Depending on the state of your car, you can junk it for anywhere between $100 and $20,000. No matter where you land on that spectrum, it’s always better to get something rather than nothing.
Still, junking a car isn’t as simple as taking it to your closest junkyard. There are steps you’re going to need to take first to ensure that the transaction goes smoothly.
Ready to turn that old car into cash? You’ve come to the right place.
Stick with us as we cover the five steps you should take before junking a car.
- Remove Your Personal Belongings
This may seem intuitive, but you’d be surprised at how often people forget to check all the nooks and crannies of their cars for personal belongings. Check things like the center console, the glove compartment, and any storage spaces in the doors. Even if you’re not finding anything you’d like to keep, empty out the car as much as possible.
- Locate Your Car Title
Any reputable junkyard will require that you give them the title of your car before they accept it. Having the title allows you to prove and transfer ownership of the vehicle. If a junkyard will take your car without the title, understand that they’re operating illegally and could get you into some trouble.
- Consider Selling Car Parts of Value Separately
Before you figure out who buys junk cars near you, evaluate your car for individual components. Batteries, CD or MP3 players, tires, and even certain hoods or fenders can be sold separately. If you’re scrapping a car in the hopes of making a good chunk of change, selling high-value parts before taking your car to a junkyard is the way to go.
- Remove Your License Plates
Remove your license plates and send or take them to the DMV. This allows the DMV to cancel the registration of the car under your name. Once this cancelation is complete, you can cancel the insurance plan you had for your car.
- Empty the Gas Tank
Believe it or not, showing up with a half-full tank could result in getting a lower offer from the junkyard. This is because removing and properly disposing of old gasoline takes time and effort that junkyards want to avoid whenever possible. Rather than making your gas tank their problem, use up the gas or siphon it out before turning it over to the junkyard for good.
Make Some Extra Cash by Junking a Car
All cars come to their natural end, and it’s not always easy to decide what you should do next. Junking a car is a great way to ensure that you at least get some cash in your pocket for your old ride. Follow these steps to make sure that when you’re scrapping a car, you get the best offer possible.
Looking for more ways to maximize your cash flow? Take a look around for tips and tricks that will help you boost or protect your finances in the coming years.