4 Reasons to Think Twice Before Hauling Away Junk Cars

There have been movies showing front lawns where cars are parked on cement blocks and their wheels are missing. This isn't Hollywood gimmick.

All across the United States, junk cars are found in front yards. Some homeowners let junk cars gather on large properties even in rural areas.

Junk cars look like they'd be a good choice to get rid. They are unsightly and can rusty over time, taking up much space. They can also make a property look shabby.

It may not seem obvious, but there are many benefits to keeping junk cars around.

Junk cars offer easy and cheap access to parts

Parts are the number one reason to keep a junk vehicle around. You might keep the car you love if it stops working and you buy another one.

You don't need to wait to get a special order or go to junkyards if parts of your vehicle are difficult to find.

Parts that are difficult to find must not only be found, but also have to be ordered new or custom made. Most junkyards won't let customers remove brake lines from cars they have. This is because it could be dangerous. If your brake lines are still in good condition, you can pull them if you need to.

You must get permission to store a junk car on your property

If you do not own the home, you must get permission from the landlord to park your inoperable vehicle on the property. You must file a request to allow a non-functional vehicle to be kept on the property if your landlord employs an agent or a property manager.

It is important to be familiar with local laws. You should also be aware of local laws. Many cities have regulations that make it illegal for you to park inoperable cars on your own property. In San Antonio, Texas, for example, non-working vehicles are not allowed to be in ordinary public view from either the driveway or the sidewalk.

In San Antonio, it is illegal to keep an inoperable vehicle in ordinary public view more than ten consecutive days.

A car might be worth money, even if it's in poor condition

You might be surprised to find out that a car you consider junk could actually be someone's treasure. Some makes and models are worth the effort.

For example, the Honda Odyssey is America's most loved minivan. Some people will pay a premium to get older models, even if they are not available.

Scrap your car to make more money with the part

You might find your car more valuable than you think. No matter what make or model, most junk-hauling companies will only pay a few hundred dollars for an inoperable car.

If the junker is not worth much, a few hundred dollars is fine. However, if it contains valuable parts or is a foreign vehicle, or has custom parts, you may want to consider dumping the whole lot.

Make a list of all the parts that you may be able sell separately and determine if there is a demand. Perhaps you have just replaced your tires and still have a working radio.

A good exhaust system can help you get up to $500 depending on the type of installation.

Some car parts are more valuable and useful than you realize

You could lose some of the engine, battery and catalytic converter if you haul your junk car away. These parts are often worth keeping.

Catalytic convertors are selling quickly. Catalytic converters that are used can be so valuable that people steal them at night.

Car batteries can be useful. A car battery can be used for many purposes. You can use it to charge a solar system for off-grid living.

Engines can be sold or stored for future use. It might be worthwhile to keep a junk car with a reliable engine, especially if you can use it in the current model. It can be expensive to either rebuild or purchase a new engine. It's difficult to disassemble an engine so it's better to keep it in your car until you sell it or use it.

Are you ready to sell your car?

Junk cars aren't very appealing to anyone's property. If you think that your car might be worth something, or you may want to use parts of it yourself, don't throw it away at the scrapyard. It's possible to make or save some money by going another route.