Buying and Selling Auto Salvage Parts
Auto salvage yards are a great source for small and large parts at prices lower than you'd find at most retail locations. While salvage yards usually aren't as organized as an auto parts store, the sheer amount of components available and the high level of variety more than make up for it. A search through a salvage yard's inventory usually yields results, whether it's for a domestic part for a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, or for foreign brands like Nissan, Toyota or Audi.
Despite the wide open nature of auto salvage yards, there are some best practices to follow for shoppers to get a good price on recycled parts and for sellers to get the highest value in return. Here are some pieces of advice to make your search through an auto salvage yard's inventory or quest to make a sale is as productive as possible.
Advice for Buying Parts at Auto Salvage Yards
Whether you're in search of a common piece of gear for your pickup truck or in need of a specific number of car components, purchasing parts from an auto salvage yard can be the ideal solution. However, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
Know What's Needed Ahead of Time
While this is a basic piece of advice, it's definitely worth being specific and understanding exactly what you need before you arrive at an auto salvage yard. It helps to know not only what part is needed, but which similar parts can also work as well. Because auto salvage yards have diverse and constantly changing inventories, the difference between success and failure on a buying search can mean knowing if the water pump for an automobile similar to yours, or one from an earlier or later model year, will work. While it takes some time to research compatibility, it pays off when you come across the right part in the salvage yard and immediately know it will work for you.
Get in Touch with the Salvage Yard Before Your Visit
Auto salvage yards don't have exhaustive inventories of every vehicle, part and accessory in their possession. However, most yards do have an idea of recent arrivals and makes and models of which there's a lot of existing stock. Making contact with a yard before you visit is a good idea, if only to avoid a trip that's likely to end with you leaving empty-handed. This is especially true in areas with more than one salvage yard - some may specialize in certain makes, models, eras or other categories, and it helps to have that information before departing on a search.
While staff at the salvage yards can't answer every question and don't have an exact, complete record of inventory, they can frequently provide help when specific questions are asked. Find the number for your local yard and make a call before you head out. Getting multiple estimates and not immediately agreeing to a purchase at the first yard you call can ultimately lead to a better, more cost-effective resolution for you.
Be Willing to Negotiate
One of the factors that makes auto salvage yards unique is the ability to negotiate, trade and generally make deals in a way that isn't possible at a traditional auto parts store. This is a significant advantage, but also one that has to be taken in context. It's likely that a quest for a single, specific OEM part won't lead to much in the way of a negotiation - there's simply no incentive for the seller when the buyer wants just one component. However, if you've compromised and selected a similar-but-not-identical part instead of the specific one you were looking for, or if you're purchasing more than just a few components at the salvage yard, you have the opportunity to make a deal.
In terms of the negotiations themselves, Lifehacker offers some advice for making bartering sessions more fruitful. One of the most important pieces of advice for what will likely be a one-to-one negotiation between yourself and the salvage yard owner or staff member is to listen. If the yard can't make a sale below a certain dollar amount, for example, then don't keep pushing on a lower price. Instead, see if you can get a few more parts added to the transaction. This ties into another piece of advice: acknowledging counters or objections. Instead of letting differences end a negotiation, work around them to find a more equitable result. While a negotiation is ultimately adversarial in nature, you can still create a positive relationship and realize a mutually beneficial conclusion.
Advice for Selling Parts at Auto Salvage Yards
Selling parts - or an entire vehicle - to an auto salvage yard is a bit different than putting your car or its components up for sale online. In many circumstances, working with a salvage yard can be very advantageous, but it's important to understand the unique selling climate before making that first call or hauling your old auto to the yard's front gates. Here are a few pieces of advice to get the most out of a sale to a salvage yard:
Know What You Have
Depending on the exact parts or whole cars you want to sell, there can be drastic shifts in overall value. While there are standard payments and rates for selling scrap and many whole parts, they can vary greatly. It may so happen that you have a specific part inside your car that's in high demand on the secondary market, or that the components and pieces you want to sell are in low demand due to high supply. This situation can change depending on the area in which you're located and even between specific salvage yards to an extent.
To realize the best results, get in contact with the salvage yard you plan on visiting before actually bringing your scrap and parts to their proverbial front door. Ask for an estimate, especially if you're looking to sell individual parts instead of getting paid for total scrap weight. This is one situation where it can be worth it to spend the time hauling your potential sale to an auto salvage yard that's an hour or two further away. If a potential payout from a yard the next county or state over is hundreds or thousands of dollars more than what your local operation offers, it's certainly worth spending the extra time.
It's also important to know some specific information related to condition of your vehicle or parts before you start negotiating with an auto salvage yard owner or employee. If possible, determine the state of each part you want to sell individually - it's usually only worth selling them if they're in fair working condition, but some components may still hold value even if damaged. It's also worth knowing the market value of the vehicle if you intend to sell it whole. This is also true for the weight of the car if you intend to sell it for scrap, as such knowledge can help you get a more accurate estimate.
Determine Your Objective
While making a sale to an auto salvage yard has a pretty direct result in terms of compensation, there are many different motivations that come into play. You may have a good idea of what your parts are worth and be looking to get the best value possible, or you may simply want to get an old, non-working car out of the driveway. Make sure you clearly understand your goal early on. This approach makes optional services and concepts, such as pick-up or towing offers from auto salvage yards, easier to weigh and accept or decline.
Clear Up Any Legal Issues
Selling a car for parts or as scrap is different than selling it to a dealership as a trade-in or making a person-to-person sale. While the process isn't usually particularly complicated, it's still something to keep in mind, according to DMV.org. You need to get in touch with your local department of motor vehicles and determine exactly what you have to do to record the sale of a vehicle for scrap or parts. This is partially a legal issue, as you don't want your name attached to a vehicle that is technically still registered but no longer under your control. There are also practical aspects to consider, such as paying property taxes. The last thing anyone wants to do is pay taxes on a vehicle when they no longer own or operate it.