If you own an old car, then chances are that you may be starting to get tired of having it sit in your driveway. This is especially true if the car is no longer functioning or is simply too expensive to take for repairs. On top of that, there is a real risk to holding on to a junk car for too long instead of junking cars online for cash.
For one, there is always the risk of a potential roadside breakdown, and at the end of the day, nobody wants to find themselves stranded on the side of the road at night dealing with serious car issues. In fact, a survey conducted by AAA stated that vehicles that are over 10 years old tend to make up the highest number of roadside assistance calls.
And this is often due to engine cooling system failures, battery and electrical system problems, or even major tire damage. There are also mechanical failures to consider, which can often be expensive to repair, even minus the cost of labor.
However, the good news is that while these types of cars have no practical value on the road, there is still a chance that their components can still be of some worth. Because of this, many junk cars tend to be purchased by auto repair shops, cash-for-car services like USCarJunker, scrapyards, and even private collectors.
In this respect, you may be keen to know which types of junkers can get you the most money and if your car falls into that category, so we put together a quick list below for you to check out!
Which Junk Cars Are Considered To Be Valuable?
It is important to keep in mind that just because a car is a junker doesn’t mean that they are all valued the same. Some junk cars can be worth more than others, and if you intend to sell yours, it is crucial that you take a minute to find out how valuable it really is.
This will ensure that you get the most out of your car and don’t end up being lowballed in the process. In this respect, it often pays to have your car inspected by a professional mechanic who can give you a fair estimate of what your car is really worth.
However, there are certain types of junkers that you can usually expect to be worth more than others without even getting an appraisal.
#1. Popular, Late Model Cars
There are a number of late-model cars that present mechanical issues once they exceed 50K miles on the odometer, which is usually half of what is normally expected. As a result, many of these cars end up in auto repair shops very often for replacement parts, which makes them a valuable resource for junkyards and cash-for-car services like USCarJunker.
#2. Popular, Early Model Cars
Popular, early-model vehicles can also be top earners, as long as there is a fair amount of demand for their spare parts. For example, any Volvos that were manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s are a rare treat since not many of them are often seen on U.S. roadways nowadays.
There are also cars like the Ford Mustang that are still very popular among performance car enthusiasts. If you happen to own these types of models, their age can often end up working in your favor.
#3. Highly reliable vehicles
Highly reliable car brands like Toyota and Honda often drum up very good offers because most of these vehicles are drivable for over 200,000 miles. As a result, many car-buying services and salvage yards are willing to purchase them at competitive quotes so that they can be restored and resold.
Also, since most of these vehicles don’t often have many problems early on, junk car services are also more than willing to acquire slightly newer models.
#4. Lemon Status Vehicles
Cars are usually given “lemon” status because they have a safety defect or a persistent mechanical problem early in their lifespan. This makes them very difficult to sell, even if they look almost brand new. However, the good news is that these types of cars often contain a wide variety of components that look and perform like new. As a result, it is very easy to get a highly competitive quote for your vehicle from any junkyard or cash-for-car service.
Where Can I Find A Buyer For My Junk Car?
If your car ends up in a big accident or if it is simply too old to drive any longer, it will often be more profitable to sell it, and luckily, there are numerous places that you can turn to and sell your vehicle today.
For starters, you can try to reach out to possible purchasers online by advertising in listings or newspapers. There are a number of car aficionados, in particular, who would be willing to purchase damaged cars and give out good deals. You can also reach out to any local auto repair shops and see if they are interested in purchasing your junk car and its parts.
However, the best option that we would recommend is to sell your vehicle to a car-buying service like USCarJunker. The process is fairly simple and straightforward, as you will typically be able to get an instant cash offer for your vehicle within minutes of filling out an online form. This spares you a lot of time and energy from having to look for a buyer, not to mention that most of these companies will usually be willing to handle all the relevant paperwork for you.
All you need to do is head to the website, and as mentioned before, you just need to fill out an online form with your personal details and car information. You will also need to answer a few questions about the current condition of your car, so make sure that you answer honestly, as this will determine how much you will be able to receive.
Once you submit the form, you will receive a no-obligation offer that you can either accept or decline. It’s important to remember that most of these services will not be able to provide you with a huge amount of money since they are often purchasing the car for its spare parts and scrap metal.
As such, you can usually expect to be offered between a few hundred and a few thousand at most. If you decide to accept it, the company’s representatives will reach out to you to schedule a date and time to collect the car. Plus, they usually come with a towing service, so you won’t need to worry about having to pay for any transport costs.
However, bear in mind that before they pay you, they will usually conduct an inspection of the car to make sure that it matches the details that you provided in the online form. It is for this reason that you should always avoid exaggerating or omitting anything when submitting the survey form.
If they are satisfied that everything is in order, you will only need to sign a few papers before they hand over the agreed-upon amount, and that’s it!
