Do you have an old car just sitting in your home for a long time, gathering dust, and not running at all? If you do, you can try to get it repaired but that might cost you an arm and a leg. That is why, one of the best options might be to just junk the car and say goodbye to it.
But before you go ahead and junk your old car, there are some things you need to know about to save you some time, hassle and money.
To give you an idea, here are some things you should know before you junk your car.
1. Assess Your Car’s Value
The first thing you need to do before you junk your car is to assess its value. When you go to junk your car, they might undervalue your car and give you less money.
Even if your car is not running, some of the parts might have some value. You should research the car, the specific make, model, year, and condition, to get an idea of its worth.
This way, you can get the right amount of money for your car.
2. Gather Important Documents
To junk your car, you will need to have all the documents ready to go. You see, someone can’t just bring in junk cars and sell them to the junkyard. You need to provide proof that you own the car and have the legal right to sell it. For this, you can show them the deed.
If you can’t find your title, you can get a replacement from your local DMV. In some states, you might also need to complete a bill of sale or a release of liability form.
3. Remove Personal Belongings
While it might seem incredibly obvious, some people forget about this one. Before you take your car anywhere, you need to make sure there aren’t any valuables in it.
Over time, you may have put all sorts of things in your car, like CDs, tools, sunglasses, and even important documents.
That is why, you should take the time to thoroughly clean out your car before you go to junk car buyer. Check the trunk, glove compartment, and under the seats. You don’t want to accidentally junk something valuable or personal.
4. Compare Offers from Different Buyers
When you finally ready to trade in your car, don’t take the first offer you get.
There is probably more than one junk car buyer in your area. You should try to ask a couple of them for quotes to see who gives you a better price. You can also ask them if they will tow your car or is that separate. Knowing everything can help you make the best decision.
However, if you get a good deal that is around the value of your car and they are offering a good service, you can pick the first one instead of spending time going around.
5. Cancel Your Insurance and Return Plates
While this might seem like a no brainer, many people often forget about it. When you junk your car, you need to call up your insurance company and any other service you are paying related to the car to cancel everything.
Other than that, you should also head on down to the nearest DMV and return your license plates. While this is not mandatory in every state, most require you to return the license plate and update the vehicle’s details in their system. Otherwise, you will be held responsible for any liabilities related to it.