There are certain companies that specialize in picking up junk cars directly from their owners, regardless of condition. Because junk cars are often beyond traditional towing, special equipment such as a flatbed is used to take them away. Different junk removal companies have different resources, so it is important to choose one that can handle you [..]

Auto salvage is the act of removing key components and parts from a vehicle that has been deemed beyond repair by an insurance company or that an owner has decided to give up on. The first goal of auto salvage is to remove any reusable parts and dispose of any remaining fluids in the vehicle. Remaining, unusable components are then recycled.

Any materials or components in a vehicle that cannot be reused or reconditioned by a dismantler are sent for recycling. The recycling process depends on the age and composition of the car. Older vehicles made solely of metal are dismantled carefully, removing glass and rubber and recycling each component individually. Newer vehicles go through a mo [..]

A bill of sale is a written document that details the sale of a vehicle from one individual or company to another. To sell a car in some states this is required, and in a select number of states you will need to have it notarized to be legally binding. It is recommended that you have a bill of sale for your records, even if it is not required in yo [..]

There are a number of regulations in each state regarding the documentation of damage, odometer readings and title transfers. However, usually when a car is older, there are some exemptions. Odometer readings for vehicles older than 10 years can be handwritten on most state’s titles, and notarization in some states is waived for vehicles older than [..]

In many states, if a car is involved in a fire, whether in an accident or not, and the damage exceeds a certain percentage of the replacement cost, it will be issued a fire damage title. A fire damage title is usually a sign that the vehicle would cost more to repair than you would receive by selling it.

Before any parts are removed for recycling, a certified auto salvage yard will remove any remaining fluids from the vehicle. This includes Freon in the air conditioner, coolant in the radiator, oil, wiper fluid, transmission fluid, gasoline, and brake fluid. Each fluid is carefully removed and recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly [..]

A junkyard is where junk cars are initially towed. Not all junk yards act as auto dismantlers, so in some cases, the vehicle may be taken to a separate salvage pool where it can be dismantled and recycled. Many junkyards do have dismantling and recycling resources in place though.

This refers to any part that is of a “like kind or quality”. When a vehicle needs a replacement part, it doesn’t always need an exact fit in the replacement. LKQ parts include original and new parts as well as recycled parts from salvaged cars. If your vehicle contains parts that can be used LKQ to fix other vehicles it will have a higher scrap val [..]

The state agency that issues your title and/or registration. The actual name of the motor vehicle department in your state may vary and in some states, a separate Department of Licensing is involved in the management of titles and registration. Make sure to check your state’s specific guidelines before starting the process of selling your junk car. [..]