How do I know when to get rid of my car?

Vehicle owners who believe their car is running on borrowed time want to know what their options are. If you have a hefty commute or need a reliable set of wheels to get the kids to daycare or sports practice, it becomes a priority to consider upgrading your car.

There are several reasons to make a change:
• Upsizing – When your family is growing, it’s safe to assume that articles like car seats and strollers will fit a lot better in a Kia Telluride than a Toyota Prius. Four doors are better than two, and the heavier the vehicle the better the crash test results.
• Downsizing – The kids are out of school and becoming adults with their own lives. You no longer need a large SUV for carpooling and taking the team (and equipment) to practice.
• Reducing your footprint – Nearly every manufacturer has a hybrid or electric car in their inventory and reducing carbon emissions is one way to contribute to the health of the planet.
• Nicer car for business reasons – In professions from real estate to financial advisement you typically need to maintain high standards when it comes to your image. When you meet with clients and sometimes transport them in your car, driving a dated model can affect your brand.

Should I donate my junk car to charity?

Sometimes the biggest hurdle to replacing your vehicle is the headache involved in getting rid of a car you no longer need. There are decisions to be made which are influenced by the logistics involved.

You may want free towing for a junk car or wonder, “Can I sell my car for parts?” It depends on the condition of your vehicle and which option you choose to discard it, among other things.

A car donation to charity is a great option on a number of fronts. You have the opportunity to benefit a favorite cause with proceeds from the sale of your donation vehicle. If there’s a nonprofit you’ve been hoping to support, or if you’d like to add money to volunteer service, it’s a built-in chance to do that.

There are features to look for when you want the best car donation program. You want experienced staff, easy handling of your donation vehicle and positive cash flow to your favorite nonprofit group.

When you donate a car through Cars2Charities it’s one of the easiest ways to give your old vehicle a new life. It simply requires a phone call or an online donation, and our associates take over the process for you.

There are circumstances, however, when a vehicle donation to charity isn’t possible. If you’re teetering between “I’ll donate a car to charity” and “I’ll give my car for parts,” then you may not be the best candidate to make a car donation to charity.

When a donor’s vehicle needs basic alterations, we tackle that through our process at Cars2Charities. But there’s a point where a donation car needs more repair work than it’s worth. A car donation isn’t a good idea when your vehicle has lost too much of its value.

What if I can’t donate my car?

When you have a vehicle that doesn’t fit the criteria for a vehicle donation, you can still find ways to make use of its value. There are some courses of action that connect you with vendors involved in the purchase and sale of car parts.

If you’re disappointed that your car lacks the value necessary for an effective car donation you may be asking, “Can I sell my car for parts?”

The answer is yes.

Junk Yard, Salvage Yard, and Scrap Metal Recycling

A junk or scrap yard, a salvage car yard, and a scrap metal recycling yard are not the same thing.
Junk yards break down vehicles to sell their parts to the public. Most of the time these parts are broken or in need of repair. A Salvage yard purchases run down and old cars from auctions, then they harvest working parts from the cars to sell. Scrap metal recylcing yards use old cars for metal only. They separate the different metals – by the pound or by the ton – and sell them to refineries.

Summary: Junk and salvage yards purchase vehicles and sell their individual parts for profit. Where as scrap metal recycling companies or auto recycling centers don’t sell parts at all. This is a good resource for people saying, “I want to junk my car,” but who still want some cash for its value.

You may get more from a salvage yard, but you can junk a car either way. And you can reach out to these businesses to see whether or not you get free towing of a junk car through their services.

Junk My Car

There are many sources of metal for a scrap yard. In fact, they’ll buy their stock from nearly anyone. Junk yards acquire pieces from industrial operations and construction sites, for the most part, and can take the metal from:
• Electrical wiring
• Aluminum cans
• Appliances
• Cars

Some of the metals they collect include copper, cast zinc and aluminum, and because they sell it to recycling operations, you’re doing your part for the environment when you use a junk yard. Less scrap metal goes into landfills.

Everyone has an image of a junk yard, which at times includes aggressive dogs and barbed wire fencing. We picture lamps, toys, chairs and other worthless items piled high in the form of a mountain. You may not think, “I can junk my car there if I need to,” but sometimes you can.

The California DMV enables a vehicle owner to junk their own car without using a licensed dismantler. They have an online checklist to junk a vehicle on the website where it details the requirements.

An auto salvage yard is different. Its specific purpose is to take cars that have little value as a whole, but contain scraps and parts that can be refurbished or sold for profit.

Salvage Car Centers

Like the junk yard business, salvage yards encourage a circular economy, which for the auto industry is progress.

Car salvage businesses buy vehicles that are no longer usable due to accidents or age. The cars don’t have to be in a state of disrepair, but often they are.

If you’re thinking, “I just want to give my car for parts,” that’s one thing. But if you say, “I want to sell my car for parts,” then you need further information before deciding where to take your salvage car.

A salvage yard does a lot of the work for their customers who reach out to them for specific parts. They remove them and prepare them for sale, so when an auto shop calls, for instance, they have the piece ready for pick up.

But some salvage yards also allow their customers to personally remove parts themselves. They may charge a fee for you to enter the premises and let you retrieve the pieces you need.

Not to be mistaken for a trash heap, a salvage center is a resource for the purpose of selling working parts of a car to the public. Many modern salvage businesses explain that they don’t deserve some of the stereotypes attached to junk yards.

Scrap Metal Recycling

A recycling center deals with scrap metal. After removing non valuable parts of cars, such as the upholstry, car lining and platic dash and steering wheels, they sell the metals to refineries or businesses that will recycle the metal into new cars or other common items.

Junking Your Vehicle

If you’ve decided this is the route you’d like to take to sell your car for parts, there are a few things to do before you turn over your vehicle to a junk or salvage yard.

Your first job is to clean out your car so there aren’t any valuables or important paperwork released with your vehicle. You may be surprised how many valuables are left in junk or salvage cars.

You can also remove valuable car parts. If you’re an ebay seller you can make a little extra cash by taking the pieces of your vehicle that are in high demand and can be shipped easily.

Cancel any insurance you have on the car. You don’t want to lose money on a vehicle you no longer drive.

Getting a Junk Title

A junk slip is easily obtained from DMV. This allows you to take your car to a junk or salvage company and transfer the ownership effortlessly. It involves the same requirements as registering or transferring a car to another person. You don’t need to meet the smog inspection requirement. You can absolutely just use your regular title when transferring ownership to a junk yard. In fact, many times you don’t even have to go to DMV. That’s right, most junk and salvage yards work directly with DMV and they can handle the transfer. Just make sure you get a receipt!

To Junk a car, firstly, you need to submit an application to the DMV so that it’s recorded as a “junk car.” Unfortunately, if you miss this step you may end up paying an investigative service fee. You simply need to submit evidence that you own the car. If you aren’t the registered owner listed on the car’s certificate of title, you need to also present one of the following documents:
• The California Certificate of Title endorsed for transfer
• Salvage Certificate endorsed for transfer
• Lien sale documents executed for registration and transfer
• Nonresident vehicle registration and transfer clearance requirements
• Unavailable vehicle registration clearance requirements
• Bills of sale, as needed, to complete the chain of ownership

If you’re wondering, “How do I junk my car if I don’t have evidence that I’m the owner?” you can check the regulations for other required documentation.

For instance, if your car’s value exceeds $5,000, you need to purchase a Motor Vehicle Ownership Surety Bond, which is a written appraisal by a dealer or an insurance representative. If your vehicle’s value is less than $5,000 you are not required to provide a bond, but you need to submit documentation establishing ownership of the car, such as a Statement of Facts Form which identifies the previous owner and the vehicle’s value. It also states that there are no liens against the salvage car.

There are differences in state-by-state regulations for salvaging your car. Check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for steps. If you reach the point where you’re saying to yourself, “I just need to junk my car,” check your options. The process involves looking over your own set of specific circumstances to determine which option is best.

What is a Salvage Title and Do I Need One to Salvage my Car?

A Salvage Title is a brand on a vehicle that notes that the car has been damaged and/or deemed a total loss. If this is the state of your car, you have to file for a Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate from the DMV. It’s a law designed to keep people from misrepresenting a non-repairable vehicle as a perfectly usable, clean titled car, which would put buyers at risk. You DO NOT need to salvage your title to give your car to a junk or salvage yard.

The only reason you would need to obtain a salvage title for your vehicle is was in an accident or suffered expensive mechanical damage in which the repairs would cost more than tha amount your vehicle is actually worth. At this point you can go to DMV and talk to them about obtaining a salvaged title. If you are just trying to get rid of your vehicle as is, then you can just provide your regular title to the junk yard or salvage yard your giving the car to. An added bonus is that sometimes the junk yard or salvage yard might even pay you for your car! Or at the very least, they might tow it away for free. We actually work with a handful of these companies, so if donation is not an option, you can still give us a call and we can either handle the pickup of your car for you, or give you the phone numbers of a company that can help you get ride of your old car.