VWB Blog How often do you find yourself stranded on the side of the road, thinking “Should I just junk my car, already?!”
It’s a tough question, especially if you love your car. But at some point, you owe it to yourself to get rid of that ol’ junkheap.
So when should you consider junking a vehicle? Keep reading to find out!
The Vehicle is Totaled
You’re driving along one day when a vehicle sideswipes you, sending you and your car spinning. Fortunately, you’re not hurt…but your car isn’t quite so lucky.
It’s pronounced totaled and now you’re left deciding whether to get rid of your favorite vehicle for good or to suck it up and pay for repairs.
Unfortunately, these situations happen every day. If there’s a silver lining, though, it’s that you can still make some money if you decide to junk your car.
Your best bet is to speak with a mechanic and ask what they recommend. It might not be worth spending the extra money on repairs.
You’re Making Frequent and Expensive Repairs
Speaking of repairs, did you know that the average car owner spends about $1,000 on maintaining and repairing their vehicle each year?
But if you have an older vehicle, there’s a good chance you looked at that figure and just chuckled. Odds are, your bills are way higher than that!
If that sounds familiar, it might be time to consider figuring out how to junk a car.
As cars get older, their repairs are only going to increase. At some point, you’re looking at diminishing returns. Instead, use that money toward purchasing your next vehicle that won’t break down on you every time you hit a pothole.
It’s Collecting Rust in Your Yard
Junk cars sitting in the driveway isn’t a terribly uncommon sight. But depending on where you live, it could land you in a lot of trouble.
Your neighbors might complain to your local home owner’s association, making your life a bureaucratic nightmare.
Plus, having a beaten-down car sitting there isn’t doing you any good, anyway!
Make your car work for you and consider junking it for extra cash.
You Can’t — or Shouldn’t — Sell It
There are several reasons why you might not be able to take your vehicle to a local dealership or used car lot and offload it.
For starters, you might not get a great deal. In some cases, you’ll actually make more money when you junk a vehicle instead of selling it in its entirety.
There’s also the matter of your car being dubbed a ‘lemon’. In this awesome article that answers the biggest questions about lemon laws, they point out that a car is a lemon if the buyer encounters a major defect that cannot be fixed, even after multiple repairs.
So what happens if you sell someone a lemon?
It all depends on the state. At the bare minimum, you’re required to buy the vehicle back. However, you might end up in court over the matter.
Is It Really Time to Junk My Car?
Fortunately, getting rid of your clunker isn’t as hard as you might think. Just type ‘junk my car’ into Google and you’ll find tons of options near you. Most will even pay to have your vehicle towed, so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
In the meantime, check out the rest of our articles to find out how you can save up for a new car!