Everything You Need to Know About Junkyards

Most of us are familiar with the term junkyard, even if you have not physically stepped foot in one. For those of you that relate to our latter scenario, you probably wonder what is to see in a junkyard. For instance, do junkyards buy cars? Is an auto junkyard made up of only used and junked cars like in the movies? Let us take a more in-depth look at the modern-day junkyard and answer some of these questions.

What Is a Junkyard?

A junkyard collects scrap in preparation for recycling or disposal. Despite popular belief, these large lots are not only for cars, but any unused or otherwise unwanted things spanning from cars to RVs, boats, and more. Ultimately, the junkyard is chocked full of opportunity. From car parts to appliances, junkyards have a lot to offer patrons - including building supplies! A simple Google search for "junkyards" in your area will potentially reveal a treasure trove for the handier folks out there.

Taking Advantage of Junkyards in Your Area

So, how do junkyards work? What do junkyards do with cars once they are left behind? First and foremost, there are many variations of the classic junkyard, from a car yard to a salvage yard, scrapyard, wrecking yard, and beyond. With many different focuses and missions at hand, these different yards each serve their purpose.

Car Yard

Typically referred to as a “used car lot,” this is an excellent place to search for an affordable used car direct from a used car dealership. You can read more about cash and car dealerships here!

Auto Salvage Yard

When it comes to a salvage yard, the focus here is on salvaging titled cars to sell them to consumers looking to rebuild. You can read more about selling cars with salvage titles here.

Scrapyard

Rather than aiming for a complete rebuild, auto scrap yards, for example, focus more on the actual scrap value of the car and any recyclable parts that might exist therein. You can read more about scrapping your car here!

Wrecking Yard

The term wrecking yard, like auto wrecking yard, is typically interchangeable among English populations with the rest of the yards listed above. For instance, you may hear this phrase in a place like Canada.

Typically, junkyards operate in one of two ways. For starters, some computerized with all their inventory cataloged for convenience. If you find yourself at an auto salvage yard that is NOT computerized, however, looking for necessary parts is the responsibility of you and the owner of the yard.

Car Junk Yards and Specialties

Your local auto junkyard is not necessarily the same as the junkyard a few towns over. Both auto salvage yards and car scrapyards alike sometimes focus on specific makes and models of vehicles, spanning from boats to classic cars. Naturally, some cars have more problems than others, with some requiring parts that are rarer to stumble upon – especially at a vehicle scrap yard. To explain a bit further, check out some of the specialty junkyards below.

Honda Junkyards  

Being that Honda is quite a famous brand means there is quite a large market for Honda parts. With both Honda cars and motorcycles grabbing the consistent attention of consumers of all kinds, a Honda junkyard may be easier to find than you think.

BMW Junkyards

The legendary BMW manufactures some of the sharpest cars and motorcycles found anywhere. However, BMW employs so many different features in comparison to other brands, making parts both hard to find and quite a bit more expensive. It is because of this that the more focused BMW junkyard becomes the place for BMW parts.

Mercedes-Benz Junkyards

Mercedes-Benz is a top-quality vehicle manufacturer, putting out sleek, well-designed cars that vary in reliability. With new technologies and quality builds, people visit their local Mercedes junkyard to help prolong the life of these impressive cars. Junkyard Mercedes parts are additionally much cheaper than if you bought through a dealer.

Truck Junkyards, Classic Car Junkyards, and Everything In-Between

No matter if you drive a sports bike or a large Ford F350, we need vehicles that not only provide the possibility for longevity but part replacements as they are. Whether you were aware or not, there are RV junkyards, truck wrecking yards, and so on that can keep your vehicle rolling for the long-term. With a quick junkyard search for junkyards in your area, you should be able to find the replacement part you need with a little motivation, patience, and help from your local junkyard.

Car Junkyards: Will a Junkyard Buy Your Car?

Whether you are looking to sell cars to junkyards or buy parts from a junkyard for your loyal automobile, one must understand what car junkyards offer. Let us look at precisely what car junkyards provide the public.

Exploring the Potential of the Auto Junkyard

While this may not be a universal truth, a lot of car junkyards buy cars from consumers. It can be helpful to call your local junkyards before heading out to make sure they will fulfill your wishes.

Typically, car junkyards sell junk and salvage old cars for consumers, while a few do not always work with public consumers.

Of course, there are plenty of local junkyards that will also buy and sell cars to consumers and businesses alike – you will likely find this to be true more often than not

When you Google "sell a car to junkyard," you’ll find varying results. Whether selling your entire used vehicle or planning to buy parts from junkyards, there are many options available in salvage, wrecking, and scrap yards of all kinds. If you wish to take full advantage of your local junkyards, a few phone calls should answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

Junkyards that Buy Cars and Preparation for a Sale

There should be several items on your checklist to get the best deal possible, hopefully without having to travel far. If you find yourself wondering, can I sell my car to a junkyard? Consider the following points before pulling the trigger

• First and foremost, you must ensure that you and the people at the junkyard can efficiently locate the title to the car you are looking to sell.
• Now, it is a good idea to go ahead and call local junkyards that buy cars and get quotes.
• Do some comparison shopping. Ultimately, find the best deal you can and meet with said employees.
• Take the state of your car into account. For instance, if it is not drivable, you would not necessarily want to deal with an auto junkyard too far out of town – considering towing fees
• How much do junkyards pay for cars? We do not recommend you expect a solid estimate over the phone or the internet. Your car’s overall value in-person may dictate a lower price
• After doing the proper research and comparison shopping, if the deal is right, take it.

Will a Junkyard Buy Your Car Without a Title?

Selling a car and selling car parts to junkyards is not black and white, with several requirements regarding the overall quality and possession of the original title. Nothing in life is guaranteed to be easy after all, and without a title, you must find junkyards that buy cars without title in hand. You can read more about selling your car without a title here! Naturally, some of us looking to facilitate a car junkyard are going to run into this scenario. So, does a junkyard need a title? The answer is yes, and no. At the very least, the situation gets complicated.

• If there is zero chance of recovering your title, you should expect to sell your car for scrap.
• The good news is, if the owner can prove to the auto yard that they own the car, the junkyard will more than likely buy it.
• If you are determined to sell the car, you may request a replacement title from the DMV – this does cost a fee and takes a few weeks.

Selling and Buying Cars and Car Parts at Local Junk Yards that Buy Cars

Many often wonder, how do scrapyards work? For instance, how does one go about buying cars and car parts? For starters, you could take your experience with selling to a junkyard and reverse it. Call your local junkyard and check-in to see if they have the part/car you need. As we mentioned in a previous article, some junkyards have catalogs, with this information readily available. But, for those that are not, you should plan on making a trip and learn how to search junkyards for parts.

• When planning to buy from a scrap yard, be on the lookout for various title brands. Those that are either salvaged or rebuilt should go ignored.
• If you are planning on selling some car parts, you might check the auto salvage yard for parts that a junkyard needs or wants to make some extra bucks.
• Wondering how to buy parts from a junkyard? Simply check in with your local car salvage lot to see if they have what you need

Whether you are looking into buying a whole car from a junkyard or simply wondering can you buy car parts from a junkyard; hopefully, this guide brings some light to the lost art of junkyard diving.

Auto Junkyards: Should You Sell Your Car to a Junkyard?

If the thought has ever crossed your mind, ‘should I sell my car to the junkyard for money?’, that is not at all uncommon. When it comes to old cars and junkyards, the two practically go hand-in-hand. So, I want to sell my car to a junkyard, where do I begin? For starters, you should accurately assess the value of your vehicle, employing an expert if need be. The chances are that your vehicle is worth more than you suspect.

In the end, the junkyard should not be your natural first pick for an unwanted vehicle. Looking elsewhere may garner much more than the American junkyard is willing to offer you. This way, you can avoid the junkyard search altogether and retrieve more than your fair payout. Based on the vehicles make, model, year, etc., there are plenty of businesses both in local areas and online waiting to pay for used cars.

The All-American Junkyard and Modern Junkyard Hunter

Today’s American junkyard has become a symbol of popular culture, making the age-old junkyard search more exciting than ever with that ‘diamond in the rough’ mentality. Visiting the junkyard can be an exciting event done in our spare time, hopefully stumbling on some cool junkyard finds. From classic cars to boats, RVs, and everything in-between, a junkyard inventory search has practically limitless potential--especially when you have the patience.

Are you curious about how to find junkyard parts that could restore an old vehicle or even earn you a few bucks? Some of the best junkyards finds appear when you least expect it, making each junkyard dive a potentially promising event that can be highly beneficial for numerous purposes.

Junkyard Empire and Popular Junkyard Culture

From Junkyard Empire to the Junkyard Wars TV show, there are plenty of junkyard-based television shows on the air today. With different subject-matter, these shows focus on everything from family-owned junkyards to repairing standard vehicles and even the restoration of classic gems to their former glory. Junkyard Wars, for example, puts engineers to the limit, calling for the creation of a vehicle for a given task. With the increase of junkyard exposure in pop culture, we are seeing them become more frequented by the handier, more industrious junkyard hunters out there. 

Beyond television, junkyards are easily spotted in the gaming world as well, i.e., Junkyard Tycoon, for starters. Furthermore, in the ever-popular Xbox, PS4, and PC game entitled Fortnite, there are challenges called spray a fountain, a junkyard crane, and a vending machine. From TV to Junkyard Tycoon business simulation and natural backgrounds in games - famous junkyards are genuinely everywhere.

Junkyards Near Me: Finding the Nearest Junkyard

Junkyards, although plentiful, are often few and far between. A quick Google search for auto junkyards near me will turn up all your local or otherwise nearby junkyards that are open for business. The nearest junkyard may end up being away, and the majority of them are privately owned. Therefore, if you are simply planning a trip for fun, we do not recommend wasting the owners’ time. Instead, have a plan or at least some guidelines in place so you can get what you need. Unfortunately, from the owner to any variety of junkyard dog breed, these places are notoriously unfriendly.

Ultimately, unless you are looking to buy or sell, I would not recommend visiting a junkyard solely for the point of doing so. Your best bet for a smooth experience is to 1. Have a plan, and 2. Try to find a famous or at least well-known junkyard with positive reviews--research is always recommended. 

Copart Direct: The Best Way to Sell Your Car

From the self-service junkyard to the best paying junkyard, most of us like to give our business to the customer-friendly companies out there, whether it be a local or chain-type business--excellent customer service is second to none. At Copart Direct, we are well-known for our fantastic customer service and delighted customer base. Offering pennies on the dollar in comparison to other local junkyards, we are prepared to make your trip worth it, no matter the distance.

How To Sell Your Car To Copart Direct

Copart Direct is a national used-car buyer that makes it easy to sell virtually any car in just 24 hours.

Here's how it works:

1) Request an offer

• Call us toll-free at 1-888-883-9981
• A Copart Direct representative will ask a few simple questions about your car, such as the make, model, year and mileage
• We'll make an offer and go over the easy steps on how to sell your car to us
• The offer is free, and there is no obligation to accept.

2) We come to pick up your vehicle

• If you accept our offer, we'll schedule a convenient time to pick up your vehicle.
• Your Copart Direct agent can meet you at your home or work.
• We have agents at over 200 locations across the United States, so we can typically arrive within a day after you call us.
• In some cases, we've even been able to arrive on the same day.

3) You get your cash.

• You get your cash when your Copart Direct agent comes to pick up your vehicle – no waiting!
• Simply exchange the keys and title for your money.
• Your agent will take the car with them, so you don't have to drive it (or tow it) anywhere.
• There is simply no easier way to sell a used car!

Want More Info On How To Sell Your Car To Us?

Call Copart Direct toll-free at 1-888-883-9981 to request an offer for your vehicle now or request more information on how to sell your car to us.

Copart Direct is a division of Copart, Inc. -- a leading online global vehicle auction company. Founded in 1982, Copart sells more than one million used and salvage vehicles each year to buyers around the globe. Our extensive buyer base means we can pay you more for your vehicle.

Remember, every day your car sits it loses value. The sooner you sell, the sooner you can use that cash for something else.