Junk cars are dismantled, recycled, or resold for parts. Salvage yards strip usable components like engines, transmissions, doors, and electronics. The remaining metal body is crushed and sent to a shredder. Steel, aluminum, and other materials are recycled into new products.
The typical process:
- Fluids are drained (oil, coolant, brake fluid, refrigerant)
- Hazardous materials are removed (battery, mercury switches, airbags)
- Usable parts are pulled and inventoried for resale
- The shell is crushed and sent to a metal recycler
- Shredded metal is sorted and sold to steel mills or foundries
About 80% of a car is recyclable. The steel becomes new cars, appliances, or construction materials. Plastics, rubber, and glass are increasingly recycled too.
Some junk cars get a second life. Vehicles with good engines or popular parts supply the used auto parts market. Rebuilders buy salvage cars to repair and resell. Export buyers ship older American cars overseas.
Selling your junk car keeps hazardous materials out of landfills and puts metal back into the supply chain. It’s the environmentally responsible choice compared to letting a car rust in your yard.
