Getting rid of a junk car can often be an exhausting and tedious experience, especially for first-time sellers who may not have any past experience. And while it can be easy to look at the car and think that it isn’t worth anything, the fact remains that you can still recover some money by scrapping a car to a junkyard.
So, we decided to put together a quick guide that will help you along the process of getting cash for your car today.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Get the necessary documentation
In order to successfully sell any type of vehicle to a buyer, including to a cash-for-car service like USCarJunker, you need to first make sure that you have the car’s title ready. This is important because it effectively acts as proof of ownership and allows you to legally hand it over to another party.
If you have lost or misplaced your title, then you should contact your state’s DMV to obtain a replacement. Also, if the vehicle was in an accident and was classified as a complete junker by the insurance company, then the good news is that a clean title is all you need.
This is because the car will not need a safety inspection or any other state-mandated procedure to be sold.
Step 2: Get a Quote from Several Junk Car Services
If you want to sell your car for cash to a junkyard, you should not make the mistake of limiting your search to a few locations only. This means making an effort to find cash for car services online or in local phone directories, creating a list of a couple of locations, and reaching out to them.
A good rule of thumb is to keep an eye out for any business with more bad reviews than good ones because this is often a cause for concern.
Luckily, most legitimate cash-for-car services like USCarJunker allow you to get an instant quote for your car, and all you need to do is submit information about your car. In most cases, they will want to know the make, model, and year of your vehicle, as well as details of whatever type of damage it has experienced.
Based on your answers to these questions, they will provide you with a quote that you can decide to accept or refuse. However, do keep in mind that whatever junk car service you decide to work with, you should never have to pay to get your car towed.
This is because any reputable junk car service will usually send a towing company over to secure the vehicle at no charge. If a junk car company requires you to pay for a tow, then you should find another company to do business with.
Once you have received several quotes from different companies, you should take the time to compare them and see which offer is the most favorable. Once you decide that an offer is good enough, you can accept it, and they will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle.
Step 3: Complete The Sale
In preparation for pickup, you should ensure that you take the time to remove any personal belongings that you may still have from the car. You should remember that, unlike a private buyer, junk car services like USCarJunker are unlikely to return anything you left behind, so there is a chance that what is left inside will be gone forever.
This also means removing any extra features that you may have added to the vehicle, like stereo systems, GPS units, dashboard cameras, etc. These are some things that most people often forget but that can be useful at a later date.
Once the company representative arrives, they will usually inspect the vehicle on-site, in order to ensure that it is exactly as you described it. If there are no last-minute issues, you can expect them to hand over the agreed-upon amount before signing over the car title.
You should also remember that you will need to keep your license plates, as they will not be part of the ownership transfer and can be re-registered to another car. However, if you do not intend to re-register them, then make sure to return the plates back to the motor vehicle agency of your respective state.
Step 4: Report The Sale
Depending on where you live, you will also need to make sure that you report the sale of your junk car to the state authorities. Most of the time, there is a deadline that you need to meet soon after the sale has been made, so you need to ensure that you review your respective state’s guidelines.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure that you get the entire process completed within a day or two, as a precaution. You should also keep in mind that reporting a car sale also helps protect you from liability. After all, if the vehicle ends up being resold, this will ensure that you are not held liable for any damage or accidents that were caused by it.
What Other Alternatives To Sell My Junk Car Can I Consider?
In most instances, a junk car sale will be a simple and straightforward transaction. However, that simplicity often comes at a price, as you will often end up receiving minimal payment for your vehicle. This is because you will only receive the car’s worth in raw materials, so you can usually expect to receive a few hundred dollars.
And while the process requires more involvement, selling your junk car to a private buyer is a viable option to consider. There are several junk car buyers out there that are keen enthusiasts and gearheads looking for specific parts from specific cars.
For instance, you can come across a potential buyer who is only interested in knowing if the car’s engine still works. As such, there is a potential market out there since such buyers have particular needs, so if you do go down this route, be prepared for such precise inquiries.
However, the downside of this method is that it can often take quite a bit of time to find a buyer, as your car parts may not be in high demand, which will only make it a tough sell on the private market.
As such, it is not a good choice for those looking to quickly off-load their junk car, but if you are willing to wait for the right buyer to come along, then you may be able to increase the amount you get for your car.
Summary
Most junk car owners that are looking to sell their vehicles should always take their time to explore as many options as possible before they decide to turn to a junk car service. However, it is still the best option if you simply want to offload the car in a hurry and move on.
In this respect, if you do decide to go down this route, it is a good idea to reach out to USCarJunker, as the company has built a positive reputation in the industry for being fast, reliable, and most importantly, trustworthy.
