are calling buy many junk cars, day in and day out. Their first price will usually be a lowball – you do not have to accept it. Use the information about your car to negotiate a better price. Focus on its condition (if decent), and any parts that could be resold for additional profit. You may be able to get more for your car this way. Make sure that they will take your car as it sits, without the need for you to do any additional work on or dismantling of it.

Don't be in a rush – take your time, playing one junkyard's price against another's. Keep this up until you can't get the price any higher. Make a list of the prices you are offered. Make sure that any offered price includes a tow truck for the pickup, especially if your car isn't drivable. If your car is drivable, you can try to get a few extra bucks back later, by offering to drive it there yourself, and saving them the towing cost.

When you have reached the end of the negotiations, and you have found a buyer that will give you the best price for your junk car, you are ready to finish the process.

That Wraps Up Our Guide on Everything to Do Before Junking a Car and Getting Rid of It For Good

If you have been following our guide to getting rid of junk cars, you are now armed with the knowledge to deal with the entire junk car industry on your own terms. You know how to prepare your junk car, how to get the best price for your junk car, and how to avoid the scams that may appear as you go through this unique process.

If you're ready to scrap your car get a hassle-free cash offer from Junk Car Medics. And if you accept it you'll surely get free junk car removal and towing.