What Is a Car Junkyard?
Essentially, junkyards are large-sized lots filled with all kinds and sorts of old and unwanted things. When people do not want a particular item anymore, they discard it away in a junkyard.
The majority of junkyards comprise primarily of cars. However, that is not true for all junkyards, and some of them have cars as well as other things.
You can find other kinds of vehicles in a junkyard, such as boats, motorcycles, and RVs. Furthermore, you can also find appliances like refrigerators and TVs, and even building materials at some junkyards and scrap yards.
You might be wondering what car junk yards even do with cars? Although it is true that junkyards are the final resting place for most cars, these vehicles are either torn apart completely for their parts by the junkyard’s customers or by the junkyard themselves. The junkyard crushes the cars for their worth in scrap metal and then sells the metal for cash.
Different Kinds of Junkyard
There are several kinds of car junkyards, some of which specialize in certain types of “junk.”
Car Yard
A car yard is not a junkyard, and people commonly refer to it as a “used car lot.” It is a parking lot filled with used cars that used car dealerships to sell to the public.
Salvage Yards
Car salvage yards focus on salvaging title cars and selling them to customers. This is so that they can build the car from its remains again, or use it for individual parts.
Scrap Yards
A scrapyard is a lot that focuses on a car’s scrap value as well as the invaluable parts of the car that are recyclable. Car scrap yards primarily operate by collecting, sorting, and selling cars’ scrap metal at competitive prices.
Wrecking Yard
Similar in almost every way to the other kinds of junkyards (as those above), a wrecking yard is a term generally used in other English-speaking nations around the world.
Why Would Auto Junkyards Select Specific Makes?
Some of the car junkyards also specialize in a specific car make, such as Honda junkyards, Nissan junkyards, Toyota junkyards, and so forth. They do this for the very same reason any other business selects a niche. They receive a lot of vehicles from the same manufacturer. This way, customers know exactly where to go to buy or sell parts or those vehicles.
For example, Honda junkyards specialize in Honda vehicles, maybe because there is a big and lucrative market for old Honda parts in the area. These parts can be high demand, drawing a lot of customers to this particular junkyard. Similarly, BMW junkyards become the central source for BMW parts. Any consumer who needs to buy or sell such a part will most likely go to a BMW junkyard. Another example can be a Toyota junkyard. These lots focus only on used Toyota parts because of the significant demand for Toyota parts. More importantly, customers would know which precise junkyard to go to for these parts. Needless to say, junkyards specializing in a specific car make tend to yield a lot of profit.
Why Would a Junkyard Select Specific Types of Vehicles?
Similar to junkyards that specialize in a specific car make, some of the junkyards focus only on specific kinds of vehicles. These can include Truck junkyards, RV junkyards, boat junkyards, etc.
Like the reasoning mentioned above, a junkyard may choose these types of vehicles because there would be an increased demand for that vehicle type.
For example, a truck junkyard specializes in selling and buying used truck parts to and from customers. It would select this vehicle type as the market for truck parts can be enormous. Operating a truck junkyard could become a booming business! Moreover, an RV junkyard only puts in business focus on RVs. There can be a great demand for RV parts. All customers or other businesses looking to sell or buy RV parts will know to come to this junkyard for their dealings as it specializes in just what they are looking for!
Similarly, customers seeking boat parts or wanting to sell them will head to a boat junkyard that specializes in dealing in all old and used boat parts. These parts may have a sizeable market, which explains why the junkyard would call itself a “boat only junkyard” to draw in customers. That can help a boat only junkyard make more profits.
What Do Car Junk Yards do?
So what do junkyards do to run their business and make money? Most car junk yards buy cars from normal owners whose cars are past their prime. If you are looking to sell your car to a junkyard, you can go to one of the places that buy from individual consumers. However, some junkyards that buy used cars do not purchase from customers and deal only with businesses. Apart from buying, junkyards also sell junk/salvage cars to consumers and/or businesses. They buy these junk cars from some consumers and then sell to others at a higher price, allowing them to make a profit.
Some junkyards specialize in both buying and selling cars to consumers and businesses alike. In this manner, they have a bigger clientele and can generate more cash in a shorter time!
How to Sell a Car to a Junkyard?
If you were wondering how to sell your car to a junkyard for money, the good news is that it is quite a simple process.
The first step is to make sure that you can find your car title (this is a legal form that establishes you as the legal operator of the vehicle you want to sell). After finding your car title, the second step is to call junkyards and get a quote from each of them. By comparing the quotes, see which companies are offering the maximum amount and meet them in person to discuss further.
If the car is not driveable owing to any reason, consider the distance if it needs to be towed away.
Some specialists at the specific junkyard will reassess the value of your car in person, based on the vehicle’s condition. Bear in mind that they may reduce the amount they quoted earlier if your car’s condition is not as good as they thought.
Finally, after you make your deal, the junkyard takes your car, and you get your money. You can learn more about other ways to sell your car here!
How to Sell Your Car to a Junkyard If You Cannot Find Your Title?
Selling a car to a junkyard without the title becomes a more complicated process as you cannot pass on the car’s title.
To get around the lack of a car’s title, you have to sell it to a junkyard as scrap metal.
However, there happen to be some junkyards that take cars without a title. These junkyards will buy your car if you are the owner of the car and can prove it. You can prove that you are the owner by showing your license and registration documents. Another approach to selling your car if you cannot find the title is to request a duplicate title from your state’s DMV. Keep in mind, though, that this might take a couple of weeks and often costs a small fee. You can read more about how to sell your car without a title here!
How Do You Buy Cars and Parts From An Auto Junkyard?
Another question that would have certainly popped up in your head is how you can buy a car from a junkyard. Much like selling cars and their parts to car junkyards, buying is the opposite process.
To buy cars or car parts from a junkyard, what you have to do is head over to the place, and look to see if there are cars or parts you may need or want. Be careful of title brands when you buy a car from any junkyard. Typically, it is in your best interests to steer clear from salvage and rebuilt titles and only stick to clean car titles when purchasing.
Some junkyards allow people to strip parts that they want from the cars themselves. Compared to buying original car parts, this is considerably cheaper. You can also easily find parts for older cars. Stripping car parts is a great option if you are on a tight budget!
You can reach out to a junkyard owner or worker about what you need and then finalize a deal with them to buy a car and/or car parts.
As opposed to a dealer or used car lot, junkyards will generally be a much cheaper option for cars and parts. Hence, purchasing a used car’s parts or buying a whole car from a junkyard is a very viable option that you should definitely consider if you want to save money.
Car Junkyards: First Place People Go to Sell Their Junk Car!
When deciding where to go to sell their junk car, the first option that comes to mind for many owners is a car junkyard! There happen to be several ways to sell a junk car, and the truth is that selling a car to a junkyard should be your last resort. In other words, you should only consider this option after you have tried everything else, including putting advertisements in newspapers, etc.
The primary reason people tend to try junkyards first when selling their junk car is that they believe they can get instant cash when they sell a vehicle to a junkyard. Hence, they do not have to jump through too many legal loopholes, and they can get their money very quickly instead of having to wait a long time for all the paperwork to get processed.
Why People Prefer Junkyards to Sell Their Car?
American junkyards have been, and continue to be, a large part of popular American culture. That is why people hold them in very high regard. People looking for that “diamond in the rough” find themselves gravitating toward these car junkyards and what these lots have to offer.
Furthermore, people are highly interested and thoroughly enjoy going to junkyards because of the various fascinating, and cool junkyard finds they might see, such as rotten tires, a worn-out car with its roof blown off, a battered car engine and so forth. There is no denying that junk yards are right at the top of people’s minds if they are looking to sell off their junk car.
Famous Examples of Junkyards in Popular Culture
As mentioned above, junkyards play a monumental role in popular culture, which is why they are so famous among people. Some fashionable examples of junkyards steeped in the local culture include:
TV Shows
Junkyard Wars
In this show, engineers used parts from junkyards to build new vehicles and complete certain tasks.
Junkyard Empire
Junkyard Empire is a currently airing reality show based around a father-son auto shop and junkyard.
Junkyard Gold
The Junkyard Gold tv series is about a classic car expert going to junkyards to find rare classic cars that can be turned into project cars.
Video games
Junkyard Tycoon
A mobile game that focuses on buying and selling vehicles to sell for scrap and parts
The Junkyard Crane in Fortnite
You can find a popular challenge known as “Spray a fountain, a junkyard crane, and a vending machine” in the incredibly popular game Fortnite.
Movies
Let’s not forget that many famous scenes in movies take place in a junkyard. As a case to point, one of the most famous junkyards was Aadlen Brothers Auto Wrecking in Hollywood, California, that closed down in 2015.
Where Can You Find a Junkyard?
Junkyards may seem to be scarce and few, but it is quite surprising as to how many there are within a few miles of them. You can also ask around for the nearest junkyard close to the area that you live in. The general rule of the thumb is that if you happen to visit a nearby junkyard that is famous or is well-known in that particular area, that is the best junkyard for you!
It is important that you bear in mind that most owners privately own car junkyards. Most often, these owners will not provide junkyard access to people who are not there to purchase anything and simply want to look around.
Reach Out to 1-800 Cash-For-Junk-Cars Today!
It is unfortunate that junkyards are not really known for quality customer service. Most junkyards have a tendency to not be particularly friendly to people who do not own a business or are just there to amuse and entertain themselves and not buy anything.
However, we are an exception and not like every other car junkyard out there! We have a strong reputation for being a professional junk car buying service that provides amazing customer service to thousands of satisfied customers.
Selling your car to a junkyard will get you pennies on the dollar, which is in stark contrast to what you can obtain from selling your vehicle to us!
For us, the customer always comes first, so reach out to us today if you want to sell your junk car for cash or fill out our instant online quote!
