People are often surprised when they discover that it is possible to make money from many of the items they own, starting with their old car. Even if you believe that your car has already given all it had, as it is no longer able to be driven safely, or even if it is your ancestor's car, which is parked in a corner of the garden. rusting for centuries having now lost the appearance of a vehicle equipped with wheels, the concept does not change; what you need to do is search to find out the value of the vehicle and see if it is worth pursuing. At that point, you'll need to locate someone willing to pay to get hold of your vehicle. If you can determine the exact value of what you own, you can be sure that you can make the most of it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Vehicle
Step 1. Take an inventory of the condition of the vehicle
Simply try to see the state of wear and tear of the car. In general, it makes sense to scrap a vehicle when the cost of any repair exceeds the real value of the car; in that case it makes more sense to sell it to a junkyard that will make a profit from selling the individual parts as spare parts. Is it still possible to drive the vehicle safely or is it completely broken down? Make a list of the severely damaged parts; it also determines if the car is equipped with some valuable tools or systems, such as GPS, tires still in good condition, working alternator, etc.
Take note of whatever strikes your attention or seems useful for your purpose. This step is to be able to describe in detail the vehicle and the current condition of all components to the junkyard manager
Step 2. Use the Quattroruote website or print magazine to determine the current value of a vehicle equal to yours in good condition
Dealers have always used the Quattroruote magazine as a point of reference to evaluate the value of their customers' used cars; it is therefore a serious and reliable tool that you can use with complete peace of mind. Obviously, the amount of money you can get from selling the vehicle will certainly be lower than Quattroruote's valuation precisely because you are scrapping it and therefore it is not in good condition. This step gives you a general idea of the market value of a vehicle identical to yours, but still running.
If you are an expert in the field of automotive repairs, you can subtract the cost of all the repairs necessary to get your car back to being fully functional directly from the Quattroruote evaluation. By doing this you will have a clear idea of how much money you can expect from scrapping the vehicle
Step 3. Look for the machine book and certificate of ownership
You need to have these documents to prove that you are the rightful owner of the vehicle. Most junkyards will not be willing to buy your vehicle if you are unable to prove ownership. When you demolish a car to transfer it to a junkyard it is necessary to hand over the number plates, the vehicle registration document and the certificate of ownership and have the "certificate of destruction" issued. If the paperwork is not followed to the letter, providing and receiving all the documents required by law, you may still be considered the legitimate owner of the vehicle even though it has been physically demolished.
Step 4. Remove your items from the car
Forgetting some personal items in the vehicle, such as an old iPod in the glove box or the laptop in the back pocket of the passenger seat, is much easier than you think. Open the trunk to carefully inspect the trunk, check under the floor mats and run a hand under each of the seats. Make sure you have removed any personal items from the car before selling it.
Don't forget to remove the license plates. They are an element that is often forgotten, but it is very important to remove the plates before the car is completely disassembled or demolished
Step 5. Check the laws of the country where you reside relating to the regulation of the vehicle dismantling procedure
As with any other problem related to the bureaucratic management of a vehicle, you will have to refer to the directives issued by the Civil Motorization of the province in which you reside relating to the demolition procedure. When you are ready to physically scrap your vehicle, refer to the procedure described by the Civil Motorization of your province to make sure you have all the necessary documentation to proceed. To find out what you need, you can perform a quick Google search using the string "motorization [name_provincia]".
Part 2 of 3: Evaluate the Offers
Step 1. Call authorized collection centers (junkyards), dealerships and repair shops in the area where you live
You should not perform this step until you have details of the value and condition of the vehicle you wish to sell in hand. This is because you need to describe the car in as much detail as possible in order to receive an accurate and precise assessment of the real value from the prospective buyer. Make a note of all the quotes you have received from all the people you have contacted so that you can make an assessment and make an informed choice.
Step 2. Ask the junkyard what protocol to follow to deliver the vehicle
Some collection centers will collect the car themselves. Others will offer you more money if you are able to bring the vehicle to him and save him time. Find out if they are willing to pay you more by delivering the car directly to them on their property instead of having them come to you with a tow truck. Ask him for the detailed list of all the documents you need to provide. At this point, consider the pros and cons of all the solutions you have identified (junkyards, garages and maybe even dealers).
Step 3. Compare the positives and negatives of each of the options available to you
If you are not obsessed with trying to make every last penny from the sale of the vehicle, you can simply choose the solution that seems most advantageous to you. One of the collection centers you contacted may have made you the highest bid, as long as you bring them the vehicle to be demolished. You could opt for a less convenient solution in which, however, the car is picked up directly from your home by a tow truck. If you are not an automotive expert, it may not be very wise to try and take apart every single part of the car in order to make a few more dollars. Evaluate which option is the most advantageous at the moment, which allows you to make a good profit with minimal effort.
Part 3 of 3: Transfer the Vehicle
Step 1. Take the car to the collection center of your choice
You can drive or tow it to the junkyard if you feel you can do it safely. Some collection centers are willing to pay more if you save them the time and effort of having to come to you with the tow truck to collect the vehicle. Also, any honest junkyard will be happy to offer you more money for a vehicle that is still capable of driving and has been shown to still work very well. So if you can, take this last trip with your old car.
Step 2. Arrange with the junkyard staff to collect the vehicle directly from your home
This is obviously the most convenient solution. A person in charge of the collection center will come directly to your home with the tow truck, hook it up to the vehicle and pay you in cash on the spot. If the vehicle is not in a position to be put into gear safely, this is certainly the most suitable option for you. After asking for a quote from all the junkyards in the area where you live, choose the most convenient solution.
- Sometimes some people in charge of the collection centers, after making you an initial offer, will significantly reduce it after loading the car on the tow truck. Unfortunately this is why it is very important to know the value of the car in advance and to carefully follow your initial plans.
- Do not fight fiercely with the tow truck driver for a few euros, but still try to assert your rights and the agreements made previously if you notice that the person in charge of the collection center is trying to be "smart" by lowering the price of the offer already stipulated.
Step 3. Return the license plates, then ask for the vehicle to be erased from the PRA records
The demolition protocol of a vehicle may vary slightly from province to province, but normally it is necessary to return the number plates, the vehicle registration document and the certificate of ownership together with the payment of the related taxes. The staff of the collection center should know in detail the bureaucratic procedure to follow, so they can provide you with all the necessary information. Alternatively, you can perform a simple search on the web or refer to the site of the Civil Motorization of your province or the ACI.
