Do you want to make money off of your junk car? These are cars that aren’t exactly roadworthy. Instead, they’re great for parts. Rather than take yours to the local junkyard where they can make money off of it, find a way to do it yourself, or choose a better junkyard. We – the people at We Buy Junk Cars – have come up with five useful tips to help you trade your junk car for cash.

1) Prove that you own it

The first step is proving that you own the vehicle. It’s impossible to sell a vehicle that you don’t own outright. This involves finding the title and contacting your local title bureau to ensure that there aren’t any liens or holds on it. If they find that you do still owe money on the car, it will need to be paid before you can move forward. Here at We Buy Junk Cars, we understand that this is the most crucial step.

2) Determine its value

The real question here is – how much is the car worth? There are numerous online sources that can help with this. You do need to be honest about the condition that it’s in. The car might have low mileage and serious transmission issues, but the body could be in great shape. Many people go to junkyards looking for parts, so this is what matters the most. Thankfully, since you’re selling the car as scrap, you won’t have to worry about detailing and making it look pretty.

3) Find a good price

Next, call around to local junkyards. Many of them will be able to give you a quote right away, without evening seeing the vehicle. Ask if things like transportation to the junkyard are included in that quote. You might find that it’s not, and the price will go down for every mile that they need to travel to collect your car. Another option is to sell the car yourself. You can place an ad online for a junk car in the hope of finding a buyer. This eliminates the middleman.

4) Watch out for lemon laws

In many cases, the lemon laws won’t apply to this situation, as you’re selling your car as it is – for scrap. If you take it to a junkyard, then this doesn’t matter at all. However, if you’re selling it to another buyer, make sure that they know that the car doesn’t run. You should be able to find a contract online that eliminates them from having any legal recourse should they misunderstand the situation.

5) Sell that car

Finally, you’ve reached the last step. It’s time to sell that car. You can take it to a junkyard, have them come and pick it up, or sell it to another buyer – anyone who’s interested. Once you’ve signed over the title and have been handed a check, the car is no longer your problem.