There are many reasons why you might decide that it is time to say goodbye to your once beloved car. Whether it has been badly damaged in an accident or natural disaster such as flood damage, is fuel-inefficient, has exorbitantly high repair costs, or is simply too old, you may want to sell it off for a good price and probably direct those funds to your savings pot.
However, if your car doesn’t have a decent resale value on the market, you should consider selling it to junk yards. A junkyard is a place that houses scrap that is prepared for recycling or disposal. Generally, you can either scrap your whole car and sell it to a junkyard or dismantle some valuable parts from your car, put them on sale on the marketplace, and sell the remaining scrap metal to the junkyard for extra cash.
Now if you run a quick online search on “how to sell car to junkyard”, you will probably come across way too much information, not all of which may be relevant or even useful. And if you have never sold a car to a junkyard before, it is only natural to feel that this process is more hassle than it's worth. But that doesn’t have to be the case.
In order to learn everything you need to know about successfully selling a car to a junk car buyer for actual cash, we have prepared a detailed guide that can make the process much simpler and easier and allow you to get cash for junk cars.
How To Know When To Sell Your Car To A Junkyard
Before you decide to sell car to junkyard for some quick bucks, you might benefit from knowing if this option is right for you. There are many reasons why selling your car to a junkyard may be the only financially viable solution. For instance, if the car’s cost of repair is too high, the amount of repairs is too great, or it has been severely damaged in an accident and is deemed unfit to be covered by your auto insurance company, you may want to find a junkyard near your place of residence and consider selling your car to them.
Generally, selling your car to a junkyard is seen as a last resort as they tend to accept vehicles regardless of whether they are old or damaged. This actually works in your favor since you can hope to make some money even if you contact your local junkyard to sell the most battered car or even a totaled car.
Advantages Of Scrapping Your Car
If your answer to the question “Do I want to sell my junk car” is full of doubt and uncertainty, you may want to reassess your position by familiarizing yourself with some of the benefits of scrapping your car.
Junkyards are the perfect place to sell junk cars for cash since their entire business model relies on buying old, damaged, or used cars, stripping the car of its valuable parts such as catalytic converters and car batteries, re-selling these parts for a profit, and recycling the remaining scrap metal and other parts of the car. This simple yet effective model is what allows junkyards to make money and stay lucrative.
The top advantages of scrapping your car in order to sell car to junkyard for extra cash include the following:
It is a guaranteed sale
The best thing about selling your car to a junkyard is that you are fairly certain that you will make a sale. This means that you don’t have to put in the effort and market your car online on different platforms or in classifieds. Instead, all you need to do is find your local junkyard by conducting a quick Google search, get in touch with several different junkyards, and work out a suitable selling price.
You can sell any type of car
Considering that junkyards use and sell any and all types of vehicles, you can greatly benefit from selling your car to a junkyard in case your car is a very old model, is totaled, or even inoperable. While this will affect the final price that you get for your car, you are nonetheless guaranteed a sale.
You will receive cash upfront
Most junkyards will offer to purchase your junk car for cash upfront. This is particularly helpful if you are in urgent need of liquid cash and want to make a quick buck. However, it is important to keep in mind that the junkyard dealer will probably require you to provide a valid and legal car title so that you can provide proof of ownership of the car before you can close the sale and receive the cash payment.
You are likely to receive a great offer
Depending on the year, model, make, and condition of the car, it is likely that you will receive a fair price for your car if you decide to sell it to a junkyard. This is mainly because junkyards are in the business of acquiring all sorts of vehicles, while car dealerships or private buyers may have certain considerations and standards to adhere to before they can make a purchase.
It is easy and convenient
Selling your cars to junkyards is pretty convenient considering that most junkyards will offer towing services and pick up the car from your doorstep. This makes the whole process much simpler and easier especially if your junk car doesn’t run.
How To Sell Your Car To A Junkyard
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Before you decide to sell your car to a junkyard, you need to keep in mind some important steps so that you can not only make a sale to a reputable and trustworthy junkyard dealer, but also get a good deal on your car.
Determine The Value Of Your Car
Since there are no set prices for cars sold to a junkyard, you need to estimate the value of your car. This means figuring out how much your junk car is worth on the market even if your car is essentially a pile of junk. After all, every item has a certain value attached to it, and your job is to ensure that you milk it for what it is worth.
To determine the value of your car, consider the following important factors that can potentially influence the price you get for your junk car:
- **Make and model of the car
**As a general rule, the older the car model, the lower the price will be. The exception is when you decide to sell a car that has parts which are in high demand, in which case you can most likely negotiate a greater selling price. - Condition of the car
If your car is in spectacularly bad shape and has few functioning parts, you will most probably end up getting a lower offer for it. This applies to the overall condition of your car, including the interior functioning such as the engine or air conditioning, as well as the exterior of the car such as body damage. In case your car is in good condition, the junkyard dealer may also consider the mileage on the car prior to making a price offer. - **Geographical location
**Something that is often not considered when selling a car to a junkyard is the importance of geographical location. This factor helps determine the average demand for junk cars, affecting the price you get paid for them. In places where there are several junkyards, you can expect to fetch a higher price when selling your car. Moreover, in certain areas, specific types of cars and car parts might have a higher demand and if your junk car fits the bill, you can expect to get a much better price for your car.
Prepare To Sell Your Car
When selling your car to a junkyard, there are certain things that you need to take care of in order to ensure that the sale goes through smoothly and hassle-free.
Firstly, make sure you have a clean title of the car that is ready and easily accessible in case your junkyard dealer asks for it. Secondly, you will want to cancel your car insurance as you will not need it anymore. You should also empty the fuel tank as this can prove to be hazardous for the junkyard premises. Finally, and it goes without saying, you should clear the car of any personal belongings and remove the license plates prior to selling it.
Find A Junkyard And Seal The Deal
When exploring how much cash a junkyard will offer you for your car in its current condition, it is ideal to get quotes from multiple dealers so that you can easily compare the different offers, adjust your average asking price, and weigh your options. As a rule of thumb, it is best to get at least five different quotes from several junkyards before deciding on your final choice.
As you prepare to sell car to junkyard for cash, it is a good idea to visit the junkyard dealer rather than making the sale over the phone or through email. This can allow you to take advantage of junkyard bargains and also help you to make sure that the junkyard dealer is legit and trustworthy so you end up getting actual cash.
Most junkyards will offer towing services in case your car is unable to be driven and in most cases, you can schedule a pick up for a date and time that is convenient for you. Once the junkyard dealer conducts a pre-purchase inspection of the car, you will be required to complete some essential paperwork, after which you will be handed the cash and the transaction will be complete. In some cases, you may need to register the sale of your car with the requisite authorities, mostly the Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV, by a specific deadline.
The Bottom Line
Selling your car to a junkyard is a brilliant option if your car is not in the best shape and won’t be able to obtain a good price on the market. It is a far better option than just giving your car away for free or selling it at a woefully low price on the market.
All it requires is some online research and a few hours of meeting with several junkyard dealers to ensure you get a fair price for your car.
