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How do you get a junk car towed?

There’s an old junk car that’s been sitting in my parking lot for months. It’s time I got rid of it, but I don’t know how to do it. What’s the best way to get a junk car towed?

avatar
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Getting a junk
car towed
is a simple process—and you may even make some money out of it!
Use the following steps to get your junk car towed:
  • Make sure it’s junk: A junk car is typically defined as a car that takes more money to fix than it’s worth. If your car matches that description, it’s probably junk. But if it’s still drivable, it may be worth donating it to an organization like Habitat For Humanity. Don’t worry, you’ll still make some money. You can typically write off the value of your car as a tax deduction.
  • Call your local junkyards: Different junkyards have different regulations and prices for each car. So calling around to multiple junkyards can help you find out which one is easiest to work with and how much you can expect to earn.
  • Collect the paperwork: Some states require car owners to transfer their car title to the junkyard before trashing it. Others may require owners to report the registration to their local DMV. Read up on your state’s junk-car policies and make sure you have the required paperwork on hand.
  • Call a towing company: Depending on your city, you may have free towing services. Call your local DMV to learn more about your towing options, and ask for recommendations. Even if you don’t have free towing, your DMV can usually direct you to cost-effective companies.
Keep in mind that you can drop your
car insurance
when you junk the car. But you won’t be able to drive it once the policy has been canceled. If you’re planning on selling or donating the car, it’s typically best to keep it covered until the new owner officially takes it.
To make sure you have the car insurance coverage you need, try
Jerry
. A licensed broker, the Jerry app helps users find and compare policies from over 50 top providers like Progressive and Nationwide for free. When you find a plan you like, Jerry can help you switch policies and even help cancel your old one.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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