If your car is old, worn out, and damaged, it makes more sense to sell it to a junkyard than repair it. If the cost of repairing or restoring the car repairs exceeds its resale value, selling it for scrap is an excellent choice. Before taking your car to a junkyard, it's essential to know how much you may make from the sale. Below are some factors that scrapers consider when valuing your vehicle.

Mechanical Condition of the Vehicle

The first thing the wrecking yard checks is the mechanical condition of the vehicle. If the car has been in a serious accident, some parts may not be usable. Therefore, you will get less money for it. An old car may have extensive wear and tear, corrosion, and other signs of wear that may diminish its value.

Conversely, if the car is in good mechanical condition, the scraper will value it and give you a reasonable price for it. The scraper will focus on valuable parts of the vehicle, such as:

  • Engine 
  • Exhaust system
  • Catalytic converter
  • Windshields, rear windows, and side mirrors
  • Doors
  • Fenders
  • Steering wheel
  • GPS and audio systems
  • Undeployed airbags

Every part that is in good condition has value. Metal components, especially those made of steel, brass, lead, aluminum, and copper, are weighed and valued. You can conduct an independent valuation to determine the value of the car before approaching a junkyard.

Duration without Use

The longer a vehicle goes without use, the more it deteriorates in quality. Components such as the batteries lose their functionality due to infrequent use. When exposed to the elements, parts such as fabric seats, gaskets, hoses, and the body experience wear and tear. Therefore, the vehicle won't value as much as if you have been using it often.

Note that if a car is running, it is more valuable to junkyards. A drivable car has all or most of its parts working, and this increases its value. The junkyard can salvage most of the components and make a good profit. Therefore, it's advisable to fix your car a little, especially if it costs a few hundred dollars to get it running. 

Prevailing Scrap Metal Prices

Most of the parts salvaged from a wrecked car are made of metal. Metal is separated and sold separately based on its weight, condition, and prevailing market prices. When there is a high demand for scrap metal, the prices go up, and you may make more from the sale. Therefore, monitor the market prices for scrap metals and visit the junkyard during the boom season to make more money from the sale.

Consider the above factors before selling your vehicle to a junkyard. To get the best price, research the best wrecking yards in your area and compare their prices.

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