When is a car not worth fixing?

When is a car not worth fixing?

 Humans get attached to things, it’s in our nature. But there are times when we need to let go of one thing and make room for something better to take its place, like that old vehicle. If you’re finding that your old car is in constant need of repairs and wondering if it may be time to let it go, this is the blog for you. 

Some vehicles are worth salvaging, but others aren’t. There are certain factors to consider when assessing the repairability and overall value of your vehicle. This blog intends to educate you on when it’s best to repair your vehicle and when you should stop sinking your money into a losing effort.

1. Mileage and Age

The first two things you need to consider when deciding if you should repair or junk your car is how old it is and the mileage. You would be better off replacing a vehicle more than ten years old with 100,000 miles or more on the odometer than repairing it in most cases. Also, if you’ve had to make constant repairs then it may be time to upgrade your vehicle. 

2. Vehicle Value vs Repair Costs

When the cost of repairs exceeds the current market value it’s not worth repairing. Many car owners apply the 50% rule: if the cost of the repairs is more than 50% of the vehicle’s value it probably isn’t a good investment. You can check resources like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book to find out what your vehicle is worth. 

3. Reliable Transportation

Your vehicle gets you where you need to be like work, the grocery store, and getting your kids where they need to be. We have a great dependency on our cars, trucks, and SUVs. With this dependency comes the need for reliable transportation. If you spend a great deal of time in your car, then you want it to be functioning well. If your vehicle has a pattern of breaking down you might want to consider junking it and taking that cash as a down payment on a newer model. 

4. Nature of the Repairs

What type of repairs are needed on your vehicle? If it’s small electronic fixes or routine maintenance then it may be worthwhile to address those. But if you need a new transmission or your car suffers frame damage then that can get pricey. If the repairs are an ongoing problem then you’re just throwing good money after bad. Cut your losses and start new. 

5. Safety

Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to the vehicle you drive. Your safety is significant as well as the other people on the road. Car owners who have issues with stability or failing brakes should weigh the risks of repair vs starting new. Over everything else, safety should be a priority and if the repair costs compromises anyone’s safety, it’s better to sell and get a new vehicle. 

6. Sentimental Value

We mentioned attachment in the first paragraph of this blog, and we did that for a good reason. There’s nothing tougher than saying goodbye to a car you love. Our cars take us on road trips, they’re earned with hard work, and they truly become a part of our lives. But, like a pet, there are situations when it’s time to say goodbye, especially when you’re throwing good money away with repairs. 

7. Future Expenses

Is this repair job you're contemplating putting an end to all future repairs? No mechanic would make that promise. Odds are, if you’re contemplating whether to junk a car or spend money on repairs, that vehicle isn’t in the greatest shape and future repairs should be expected. Take a look at how many repairs you’ve had on this vehicle and consider that before you repair it again. You’ll know from its history what’s best for you and your bank account. 

If you find yourself with a car or truck like this, it is time to junk it.  We can help.  We always pay cash for junk cars and junk trucks.  Call us at (317) 499-5062 or visit our website at http://pickapartindianapolis.com

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Cash for Cars

Junk Cars

Junk Cars

Junk Cars

Indianpolis, Indiana- We at Pick a Part Indianapolis do more than just sell used car parts, We also will buy your junk car and junk truck.  We always pay cash and even tow it in for free.  So if you have a junk car to sell, get a free quote by calling us at (317) 499-5062 or visit our website at http://pickapartindianapolis.com

 

Junk Cars Indianapolis

Pick a Part Indianapolis

 

Pick a Part Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana-Pick a Part Indianapolis is paying cash for junk cars and towing them in for free.  Give us a call at (317) 499-5062 or get a free online quote for your junk car on our website http://pickapartindianapolis.com  We always offer free towing on your junk truck or junk car.

We are Indianapolis' #1 buyer of junk and wrecked cars and trucks.  Give us a call or get a free estimate on our website.  

#pickapartindianapolis 

Pick a Part Indianapolis

Cash for Junk Cars

 Cash for Junk Cars

Indianapolis, Indiana-Pick a Part Indianapolis is paying cash for your junk car or junk truck, yes even if it looks like it has been in a demo derby.  Call us for a free quote (317) 499-5062 or visit our website at http://pickapartindianapolis.com

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Free Junk Car Towing

Free Junk Car Towing 

Indianapolis, Indiana-How do you get rid of that junk car sitting in your backyard, or on your driveway?  You give us a call here at Pick a Part Indianapolis (317) 499-5062 not only will we pay you cash for your old junk car, we will tow your junk car away for free.  If you want an online quote on what we can pay you for your junk car, just visit us online at http://pickapartindianapolis.com  Same day pick up is usually available if you call early enough.

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Junkyard Indianapolis

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Cash for Junk Cars Indianapolis

 Cash for Junk Cars Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana-Pick a Part Indianapolis is paying cash for junk cars and offering free towing.  If you need your junker picked up, give us a call today at (317) 499-5062.  

We are not a junk yard, but an auto recycler located in Indianapolis. Why do you want to sell your car to an auto recycler and not to junk yards or salvage yards? We actually work with several auto salvage yards and junk yards in the Indianapolis area. We also work with several used car dealers in the Indianapolis area. What does this mean to you? Our specialists that come out will be able to determine where you car needs to go. Pick a Part Indianapolis will send out our specialist that will know which route will bring the most money, so in turn we can pay you more money for your car or truck. This also benefits the environment by not placing cars in a junk yard that could easily be put back on the street with some minor repairs. So by working with an auto recycler like ourselves you will actually be able to put more cash in your pocket while helping the environment. We are not affiliated with Indy Pic-a-Part but we will buy your running or junk car or truck. We can usually pay you more than just standard pricing by the ton. We can pay you for the good, usable parts that are on your car. At Pick a Part Indianapolis not only do we pay you cash for your cars, but at Pick a Part Indianapolis we will come and tow your car in for FREE.

Cash for Junk Cars Indianapolis

Hurricane Ian Damaged 358,000 Vehicles, How to avoid buying one

 Hurricane Ian damaged 358,000 vehicles. How to avoid buying one (cnbc.com)

If you’re planning to shop for a used car in the next few months, be sure to check for flood damage before signing on the dotted line.

In the wake of widespread flooding across Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina last month due to Hurricane Ian, vehicle history report website Carfax now estimates that up to 358,000 autos were damaged by floodwaters. Some of these vehicles will end up being resold, as an estimated 400,000 water-damaged cars are currently on the road from past flooding events.

“Floodwaters cause all sorts of hidden damage, which can surface months later,” said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. 

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“You don’t want anything to do with a flooded vehicle, no matter whether the damage is disclosed and no matter what assurances you get from a seller,” Murray said.

Flooded cars are ‘rotting from the inside out’

Floodwaters can destroy — sometimes slowly — electronics, lubricants and mechanical systems in vehicles. Corrosion can eventually find its way to the car’s vital electronics, including airbag controllers.

“The bottom line on these flood-damaged vehicles is they are literally rotting from the inside out,” said Emilie Voss, spokesperson for Carfax.

“They might look fine cosmetically, but there can be mechanical, electrical, safety and health issues that will show up down the road,” Voss said.

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Buyers should research a used car’s vehicle history report to make sure they know what they are buying, regardless of when or where they make the purchase, because flooded cars often end up for sale in places far from where they originally were damaged.

Through services like Carfax or the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s VINCheck, you can input a car’s vehicle identification number, or VIN, and see if there’s anything in its history that’s a red flag. However, those efforts alone may not be conclusive. 

Not all titles will reflect flood damage

That’s because not all flooded cars are recorded as such unless an insurance company is involved. When an insurer receives a claim and the vehicle is totaled — meaning the repairs would cost more than the car’s worth — the car’s title generally is changed to reflect its status.

Those ruined cars are typically sold at salvage auctions to junkyards and vehicle rebuilders. Reselling them to consumers can get on the right side of the law if the title discloses the flood damage.

But not all car owners file an insurance claim. If they don’t have comprehensive coverage — the part of car insurance that flooding would fall under — they’re generally out of luck when it comes to coverage. So, with no insurance company involvement there may not be any official record of the flood damage.

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“If you suspect a vehicle may have sustained flood damage, move on,” Murray said.

There are things you can look for in a used vehicle for that could suggest flood damage, according to Carfax:

• A musty odor in the interior, which sellers sometimes try to cover with a strong air-freshener;
• Upholstery or carpeting that may be loose, new, stained or that doesn’t match the rest of the interior;
• Damp carpets;
• Rust around doors, under the dashboard, on the pedals or inside the hood and trunk latches;
• Mud or silt in the glove compartment or under the seats;
• Brittle wires under the dashboard;
• Fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, exterior lights or instrument panel.

If you have a flooded or junk car to get rid of in the Indianapolis area give us a call at (317) 599-5062 or visit our webste at http://pickapartindianapolis.com

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