Get Rid Of Your Old Car; The Major DOs And DON’Ts.

• A1 Express
• Nov 28, 2023

Every vehicle reaches a point in its life where it is no longer safe or feasible to operate. Furthermore, continuing to drive an older car that is no longer roadworthy can result in a hefty fine as well as some unnecessary points on your driver’s license.

If you are among the thousands of drivers who have only owned a single car for several years and may have no idea how to finally get rid of your old car because you have never had to do so before then you are at the right place.

So, if your car has reached the end of its useful life, there are a variety of options for disposing of it responsibly. More specifically, there are a number of risks to avoid while scrapping a vehicle. Should you scrap your car for cash, sell it, or donate it?

Making the decision isn’t always easy. So before you opt to get rid of your old car, take a look at these five dos and don’ts.

The Dos:

Get A Car Valuation Beforehand And Get Rid OF Old Car

You can still get some amount of money for your old vehicle while getting rid of it, even though it is completely dilapidated or broken down. Allow no one to tell you that your car is worthless.

When people don’t want to sell their cars outright, they sometimes sell them to junkyards for cheap cash. When you have no clue what your vehicle is worth in the market, you end up happily accepting anything that the junkyard pays you even if it’s close to nothing.

And trust us, there are a lot of cheap sharks that are waiting for a clueless customer to walk into their place so that they can rip you off of every chance to make a profit.

To avoid this, get an expert’s help and perform a car valuation. Don’t just dive obliviously into the cash-for-cars industry. You can let a local mechanic have a look at your vehicle and inspect its components and parts to come up with a rough estimate.

Or you can try A1 Express Car Removal’s “get an online quote” tool to get a rough market estimate for your used vehicle from the comfort of your couch.

Within minutes, you can receive an instant quote for your vehicle which can help you steer clear of the sickening tactics used by most of the dealers in the industry.

Do Thorough Research Before You Get Rid Of Your Old Car

Always consider how you plan to get rid of your old car. Will, you put your car up for sale on the internet or in a newspaper ad? Will you seek assistance from Craisglist.org or eBay.com? Can you go on the lookout for a trustworthy junkyard?

Or will you trade in your vehicle for a new one to get rid of your old car? Whichever choice you choose, it’ll be worth it if it means getting better value for your junk car. So stop pondering about it and walk out or do your research online.

Talk to local buyers and scrap dealers to get rid of your old car about what they have to put to the table. If you are planning on selling the vehicle online then make sure you are aware of the risks that come with it.

For example, you might receive a personal check that may be written to a bank account without an adequate balance. You should be aware of such scams before heading out to publish ads and meeting buyers.

If you are selling your vehicle to scrapyards then inspect their car removal or pickup services. Ask help from experts in online forums and your friends who have already sold their old vehicles.

Cancel The insurance, Registration and Submit a notice for disposal

If the vehicle is owned by someone else, you are no longer obligated to have it insured. The insurance provider would need the sale date so make sure you keep your insurance until you hand over the keys; in most states, canceling your policy too soon is illegal.

You can also call the auto insurance company to request a refund or the option of transferring your insurance policy to another vehicle. If you have sold your vehicle to a scrapyard, ask for proof of destruction and submit a notice for disposal at your local transport authorities.

If you don’t cancel your registration after selling a vehicle, you may be held liable for any parking or driving violations committed by the new owner. If you’re taking car parts from an end-of-life vehicle before scrapping it, don’t forget to notify the DVLA that it’s off the path.

It has to be held off the road in a garage, on a driveway, or on private property. If you want to use the registration number from an end-of-life car on another vehicle, you must apply to the DVLA.

Also, don’t scrap your car somewhere that isn’t an Approved Treatment Facility (ATF). Finally, if you have any months left on your car tax, try to get a refund.

The Don’ts:

Don’t rush things and accept the first offer to get rid of your old car

When you opt to get rid of an old car and bring in a new one, people often rush things. Thinking that they won’t get too many offers for their old vehicle, most of them usually accept the first offer they receive.

This is the most popular blunder made by hasty sellers. You can compare all the deals by trying out different buyers and marketplaces. Finally, you can choose the deals that are most profitable to you.

The more you hold onto your old car, the better offers you’ll get for it. It’s understandable that you want to get things done quickly and bring your dream car home but having some patience is never harmful.

Compare all the offers you get and choose the one which turns out to be the most profitable. As a seller, you have the right to do so.

Don’t spend extra on modification sand repairs; be honest with the buyer

Clean up your cars both inside and out. Make your car look as fresh as possible to increase your chances of having an owner and get the best bang for your buck. Wash and wax it to make it shine, detail it, and remove any stains or scratches.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should spend heavy dollars on repairing a dilapidated vehicle to attract buyers. If you get rid of your old car through a junkyard, they will pick it up in its current condition and give you the best price possible no matter how old, decrepit, or ugly it looks.

Before you spend some money on repairs, make sure you consider our services to get rid of your old car whether it would potentially increase the value of your vehicle or not.

In most cases, buyers don’t prefer flashy modifications so there’s no point in investing in that expensive exhaust system, stickers, or spoiler to make your vehicle look more appealing. It might just turn out to be a deal-breaker.