There are a few different steps you need to take to junk a car in New Mexico. Luckily, it’s not too much of a hassle. Let’s make sure you’re ready to junk your car and take one more to-do task off of your list.
How Do I Prepare to Sell My Car to a Junkyard in New Mexico?
First, you need to make sure you have the proper documents. You will need the car’s registration card and title. Set a few bucks aside to cover any towing fees you may have to pay. Also, if you no longer have the car’s title, you will need to pay the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (NM MVD) to receive a duplicate car title.
If My Car Can Be Repaired, is it Still Considered Junk?
Yes, your car can still be considered junk if the cost to repair the car exceeds the cost of the car’s total value. When this happens, whether it’s because of an auto accident or another type of damage, your insurance company will deem the car as “totaled”, and the only way the car will have any value is if you junk the car for parts.
Junk Car Removal Service Locations In New Mexico
Get cash for your junk car when you sell it in New Mexico including the following locations:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Las Cruces, NM
- Rio Rancho, NM
- Santa Fe, NM
- Roswell, NM
- Farmington, NM
- Hobbs, NM
- Clovis, NM
- South Valley, NM
- Carlsbad, NM
Junk Car Removal Companies That Buy Unwanted Vehicles In New Mexico
- Peddle or call them at (844) 334-0582
- Wheelzy or call them at (855) 602-2139
- CarBrain or call them at (877) 877-7911
How Much You Could Sell A Junk Car For In New Mexico
You can expect to make a few hundred dollars up to a little more than a thousand dollars when you sell your unwanted or junk car for cash in New Mexico. The below table of junk cars sold will give you a better idea of how much you can make.
| Make | Model | Year | City | Sold For |
| Jeep | Cherokee | 2012 | Albuquerque, NM | $ 775 |
| Toyota | Sienna | 2008 | Las Cruces, NM | $ 850 |
| Volkswagen | GTI | 2007 | Rio Rancho, NM | $ 325 |
| Mazda | 3 | 2007 | Albuquerque, NM | $ 425 |
| Toyota | Camry | 2009 | Santa Fe, NM | $ 1,095 |
Can I Change My Mind About Junking My Car?
If you change your mind about junking your car BEFORE you reported to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that your car is a junk car, yes. Maybe you’ve had a change of heart and aren’t quite ready to get rid of your car. Once your car has been deemed as “junk”, unfortunately, that is a decision that is set in stone and can’t be changed.
A junk car is not a salvage car, which means there are not many parts of the car that can be salvaged. A junk car needs to be junked. It can’t legally be operated on roads or highways and can’t legally be sold UNLESS you are selling it to a junkyard or scrap yard.
How Do I Sell My Car to a Junkyard in New Mexico?
Selling your car in New Mexico doesn’t have to be the hassle you may think it is. First, you need to find a junkyard in your area, so type the phrase “junkyards near me” or “junkyards in my area” to find a local New Mexico junkyard. Choose at least 2 junkyards just in case you’re not satisfied with the first junkyard for whatever reason.
Once you’ve chosen a junkyard, you will be asked questions about the car you want to junk. You will also be asked questions about yourself. Information you’ll need to provide regarding your junk car often includes providing the vehicle identification number (VIN), the make, model, and year of the car, and the damages the car sustained. You may also be required to provide the following:
- Your first and last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address/Location of the car you’re junking
After you provide the required information, you will be provided with a quote. You can choose to accept or decline the quote. Should you choose to accept the quote, not only are you agreeing to the junkyard’s terms and conditions, but you also agree to the junkyard’s payment terms. If you decline the quote, you have no obligation to junk your car with the junkyard, and you can choose a different junkyard.
Do You Need a Vehicle Title to Junk a Car in New Mexico?
Yes. You’ll need the car’s title to junk it. If you don’t have the car’s title, you can apply for a duplicate car title by completing and submitting an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (Form MVD 10901). The payment that is required to receive your Duplicate Certificate of Title is located on the form.
Also, if you no longer have the car’s title, you may still be able to junk your car. You will need to provide a different type of proof of ownership document, such as the car’s registration. Make sure you check with the junkyard to learn more about their criteria and required documents to junk a car.
How Much Does It Cost to Junk a Car in New Mexico?
The total cost you will pay to junk your car in New Mexico depends on the method you choose. You don’t have the option of driving the car anywhere because junk cars aren’t safe to operate on roads and highways, and it’s illegal to do so. If you have a roadside assistance membership, this would be an awesome time to use it.
What is a Junk Title in New Mexico?
A junk title is given to cars that have reached the end of their life so to speak. These cars are not safe to operate on roads and highways and have no value unless the car’s parts are scrapped or junked. You can NOT sell a junk car to an individual, only to a junkyard.
Can You Junk a Car With an Expired Registration in New Mexico?
Yes. You can junk a car if the registration has expired. However, you can’t have a car that has an expired registration abandoned in public areas, such as shopping center parking lots, on the side of the road, and other public areas. The car’s registration is a proof of ownership document, so as long as your name is on the registration, you’re in the clear.
How Do I Get a Junk Vehicle Title in New Mexico?
You can apply for a junk title in the state of New Mexico in person or by mail. You must have the car’s title that is correctly endorsed, and a salvage certificate (Form MVD 11103). You may also be required to complete an Application for Non-Repairable Certificate (Form MVD 10005) and provide the following:
- The VIN (vehicle identification number)
- Your address for the junk vehicle title (if applicable)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Photo of your vehicle (optional in some New Mexico cities)
- Photo of the vehicle’s VIN
- Certificate of Destruction
Keep in mind that you may be asked to provide more or fewer documents depending on the city in New Mexico you reside.
What Paperwork is Required to Scrap a Car?
When you’re ready to scrap your car, make sure you have the following:
- The New Mexico Certificate of Title (properly endorsed for transfer)(Form MVD10005)
- Lien sale documents (properly executed for registration and transfer)
- A salvage certificate (properly endorsed for transfer)(Form MVD 11103)
If you no longer have the car’s registration card, you must provide a bill of sale. The vehicle’s bill of sale may be able to be used instead of the vehicle title signatures.
Can You Sell a Car With a Salvage Vehicle Title in New Mexico?
You can sell a car that has a salvage title. However, you are responsible for properly preparing the car for sale. Once you report to the NM MVD that your car is a junk car, you can restore the car or obtain a revived salvage car title. If you choose to restore the vehicle, make sure you keep receipts of the purchases you made, such as parts and labor, to restore the car. If you’re receiving a salvage car title, make sure you inform the buyer about the damage the car sustained.
How Do I Get Rid of a Car I Don’t Want?
If you have a car you no longer want, you can sell it, junk it, or scrap it. The last thing you want to do is abandoned the vehicle. Doing so could put you in a position to pay multiple fees and face a variety of penalties. As the vehicle’s owner, you are responsible for properly disposing of the car.
What Happens to Abandoned Cars in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, an abandoned vehicle is noe that has been deemed so by an NM law enforcement agency. Abandoned vehicle have either:
- Been left unattended on either public or private property for at least 30 days
- Not been reported or stolen
- Not been claimed by any person asserting ownership
- Not been shown by normal record-checking procedures to be owned by any person
If you leave your car abandoned on someone’s property, they can notify a law enforcement agency and gain the rights to sell, junk, scrap the car, or charge no more than $0.50 per day for storage fees unless the property is licensed as a vehicle storage yard. The property owner is required to notify the vehicle’s owners and lienholders, if applicable, within 30 days or lose all rights to claim the vehicle.
How Do You Properly Dispose of an Abandoned Vehicle in New Mexico?
The New Mexico Stat 66-3-121 describes abandoned vehicles and the laws that pertain to this situation. Individuals whose property or in whose possession is found an abandoned vehicle or motor vehicle has the authority to sell, retain, or give away or dispose of the abandoned vehicle or motor vehicle, which is described in Sections 66-4-1 through 66-4-9 NMSA 1978.
The individual who finds the abandoned vehicle must notify a law enforcement agency before the disposal of the car and also obtain a written clearance from the law enforcement agency that states neither the agency’s records or the computerized records of the national crime information center indicate that the abandoned vehicle or motor vehicle has been reported as stolen.
Does the NM MVD Buy Old Cars?
The New Mexico MVD doesn’t buy old cars, but there are people who won’t mind taking the car off of your hands. If your car is in overall good condition, you can sell the car to an individual in a private sale. If you’re looking for a quick solution to get rid of the car without the hassle of waiting for the car to sell, you can junk it or scrap it.
Can I Scrap My Car Without a Registration Document?
Although it’s best to have the car’s title and registration card, it’s possible to junk a car without the car’s registration document. Since you don’t have the registration document, you must provide a different proof of ownership document, such as the car’s title. All junk yards are not the same, so if the junkyard requires you to have the car’s registration card, you’ll have to find a junkyard that junks cars at a low cost or for free to recycle them.
Can I Scrap a Car That Is Not Registered In My Name?
If your name does not appear on the car’s registration card or title, this means that you are NOT the legal owner of the car. If you’re not the car’s legal owner, you do not have the authority to junk the car or decide what happens with the car in general, such as junking scrapping. Keep in mind that providing a bill of sale or proof of an active auto insurance policy will not suffice as a proof of ownership document.
Can I Scrap a Car Without a Vehicle Title?
If you don’t have the car’s title, it’s okay. It’s not uncommon to lose things, especially documents. You can complete an Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (Form MVD 10901). Also, if you don’t have the car’s title, you can use the car’s registration card as a proof of ownership document. You need the car’s title or it’s registration card to junk the car.
What Do You Need to Junk a Car in NM?
The good news is junking a car in New Mexico is simple. You need to visit your local NM MVD office and ensure you bring the vehicle’s:
- Certificate of Title, which must be either:
- In your name
- Endorsed for transfer of ownership to you
- License plates
You may also need to pay additional fees if the vehicle is not currently registered or designated for a planned non-operation status, which means you need to notify the NM MVD that your car is “junk”. You can contact your local NM MVD branch for more information.
How Old Does a Car Have to be to Not Require a Vehicle Title in NM?
Vehicles that are required to have a title in New Mexico are:
- Passenger cars
- Trucks
- Motorcycles
- Recreational vehicles
- Motor homes
- Buses
- Manufactured or mobile homes
- Trailers
- Off-highway vehicles (ATVs or snowmobiles)
If your car doesn’t fall into one of the above categories, it is not required to be titled in New Mexico.
Can I Junk Multiple Cars?
Many junkyards will allow you to junk multiple cars as long as you have the proper paperwork for each car, such as each car’s title and registration. If you are junking more than one car, let the junkyard know, so they can make the necessary arrangements.
When Will I Receive My Funds from Junking My Car?
In most situations, you receive your money on-the-spot when the tow truck driver comes to tow your car to the junkyard. Most of the time, the tow truck driver will inspect the car you’re junking to make sure the car is as described, and make sure the VIN matches the one you provided. Once everything is checked and correct, you will receive your cash.
How is the Value of a Junk Car Determined?
The value of a junk car is determined by the following factors:
- Location of the junkyard
- Car’s make and model
- Vehicle’s age
- Current scrap metal prices
Current Scrap Metal Prices in New Mexico?
Have you ever wondered about the current scrap metal prices in New Mexico? Probably not, but in this situation, this information is essential for giving you a general idea of how much your junk car is worth. The scrap metal prices are different for each state. In New Mexico, these are the current scrap metal prices:
| Metal | Price Per Pound |
| Aluminum | $1.07 |
| Aluminum Alloy | $0.86 |
| Copper | $3.86 |
| Brass | $3.04 |
| Lead | $0.91 |
| Nickel | $12.00 |
| Tin | $13.21 |
| Zinc | $1.45 |
| Steel Scrap | $0.17 |
| Steel Rebar | $0.28 |
New Mexico Junkyard Locations
We took the time to create a list of a few junkyards in New Mexico to help make the junking process a little easier for you. Check out our list below to see if you can find a junkyard in your area.
Highway 64 Truck & Auto Salvage
4551 Highway 64
Farmington, NM 87401
(505) 598-5584
Monday-Friday (8 AM – 6 PM)
Saturday (9 AM – 2 PM
Sunday (Closed)
U-Pull & Pay Albuquerque
4560 Broadway Boulevard
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 248-9899
Monday-Friday (9 AM – 4:30 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (9 AM – 4:30 PM)
Action Auto Parts
5214 Quesenberry Lane
Las Cruces, NM 88007
(575) 526-5883
Monday – Friday (8 AM – 5 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (Closed)
Now that you know how to junk a car in New Mexico, you can get rid of your car, receive your funds, and endure the next adventure in life. Happy junking!
