Sun, Surf, and Scrap: Navigating California’s Junk Car Laws

California is the land of sun, surf, and fun. Also, a part of the Golden State is the necessity of car ownership, incredibly strict automobile emissions requirements, and what you can and cannot do with a junk car. The owners of these less-than-desirable wrecks are often confused about what they should do with them once they’ve outlived their usefulness. Since they’re considered junk, is the only option to bring them to the junkyard?

Is Your Car a Junk Car?

Before we dive into how to junk a junk car, it’s necessary to determine if yours fits into this unkind category. When most think of a junk car, what usually comes to mind is a dilapidated jalopy that’s been used and abused until its wheels have fallen off. While this is certainly true, it’s not the only definition of a junk car. Believe it or not, there are plenty of good-looking vehicles that are hiding a necessary repair that bestows upon them the label of junk car.

A used car becomes a junk car when the costs of repairs to keep it safe and roadworthy far outweigh its resale value. While some junk car owners will foolishly throw good money after bad, it doesn’t make financial sense to do so. To learn the value of your vehicle, simply pop some information about it into one of the many online vehicle value calculators. If the vehicle’s value is equal to 50% or more of its worth, then it’s considered junk.

California’s Junk Car Laws

Many older and difficult-to-sell cars become junk due to California’s strict automobile emissions standards. Those who cannot pass the state’s Smog Check inspection without dishing out hard-earned cash for repairs leave their owners with a difficult decision. Do they pay for the repairs or do they take the risk and drive a vehicle that isn’t legally registered in the state? Without passing the Smog Check exam, the vehicle won’t be able to renew its registration.

Fortunately, vehicles that are unregistered in California can still be sold. Finding a buyer for them could prove to be difficult. With a flooded market of legally street-worthy vehicles, most private buyers of used cars will scoff at purchasing a junk one. You can certainly sell a used car that’s unregistered; however, the buyer won’t be able to drive it home. The added expense of a tow truck is usually enough to eliminate a large pool of prospective buyers.

Scrapping a Junk Car Yourself in California

Since selling an unregistered car in California to a private party can be an incredibly difficult process, some owners of junk cars decide to simply scrap them. Junkyards are the easiest way to scrap a junk car, but most will require the owners to drive or tow them to their business. A scrap yard won’t pay top dollar, but they will buy junk cars and harvest them for the scrap metal.

Owners of junk cars who fancy themselves backyard mechanics may think that they can tear them apart in the driveway or backyard of their residential homes. While this may sound like a great way to eliminate the middleman and gain the most profit from their junk car’s metal, California doesn’t see it as such.

Junk Cars and Specialized Dealers

To avoid a costly fine by dismantling your junk car yourself or losing money by selling it to a junkyard, consider selling it to a specialized dealer who purchases any vehicle despite age, mileage, or if it’s roadworthy. Californians looking to unload an unwanted hole in their wallet can sell their junk car for cash in San Jose. Specialized junk car dealers will buy any vehicle regardless of neglect, excessive mileage, or much-needed repairs. They’ll pay cash on the spot and tow your nightmare away while handling all the paperwork. They’ll tow your wreck away and leave you with more cash than you’d get disposing of it by other means. It’s the most convenient and profitable way to junk a junk car.

Navigating California’s Junk Car Laws: Final Words

A junk car can be a bigger pain in the you-know-what than they are to keep. Frequent breakdowns, expensive repairs, and the inability to pass California’s emission standards are all reasons to junk your junk car. Due to the state’s laws and ordinances about what you can do with a junk car, owners of them find themselves faced with what to do next.