How to get the most for junking a vehicle?

[Owen Lucas]

I would check catalytic converter prices. Last converter i sold i got $550 for. You could sell the cats and then junk the car

Wow, what kind of car was that off of?

I'll have to call around then.

 

[atikovi]

I would check catalytic converter prices.

Ya don't say....

First, find out what the cats are worth if they are the originals. If more than about $200, cut them off and sell separately. List truck on Facebook for $500 and take the first $250 offer.

 

[Number_35]

Start calling junk yards and pick n pulls. I've gotten over $400 for the last few vehicles. The one near me wants them with the cats still there though

The price here in late 2018 for a used-up minivan was C$400 w/ factory cat, C$300 w/o factory cat. (An aftermarket cat was not worth anything to them.)

 

[Owen Lucas]

First, find out what the cats are worth if they are the originals. If more than about $200, cut them off and sell separately. List truck on Facebook for $500 and take the first $250 offer.

These online recyclers ask if the cat is still on the vehicle as part of their interview. I'll have to run the value again to see what they pay for a vehicle without the cat though I am not really inclined to get under there and start cutting away.

 

[Pew]

I called the local car auction place and they towed my previous focus away and wrote me a check right there. You could also donate it to a local tech school.

 

[atikovi]

These online recyclers ask if the cat is still on the vehicle as part of their interview. I'll have to run the value again to see what they pay for a vehicle without the cat though I am not really inclined to get under there and start cutting away.

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[Yourhomiematt]

First, find out what the cats are worth if they are the originals. If more than about $200, cut them off and sell separately. List truck on Facebook for $500 and take the first $250 offer.

Around here yards won't take a vehicle without intact cats. Price of junk is so low they almost don't want cars/trucks

 

[SC Maintenance]

Good luck on that. In many states now, because of law changes due to cat thefts, you might get a visit from unfriendly police.

So?

 

[dishdude]

I thought OP was a claims adjuster? Should be familiar with local auto recyclers. It's a worn out old POS, there's no maximizing value here.

 

[99Saturn]

I've used Peddle twice. It was rather easy. They contract with a not so local to me scrap yard and once i agreed, got a call promptly to set up/confirm the pickup window. The truck was on time in both cases and paid cash. Spoke with the driver who picked up one car and he basically said if you sell to us directly, we pay X for the car with OEM cat, Y for aftermarket cat. X>Y and the Peddle offer I eventually accepted was in between the two prices. My vehicle had an aftermarket cat so guess I made out okay.

IIRC the offer might go up a few bucks after the initial offer if you wait a week or two, nothing astronomical. I got rid of a 99 saturn and 99 cavalier, each was $330 I believe (non-running).

^This was in 2020.

 

[Lubener]

Start calling junk yards and pick n pulls. I've gotten over $400 for the last few vehicles. The one near me wants them with the cats still there though

Most yards near me don't keep such relics in their yards anymore and give scrap value for these clunkers.

 

[dumkid]

Most yards near me don't keep such relics in their yards anymore and give scrap value for these clunkers.

Maybe it's because I'm in Arizona, but old cars here last as long as you make them. People are always looking for switches and knobs and stuff for their old cars that would have rusted out years ago in many other states.

 

[andrew_j]

I inherited a junker 2001 Ford Ranger XLT and need it gone. Runs and drives but is some frontal crash damage and mechanically on it's last legs, rough condition overall.

Any recommendation for companies that deal in junk vehicles?

I see many online companies that pickup vehicles so I might as well ask here and cut to the chase. What companies have you dealt with and have gotten the most for your vehicle?

Just sell it for $1000 if it runs and take a low ball offer. My neighbor kid bought a ranger with valid inspection smashed for $200 to mow people’s yards over summer. He made $13k in a summer with an outlay of $1000 for mower, truck, trailer , weed whackers and apparently illegal plastic gas cans(for construction).

He sold end of summer for $1000 including uninspectible truck.

I helped him sell the accounts for $350

 

[joegreen]

Wow, what kind of car was that off of?

I'll have to call around then.

It was one converter off my 02 accord 4cyl

 

[John105]

What I’ve learned…they seem to care about nothing, other than the factory CAT.

I was offered $600 for a 1998 Maxima, and I shoulda stripped it. I don’t think they cared about the Bose.

First thing wrecker did was lift it at the front and face time the office. Not a factory cat (I thought back and a Midas stole it in 2012). $300 take it or leave it.

Moral is know if your cat is factory or not, mine truly wasn’t I looked at pics online.

I forgot to give them the keys. Truly forgot. Never heard from them again. It would be more convenient using the keys to start the engine, open hood and trunk. But driver said that they want the cat then will crush…

I took the OE 16” star rims with new (by wear not age) rubber. Slapped junk 18” aftermarket mismatched on…

My .02

 

[atikovi]

Got over $600 just for the cat off my salvage Ford Escort I paid $100 for, 3 years ago.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Got over $600 just for the cat off my salvage Ford Escort I paid $100 for, 3 years ago.

That's a lot for a presumably small converter. Maybe it has to do with more precious metals in the older models.

 

[97prizm]

First, find out what the cats are worth if they are the originals. If more than about $200, cut them off and sell separately. List truck on Facebook for $500 and take the first $250 offer.

Depending on where the op lives. Many states are cracking down and making it difficult to sell catalytic converters for scrap. Two it violates epa rules to sell a vehicle knowingly without emissions equipment. The pull-n-pay places vary depending on scrap but I'd bet you'd be really lucky to get $200 for your truck.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Update: Sold the truck to a local recycler. $400 cash. Driver was able to jump start it and move it forward a bit (despite me telling him the interior is filled with mold) and onto the tow truck.

I probably could have gotten more if I shopped around or parted out the cat but I just wanted the truck gone, too many other things going on. Now it's time to get a certificate of destruction and obtain a refund from my ins co for the remainder of unused insurance.

 

[97prizm]

Update: Sold the truck to a local recycler. $400 cash. Driver was able to jump start it and move it forward a bit (despite me telling him the interior is filled with mold) and onto the tow truck.

I probably could have gotten more if I shopped around or parted out the cat but I just wanted the truck gone, too many other things going on. Now it's time to get a certificate of destruction and obtain a refund from my ins co for the remainder of unused insurance.

I thought the certificate of destruction was only issued at the junkyard not given to the previous owner? More or less a token that the vin and vehicle were properly disposed of.