When an older vehicle breaks down, drivers are faced with two options. Either pay to have it repaired or take it to a junkyard and upgrade to a new car. However, it’s not always obvious whether the repairs are worth the cost or if you should sell it for scrap metal. This guide will help you decide whether you have a fixer-upper or a scrap car.

Reasons to Repair Your Vehicle

The first thing to consider when deciding between taking it to a junkyard or fixing it up is how extensive the damage is. If it’s mostly superficial or damage to non-crucial parts of the vehicle like the bumper, it’s better to replace the affected areas with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. However, when there is damage to integral parts such as the engine or radiator, you’ll need to do a cost analysis.

Find out how much the repairs will cost and compare that with the fair market value of the vehicle according to Kelley Blue Book® once the repairs are complete. If the costs aren’t much higher than the vehicle’s overall value, you can do the repairs and still salvage the costs when the time comes to sell it.

Finally, you should factor in all the costs associated with taking it to a junkyard and upgrading to a new vehicle. If it’s not feasible to cover the new monthly payments, taxes, registration fees, and higher insurance rates, make the repairs until it makes financial sense to get a new vehicle.

Reasons to Take Your Vehicle to a Salvage Yard

Even if a vehicle can be repaired, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not better to consider it a junk car. There are plenty of instances in which it makes more sense to recycle the car for scraps and take the money.

The first factor to consider is how many miles the vehicle has. If it’s already at 100,000 miles or more, the chances are higher that you’ll experience continued issues with the car even if you make repairs. In this case, rather than sinking more money into it, it’s better to sell it for parts.

While upgrading to a new vehicle will require new monthly car payments, those costs can often be offset by other factors. Better gas mileage drastically lowers the cost of ownership, and improved security features bring down insurance rates. Finally, if parts like the battery, airbags, rims, and tires are still in good condition, a junkyard will give you good money for them that you can put toward upgrading.

 

If it doesn’t make financial sense to repair your vehicle, take it to Phipps Auto Parts in Goshen, OH. As one of the area’s premier junkyards, they specialize in recycling services for older vehicles. They’ll offer you fair prices for your scrap car with convenient pickup services, so you can use that influx of cash to upgrade to a newer vehicle. Call (513) 722-2034 to see how much your car is worth, or learn more about their services online.