Getting rid of a broken down or old car can be a little daunting seeing as it is not something you do every day. How do you know what your car is worth? Who should you contact? Luckily, if you need to junk a car for cash it can be a lot simple than you imagined. If you keep a few key tips in mind it can really make the experience, go a lot smoother than the nightmare some may have.
One thing to always be sure of is to find your title. Not properly obtaining your title and transferring it to the individual or company purchasing the car may cause you to incur various fees. State records will show you still technically own the vehicle whether it is in your possession. Sometimes it is not always required depending on the age of the vehicle, this number can vary by state. Inquire with your local department of motor vehicles to find out the specifics for your area when it comes to the required documentation and processes involved to streamline the process as much as possible.
Along with getting your title in order, some states require you return the plates to cancel registration. Sometimes you are unable to cancel your insurance policy until this is done either. Doing this ahead of time will save a lot of time and head ache. You do not want to try and get your plates while a busy tow truck driver is waiting!
Junkyards are normally pricing out the metal or potentially reusable parts but in most cases, they are not going to give you extra for your premium parts. Things like aftermarket radios and good tires will only be icing on the cake for them. If your tires are still in good condition, consider picking up some bald tires to replace them, then resell the good tires.
Just like buying a car, simply because one person has said what they will pay you does not mean that everyone will pay the same. Give your car a good look over and take down everything you observe such as areas of the vehicle with damage, mileage and how long since the car was last driven. The more detailed and useful information you can gather the more accurate your quotes will be. You can also use Kelley Blue Book to find out a rough idea of the value of your car. If it isn’t running, consider having a mechanic check out the vehicle to determine if it’s an easy fix. You can also subtract the amount needed to repair the car from the KBB estimate to get an idea. A car that runs can be worth considerably more than one that doesn’t.
Call several different salvage yards and junkyards and write down what each is willing to offer to get the best price. There are also numerous online companies out there that may be interested in your car, a quick search can turn up several scrap car companies. Your local paper can also have several local companies listed in the classifieds. You never know when the next phone call you make could yield even more money than the last.
Make sure you remove all your personal items from your car as well. Check in all the small out of sight areas and make sure you do not miss anything. You never know what personal items or information may be hiding underneath your seats. You don’t want to find out that you left something valuable in there like an iPod or perhaps even old mail like bank statements.
When arranging a way to get your vehicle to the lot there are a few things to consider. Obviously, if the car can be driven then some junkyards will pay more for bringing it to them so be sure to mention that when discussing the vehicle. If the vehicle does not run, then the most convenient option is to have the junkyard pick up the car. Make sure you are aware what your car is worth as sometimes they may change what they are willing to offer once the car is loaded. Do not let them push you out of money you should be paid. You’ve done all the work to know what it’s worth.
If you keep these tips in mind, getting rid of your car can be a breeze. In fact, junking your extra car can be one great idea to get extra cash for the holidays. Just take your time and before you know it you will be cashing your check and moving on to the next daunting task of replacing it!
