Perhaps you have a beat-up, old clunker for a car sitting in your driveway. You might look at it and immediately stress out over what to do with it, especially if it isn’t in a drivable condition. Maybe you try to pretend it’s not there. Either way, you have a vehicle on your hands that you need to get rid of.
The question is, do you scrap it for metal, or donate the car parts? Both are good options for most car owners trying to get rid of old cars.
What’s the difference between selling car scrap metal and donating car parts?
Scrapping your car for metal is the most bare-bones way to remove a vehicle from your possession. Typically, you can sell car scrap metal and donate car parts in tandem. Or, you may choose to sell valuable car parts before scrapping the car for its metal.
You might want to consider selling or donating the valuable car parts that are intact in the vehicle before sending the entire vehicle to be scrapped, because there may be an opportunity to make a little extra money from what’s still in working condition in the car.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that towing expenses are generally at the cost of the vehicle owner when sending the car off to be scrapped. So, while it might take time, it could be worth it to sell any usable parts beforehand to help offset the expected cost of towing.
Regardless, both methods are efficient ways to remove an unwanted vehicle from your property. Donating valuable car parts before scrapping car metal can be useful for tax purposes or for making a little extra money from your vehicle before you send it off to be scrapped.
What to Know Before Scrapping Your Car
There are a few things to consider before deciding to scrap your car for its metal.
1. Check car scrap metal prices in your area
Try to call a few salvage yards in your area to get an idea of what car scrap metal is going for in your area. You might be surprised by what you find, which may sway your decision on whether to scrap your car for metal or donate car parts.
The national average for car scrap is around $550, but varies state-to-state. While you’re at it, you might want to think about the cost of towing the vehicle to the salvage yard, too. Depending on where you live, it might be a wash to scrap your car and pay for the towing fees.
2. Remove valuable car parts before scrapping the car
Before you make any decisions to part ways with your car, it’s important to remove any valuable car parts before sending it to get scrapped. You can sell these items to pad your pockets, or donate them to a charitable organization of your choice. The point is, they are worth more in your possession than they are sitting in a junked car.
Items of value to remove include:
- Gas tank
- Car battery
- GPS/entertainment unit
- Audio system
- Tires (only if you have spares)
- Airbags
- Car doors/windows
- Heating/cooling unit
- Any other valuable car parts
Tires with a good lifespan left should be removed and saved for future cars. Only save the tires if you have a full set to spare for the scrap car, as the towing company will need these in order to transport the junk car to the salvage yard.
3. Collect forgotten valuables
For many of us, our cars are like a second home. We keep important valuables like our keys, wallets, sunglasses, phone chargers, and more within our reach. It’s always worth double or triple checking to make sure there are no personal belongings left in the vehicle.
4. Remove license plates
It’s a good idea to remove any license plates left on the vehicle before scrapping it. This protects your identity and can make it easier for you to transfer the plates to a new car. Check with your local DMV on license plate removal procedures and if you can transfer old plates onto a new vehicle.
Holding on to the license plates may be required by your auto insurance policy, too. Double check your auto insurance policy before removing your car from your possession.
5. Prepare for cost of towing
Unfortunately, car towing can be pretty expensive. It’s not uncommon for the towing expense to equal the value of the entire scrapped vehicle. Prepare for the towing costs so you aren’t blindsided when the time comes to remove the car.
Benefits of Scrapping Your Rundown Car
There are some clear advantages to scrapping your car for its metal.
First, the immediate pay off and minimal leg work. Sure, you have to make some phone calls and get some estimates, but typically, the amount of work required to schedule a car to be scrapped at a salvage yard is minimal.
Second, you’ll have instant peace of mind knowing the clunker of a car is no longer your problem or responsibility. It will be completely off your hands and into the hands of knowledgeable salvage yard staff. Plus, you’ll feel better knowing that scrap metal recycling is environmentally friendly!
Lastly, you can expect a pretty reasonable payout for the junked car! Car scrap metal prices vary depending on how heavy your car is, how much metal it’s made of (and the type of metal), and the supply/demand of metal in your area.
Benefits of Donating Used Car Parts
Donating used car parts might require a bit more effort to pull off, but the benefits are worth considering.
For starters, you can earn some tax write offs that can benefit you once tax season rolls around. Ask the organization you’re interested in working with on what specifics you need to know in terms of tax declarations.
Plus, you’re helping a charitable cause that is personal to you. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so donating your used car parts can be the thing that makes you feel good.
A little-known secret is that many charitable donation organizations will actually retrieve the car at no expense to the owner. This means no towing costs for you to plan for. While it’s not a universal rule, definitely check with the organization beforehand to see if they cover this cost for you.
Which to Choose?
Your decision to sell, donate, or scrap your car is a personal choice. Research the going rates for car scrap metal in your area and towing expenses before coming to your final decision.
Visit our local Massachusetts salvage yard to speak with our staff about scrapping your end of life vehicle. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know and determine if scrapping your car is the right choice for you.