Junk Car Sale 101: How To Sell Your Wrecked Car for Money

All good things must come to an end one day. So the case is with your vehicle, no matter how long and true of a relationship you’ve shared together. The average car lasts only eight years, so inevitably the day will come where you’ll have to say goodbye.

If your vehicle has gotten to the point where people are likely to be more interested in it for parts than as a whole, you’ll really know the time is up. You’ll need, at this point, to get familiar with the concept of a junk car sale.

If you’re unsure how to sell your junk car for cash, there are a few easy tips and tricks that can help you to make it through the process. Ready to learn more? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.

Clear Out Your Vehicle

Before you can sell your junk vehicle to a potentially interested buyer, there is a laundry list of chores you’ll need to get through. Your vehicle will probably have many signs of your ownership over it, both physical or not.

Clearing these vestiges of ownership from your vehicle will help to ensure that is ready to sell. 

First and foremost, do a thorough search and clean of the inside. We stuff all sorts of things into our cars over the years and you’ll need to get every last scrap out before handing it off to a buyer.

Make sure to check in all compartments and make sure you’re not leaving anything behind — especially not something that you might miss!

Most states will also require by law that your car has the license plates removed before you sell the vehicle.

That will be your next task. You’ll need to remove your plates and keep them in possession. Look into local laws surrounding license plates in your area to see what else you might need to do with them.

Last but not least, you’ll want to make sure to cancel the insurance for your vehicle before you start looking for a buyer. It’s a good idea to cancel the moment you know you’ll no longer be driving the vehicle so as to save money.

Find a Buyer

How do I find a scrap car buyer near me?

This is probably the main question on your mind and the main reason you’ve come to this very article. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be too difficult to find a scrap car buyer near you.

The easiest thing to do is simply to look up salvage yards in your area and reach out. You’ll want to have all the information about your vehicle handy and at the ready.

These salvage yards are likely to make you an offer either for your vehicle as a whole or for particular parts. The best thing you can do is to reach out to multiple potential buyers and get various estimates.

You can compare these estimates and then decide on what is the best option for you and your vehicle. 

When selling your vehicle, you’ll want to make sure the salvage yard you’re speaking to is licensed. This will help to ensure your sale goes through smoothly with no surprises.

Completing the Sale

You’ve found a buyer or salvage yard who seems interested in your vehicle. You’re happy with the price they are willing to offer. You’re almost to the finish line: what’s left to do? 

First, you’ll need to figure out how to get the vehicle from your home to the yard. This can be more difficult than you might expect, especially if the vehicle in question no longer really runs.

In many cases, sellers hire a towing company to pick up the vehicle and deliver to the destination. In some cases, a salvage yard will employ their own tow truck to do just this very task. 

When you speak with buyers, see what pick up options they offer and how much it might cost you to take advantage of these services. Make sure they can work around your schedule as well. 

If you’re able to turn the vehicle on and drive it, you might be able to just deliver the vehicle to the required location yourself. However, you will need to ensure you have a way to get back home after! 

Getting a taxi or rideshare vehicle from the location might be more expensive than you initially anticipate.

Paperwork and Payment

In most cases, you will receive the payment for your vehicle once it has been delivered to the salvage location. Payment can be in various forms, although many salvage yards offer cash.

The paperwork that you might need to fill out upon or prior to delivering your car will vary from buyer to buyer.

In most cases, you’ll need to sign away the title of the car to the new buyer. This will transfer ownership and legally complete the sale of your scrap vehicle. 

Make sure to look into vehicle sales laws in the state in which you reside. There may be more requirements based on where you reside in the country.

Making a Junk Car Sale

If you’re hoping to get rid of your old scrap vehicle, you’ll need to get familiar with how a junk car sale works. The above information can help you get through the process from beginning to end.

Need more auto advice and information? Keep scrolling our blog for more.

Author: Doug