What Makes A Car Junk?

What Is A Junk Car?

Basically, a junk car is a car that is no longer worth repairing. All cars have a shelf life to their value that is based on the current condition of the vehicle, how well they are taken care of, how hard it is to acquire parts for them, and when they were manufactured.

Now, if you were to ask “what is considered a junk car?” to multiple people and businesses, a lot of them will give you a different answer. Just like the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” No matter how much your junk car is worth to you, you still need to deal with it.

How Much Is Your Junk Car Worth?

There could be a lot of sentimental value placed on your junk car, which is understandable because you do spend a lot of time inside of it. Especially if you like driving to different cities and states. You could take one glance at your vehicle and remember that epic time you and your buddies sang karaoke on your way to the beach or remember every second you rushed your significant other to the hospital to give birth to one of your children.

From minor moments to memories that last a lifetime, your car has given your life a lot of mileage. This is why we understand that selling it can be a hard decision.

When deciding on if it is time to get a new car or not, you need to remain honest with yourself and the value that remains in the vehicle. You need to put yourself in a clear state of mind before you answer the question, “what's a junk car worth?”

This clarity of mind is important because this could help you maximize the value you receive from your old memories so you can create new ones. Once you are ready to make this assessment, you should review the following questions:

• What does your exterior look like?

Is it smashed to the point that you cannot close a door? Is the motor about to fall out from under the frame? Is your roof caved in? If it looks REALLY bad, you should be honest with yourself and prepare to salvage your car.

• How long did you have your car?

On average, most cars that are consistently being used will last for twelve years. Just like anything else in life — if you use it often, it will start experiencing wear and tear.

Now if your car is not that old and the damage does not look as bad as the examples presented in the first question, it is very likely that the car is worth repairing. But even if the damage dealt to your car is minimal, you might want to look into scrapping it if you had it for a long time.

• What year was your car manufactured?

The year will determine how likely your mechanic is to find your replacement part. It is hard to find parts for older manufactured cars because the manufacturer might no longer make the part. Aftermarket parts for these vehicles can be expensive to acquire, which means you will be paying a lot to fix a vehicle that might not have a lot of market value.

• How often were you taking your vehicle to the mechanic?

You should be taking your vehicle for an inspection at least once a year so you can have your tires flipped and oil changed. If you don’t do this often, there might be some deeper issues with your car that you are not prepared to handle financially.

If the answers you find to these questions are not leaning on the positive side, it might be time to salvage your car.

What Does It Mean To Salvage A Car?

Salvaging a car means that you are selling it off as is, knowing that the condition of the car is not at its best. You have already come to the conclusion that it is time to move on and find a new vehicle, no matter how hard this decision was to make. So how do you salvage a junk car? There are four methods:

• Break the vehicle down yourself

While this might seem like the best way to obtain maximum value for your vehicle, this option is the most time-consuming. First, you will need to have a basic understanding of mechanical engineering. Second, you will need to find a set of schematics that match your vehicle. And lastly, you will need to create a lot of time in your busy day to take the vehicle apart.

Once you have the vehicle apart, you will need to find someone that is willing to purchase your parts. And I can guarantee you that you will not find someone that is willing to pay fair market value for your parts. They will try to haggle with you. It is not a fun process.

• Take your vehicle to a junkyard

At a junkyard, they will buy your car “by the pound.” That means they are only willing to pay what the vehicle is worth in scrap. They take nothing else into consideration. This is clearly the least profitable way to move your junk car.

• Sell your car to a chop shop

Unlike you, they already know how to break down your vehicle. But because they already know how to do this, they will expect you to take a discount on your vehicle. They still need to spend the time taking the vehicle apart so they can figure out what they can sell. You will not get fair market value for your car.

Sell Your Car To WeBuyJunkCarsFast!

Unlike the other ways you can sell your junk car, WeBuyJunkCarsFast.com makes the process quick and easy. All you have to do is:

• Request a questionnaire
• Submit the questionnaire with a few photos
• View the no-obligation quote prepared by one of our experts

All quotes we give will meet fair market value. Once you get the quote, all you have to do is tell us if you accept it or not. We do no final inspection AND we will pick the vehicle up from wherever you are. After accepting a quote, all you have to do is schedule a pickup time for one of our towing partners to grab the vehicle. You will get an immediate cash deposit into a payment method of your choice.