Owner’s Checklist: What Should I Do Before Junking Out My Vehicle?

If you’ve got a rusted old vehicle that’s no longer in acceptable driving condition, it might be in your best interest to sell it to a junkyard rather than attempt to make what would be some expensive (and likely not worthwhile) repairs.

Before you actually go ahead with junking your vehicle, though, it’s important you take some steps to prepare your car and yourself for the transaction. With this in mind, here are a few tips for junking out your vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Make sure you remove all of your belongings

If you have any personal items inside the car, be it in the cabin, the trunk or the glove compartment, make sure you remove those items before delivering the vehicle to the junk car buyer or having it towed off. Be sure to check every single storage compartment, and take any CDs out of the stereo system. Not only is this important to make sure you don’t lose any of your items, but it’s also important to note that just because you’re selling your vehicle to a junk vehicle buyer doesn’t mean you can use the vehicle as a dumpster.

Take off valuable parts

If there are any parts of your vehicle that still have a decent amount of value, it makes sense to remove them before selling them to the junk car buyer, as you’ll be able to get more money for those individual parts elsewhere. If you have new tires, those are especially valuable components of your vehicle that you should save and replace with old, worn-out tires instead. Other parts you might consider taking yourself can include entertainment systems, alternators, starters, the battery and wheels. Again, you’ll need to do this before you sell the vehicle to the junk vehicle buyer. Once you sign on the dotted line, you will no longer be able to take these parts for yourself.

Take your license plate

In some areas, you are legally required to remove your license plate when transferring ownership of the vehicle. When you cancel the title on the vehicle, the DMV is likely to ask you to turn in the plates.

Prepare the paperwork

You’ll need certain paperwork on hand to legally transfer ownership of the vehicle to the junkyard. Make sure you have the car title in order. However, if you can’t find your title documentation, that’s not necessarily a problem—you can go to the DMV and get it replaced. Make sure you follow all state rules for the kinds of paperwork and title information you need to have on hand to legally transfer ownership.

Investigate junk vehicle buyers

Don’t necessarily go with the first junkyard you find. You should make sure that any junk car buyer you work with is licensed, experienced and trustworthy. This will also help you ensure you get a fair price for your vehicle when you sell it.

For more tips for junking out your vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, FL, we encourage you to contact Junk Car Dog today.