If you are looking for parts exclusively for a Toyota you might want to see if there is a Toyota junkyard near you. While you can find used Toyota parts at your local car salvage yard, a Toyota salvage yard will carry only Toyota car and truck parts. In this post, I will help you find the closest Toyota yard near you, tell you how the Toyota salvage yards near me work, learn a few things about buying used auto parts from scrap yards, and share some tips for selling your Toyota to a junk yard,
Map of Toyota Salvage Yards Near Me
For “Toyota Junk Yards Near Me” or “Toyota Salvage Yards Near Me”, see the map below…
If your results above are limited it is simply because there are not a lot of these business types around. For more results, you can check our car junk yard locator here which will show you all the surrounding auto salvage yards near you…most of them will have a Toyota section. You can also try importing salvos nearby.
Reviving Toyota’s Legacy: Inside the World of Toyota Salvage Yards
A Toyota salvage yard, like any other automotive salvage yard, operates as a hub for dismantling, recycling and selling used or salvaged Toyota vehicles and their parts. These facilities play a crucial role in the automotive industry by extending the life of vehicles, reducing waste, and providing affordable replacement parts for Toyota enthusiasts and vehicle owners on a budget.
The core operation of a Toyota salvage yard begins with the acquisition of damaged or end-of-life Toyota vehicles, which can come from various sources, such as insurance companies, auctions, or individuals looking to sell their old cars. Once acquired, the yard’s staff assesses the condition of each vehicle to determine its salvage value.
Those vehicles deemed beyond repair are typically dismantled for their usable parts, including engines, transmissions, doors, and more. These parts are carefully removed, inspected, and cleaned before being cataloged and stored in the yard’s inventory. Meanwhile, the remaining materials, such as metal, plastic, and glass, are sent for recycling. These yards also have an extensive network of Toyota enthusiasts and mechanics who rely on them for hard-to-find components.
In addition to selling parts, some Toyota salvage yards also refurbish and sell entire vehicles that can be restored and put back on the road, offering an affordable option for those seeking budget-friendly transportation. Overall, Toyota salvage yards serve as an eco-friendly solution for recycling automotive materials, providing cost-effective parts, and preserving the legacy of Toyota vehicles.
How Does a Toyota Salvage Yard Operate
Toyota junkyards operate on a local level. The Toyota salvage yards near me do both buying and selling of Toyota. You can pick and pull used parts from the yard, you can purchase an entire vehicle, or if you have something to sell they can buy it.
How They Get Toyota’s in Their Inventory
Every business operates a little differently, but for the most part, they obtain used and wrecked Toyotas’ from either the general public or from insurance companies. When they come from the public the owner may deem the vehicle inoperable or not worth the cost of repair so they decide to junk the car for money. When salvage yards get vehicles from insurance companies they normally have been in an accident. When an insurance company sells a wrecked vehicle to an auto junkyard they can recoup some of the cost they paid out in the claim to their client.
How Toyota Junkyards Process Their Vehicles
When you sell your vehicle to a junk yard they can’t just go put it out in the lot, it needs to have some basic stripping done first.
Normally they will siphon the gas, and drain the wiper fluid, oil, and antifreeze. The gas gets resold and the oil gets recycled at a facility. Other liquids like anti-freeze are stored in recycled containers and resold to the public for hefty discounts.
Certain Toyota scrap yards will also strip out specific parts like the battery and/or the motor. The battery can be tested and restored for resale and the motor can be sent to a 3rd party vendor to be rebuilt and resold with a warranty. Other specific parts might also be removed and sold from a warehouse or in an online auction house like eBay.
How a Toyota Junk Yard is Arranged
Most Toyota yards arrange their cars in well-organized rows. Some well-managed yards even have the cars by year and model type which makes navigating the yard much easier for consumers.
They may not have a section for every model or year of Toyota, but they should have a section for the most popular models such as:
- Corolla
- Camry
- Tacoma
- Land Cruiser
- Highlander
- Tundra
- 4Runner
- Rav4
- Avalon
- Prius
- Celica
- Supra
The Toyota salvage yards near me keep a database of all the cars in the lot. When a consumer is looking for a specific model, year, or part they can quickly tell you if they have it in stock and where to find the car in the lot. You can often call and ask very specific questions like “Do you have an intake for a 2007 Corolla”? or “Do you have any 2004 Rav4s in your lot and how intact are they with parts”?
If you can’t find what you are looking for you could also consider checking a Lexus Salvo for compatible parts..
What Kind of Cheap Used Toyota Parts Can You Find?
When it comes to Toyota parts at a specialized salvage yard you can find almost anything imaginable: doors, mirrors, seats, manifolds, catalytic converters, etc. Sometimes you can even get lucky and find brand-new parts. Often before someone scraps their car or truck they buy parts and try and do the work themselves. When they can’t get the vehicle to operate correctly they scrap it including all of the brand-new parts they just purchased for it….lucky us!
What Happens After A Toyota Gets Stripped?
After a car or truck has been set in the yard for an extended period of time it has usually been picked of all its parts and value. When that occurs the junk yard will crush it down and sell whatever is left of it for scrap metal recycling. This routine of selling the leftovers for scrap makes room for purchasing more wrecked cars and trucks as well as squeezing the last bit of value out of the junked vehicle.
Some Toyota junkyards are pretty well managed and they turn over their inventory every 6 months or so, selling the stripped cars for scrap metal. Others just let the cars sit in the lot and rust forever.
Buying Used Toyota Parts at a Salvage Yard
Pros of Buying Used Toyota Parts at a Salvage Yard
When you buy used Toyota parts from the auto salvage you can save hundreds of dollars. Even simple parts like a battery you can get for $12 or even a full door for around $60. Parts at any car junkyard will always be cheaper than you can even find on the internet. In fact, if you are savvy you can go to your local Toyota salvage yard and buy used parts and then sell them on eBay and Craigslist for a profit. I have done this many times before and have made a nice amount of money on the side.
When you buy used parts from a junk yard you can purchase a warranty. Most offer a warranty for between $6 and $10. If what you purchased doesn’t work you can always bring it back and exchange it for a new part. Some places don’t do cash back, but give you credit.
Additionally, many of the parts you strip off the vehicles were assembled by the Toyota manufacturer. Maybe not all the parts, but you find that most parts are. This generally gives you a bit more confidence in the quality of the part you are buying.
Cons of Buying Used Toyota Parts
Not everything that glitters is gold. When you buy used parts you might find out they were near the end of their life span. A quick check of the odometer, if its still in the car, could indicate to you how much wear and tear is on a specific part. There is no way to be completely certain of how much the previous owner pounded on the car or truck. If you opt not to buy a warranty and the part is no good, you are out of luck.
Another disadvantage is that if you need something specific you may wander around a Toyota scrap yard all day and not find what you need. Sometimes they just won’t have the used part you are looking for while other times they may, but the yard is so disorganized you will never find it. That’s why you should call ahead and do some reconnaissance first.
The Advantages of Toyota Salvage Yards
Toyota Salvage Yards near you offer several distinct advantages to both car enthusiasts and budget-conscious consumers. First and foremost, these yards are a treasure trove of Toyota spare parts, making it convenient and cost-effective to find replacements for your vehicle’s components. Whether you’re in need of a hard-to-find part or simply looking to save money on repairs, these yards can provide a vast selection of used and often well-maintained Toyota parts at a fraction of the cost of brand-new ones.
Additionally, visiting a local Toyota Salvage Yard can be environmentally friendly, as it promotes recycling and reuse of automotive components, reducing waste and the need for new production. Furthermore, the yard’s knowledgeable staff can often assist you in locating the specific part you require, ensuring a smooth and efficient shopping experience. Overall, Toyota Salvage Yards offer a combination of affordability, sustainability, and convenience that make them a valuable resource for Toyota owners and mechanics alike.
Tips For Selling Your Toyota to a Salvage Yard
If you are looking to junk a Toyota and make a few bucks off of it, you may want to do the following to maximize your value:
- Drain all of the gas out and save it to re-use yourself
- Take all of your personal belongings out of the vehicle (check glove box, center console, and flaps on backrests)
- Cancel your insurance, registration, and plates yourself (don’t have the junk yard do it – they will charge you)
- Know the value of your Toyota before you negotiate a selling price
Selling your Toyota to a junk yard requires a little bit of understanding of the auto salvage business. There are a few shady business practices that you should be aware of. You can read this article here to learn how to avoid common junkyard scams.
Toyota Resources
- Toyota Wiki
- Toyota.com
- Toyota Nation Forum
- Ask a Toyota Owner Forum
- USA and Canada Toyota Owners Club
- Reddit r/Toyota
Toyota Salvage Yards Near Me Conclusion
Toyota junkyards are awesome if you are a Toyota enthusiast, collector, mechanic, or performing a restoration. Unfortunately, there are just not a lot of them around. Despite that you can still often find huge sections dedicated to Toyota cars and trucks at your local auto salvage. These businesses offer such a great opportunity for saving huge amounts of money on used Toyota parts. Additionally, they are good for the environment because they help recycle functional parts back into working vehicles.
Despite a few shady business practices selling your Toyota to a car junk yard is safe and a nice way to earn some extra cash from a car or truck you don’t want to own anymore. That is what I have learned from the Toyota salvage yards near me.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Toyota Salvage Yards Near Me
Where can I find Toyota salvage yards near San Diego, Sun Valley, and Rancho Cordova?
You can find several Toyota salvage yards in the San Diego area. Some well-known options include Pacific Auto Salvage, City Auto Wrecking, and E & J Auto Wrecking. Be sure to check their inventory and location details to find the one that suits your needs.
Do these salvage yards also carry parts for Honda vehicles?
While the primary focus of Toyota salvage yards is on Toyota vehicles, some may also have a selection of Honda parts, but it’s not their main specialty. If you’re specifically looking for Honda parts, you might want to explore Honda salvage yards or auto recycling centers in your area.
Why should I consider a Toyota Salvage Yard for tires?
Toyota Salvage Yards often have a wide selection of used and affordable tires in various conditions. This can be a cost-effective solution for replacing your Toyota’s tires.
Can I find specific Toyota SUV parts at these yards?
Yes, many Toyota Salvage Yards carry a range of SUV parts, including components for popular Toyota SUV models like the RAV4, Highlander, and 4Runner.
What should I bring when visiting a Toyota Wrecking Yard?
It’s a good idea to bring your tools, gloves, and any necessary safety gear. You should also have a list of the parts you need, and if possible, the vehicle’s make, model, and VIN to help yard staff locate the right components.
