Use the map below to identify the junkyards in your area. Whether you are looking for parts or a project car, these are places where wrecked cars are dismantled. The functional parts are sold at huge discounts for use in functioning cars. Below I’ll share how junkyards near me operate and give scavenger tips and tricks for pulling parts effectively.
Find Junkyards Near Me – Use the Salvage Yard Locator Below
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Operations of Junk Yards Near Me
Many junk yards will operate on a local level. Their business model is sort of like a thrift shop, where they take in used items and resell them. In this case, these businesses purchase wrecked vehicles and sell off the functioning parts for reuse. The parts are sold at big discounts compared to buying parts new. These business serve the recycling industry and help break down more then 80% of a vehicle into reusable materials.
Each salvage yard operates slight different. Some change entrance fees to walk around, while others are free to roam. Another difference is the style of yard. There are self service yards (you pull parts), full service yards (they pull parts for you), and yards where you order parts online.
You can also Find salvages yards that specialize in certain makes and models.
So where do the vehicles come from?…
- The general public, when someone wants to junk a car
- Insurance companies after an accident and they want to offset paying out an accident claim
- Auto auctions (particularly where they can buy salvage cars)
- Police impounds and other impounds
- Businesses that get liquidated
Salvage Yard Arrangement
The cars are arranged in the yard either by make and model or just mixed up. Some junk yards will have computerized inventory. They can tell the place where a car is located in the yard and the useful part that it has.
Most car junk yards near me have their cars arranged in rows and piled on top of each other. Not all yards are organized and some are full of rusted old vehicles. The more organized it is, the easier it is to find what you need fast.
Pulling Parts vs Warehouse Shopping
At the salvage yards near me, parts that are usable are removed from the cars and taken to the warehouse. The parts are shelved and put into bins. It therefore becomes easy to get the parts when a customer asks for it.
There are some junk yards, referred to as pick and pulls or self service yards, that expect the customer to remove the spare parts themselves. These yards usually charge less for parts. It is however easier for a customers when parts are pre-pulled so they can call in and confirm if the part needed is available. This is my experience visiting junkyards near me.
Other parts such as engines may be sold to companies for remodeling and later sold with a warranty. A wrecked auto may have many reusable parts such as side mirror, wheels, alternators, intakes, doors, panels, seats, and so on.
Once a vehicle is totally stripped a well managed salvage yard will sell what is left for scrap metal. That serves two purposes: It makes more room in the yard and they get the last bit of money out of the vehicle.
Find Used Parts: Junkyard Tips and Tricks From the Pros
Before you head out on your junk yards near me that sell parts campaign, its a good idea to have a plan. In the video below you can get some great tips and tricks about how to bring a small battery with you for testing parts, how to handle your tools while your salvaging, and what to do if you can’t loosen up a bolt.
Spare Parts Available at Car Scrap Yards Near Me
You can find spare parts such as side mirror, parts of the exhaust pipe, seats and even the upper body. Engines are also sold out to companies for remodeling.
There are many advantages of buying spare parts from a junkyard that sells parts:
To begin with you find a variety of spare parts at a cheap price. When I say cheap…I mean CHEAP! For example you can get an alternator for about $18 to $25 or a door for $40 – 80 depending on the vehicle. These salvos are the perfect place for common accident parts like fenders, headlights, mirrors, windows, and doors. For a few bucks extra you can even get a 30 day warranty at most yards on mechanical parts.
Another advantage is that the spare parts sold most likely were assembled by the manufacturer of the car. This is an assurance that the parts are of high quality and original. In fact some of those spare parts might be better than new ones.
Tips for Removing Used Parts From Vehicles to Save Time and Money
Here are the fundamental used part scavenging steps you will need to follow:
- Figure out all the parts you need in advance. Remove them from your vehicle and set them aside including all nuts and bolts. Additionally set aside your tools that you used…you will need to carry these to the salvo. By doing this you already know what tools you need and you now have experience removing the part.
- Do your research ahead of time. Look for manufacturer models that have the same parts, For example my 2007 Toyota Corolla has some of the same parts as early 2000 Camry’s. Just cause the model and body is different many manufacturers use the same parts throughout years. If you have a good handle on this you can very well find all the parts you need at one salvage yard. Also consider calling ahead and asking if they have what you need.
- Examine the parts first before you remove them. Look for green corrosion on parts and avoid them. There is no sense removing parts that are no good…don’t waste your time. If you have the ability to test the part before taking it out, even better.
- Remove the part, just like you did at home. Should be easy to understand how to do it if you followed step one. Don’t be scared to use penetrating oil if the nuts and bolts are rusted. If you can’t get the part out, use a sawzall and cut it out.
- After you pull a part out, inspect it again. You do not want to pay for parts you don’t need or that are no good. Even if you get a warranty, its still a pain to make an extra trip back to the salvo.
- If the part is expensive ask about a warranty. Not all yards do this, but some offer a 30 day return for credit or part exchange. They never give cash back. A warranty will likely run you between $8 to $15 per part.
For a detailed list of tips for pulling parts like a pro, go here.
Disadvantages of Buying Spare Parts from the Auto Junkyard
Everything that has an advantage also has a disadvantage. The first disadvantage is that some parts might not be durable. You have heard that cheap is expensive. Sometimes the spare parts in a junkyard may have been used for long. This means that they do not have a long life span.
The spare parts do not come with a warranty too. Unlike new spare parts where you may get a warranty when you buy. This is a disadvantage in case you experience any inconveniences.
It is also not a guarantee that you are going to find the right spare parts for your car.
Other Kinds of Junkyards Near Me
So besides car junkyards you can find other specialty salvage yards.
Some are dedicated to specific brands so for example there are BMW salvage yards and then there are salvos for specific vehicle types like trucks, RVs, boats and motorcycles. I even know of a few yards that are for Import vehicles or even specific car models like Corvettes. There also police salvos that have cars from wrecks, repos, and impounds. Then places like Stephens Performance Salvage in Alabama which is only Mopar.
You can Find junkyards here by vehicle type.
There are home salvage yards that carry pieces household architecture and decor, as well as ones for lumber, building, and construction. Some yards are for other machinery like farming equipment, lawn mower, tractor, ATV, and snowmobiles each having their own dedicated salvos.
If there is a junk market you can find it. Most yards no matter what they specialize in pretty much operate the same. The difference between any junkyard is pricing, the organization of the inventory, and the quality of inventory.
Salvage Yards That Buy Cars
There are a few things that you need to check before you sell the car off to junk yards near. you. First consider if the car is repairable. Check if the level of damage allows the car to repaired or is it better of sold.
If you decide to sell the car make sure that you remove all your personal belonging from the car. You also need to return the license, plates as well as cancel the insurance so that the junkyard has full legal ownership of the car. If your vehicle is manufactured after 2008, you should also clear any personal data from the vehicles computer(s).
While your car is junk, you should at least peak at the Kelly Blue Book value as well and find the curb weight of the vehicle to determine the scrap steel price. The place who buys junked cars near me, always starts with the scrap price. From there you need to negotiate up. It’s helpful to know how to estimate the value of your junked vehicle which will help you get an idea of a fair offer.
Make sure that you hand in the car in the condition that you described. To find a local place that buys junk cars, go here
The advantage of selling a car to the junkyard is that you get to earn from your wrecked car. The junkyard business is two way. You can either sell to them or buy from them. What type of spare parts can you buy from them?
Scams By Junkyards Near Me That Buy Cars
There are also a few problems that you may encounter while selling a junked car to the junkyard. One of them is delayed payment. You should never agree to your car being towed before you have been paid. If possible have an agreement written down. This way you are guaranteed of your payment. Once they have towed your car they might pay you much less and you might end up going at loss.
It is also good to be aware that some car junk yards will want to subtract the cost of towing from the total cost. You must not agree to these. Most cars that are sold to the junkyard cannot move by themselves so at times the junkyard owner may want to take advantage.
The junkyard dealers may also tell you that your car is worthless. This is a trick to see if you can let it go at cheaper price. Remember that there is no way the car can be worthless. It is far much better than a car that has been rusting for years which can still be sold as scrap metal.
Junkyards Near Me Conclusion
There is just so much that we can talk about when it comes to junkyards. Whether selling or buying from them there is a bit that you have learnt. I would strongly advise that you are careful when dealing with junkyards.
Despite the many disadvantages that are associated with junkyards that buy cars I still think that they are the best. Where else do you find spare parts at a cheap price? Where would we take our wrecked cars if salvage yards that buy cars did not exist? They are like a big mall where car spare parts are sold.
Junkyards actually help up clean the environment and in fact are referred to as vehicle recyclers. Imagine how many cars are wrecked in a year and where do they go? We would be living in a world littered with scrap metal from wrecked cars but thanks to the junkyards we do not. That is all for today from junkyards near me. I hope you learnt something that you did not know. If you are interested in facts about American’s and Junk, read this interesting article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Junkyards Work?
Junkyards purchase wrecked vehicles that are not worth the cost to repair and then sell any car parts from the vehicle that are still functional. They get their inventory from sources such as private owners, insurance companies, and auto auctions. Many junkyards offer free towing services to incentivize selling them your junked vehicle.
What Tools Should I Bring to the Junkyard?
Having the right tools on hand is critical when picking parts. Here are my top tool picks for pulling parts:
- Wrenches
- Ratchets
- Sockets SAE and Metric
- Extensions
- Impact driver
- Pliers
- Hammer
- Breaker bar
- Screw drivers
- Penetrating Fluid
- Sawsall
Why do Junkyards Charge Entrance Fees?
Some self-service junkyards charge an entrance fee (normally less then $10) to walk around. This is to help cover maintenance and administrative costs that the yard incurs.
Can you Negotiate with a Junkyard?
For standard parts like doors, alternators, fenders, engines, transmissions, mirrors etc junkyards have fixed listed prices that are non-negotiable. In my experience though if you are a regular and are buying multiple parts, you can often ask if they could give you a discount on a certain piece.
How Much do Junkyards Pay for Cars?
There are many factors that determine the price, but most commonly you will get between $250 and $500. The prices fluctuate based on the scrap metal market prices and the weight of your vehicle determines how much scrap metal you have. Other factors to be considered are whether or not you need a tow, the mileage on the vehicle, and any damage. A running vehicle is worth more then one that is totally decommissioned.