There are roughly 2 cars per household in Austin, Texas, and over 400,000 households. That adds up to a lot of vehicles and has created a very lucrative auto salvage industry. In this guide, we'll look at the biggest and best salvage yards in this city and show you how to get top dollar for your unwanted vehicle.
The Best Junk Car Buyers in Austin, TX
You have a few different options for offloading old cars in the Austin area, and we have listed some of the best options below.
- On the Road Auto Salvage – (512) 222-9901:A trusted business that has been in operation for over 3 decades and serves large parts of the city, including Central Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Kyle, Lockhart, and several other regions. Free towing is available and they provide instant offers and cash payments.
- Austin Junk Cars – (512) 522-5080:An Austin Texas junk car specialist that has been serving the region for a number of years. The website hasn't actually been updated for 4 years at the time of writing, which is never a good sign, and it also looks like it was designed in the late 90s. But the junk car industry usually operates on phone calls and word-of-mouth and isn't too reliant on flash websites, so it's still worth checking them out.
- The Clunker Junker - (888) 383-4181: A major national junk car removal service that promises up to $13,000 for cars in the Austin area. They will pick it up and take it away completely free of charge, providing a cash offer and a fast and smooth transaction.
- Capitol Junk Car Buyer – (512) 662-2273:A good choice for wrecked cars and one that always promises top dollar for your vehicle. Make sure you secure a free quote from this service, along with the companies mentioned above.
Guide to Selling Your Junk Car in Austin, Texas
If you have an old, battered, and rundown car to sell but you’re not sure how just take a look at the following steps:
Check the Value
Don’t immediately assume that your car needs to be scrapped. If it’s operating, you can sell it directly and get much more money than you would from a junkyard. You even have a few different options for selling your vehicle, including sites like Autotrader.
If you determine that a scrap yard is your best bet, you should run a few searches to make sure you understand how much it is worth. A general idea will do and will help you get the best price for your vehicle.
Get the Title
The law requires you to hand over the title, so you will need to dig this out before you can sell your car to a scrap dealer. You will also need some other basic information to hand, including details about the car’s make and model, as well as info on the current damage and state of the engine.
Look for Reputable Junkyards
Junkyards aren’t like online retailers in the sense that they don’t have much of an online presence. However, if they have a history of underpaying or scamming their customers, you can usually find evidence of this with a simple online search.
Scammed customers tend to talk about their experiences. They file complaints, write bad reviews, and complain in Facebook groups, on Twitter, and in Google reviews. A simple search should uncover these experiences and tell you what you need to know.
Shop Around
When you buy a car, you don’t accept the first price you’re offered and you rarely go with the first dealer that you find. You shop around, find better quotes, and try to get the best price that you can, and you need to do the same when salvaging your vehicle.
Get multiple quotes from different junkyards and choose the one that offers you the best price and the most complete and convenient service.
Arrange a Time
Once you agree to a price, the only thing left to do is arrange a pickup. Most dealers offer a free towing service. You just need to schedule a time that suits you and they will send a tow truck and hand over the cash on arrival.
Contact the DMV
Once the money has changed hands and your car has been scrapped, you will need to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the sale.
The phrase, “You need to contact the DMV” instills fear in even the most patient of drivers, but you don’t need to worry as the process is usually quick and painless and can be completed online or over the phone.