### How and Where to Junk a Car

When a car reaches the point where it cannot reasonably be repaired or an owner no longer wants to pay for an old clunker th's just hanging on, it may be time to call a local junkyard.

Junkyards, scrapyards, and salvage yards are excellent places to dump end-of-life vehicles that no longer serve a purpose, and they can be a hassle-free option to dispose of an old car. Most will pay you for the vehicle, but don't expect top dollar, because it will ultimately be broken down for parts or sold as scrap metal.

It's worth shopping around, comparing rates, and preparing the necessary documentation before you pick a junkyard and send your old car to its final destination. As long as you have everything in order, getting rid of a junk vehicle doesn't have to be a painful process, but it can be if you're not prepared. Read on to find out exactly how and where to junk a car. 

### Contact Salvage Yards

Your first step should be to research and contact local junkyards. This will help you find out what they're looking for, the information they need, whether they offer free towing, and if you can get a quote from them before you take any further steps. 

Most places will want to know details such as your car’s make, model year, vehicle identification number, current condition, odometer reading, title status, and whether it runs. Junkyards and scrapyards will likely base their offers on elements such as the condition of the vehicle and its components, what kind of vehicle it is, and whether or not it requires towing. 

There's every chance that a junk car buyer based further away may provide a better cash offer, but if your old car no longer runs, that extra cash could be lost on the cost of a tow truck. Knowing where you stand and what your options are will allow you to get the best price for your junker while also saving you time and hassle. 

### Verify Junkyard Licenses

Junkyards, scrapyards, and auto salvage businesses have to abide by certain codes and maintain licensing standards. Verifying that a particular junkyard is licensed will benefit both you and the environment.

Typically, an auto salvage business must be inspected to ensure it stores and maintains its junk cars appropriately so the stock doesn't harm the local environment. Licensing standards may dictate that vehicles are ordered in a certain way within the yard and that their fluids are drained, along with inspections by a fire marshal.

Another benefit of licensing is that it often involves the location’s scales. Many scrapyards will pay sellers based on the vehicle's weight. Much like gas station pumps are inspected for accuracy, a scrapyard’s scales are often inspected to ensure that they appropriately weigh a scrap car and issue cash offers accordingly. 

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### Check Junkyard Reviews Online

One of the most useful tools at our disposal today is the internet. It is one thing to call a junkyard, speak to a friendly employee, then take your vehicle there only to encounter a terrible selling experience. 

A junkyard that is known for excellent customer service, top-notch facilities, knowledgable staff, and friendly employees may be the obvious choice, even if it do not offer the best price compared to the closest scrapyard. 

### Compare Junkyard Offers

One of the most tedious parts of deciding where to take your old car is comparing offers from junkyards. Much like shopping for a new car from different dealerships, it takes time to get quotes from several different locations. There are other factors, too, such whether your vehicle runs and drives and whether a junkyard offers free towing. 

If your car runs and drives, you may only have to consider distance. Nobody will want to drive 100 miles to a junkyard if the one down the street offers about the same price. Conversely, if the junkyard 100 miles away offers you $200 more than the one down the street, you might consider it. 

If your vehicle does not run, towing options may be the largest factor. Not every location offers this, so the quote will likely be combined with the projected tow truck bill.

Remember that not all junkyards are created equal. They are all run by different owners with different practices and different connections in their respective fields. Not everyone likes to compare rates, but doing so can be a great benefit.

### Prep Your Car To Be Junked

Owners often forget to clean out their vehicle before it heads to the salvage lot. Any of your personal belongings that are left in the vehicle after it is sold will no longer be retrievable, so don't forget to sweep the car's interior before its final journey.  

The most common area owners forget to empty is the glovebox. People store many different kinds of things in a vehicle’s glove compartment, such as cash, documentation, and other personal items. Even if the glovebox just contains old insurance cards, the vehicle’s registration paperwork, or other vehicle-specific items, it is still good practice to remove them to get rid of any potential identifying information after the vehicle changes hands. 

Another area of the car that can hide things is the center console. Like the glovebox, there are probably only a few times that most people need to access that area, but it is a common hiding place for the likes of change and sunglasses. 

The trunk, beneath the seats, and even the sunglasses holder are all easy areas to miss when cleaning out a car. Make a checklist of areas in your vehicle as you work through the process of junking your car, so you don't forget anything important or sentimental. Finally, remember to remove your license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer.

### Consider Selling Your Car's Parts Individually (Parting Out)

If you want to get even more out of your vehicle than simply cleaning it out and handing it over to a junkyard, you can explore parting it out. It may complicate the junk car removal process and requires mechanical and market know-how, but it could net you some extra cash.

Even if your vehicle is at the end of its life and no longer worth repairing, there still may be valuable parts that can be sold for as much as you might get from a scrapyard for the entire car. Salvage yards often buy wrecked or non-running vehicles from which they glean valuable parts and sell on. 

Components such as the radio, catalytic converter, wheels, tires, seats, and some of the parts that could be worth several hundred dollars by themselves under in right circumstances. If you can remove them, you can sell them to private buyers or even shops before passing the remaining vehicle to a scrapyard where all of those items.

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### Grab All Your Paperwork

Regardless of whether your vehicle is brand new or 50 years old and rusty, you'll need proof of ownership. A salvage yard may never resell your vehicle, but you will need to sign over its title to the junkyard to finalize the sale. 

It is illegal in many states to buy a vehicle without a title. Obtaining a duplicate title from the Department of Motor Vehicles attracts a cost, but it may be worth it. Junkyards will often need to obtain the salvage title your car’s is missing, and that cost will be passed to you in the form of a lower cash offer. 

In some cases, alternative proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale or a surety bond, is enough to sell your vehicle without the actual title. Having all of this together before the day of your sale will help ease the entire process. 

### Finalize the Junkyard Sale

If you have a tow truck coming to pick up your vehicle, the driver will often perform a last-minute inspection to ensure there are no glaring issues or undisclosed items before hauling it to its final resting place. 

If you were able to drive your vehicle to the junkyard, staff will perform a final inspection there. They will typically weigh the vehicle and you will then sign over the title to the junkyard. There may be some additional haggling on the price if you choose not to part anything out before the sale, but otherwise, you should leave with cash or a check for the agreed-upon amount.

It is also a good idea to perform one final sweep of the car to ensure that you did not miss any personal belongings before you sign over the title. Remember to remove your license plates before your old car is officially sold, too. 

Once the sale is complete, you will need to report the vehicle as sold to your state’s DMV and your insurance company. 

### Your Other Options

Just because your vehicle is nearing the end of its life doesn't mean it has to go to a junkyard. You have at least three other options: you can try to sell your car 'as is' on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or by yourself through some other method, which could get you a higher price if the right buyer comes along. This will also force you do to all of the advertising, DMV, and insurance work yourself, though. 

You could also explore using online marketplaces such as Peddle, Copart, and Wheelzy to sell your clunker. Each one specializes in buying junk cars, will send a tow truck to pick up your vehicle, and each one allows you to get rid of your junk car without having to leave your home.

The third option is donating your vehicle to a charity. Charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Vehicles for Veterans, The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross will often take your vehicle whether it runs or not. Most require you to fill out a donation form with your vehicle’s information and many will pick it up for free. You may even qualify for a tax deduction for the car’s value, even if you don't receive any money for it. 

### Final Thoughts

Junking your old car doesn't have to be a hard or painful process. You can compare junkyards and rates to find the best offer, then complete the transaction by signing over your title. If you doon't want to deal with a junkyard, you could always sell your vehicle via one of our recommended means or donate it to charity for a potential tax deduction. 

Getting rid of a worn out car shouldn't cost you anything, in fact you should be able to make a little money. We explain the basics of junking your old car.

How and Where to Junk a Car

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