If you want to get rid of an old clunker but don’t think selling it would be worth your time, you can still trade it to a salvage yard or auto recycler for up to a few hundred dollars in cash. Some companies that pay cash for junk cars in Colorado Springs are U Pull & Pay, Western Scrap Processing, and Insurance Auto Auctions.

Is it finally time to offload that old, broken-down

Ford Mustang

you’ve been meaning to fix up for years? Your first instinct might be to simply have it hauled off to the dump—but by working with an auto recycler or salvage yard instead, you can earn some quick cash.

Not sure where to dispose of your junk car in Colorado Springs? Top-rated

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What qualifies as a junk car?

Did the old

Dodge Neon

you’ve been driving since high school finally kick the bucket? Or do you have a totaled

Honda Civic

taking up valuable garage space? If owning your vehicle feels like more of a hassle than getting rid of it, there’s a good chance that you’ve got a junk car on your hands. In general, you can probably consider your car “junk” if it:

Doesn’t run

Has a resale value of less than $500

Needs major repairs that would cost more than the value of the car

Just because your car qualifies as junk, doesn’t mean it’s completely worthless! Salvage yards, auto wreckers, auto recyclers, and even towing companies will often buy junk cars for cash.

MORE:

How to insure a car with a salvage title

How to sell a junk car

Selling a junk car isn’t difficult, but there are some steps you’ll need to follow if you want to get the most out of your old rust bucket.

1. Gather your car’s paperwork. You can usually get a better price for your car if you have its

certificate of title

—although there are some salvage yards that don’t require it. If you can’t find your title, you can

get a replacement for a lost title

from the DMV.

2. Choose a reputable auto wrecker. Before you select a junk car company, make sure they are properly licensed and use a certified scale. You can determine whether a company is trustworthy by checking their Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating or by reading reviews on Google or Yelp.

3. Clean out the car. Vacuum the upholstery, wipe down hard surfaces, and be sure to check the glove box and under the seats for personal items.

4. Remove the license plates. Colorado doesn’t require its drivers to turn in their old license plates, so you can either hang on to them as a keepsake or bring them to a recycling center.

5. Remove non-metal parts. Depending on the salvage yard you choose, you might be required to remove non-metal components such as upholstery or plastic parts.

6. Remove any parts you want to sell yourself. If the car has functioning parts like a battery, catalytic converter, transmission, or alternator, you might make more money if you sell them on their own.

7. Sign the certificate of title. Just like when you sell a car to a regular buyer, you’ll need to transfer ownership of your car to the auto recycler or salvage yard that will take possession of it.

8. Cancel your car insurance. When you’re ready to shop for new car insurance for a different vehicle, the

Jerry

app will help you shop for low prices with dozens of different insurance companies for free.

MORE: How to sell a junk car for cash

Where to sell a junk car in Colorado Springs

Googling something like “junk cars for cash” will turn up dozens of auto wreckers, salvage yards, towing companies, and auto recyclers in Colorado Springs—but how do you know which ones are reputable? Reading through reviews and ratings can be time consuming, so here’s a short list of trustworthy junk car companies in Colorado Springs to get you started.

U Pull & Pay

Address: 3745 S US Hwy 85-87, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone number: (719) 392-5900

BBB rating: A+

U Pull & Pay

is a self-service used auto parts yard that buys cars for cash in Colorado Springs. They provide quotes over the phone and may offer up to $1,000 for your junk car. If you accept their offer, they’ll come and pick up your car for free.

Western Scrap Processing

Address: 3315 Drennan Industrial Loop S, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Phone number: (719) 390-7986

BBB rating: A+

Also known as America Iron & Metal,

Western Scrap Processing

makes selling your junk car for cash easy. They’ll handle all the paperwork in less than 15 minutes and have towing services available if you need them.

Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA)

Address: 8500 Import Ct., Colorado Springs, CO 80925

Phone number: (719) 755-0862

BBB rating: A+

Insurance Auto Auctions

is a nationwide company that auctions your junk car for cash. IAA has a variety of options based on budget, schedule, and preferences to assist you in selling your junk car.

MORE:

Here’s how to save money on car expenses

How to find affordable car insurance in Colorado Springs

Once you’ve sold your clunker, it might be time to start thinking about buying a new car. Whether your next car is used or brand new, you’ll want to protect it with great

car insurance

. To make sure you’re getting the lowest rate on your policy, check out the

Jerry

app.

Jerry is a licensed broker that does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.