Junk Car
DIY Auto Repair

What Qualifies as a Junk Car? Learn the Basics

We spend a lot of time in our cars. According to recent statistics, it’s estimated that 83 percent of Americans drive frequently, and if we have to spend all that time in a junk car, it’s bound to get us down. 

Yet what really is a junk car? When should you pay a visit to a local junkyard?

In this guide, we’re going to take a look at what makes a junk car a junk car, because a junk car doesn’t necessarily mean a wrecked car. Are you ready to learn more? Then read on!

1. Your Car Has a Lot of Issues

Cars have a lifespan of around 15 years, but towards the end of their lives, they can develop a whole ton of different issues. A lot of them will be minor, and won’t actually affect your driving experience, but they will still annoy and irritate you. 

If your car has started to develop these issues or minor mechanical issues, it really is a piece of junk that you should consider scrapping. These small issues will severely eat away at the value of your car, which will make selling it difficult. 

2. Your Car Is Totaled

While a junk car doesn’t necessarily mean a wrecked car, a totaled car is a junk car. A totaled car is where the car is so damaged, the repairs would cost more than the car is worth.

If you’ve been in a wreck and your car isn’t drivable, you might want to consider using a towing company like Imperial Towing Inc to come and collect your vehicle, as they can then also sell it on for you.

3. You Can’t Carry Out DIY Repairs

Most people’s car knowledge only extends so far. There comes a point where DIY repairs are above your paygrade, and the costs just keep adding up. This is particularly true of modern cars, where electronic components and mechanical components intermesh to run your car, and tinkering is far harder than it once was.

4. Your Car Got Flooded

If your car got flooded, there’s a good chance that it’s now totaled, and thus, junk. If your car is in a severe flood and water gets under the hood, everything in your car can be compromised. 

Replacing the entire engine block, all the electrics, and more, would cost a huge amount of cash. Even if your car is relatively new, it’s still likely not worth repairing.

5. Your Car Isn’t Worth Anything

If your car is too old, or too decrepit, it’s not going to be worth anything. Selling it would be a fool’s errand, as it would likely take a very long time and not make you much money. 

If you’ve got a car that’s not worth anything, scrapping it is probably your best option.

Have You Got a Junk Car?

If your car meets any of the criteria that we’ve laid out, it’s likely a junk car. Thankfully, there are many companies and scrapyard that can take it off your hands.

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