Things To Take Care of When You Junk Your Car

Things To Take Care of When You Junk Your Car

It’s been a (hopefully) good run, but now it’s time to take your car out to pasture. Before you sell your car to the junkyard, you must tie up some loose ends. Learn about the things you need to take care of when you junk your car.

1. Take Care of the Title and Registration

As with any car sale, you’ll need to sign over the title for your vehicle. The car title is a state-issued document that indicates who owns the vehicle. If you can’t find the title, request a copy from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you have a current registration certificate, provide that too. If you have an expired registration, you do not need to register your car before selling it to the junkyard. However, they will need to tow your car to the junkyard, as driving it on the streets is illegal.

2. Remove Your Possessions

The next thing to take care of when you junk your car is removing your possessions. Check throughout your vehicle and remove personal belongings. Remember that you might need to remove your license plates, depending on where you live.

While it’s easy to see what’s lying on the seats or in the trunk, some items can hide in nooks and crannies, so take the time to look thoroughly. Check underneath seats, the center console, pockets behind the front seats, door compartments, and the glove box.

You might be able to have access to your car to recover property after the sale. Still, you can avoid the risk, stress, and hassle by taking your belongings beforehand.

3. Consider Removing Aftermarket Parts

Maybe you added something valuable to your vehicle to upgrade or personalize it. So long as these items aren’t part of the sale, you can remove these aftermarket parts. Consider installing them on your next vehicle, selling them, or giving them away.

4. After the Sale: Cancel Insurance

Once you transfer ownership of your vehicle, cancel your insurance policy. Avoid canceling your policy before you sell the car. Even if you aren’t driving it, you can incur fines or even have your license suspended if you own a registered but uninsured vehicle.