Did you know that there are between 10 to 12 million cars that are junked each year?
This is a massive industry, and it’s full of companies that want to get their hands on your car and make a profit on it. If you don’t know what to look for, you could fall victim to a scam or get less money than what the car is worth.
Keep reading to learn the top tips for junking a car and find out how you can avoid making mistakes that will cost you money.
1. You Don’t Know the Car’s Value
The first way to lose money when you junk your car is by undervaluing the car. You think that because the car doesn’t run, it has no value.
Do a little research to find out what cars of a similar make and model are getting on the market. You could be surprised by what you can get for the car.
2. You Don’t Have Paperwork
Can you prove that you own the car? It’s easy to misplace or lose paperwork. The easiest way to junk a car is to have the title and registration of the car ready to go.
If you don’t have them or can’t find them, get replacements from your state’s DMV.
3. You Leave Things in the Car
Before you junk your car, you need to clean it out thoroughly. Make sure that your personal papers are removed from the car. You also want to pull the license plates off of the car and give them back to your state’s DMV.
Make sure that parking passes hanging from your rear-view mirror are pulled as well.
4. You Decide to Sell the Car for Parts
“Should I junk my car or sell it for parts?” That may be a question that runs through your mind.
You could dismantle your car and sell parts instead of junking it. Depending on your car’s make and model, you could wind up making more money over time.
The problem with selling parts is that it takes a lot of time. You have to pull the parts from your car, price each part, list them, and hope they sell. In the end, making a few more bucks isn’t worth the time.
5. You Pay for Car Towing
If you decide to work with a junk car dealer, the convenience factor is that they’ll tow your car and you don’t need to worry about it.
Most dealers will offer to tow for free. Be sure you work with a dealer that has this offer in place. You shouldn’t have to pay for towing.
Be Smart When Junking a Car
If you have a car that doesn’t run and just takes up space, junking a car is your best option. It can seem like a pretty painless process, but there are plenty of opportunities to make mistakes.
The biggest mistake to avoid starts with not knowing the full value of your car. You’ll want to do your research and make sure you’re getting the full value of the car.
Check out this site again for more helpful car tips!
