If you have a junk car taking up space in your garage, it might be time to trade it in for a bit of cash. Raleigh residents have plenty of local options when it comes to selling their old clunkers, like Raleigh Cash for Junk Cars, Clayton Cash for Junk Cars, Jrop, and Junk Car Lady.

While you may still love that rusted old Chevy in your driveway, it’s not doing you any good just sitting there. Turn it into cash by selling it to a company that specializes in purchasing junk cars!

This process might seem a bit confusing—to help out, the nation’s top-rated and well-loved

car insurance

comparison app,

Jerry

, has compiled this handy guide for drivers looking to offload their old rust buckets and even get

cheap car insurance in Raleigh

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

What qualifies as a junk car?

Before you start contacting potential buyers, let’s first establish if the car in your driveway really is junk. While there’s no clear definition, you can probably assume you have a junk car if it doesn’t run, has a resale value of less than $500, has been permanently parked in one place, or requires major

car repairs

that would cost more than the car’s value.

Your car might look like junk on the outside. For example, it may be rusted out or completely totaled from an accident. But it might only have internal issues that keep it from running—so don’t go on looks alone!`

A good rule of thumb—if your car feels more like a financial burden than an asset, it might be time to get rid of it.

MORE:

How to insure a car with a salvage title

How to sell a junk car

There are lots of steps that go into selling your junk car. If you go with a reliable junk car buyer or salvage yard, they’ll likely walk you through the following stops:

1. Find your car’s title. In most U.S. states—including North Carolina—you’ll need access to the car’s title before you can sell it. If you’ve misplaced it at one time or another,

replace your car title

at the DMV.

2. Find a buyer. You could sell your clunker to an individual buyer that you locate on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but we recommend going with a reputable salvage yard.

3. Do a quick clean. You won’t need to make your car look shiny and new, but a quick clean is a good idea—especially since it offers you the opportunity to double-check for any personal items tucked away in your car’s storage spaces.

4. Take off the license plates. Once you cancel your junk car’s car insurance policy, you’ll have to surrender your North Carolina license plates. If you haven’t done this already, now’s your chance!

5. Remove non-metal components or working parts. Some salvage yards only accept the metal components of your vehicle, so you may have to remove things like plastic and upholstery before they pick it up. On the other hand, you may wish to remove any mechanical parts that are in good condition, as these may have a higher resale value if sold individually.

6. Sign over the title. To finalize the sale, you’ll need to

sign over the title

to its new owner, whether it's an individual or a salvage yard.

7. Cancel your insurance. If you haven’t canceled your car insurance already, go ahead and do that now!

Jerry

can help you find a new policy for your new vehicle.

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How to sell a junk car for cash

Where to sell a junk car in Raleigh

Raleigh has plenty of options when it comes to salvage yards that buy junk cars. Here are four we recommend:

Raleigh Cash for Junk Cars

Address: Wake County, North Carolina

Phone number: (919) 723-8046

BBB rating: A+

Serving the entire county is

Raleigh Cash for Junk Cars

. They’ll buy your junk cars, trucks, buses, tractors, trailers, and RVs. They take all makes and models and can even arrange for towing!

Clayton Cash for Junk Cars

Address: Johnston and Wake Counties, North Carolina

Phone number: (919) 437-7036

BBB rating: A+

Another local company,

Clayton Cash for Junk Cars

serves customers throughout the Triangle Area. Call or text to get your cash offer based on the details of your vehicle.

Jrop

Address: Various locations around North Carolina

Phone number: (866) 600-5767

BBB rating: A+

Jrop

offers hassle-free junk car removal in exchange for top-dollar cash offers. A professional team will come to you at a time that’s convenient, inspect your clunker, and give you a cash offer on the spot.

The Junk Car Lady

Address: 3222 Wellington Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

Phone number: (919) 228-8610

BBB rating: A+

A car removal company with a female touch,

The Junk Car Lady

buys vehicles of all types for cold hard cash. Simply call to arrange a time that’s convenient, and a specialist will arrive within 24 hours. They’ll take your old clunker whether it’s still working or hasn’t run in years.

MORE:

Here’s how to save money on car expenses

How to find affordable car insurance in Raleigh

Selling that old junk car is a great way to earn some extra dough. If you want even more money, look for a cheaper car insurance policy! But don’t do it alone—use

Jerry

It’s this simple: download Jerry's

trustworthy insurance comparison app

or go to getjerry.com. In less than 45 seconds, Jerry collects all of your information from your existing insurer. Choose from competitive quotes from top insurance companies and Jerry takes care of the rest—securing your new policy and helping you cancel your old one upon request.

No long forms. No calling around. No hard work. Just savings. The average Jerry user saves over $800 a year on car insurance.