Junking an old car will free up space on your property, and any recyclable parts may even give you a little extra cash. While it might be tempting just to send your old car to the junkyard as is, you should go through the vehicle first and remove anything that could be even remotely valuable. The following guide highlights four common belongings that you should retain from a junk car.

What to Remove From a Junk Car

1. Personal Belongings

The average person spends a total of 18 days driving every year. It's not surprising, then, that cars end up housing a lot of important personal belongings—items that you want to remove before a vehicle ends up in a junkyard. Take out cellphones, chargers, maps, books, travel mugs, and anything else that you use in everyday life or will want to transfer to another vehicle. Also, if you ever lost something valuable in the car, like jewelry, now is the time to look for it.

2. Tires

Tires can be expensive, and people are often willing to pay top dollar even for used ones. If you want to remove them before having the car towed to a junkyard, be sure to check with the towing service or salvage yard first. Some require tires on the vehicle, so it tows easily. If that's the case, you might want to replace the current tires with any old extras you have lying around.

3. The Sound System

If you installed an aftermarket sound system, don't toss away your investment along with the vehicle. While this particular system may not fit in your other vehicle, you can likely sell it to someone who has a car it can fit into. Try listing it in the classified ads or with online marketplaces, or take it to a pawnshop.

4. The GPS

You can use a portable GPS device in another car. But even if your junk car has a built-in navigation system, consider removing and selling it. There are often buyers who are looking for systems produced by the original equipment manufacturers. List it for sale with an online auto trader or auto supply marketplace.

When you're ready to send an old car to the junkyard, contact Phipps Auto Parts & Towing. Since 1980, they have served the Goshen, OH, area. They trade unused vehicles for cash and provide recycling services for all types of scrap metal. Visit them online for more information about recycling old vehicles, or call (513) 722-2034 to schedule a pickup.