Categories: Auto Salvage Yards

Seven Auto Junkyard Scams to Watch For

All you want to do is ditch a car you no longer want and get a bit of money for it. How hard can it be? But once you’ve found ‘junk yards near me’ that pay cash for cars, you aren’t out of the woods. When you’re dealing with an industry like junkyards and auto recyclers, you need to be on your toes. There are people out there that want to make a quick buck off your back, whether it’s right or not. Of course, you can avoid the frustration of dealing with individual junkyards simply by choosing Car Junkyards Near Me. But if you decide you’d rather do it on your own, here are seven junkyard scams you need to watch out for.

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Junkyard Scams to Guard Against

The Bait and Switch

Whether you’re buying a car or selling one for scrap, the bait and switch maneuver has caught a lot of people over the years. You make all the necessary calls, give accurate information for a quote on your junk car value, and even supply pictures voluntarily. There’s now way there could be a miscommunication, and you should feel confident in the quote you’ve been given by the junkyard. But getting cash for junk cars isn’t always that easy. When the tow truck arrives to haul away your scrap car, you get lowballed! You’re told the car isn’t what you described even though it’s the same as in the pictures, or they say the quote is no longer valid. So, it’s accept their offer or start from square one with nothing to show for your efforts. With Car Junkyards Near Me, your quote is GUARANTEED for seven days, and you will never have to worry about the driver pulling a bait and switch maneuver.

Double-Dipping Drivers

It isn’t every driver – not even close. If the scrap car buyers are sending a tow truck to pick up your vehicle, there’s a good chance the driver doesn’t work directly for the scrapyard. If you’re supposed to be paid in cash, the driver might try to renegotiate the price on the spot and pocket the difference for himself. Or if you’re supposed to get a check for your car, the tow truck driver might demand cash for the tow service. They’re being paid by the junkyard already! Never agree to terms you haven’t previously negotiated. If a tow truck driver attempts to double-dip, call the junkyard immediately or tell the driver the deal is off.

Making You Wait for Payment

You have the power…until your car is no longer in your possession. Don’t let the junkyard have your car before you have payment in hand- that’s how you get scammed. That goes for dropping it off in person or having it towed. If your car is hauled away before you’ve been paid, how easy would it be for the junkyard to scam you, paying you less than you agreed to before. Plus, if you don’t accept their new offer, they could try to charge you to tow your car back to you, or send you a bill for the time it spends on their yard. With Car Junkyards Near Me, you’re always paid in full BEFORE your car is hauled away. Simple as that.

Not Transferring the Title

It might feel like an advantage if you don’t transfer the title, but it definitely is not. When you no longer own the car and it’s not in your possession, you don’t want any liability for it! Sadly, there’s a junkyard scam out there where the title isn’t transferred out of your name, and that makes you liable. Shady junkyards could turn around and charge you for storage on their yard and other ridiculous fees. It could even be sent to a collection agency and tarnish your credit rating. And you’re on the hook if your name is still on the title.

Offering Prizes for Incentives

“We pay money for junk cars! Get a Free Prize!” If that’s what is advertised by a junkyard, it’s a scam. There are two things you can hang your hat on. First, the free prize is going to be a worthless piece of junk, and aren’t you trying to get rid of junk? Second, if they’re offering a free prize, you aren’t getting as much money for your car as possible. Instead of the free prize, it would be nice to get more cash for junk cars. With Car Junkyards Near Me, there aren’t any gimmicks. You get the highest offer possible for your junk car without any trinkets.

Unlicensed Junkyards

It’s true, there are thousands of junkyards in America that are operating without a license to do so. It hurts the reputation of legitimate businesses – places that work on the up and up all the time. You might ask, “What’s the big deal if they’re the highest paying for junk cars?” But it’s these unlicensed junkyards that are the worst offenders for scams. It’s been noted that cars destined for scrap have been fixed up and sold again, putting cars that are unfit for the road back into service. Don’t take a chance on an unlicensed business. At Car Junkyards Near Me we buy junk cars!

Subtracting the Tow Charge from Your Payment

You’ve made a deal from someone who buys junk cars. You don’t expect that number to change once it’s being towed away. Since most junk cars require a tow, you should always confirm that the cost of a tow truck is included in the quote you’re given. Some shady junkyards may try to subtract the cost of the tow once they arrive to take your car away. If they try this, pull out of the deal right away.

Taking Your Junk Car for Free

If you’ve been searching for people who buy junk cars, you’ve seen ads for junk removal services. These are often junkyards that will take away your car at no cost, like a free recycling service. But they aren’t paying cash for cars. Don’t let anyone tell you that your car is worth zero. At the very least, scrap car buyers should pay its value in scrap metal, based on weight. It doesn’t matter how rough its condition, how many leaks, dents, dings it has, how rusted the body, or that it doesn’t run. Don’t give away your car for free. At Car Junkyards Near Me, you’ll get a real cash offer for your car in as-is condition. Go ahead – Google auto salvage near me, or highest paying for junk cars. You can do the legwork yourself and sell to junk yards that buy cars, and risk being the victim of a scam. But if your time is valuable and you would prefer to sell your car the easy way, get a quote from Car Junkyards Near Me.