Selling your junk car to a salvage yard can be a great way to pick up some extra cash in exchange for a vehicle that is beyond repair. Salvage yards perform the hard work of stripping these junk cars for components that have value on the used auto parts market, and in exchange, they typically offer sellers quick cash up front.

Unfortunately, the junk car market can also be fertile ground for scammers and dishonest operators. But there are a great number of reputable salvage yards, such as Stewart’s Used Auto Parts of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Below, these auto recycling specialists explain five tips for avoiding junk car scams.

5 Tips for Avoiding Junk Car Scams

1. Find a Local Salvage Yard

Working directly with a local salvage yard can help you cut out middlemen who might otherwise try to skim money from the top of your junk care sale. Internet referral services and even some towing companies may offer to buy your car for what they claim is top dollar, only to sell it again to a salvage yard for a higher price. Ensure you’re getting the best price for your car by taking your vehicle directly to a salvage yard on your own if possible.

2. Consider Longevity

Longevity in the field can be a very good sign a business meets its commitments. If you work with a salvage yard that has been in business for some time, you can rest assured they are integrated into the local business community and are not a fly-by-night operation.

3. Ask About Licensure & Professional Memberships

Another indicator of a salvage yard’s trustworthiness is its membership in professional organizations that help design standards and best practices for the industry. Stewart’s Used Auto Parts, for instance, maintains memberships in the Automotive Recyclers Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

4. Get More Than One Quote

Just as if you were making an important purchase, it can be smart to shop your junk car around to various salvage yards to make sure you’ve found the best possible resale price.

5. Don’t Offer Personal Information

A reputable salvage yard should be able to provide you with payment without delving in to your bank account. Typically, a salvage yard will offer payment via cash or check at the time of the title transfer, and they will have no reason to ask for any personal information beyond an address and a phone number where you can be reached.

If you have a junk car to sell in Barkhamsted, contact the area’s most trusted salvage yard: Stewart’s Used Auto Parts. Visit them online or call (800) 726-0871 to find out more about how to sell your junk car or purchase quality used auto parts.