A lot of people misinterpret “junk” and “salvage” cars to be the same, whereas that’s not completely true. While all salvage cars are junk cars, not all junk cars are salvage cars. If you are looking to participate in a junk car auction and would like to learn more about what to expect, this article is for you. Read on as we present a brief guide on junk cars, highlighting the various reasons due to which a car can be considered “junk.”
When is a Car Considered a “Junk Car?”
Expiration of the Legal Age Limit
Automobiles, in most parts of the world, are given a certain number of years to operate by the state authorities, after which they have to be scrapped. In other words, the state authorities consider these cars “too old for the road.” That’s because being quite old, they might not comply with the current emission norms, or worse, can be simply unsafe for use. All such cars are deemed as junk cars, and people generally buy them to salvage hard to find parts.
Extensive Damage
If a car gets involved in a serious road mishap, or receives extensive damage due to a natural disaster, such as floor, hurricane, and hail storm, its cost of repair may end up exceeding its market value. In such cases, the insurance company writes off the car as a “total loss,” compensates the owner, gives the car the salvage title, and sells the damaged car to a salvage yard, from where it can be bought by a seller for either restoration or salvaging parts.
Also Read: Answering 5 FAQs about Salvage Car Titles
Missing or Incomplete Documents
This is another common reason for a vehicle to be considered junk. If the title or registration document of a vehicle is missing, it cannot be legally used on the road, and therefore, will be considered a junk car. Moreover, as no vehicle can be bought or sold without complete paperwork, such vehicles can neither be sold to a buyer nor be used to salvage parts. They generally just sit in junk yards until they reach the end of their life cycle. Conduct a free license plate search before buying a used car to see what title it has.
Wrap Up
When it comes to participating in junk auto auctions, in addition to salvage and wrecked cars for sale, you can also find a lot of options with a clean title, most of which can be put back on the road with little to no investment. That explains the ever-increasing number of people turning to junk car auctions. If you too are looking for a bargain, participate in our online auctions and take your pick from a large inventory of clean and salvage cars in the USA for sale. To make sure a vehicle has a clear history or revocable title, check VIN history with ClearVin. If you have any questions, simply call: +1 (503) 298-4300, Monday through Friday, 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Pacific Time), or email at hello@autobidmaster.com.
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