What to know before you junk your car

Although you love your car and she’s been your faithful companion for years, there comes a day when you have to let her go. If the cost of auto repair is more than she’s worth and you don’t have time or money to spend on auto parts – it’s probably time to consider the junkyard.

There are a few things you need to know before you junk your car.

First – make sure your car is really junk. An auto repair shop might be able to determine a simple fix. If the car only has a broken windshield, you might be able to replace it for an affordable price. If the repair shop verifies the car is only worth junk parts – move forward with getting rid of it.

Second – clean out all of your personal belongings. Remember – she’s been your ride or die for years and you’ve collected a lot of memories together. You also need to remove paperwork like registration and insurance information and make sure your vehicle title is in order. After taking it to the auto salvage yard – remove your license plates.

Next – figure out if there are any auto parts or accessories you might be able to sell for extra cash. Junk cars sometimes have aftermarket radios or rims that you can remove before selling for raw materials.

Then – contact an auto salvage company and find out what your car is worth. If your windshield is still intact – you might be able to get more money. Junk cars, depending on the age and condition, often have junk parts other people are looking for.

Finally, take one last selfie before sending her off and allowing her working parts and pieces to renew and revive someone else’s car. You had a great time together, but it’s time to move on.