The car recycling industry is booming right now. It brings in about $25 billion each year, which actually makes it the 16th largest industry in the entire country.

As a result of this, there are lots of junk car buyers popping up and trying to convince people to sell their cars to them. They make junking a vehicle so easy by putting cash into people’s pockets in exchange for their junk cars.

If you have an older car that you don’t want anymore, you might want to consider selling a junked vehicle. But before you do, you should make sure that your car falls into the “junk” category.

So, when exactly is a car considered junk? Here are some of the instances in which you’ll find yourself with a junk car on your hands.

Your Car Doesn’t Run

If your car doesn’t run at the moment, there could be a simple fix that will get it up and going again. You might just need to do something like stick a new battery into it or replace the starter in it.

But if your car has a variety of different issues that are preventing you from starting it up, that’s when you’re going to want to strongly consider junking a vehicle. It’s not going to be worth the time and effort that you’ll need to put into it to get it to run again.

You’re also going to have a tough time selling your car to a private buyer when you’re not able to show them that it works. They’re going to be wary about purchasing your car as-is since there could be any number of things wrong with it.

A junk car buyer, on the other hand, won’t have any problem with purchasing your car from you, even if it doesn’t run. They’ll pay you cash for it and tow it away so that you don’t need to worry about doing a thing.

Your Car Has Serious Engine or Transmission Issues

The two most important parts in your car are your engine and your transmission. If something ever goes wrong with either one of them, there is a good chance that repairing or replacing them is going to cost more than the total value of your car.

If, for example, your car’s engine dies on you, you might be looking at paying several thousand dollars for a brand-new one. That could potentially be more than your car is even worth.

When this is the case, junking a vehicle is going to be a better option than spending a small fortune to replace your engine or transmission. You’ll be able to make money rather than spending it when you say, “I’m going to junk my car.”

Your Car Is Rusting Beyond Belief

There are a bunch of different things that you can do to prevent your car from rusting over time. From washing it on a regular basis to keeping it away from the salt that gets put down on the road when it snows, you can stop rust from becoming a problem for your vehicle.

But at some point in time, you’re probably going to see rust start to develop on an older car. And once it does, it’s not going to be too long before it begins to spread to other areas.

You can get away with driving around in a car with a little bit of rust on it. But when it starts spreading, it’s going to make your car look unsightly. It’s also going to make it unsafe since the outside of your car won’t be able to provide you with the protection that you need when it’s covered in rust.

If your car ever gets to this point, you should figure out the best way to junk a vehicle and do it. You’re not going to want to keep a car for too long when it has rust all over it.

Your Car Is Unsafe to Drive

We just mentioned that rust can make your car unsafe. But that’s not the only thing that can put you in harm’s way when it comes to your car.

There are also tons of other things that can make a vehicle unsafe. For instance, if the frame of a car has been damaged, that’s going to affect the safety of it, and it should encourage you to consider junking it right away.

You should take stock of the safety of your car every so often and think about getting rid of a junked car if it’s not as safe as you want it to be. It’ll provide you with peace of mind when you’re driving around in your new car.

Your Car Is Pretty Much Worthless

Do you know how much your old car is worth right now? If not, you should go and see what the value of it is.

In some cases, you might be pleasantly surprised to see how valuable an older car is. Certain makes and models tend to hold their value for long periods of time.

But in other cases, you might find that your car is worth next to nothing. In these instances, it won’t make much sense to try and convince a private buyer to purchase it from you. Junking a vehicle is going to be your only good option.

Consider Junking a Vehicle If Your Car Falls Into Any of These Categories

As you’ve seen here, cars can be considered junk for many different reasons. Some should be junked because of how they look, while others should be junked because of what’s going on with them under the hood.

You should think about junking a vehicle if your car falls into any of the categories we just mentioned. It’ll be the best option for you when you don’t want a car anymore.

Are you interested in learning more about junking a car and how it’s done? Read through some of the other articles found on our website to get additional information on doing it.