How to Buy Used Junk Cars

Buying used junk cars can be a profitable business for somebody with an entrepreneurial spirit and a bit of knowledge about cars. Junk cars can be stripped and sold for parts, and in some cases, they can be fixed so that they are drivable again. Junk cars also make wonderful learning tools if you are trying to gain experience working on cars for personal or professional gain. While the places to look for junk cars may not seem obvious at first, most areas have an abundance of junk cars that often sell for very little.

Instructions

1

Find a local salvage yard in your area that takes scrapped cars from the city or private donation. Many of these cars are often rusted or in generally very bad shape, but junk cars from salvage lots can be used for parts to learn about basic automotive repair. You can find salvage lots in your local phone book under Cars, Autos, or Car Parts, depending on the particular phone book and company.

2

Go to tow company auctions as often as possible. The cars at tow company auctions have been impounded by the tow company, and after a certain amount of time, they have the legal right to sell the vehicle if the registered owner does not pay the proper fees. In many cases, cars of very little value are simply not picked up, as tow fees can be more than the car is worth. Check your local phone book or online telephone directory for Towing or Tow Yards in you area.

3

Contact your local police department to see if they have police auctions that involve automobiles. Most major metropolitan cities have auctions for charity or to benefit the police force, and impounded cars are often sold at these auctions for much less than they are worth. While many of these cars are not truly junk vehicles, they do offer cars that are not drivable.

4

Check online resources for junk cars in your area. Websites like Auto Salvage Yard, Auto World of America and Ride Safely all have numerous locations that may be in your area, and many online sources for salvage and junk cars will ship and deliver cars for very little if any charge.

5

Visit online classifieds websites like Craigslist that allow private parties to sell junk cars online. Buying a junk car from a private party might save you quite a bit of money over buying from a tow yard, which often has a minimum. Of course, with all private party deals, you will most likely have to pay cash, but this is fairly standard when buying a junk car anyway, as most companies don't allow payments.