So you’re looking to sell your junk car, but don’t know where to start? We at Junk Car Traders know that it can be intimidating the first time you junk your car, so here’s a quick little guide to get you started.

Where do I start?

Before you sell your car, make sure you have the correct paperwork and know the state requirements for selling junked cars. You’ll need a title for the vehicle in order for most junkyards or junk car buyers to take the car. You’ll transfer the title over to them upon sale. You should also check your state’s junked car requirements to make sure you have all your paperwork in order. For example, in South Carolina you need to have your insurance company declare it a total loss and give you a salvage title before you can resell the car.  You can find information by quickly searching “Salvaged Vehicle Regulations” for your state. 

It is also important to clear out the car before you sell it. Carefully look through the vehicle for any left over possessions hiding between the seats. Make sure to also remove the license plates. 

To start, you can estimate the value of your junk car by taking an inventory of the parts. Are the tires new? Is the GPS system still in good condition? Knowing these things can help you get a higher bid for the car, as these can be resold for profit. You can also use the Kelley Blue Book to get a baseline value for the car. Blue Book ranks cars that are in good, drivable condition, though, so you likely won’t get anywhere near that. But if you take the Blue Book value and subtract the cost of any repairs needed to get the car running, you can estimate how much cash you can get for your junk car.  

Where should I sell my junk car?

After you’ve prepared your car for selling, it’s time to look into where and how to sell it. There are many options–from selling to a local junkyard to donating to a charity. Each has its pros and cons so do your research before making a choice. 

Call some local salvage yards and junkyards and ask them their protocol and requirements for buying your junk car. Contacting more than one allows you to weigh the options — one may tow the car for free but give you less for it while another requires you to drive it to the lot but will give you more cash. 

Some junkyards may even pay you more if you dismantle the car yourself — but only do this if you know what you are doing! Don’t try to take your car apart if you are a novice, you may cause more damage to the car and ruin the chance of a good offer. 

Once you’ve looked into the options, it’s time to sell your junk car!

How do I sell my junk car?

Depending on where you’ve chosen to sell your car, you either have to drive it to the yard or they will come tow it for you. Some junkyards may give you more if you drive the car to them, but only do this if the car is in good enough condition and you feel comfortable doing so. 

The other option would be having them tow your junk car away. This is by far the most convenient, as you can schedule a time that works for you and they will pay you cash for your junk car on the spot. However, some traders may lower their offer once the car is loaded up, so it’s important to know the value of the car and not let them low-ball you. 

Once the car is out of your hands and you’ve gotten paid, make sure to return your license plates to a DMV and cancel your registration. It can be easy to forget this step after being so relieved to get rid of your junked car, but it is important to do so. 

Selling a junk car can seem like a daunting task, but with Junk Car Traders, selling your junk car has never been easier. To find out more, call us today at 888-323-7128.