How to Get the Most Out of Scrapping Your Car

Admin • May 18, 2018

Some people have no problem with handing over their junker car to a junkyard or other recycling service. But others may want the most they can get out of their junk vehicles. To do that, you'll have to sell the car piece by piece. Here is what you need to know to scrap your car effectively.

Don't Break the Car Down Entirely

Some car parts have more value than others. So you can sometimes only take out the parts of greatest value and earn more than you would for scrapping the car whole. As a bonus, after you take out the most valuable parts, many junkyards will still take a whole car for the same price, even with missing parts.

Know Which Parts Are Most Valuable

The most valuable car parts will depend on your specific vehicle. Some parts will have value because others need that particular part. Some other parts will have value because of the materials they consist of.

Parts Others Want

Depending on your make and model, it's possible that others want or need the parts you have. But the parts people want can vary, and you may need to do a little legwork to find buyers. Parts other people want can include:

The OEM navigation system
Doors, hoods, or trunks
Bumpers or fenders
Wheels, rims, or tires
Heating and cooling systems
OEM radios
Unused airbags

People may also look for things you may have never considered, like windshield wiper blades, belts, and hoses. If you have a part still in okay condition on your junker car, someone may want it for their own car.

Parts With Valuable Materials

No matter how worn out and rusted your car looks, you can still often find valuable materials in it. Mostly, those materials are the metals most car parts contain. Some parts to look out for include:

Catalytic converters (contain platinum, palladium, or rhodium)
Starters and alternators (contain copper)

Beyond these items, there's the more traditional scrap metal material throughout the car that may be worth some money.

Scrap All the Rest

Stripping the car of metal parts can help you receive a larger overall return. Your junk car and its parts consist of steel, iron, aluminum, and other metals to one degree or another. Your car is also a treasure trove of wiring, engine parts, heating and cooling systems, wheels, and other metal parts. You can even scrap the battery.

Find a Reputable Scrap Yard

You will need places to sell your car parts. For many auto parts, you can search online for markets. You can place the parts on auction sites and check the classifieds for people looking for parts you have. You can place your own ads to catch people actively searching for what you have.

If you manage to get your hands on junk cars frequently, you can make a viable business out of breaking them down into sellable parts. However, once you're all done with all the parts, you'll need a place where you can scrap the metal components.

Scrap metal can vary in price, and many scrap yards stay abreast of those price changes. Knowing the types of metal you have will help give you a better understanding of what you can potentially get for it. If you don't want to research, you can contact a reputable scrapper about what you have.

At Bruce Metal & Salvage, we will accept your scrap metal and recycle the parts and pieces that have nowhere else to go. If you want fair prices and more information concerning any of your scrap metal needs, contact us today.

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