It seems that nearly everyone is interested in a side hustle to earn a bit of extra money. What if you could make extra cash while cleaning your property and helping the environment? Recycling an old scrap metal car from your yard or garage is an ideal way to accomplish all three things. This is a doable project.
Random misinformation about what you must do or what parts of a car are scrap metal is common and confusing. Fortunately, the professionals at Collins Recycling have nearly 30 years of experience in ensuring our clients get the most out of their recyclables while making a nice sum of cash.
Reasons to Recycle the Metal in My Car
- Depending on how environmentally conscious you are, a big motivation could be that recycling metals is a great way to help reduce the need for stripping the earth to create more metal.
- If you are more budget conscious, the fact that scrap metal prices are climbing higher is a good reason to recycle your car for scrap metal. It is difficult to guess the amount of money you can get, but it is generally around a few hundred dollars or more.
- If your significant other has been asking you to get the old car out of the garage or yard, recycling the car for scrap metal is an excellent way to work towards a happy home.
How Much Scrap Metal is in a Car?
Usually, one of the first questions car owners ask is, “how much is my car worth if I scrap it?” Unfortunately, because there are so many variations in models predicting an actual dollar amount for scrapping a car is practically impossible.
Several factors help you get an approximate amount of money you can expect for your vehicle.
- The weight of the recyclable materials in your car is the single most significant factor that determines the amount of money you can earn by scrapping your vehicle.
Some of the other factors that establish how much money you can get for the car you plan to scrap include:
- The price for all valuable metals fluctuates. If you are careful to spot trends in the market, you can catch the rates at their peak and earn more for your scrap.
- If your car has working parts, it is possible some of these are salvageable and will sell for a reasonable price individually.
- If your car has salvageable parts that are in demand, you can get more money when you scrap it.
How Do I Get My Car Ready for Recycling?
Once you decide to scrap your car for recycling, it is a smart idea to speak with someone from the scrapyard you will take the car to. Find out the specifics about what you need to do before bringing the vehicle to the scrapyard. In some cases, you must strip the car of everything that is not metal. Other yards have different requirements. So, before you make a trip to the scrapyard, check out the details. You could save time and money.
Next Steps:
- Remove the non-metal parts from your car, including speakers, steering column, seats, upholstery, and stereo.
- Drain the car’s fluids.
- Clean and vacuum the car’s interior.
- Decide if any of the parts you have removed are suitable for resale. You can make a fair amount of money.
- If your car’s engine, wheels, transmission, or brakes still work, you may also be able to sell these. You can still make money by selling these parts for scrap if they do not work.
Pay Special Attention to the Vehicle’s Battery
The battery from your car has valuable substances that are recyclable. However, your safety needs to be careful with a lead-acid battery. Pay attention to the outer cover and ensure it is intact before moving the battery and moving it with care.
Also, do NOT try to recycle a lead-acid battery yourself. Trained and licensed professionals with the necessary safety equipment should handle all vehicle battery recycling.
What is the Approximate Value for Scrapping a Car in Australia?
Due to the nature of the scrap metal market, prices can change frequently. Your best strategy is to watch the prices and make your decision to scrap your car accordingly.
Recycling is a great way to get cash for cars as scrap metal, and you are helping the environment. If you need some help recycling scrap metal from cars or are unsure which parts of your vehicle can be recycled, don’t hesitate to contact us at Collins Recycling. We have 28 years of experience in the recycling business and can assist you with most any recycling matter.
