If you’ve recently been in a collision and damaged your car beyond repair, you may be wondering what you should do with your totaled vehicle. Instead of letting it sit in the driveway, you can sell it to your local salvage yard. Ace Auto Parts buys salvage vehicles so that we can remove and stock their usable parts. To make the selling process more convenient, we also offer free towing. We’ll come right to your door to pick up your totaled vehicle, saving you both time and the cost of having to do it yourself. Before you decide to hand over your vehicle, however, here are four tips to keep in mind:
1. Remove All Personal Belongings
Before a tow truck arrives to pick up your vehicle, make sure you examine the interior. Common personal items to keep in mind are:
● Floor mats
● Seat covers
● Steering wheel cover
● Items in the glove compartment
● Items in the center console
● Anything else in the cabin or trunk of the vehicle
By inspecting your totaled car for any personal belongings, you lower your risk of losing anything important. Be certain to check for any documents that may contain personal information such as insurance cards, registration receipts, or repair receipts. You certainly don’t want a stranger getting a hold of your personal information. If you have a CD player in your vehicle, be sure to remove any CDs as well. Keep in mind it is not the salvage yard’s responsibility to clean up after you, and finding any lost items may prove difficult.
2. Transfer Ownership of Your Vehicle
When you sell your vehicle to a salvage yard, you will need to transfer ownership of the vehicle. Make sure you surrender your title and license plates to avoid any legal liability. If you do not surrender your title, you are still the registered owner of the vehicle. For details regarding your state’s regulations on salvage vehicles sales, you should contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Be sure to cancel your vehicle insurance as well. You don’t want to pay for a car you don’t drive.
3. Use the Remaining Fuel
If your totaled car still has a substantial amount of gasoline in the tank, you should consider using it. You can siphon it from the tank and store it in approved containers for later use. You may also want to consider using it to fuel your new vehicle. Removing the fuel not only saves you the cost of a tank of gas, but it also saves the salvage yard from having to drain the tank when your car arrives.
4. Remove Parts of Value
Typically, the price a salvage yard will pay you is determined by the weight of your vehicle, not the components it contains. If your car contains valuable parts such as stereo equipment or brand new tires, consider removing them before your car is hauled away. If you choose to remove your tires and sell them yourself, you could fetch a much higher price than if you leave them on the vehicle. Be sure to replace brand new tires with less expensive, used tires before you sell your vehicle.
Salvage Yard in St. Paul Minnesota
If it’s time to sell your vehicle for parts, Ace Auto Parts can make the process quick and easy. We offer free towing to remove the vehicle from your property and will offer you a fair and honest price. In addition to buying salvage vehicles, we also offer a massive inventory of used auto parts sourced from the vehicles in our junkyard. If you have any questions about junking your vehicle or would like to learn more about our products or services, feel free to contact us. You can reach us at 651-717-4299, or you can message us on our contact page.