Everyone has that one car that they love. It's been there for you through thick and thin, but, if we're being honest, it's seen better days. As it turns out, you've loved that car to death and it's time to junk it.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
Just because your old car has gone down in value doesn't mean that it doesn't have any value. Even junk cars demand a price, and you shouldn't accept anything less than what it's worth.
But how do make sure not to make mistakes when selling your junk car? We've got you covered! Read on to learn about common mistakes you should avoid.
1. Not Waiting for the Best Offer
There's only one situation in which you should accept the first offer you receive for your junk car — when you receive an offer that meets or exceeds your asking price. Sometimes you'll get lucky and get a great offer off the bat, but that's not always going to happen.
Unless you're in desperate need for quick cash, it pays to wait it out until you get an acceptable offer.
2. Don't Forget Proof of Ownership
The number one thing you need any time you sell your car is proof of ownership. This includes when you junk your car. All sales of junk cars, whether they're brand new or ready to be sold for parts, must be in compliance with state and local laws in order for that sale to be valid.
Because selling your junk car still involves transferring ownership of a motor vehicle, it's super important that you bring your car title when you expect to finalize the sale.
3. Think Twice About Donations
You've heard the jingles and seen the billboards. Tons of organizations are requesting people to donate their old cars to their organization. After all, the donation is tax-deductible, right?
Unfortunately, tax laws make car donations difficult to deduct from your taxes. Do you know what's super easy to deduct? Cash donations!
If you've got the itch to donate to charity, junk your car and give the proceeds to the charity of your choice.
4. Paying for Towing
Okay, not all junked cars are completely out of service. If your car still runs, then it's perfectly fine to drive it to the junkyard so long as you have a ride home, too. But if your car does not run, then you should absolutely ask for a complimentary tow.
Why? It's significantly more expensive for you to pay a professional towing company to bring the car to the junkyard than it is for the junkyard to tow it themselves. Always, always ask for a complimentary tow!
5. Junking Your 2000 or Later Car
It's a rare occasion that a car made in the year 2000 or later is actually a junk car. Yes, that includes instances where the car was considered totaled by the insurance company and there's frame damage to the car. Make sure to properly evaluate your car's actual value before selling it as a junk car.
Now, if your 2019 car was totaled, has frame damage, and was burnt to a crisp, you're getting much closer to junker territory.
6. Not Waiting to Get Paid
If you an eternal optimist, then you might be tempted to sign over the title to your car, or worse, deliver possession of your car before you receive payment. Sure, that person may come through with their payment for the vehicle, but, more often than not, you'll have a hard time getting the buyer to actually pay you.
That's why it's extremely important that you demand payment before you sign over the title or deliver possession.
7. Accepting Less Than the Quote
As long as you were honest about the condition of your vehicle when you requested your quote, the buyer should honor the price that they quoted you. Do not settle for a lesser payment just because the buyer is there and it's convenient. Walk away and sell to someone who isn't going to scam or lowball you.
8. Not Doing a Sweep of the Car
We keep a lot of personal information in our cars. Sometimes in the glovebox, and sometimes we forget and things end up under the mats or seats. If you want to make sure that you're protected from unexpected identity theft, it behooves you to do a thorough sweep of your car for anything like paycheck stubs or tax information.
You'll also want to make sure that you aren't unintentionally leaving valuable items in the car. You're selling the car, not your personal property.
9. Not Removing Custom Accessories
You might have loved that 10 disc CD player with a pop-off face that you had installed in your old car in 1995. But when you junk your car, the buyer isn't going to pay extra for custom accessories, in fact, many buyers aren't interested in them at all. Why not remove your custom accessories and try to score a little extra cash from selling them on their own?
10. Leaving the Plates
This may be the last item on this list, but it is one of the most important things you'll need to do when you sell your junk car (or any used car). When you sell your car, you transfer the title to the buyer, but the title does not include the license plates on your car.
Leaving your old plates on the car leaves you open to liability. Instead, the new buyer will have to take the title to their local DMV and register the car. That registration will come with new plates.
Ready to Sell Your Junk Car?
Selling your junk car is not a complicated process. In fact, there are just a few rules you have to follow, like insisting on payment before signing over the title and making sure that all your personal items are out of the car before you turn it over. With a little patience and due diligence, you'll be on the road to getting the best possible offer for it.
Are you ready to part with your old car? You're in the right place. Get your free online offer today!