Can I Scrap a Car If the Title is Not in My Name?

Every product has its own life, and the same can be said for cars. It always makes sense to sell off an old vehicle. Using the same car for 10-20 years is just going to burn a hole in your pockets. Auto recycling or scrapping an automobile is one of the quickest ways to make money. At the same time, if you want to sell your car for scrap, the right market could make a big difference in what is earned upon selling. You can make a lot of cash by selling their vehicle and its parts. It is quite natural for a seller to expect maximum value.

A car is a summation of 30,000 small parts. Even though the car has minor or major damage, its internal components can be sold by measuring it per pound.

In this article, we’ll show you how to get the most cash for scrap cars, answer questions like “Can I junk a car if the title is not in my name?” (you can!), and how to get the most money for scrapped cars by selling to JunkCarsUs!

How to Understand That It’s Time to Scrap Your Car

It is obvious that a time will come when your car starts showing the signs of repairing or scraping it. Car repairing has always been a racket, not knowing what parts are installed, whether they are genuine or counterfeit parts, and so on. Sometimes it is better to get rid of it than repair it.

Some people do tend to have an emotional attachment towards their vehicle. They keep driving their 15-20-year-old cars, creating health hazards for themselves and the people around them. When a car gets older, it comes into notice. Parts such as the engine, gearbox, battery, interiors, and exteriors eventually start to degrade, causing troubles and forcing you to invest more in the vehicle further.

Usually, an individual would prefer repairing the damage over and over again until the time comes where it can't be repaired anymore—investing countless dollars and increasing the amount of debt by taking loans to repair. Once the vehicle isn’t roadworthy, it's time to sell an old car for cash to a junkyard. Scrapping your car for moneydoesn’t have to be a long or complicated process. As a matter of fact, with JunkCarsUs, it is as easy as giving us a call and having a driver come pick it up, even on the same day!

How Do I Find My Car's Scrap Value?

We know you want to get themaximum money for your scrap vehicles, so we offer a top dollar guarantee out of any junk car buyer in the US! If you want to know what scrapping cars for money can earn you, we’ve made that easy for you. You can count your car value on our website so that you can get a quote in less than 90 seconds.

The car’s value and the current price depend on how well it is maintained. Whether the car is new, old, slightly used, or damaged, here at JunkCarsUs, we determine how much it really costs.

You could find out the car’s value by posting ads, interacting with the buyers, and negotiating, but certain underlying causes might affect the pricing for the car being sold. The car’s age, accidents, or any problems while driving, are the few basic questions asked before setting a car scrap value.

Choosing the right corner to sell an old car for scrap plays a vital role in getting the maximum sell value. E.g., you can reach the buyers through various online platforms like Craigslist and eBay or contact them personally (be aware that this way could take much time and energy).

Most Valuable Car Parts to Scrap

Scrapping a car for money could leave you in surprise, knowing how much cash for junk cars you could get. There are several parts inside and outside a car, each with its own value. Let's dive in and explore more.

Battery

Car batteries are pretty easy to sell but aren’t that valuable. Batteries are also environmentally hazardous if not recycled. Worth up to $20 in junk, they are best recycled. Sell them off to the local battery dealer or recycle them personally. With the help of Epsom salt and distilled water, you can add a few more years to battery life. Selling off a working battery might get you a better deal at the junkyard compared to the dead ones.

GPS System

Inbuilt GPS Systems of the car will get you a better deal when sold. They are quite easy to remove and worth at least a few hundred dollars. You can also reuse an old GPS System instead of buying a new set—a second-hand one would work just fine. A car mechanic can easily install it in any car if it doesn’t have one.

Catalytic Converters

If your car was built after 1975, it has a catalytic converter to lower pollution. However, these catalytic converters are expensive. This is because they’re made out of precious metals such as rhodium, palladium, and platinum, found inside the earth’s surface. 

How much you can get for a used catalytic converter depends on many factors. The older it is (or the more mileage put on it), the lower the resale value. Depending on which car it came off of, you’ll be able to get between $50 and $500. 

Be aware that in a lot of places in the US, theft and illegal resale of catalytic converters has been on the rise. If you’re trying to resell your catalytic converter, a reputable shop will want to know where you got it to make sure it’s not stolen. 

Doors, Windows, Mirrors, and Electrical Parts

The estimated value of doors, windows, mirrors, and electrical parts is well above average. For instance, if a person gets in an accident, no matter how big or small it is, it tends to inflict damage to these parts. Delicate as these parts are, they are usually replaced instead of fixing them. Therefore, selling these parts to the right person at the right time could make you a few hundred dollars richer, provided that the parts you are selling are in perfect condition.

Bumpers

A car bumper is the basic necessity of one’s car, protecting you from any low-impact collisions. Made out of plastic, aluminum, steel, and fiberglass, this compound is built to last. Due to its characteristic, bumpers come with a higher price tag, which is why people generally prefer to buy second-hand bumpers. 

You may be able to earn up to $100 for selling a car bumper in good condition. The price depends on factors like what car it’s for, the condition (are there paint dings and scratches?), whether there are fog lights on it, how common the color is for the car it fits on, etc. 

Windshield Wiper Arms

Clean glass means one less worry for drivers, allowing them to maintain their eyes on the road and keep safety intact. Wiper arms guide the wiper blades, which gives you a cleaner and clearer view. Wiper arms may not pay you a big amount when scrapping, but it is surely more valuable than the car battery. A set of windshield wiper arms can fetch you up to $65 in total—a fair deal for both buyers and sellers.

Tires and Rims

The tires and rims of the car are essential for it to function; without them, the car is of no use. Selling tires for scrap could be of no use, as it is non-metal and does not have much worth in metal trading. However, if they are in good condition, they can be easily sold to someone in need and pay a reasonable price. Rims can also grab you a better offer when scrapping a car for the money. Made out of alloy metals, rims are quite expensive if sold on the right market—valued up to $1000 per wheel, if in top-notch condition.

Motor Oil and Filters

Scrapping or recycling engine oil and oil filters isn’t very valuable. Although, it can always be recycled and reused. Sell them to authorized automobile junkyards or car garages, which recycle and use them in other cars—an ecological and economical idea to save you a few bucks and your contribution towards the environment.

Airbags

Airbags are extremely valuable in the junk, provided they are left unused. Therefore, people who had an accident and are looking to buy a new set of airbags would prefer getting second-hand than the high-priced dealer airbags. 

A buyer would easily pay up to $200–$300 for a second-hand airbag rather than paying thousands for a new one, which is quite a lot to invest in something that might be used just once. Therefore, if you have never been in an accident or your car’s airbag is intact, don’t forget to remove it before recycling your car for scrap metal.

How to scrap your car for the most money

Legal, environmental, and financial benefits are the things sellers should consider before scrapping their vehicles. Legally, being an owner of the car is extremely important before scrapping begins. Recycling eligible parts allows you to contribute to the environment and helps reduce your carbon footprint. Last but not least, carefully choose the company where you can make a good buck for recycling. Once these steps are taken care of, the seller can sell their old car.

These are the basic steps before making a move for your old car’s future. Let’s get there and have a detailed look into it.

1. Get quotes from buyers

The title of the car, which is to be scrapped for metal, should be in check before the process. To avoid getting into any legal consequences, the car title should be transferred to the respective person willing to scrap it. Flashing any documents needed to prove you're the owner of the junk car will make things smooth, as further, the owner has to transfer the title of the vehicle to the salvage yard to begin scrapping the salvage car pickup.

2. Prepare the paperwork

You may not want to lose your personal belongings in a car that is about to be crushed for scrap. Removal of personal belongings is highly recommended before beginning the process. It would be impossible to retrieve your belongings once compressed. Checking thoroughly within the glove box, trunk, door pockets, under the seats, sun visor, dashboard storage, armrest storage, etc., is a must before you send for scraping.

3. Remove personal items

Make sure the gas tank is empty or any other fluids. The presence of fluids in a larger quantity may slow down the scrapping process and could be dangerous as well. If the car is already out of gas, we recommend towing the vehicle to the nearest junkyard. However, if the tank isn’t empty, you could drive around a bit until the gas is over or siphon the tank.

4. Remove non-metallic parts for reselling

Though the removal of non-metals from the metal car might cost you a pretty penny, it is beneficial when selling the metal scrap. Not all scrap dealers may be interested in buying the car with all the other non-metal components intact. Hence, scrap the plastics, seats, window glass, door panels, etc. The scrap is sold in per pound or per ton measurements. Therefore, it is highly recommended to separate these parts to get an estimate of the rates.

5. Siphon out the fuel

It is advised to remove and take your license plates along with you due to the law in several states that demand the license plates be turned in before canceling the car registration to scrap. Without the license plates and registration, you won’t be able to suspend car insurance as well. Also, it is safer to hold on to your license plates than to leave them in the junk, as they can be misused.

6. Remove and secure the license plates

Car insurance can be bought and sold online. Getting an online quote helps you make decisions for that. Once your car insurance is canceled, you wouldn’t have to make any recurring payments. Instead, you are entitled to a refund if you had paid the full coverage of the policy up-front. However, it is always helpful to inform the carrier about it to avoid further complications during the process. Keep the No Objection Certificate (NOC) handy, if required.

7. Schedule pickup

An excellent method to scrap cars for cash is to be self-informed about the process, the value of the parts, the scrap metal, etc.  Getting an online quote is recommended for people who are new to this and want to avoid any sort of fraud. Estimates available online are the best prices local junkyards have to offer for the scrap metal per ton. At JunkCarsUs, we offer the most suitable quotation for your old car, ensuring it is recycled well.

8. How to Junk a Car Without a Title?

Can you junk your car without a title?A lot of people think the answer to this question is no, but the truth is many junkyards will give you money for scrap cars without a title.If the vehicle has been deemed unsafe for the road, and you can’t sell it to anyone else, a junkyard will likely be one of your only options. Scrapping junk cars without a title may seem like a complicated process full of hassles, but JunkCarsUs makes it as easy as one, two, three. If you don’t have a title in hand, we can resort to using a number of ways of scrapping a car for cash without a title. 

Basically, we just need to verify that the vehicle is not stolen and is actually yours to sell. If you have the registration, a driver’s license, or any other proof of ownership (like a bill of sale), we can give you money for scrapping cars without a title. In some states, we can even verify that the vehicle is yours through the local DMV by running the VIN to confirm that it’s yours. 

9. Where Can You Scrap Your Car for the Most Money?

JunkCarsUs is the best place to scrap a car. With the help of our professionals, scrapping has never been more accessible. Experts working at the auto scrapyard will make sure the vehicle is perfectly legal to scrap and only then begin with the process. After separating the most valuable parts of a car to scrap, the metal body is then picked up by a crane and compressed into small sizes, simplifying the recycling process. After compression, the metal is then melted and sent off to different production companies.

JunkCarsUs provides you with the best-in-class service and a deal you can’t resist. We pay for the junk, measured per ton, and for smaller parts per pound. How to get the most cash for junk cars? We have the perfect solution to your dilemma. Contact us for an estimate.

Conclusion

Scrapping a car for money is always an option, and it also helps you get a burden off your head. Scrapping a vehicle at the right place is essential. Valuable parts like the GPS, engine, electrical components, bumper, gearbox, radiator, and many more can easily get you a substantial amount of money. Not just a few parts, but one can also sell the car body for scrap metal.

If you are still wondering how to scrap a car for money,look no further! With over 12 years in the business, JunkCarsUs is the number one junk car buyer in the USA. We have the easiest and fastest way to sell your junk car for cash because we buy scrap cars. Our incredibly easy, three-step process is as follows. 

1. Contact us! Call us at (855) 547-1550 to let us know you want to junk your car. One of our friendly customer service representatives will give you a top-dollar cash offer over the phone. Or you can go online and fill out an online application.
2. Accept our offer! We know you’ll be happy with it because of our highest price guarantee! That’s right, JunkCarsUs will pay you more money for your junk car than any other junk car buyer in the US. 
3. Arrange for free towing! Give us the car’s location, and when you want us to come to pick it up, we’ll make it happen. We even offer same-day services if you need cash fast. 

If you’re worried about paperwork (especially if you don’t have the title in hand), don’t be! We’ve scrapped thousands of vehicles, so we know exactly what forms to fill out. Our trusted tow truck driver will arrive with all the paperwork filled out. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line and take the cash in hand! Don’t wait any longer to get rid of your junk car! Call us at (855) 547-1550 for your top-dollar instant offer today! 

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