Selling a junk car is a great way to put some cash in your pocket while unburdening yourself of a useless piece of metal and glass. The Clunker Junker, Get Cash For Junk Cars, Cash For Cars, and Sactown Cash For Cars are four solid options if you’re looking to unload your junk car in Sacramento.

So your old reliable car has turned its final corner? If your car is done and done, either from overuse, age, or being totaled in a wreck, sell it to a salvage yard or auto recycler to start fresh again with a new set of wheels.

To help you find the best places in California’s capital city to rid yourself of that hunk of junk,

car insurance

broker and comparison shopping

super app

extraordinaire

Jerry

has put together everything you’ll need to know to get rid of your junk car and make some cash in the process.

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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What qualifies as a junk car?

What’s “junk” to some may be “gold” to another—do you find yourself having to start your ‘92

Buick Regal

Fred Flinstone-style? Is that old

Mitsubishi

slowly melting into the cement of your parents’ garage? Or is your relatively new

Hyundai Ioniq

a wreck after being involved in an unfortunate smelting accident?

The bottom line is this—your car can be considered junk if it fits one or more of the following criteria:

It no longer runs

Its resale value is less than $500

It has been permanently parked in the same spot for months or years on end

It needs

car repairs

that are more expensive than the car is worth

So, if your car feels more like a mechanical or financial burden than a road-worthy vehicle, it’s likely ready for the junkyard. In this case, selling that eyesore is your best bet to start fresh and make some money in the process.

MORE:

How to insure a car with a salvage title

How to sell a junk car

Selling a junk car can be a bit tricky, but that doesn’t mean it has to be. Here are some tips to make selling your junk car a breeze.

Gather the car’s documents, if you can find them. It is a much easier process to sell a car with a

title

, so it's best if you can find it. If you can’t locate it, you can apply for a

replacement title

at your local DMV. Otherwise, you can sell the parts for scrap.

Find a reputable junk buyer. Do some research and zero in on a few reputable junk buyers in your area. Make sure the outfit is properly licensed and that they use a certified scale in their operations. You can use Craigslist to find an individual buyer, or place an ad in your local newspaper.

Give the car a good cleaning. It may not need a spit-polish, but give your junk car’s interior a good wipe down, and vacuum it out for good measure. Be sure to remove any personal effects before the junk buyer tows it away for good.

If necessary, remove the license plates and non-metal components. You aren't required to return your

California license plates

to the DMV, but you might want to remove and destroy them, or keep them as a souvenir. Also, some junk dealers will only take a vehicle’s metal components, so you may need to strip it of everything else before they take it off your hands. Be sure to ask.

Remove any working parts. Before your junk car is hauled away, strip it of any working parts, as you might be able to make a quick buck for a functioning transmission or alternator.

Sign over the title. In order to finalize the transaction, you’ll need to

transfer the car’s title

to the salvage buyer.

Cancel your insurance

. You’ll be free and clear of that old wreck once it's towed away, but if you’re planning on getting a new ride, head over to

Jerry

for a seamless transition to getting a great car insurance policy at an even better price!

MORE: How to sell a junk car for cash

Where to sell a junk car in Sacramento

You want to go with a reputable salvage yard when getting rid of your junk car. The Sacramento area’s got plenty of them, but here are some reliable ones to get your started.

The Clunker Junker

Address: The Clunker Junker Sacramento, Sacramento, California, 94203

Phone number: (888) 383-4181

Google Business Rating: 4.6/5

The

Clunker Junker

is a national chain that offers top dollar for your junk car. They offer no-pay towing as well as same day pickup services.

Get Cash For Junk Cars

Address: 7040 McComber St, Sacramento, CA 95828

Phone number: (916) 414-8080

Google Business Rating: 4.1/5

Get Cash For Junk Cars

pays cash for your trucks, cars, vans, SUVs, Rvs, trailers, and boats. They offer free towing and serve the Sacramento area.

Cash For Cars

Address: 8600 Morrison Creek Dr Ste B, Sacramento, CA 95828

Phone number: (916) 229-9661

Google Business Rating: 4/5

With over 35 years of experience, Sacramento’s

Cash For Cars

will buy your junk cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, and RVs. They offer free towing, and if you’re not home, they’ll take your junk car and mail you your check.

Sactown Cash For Cars

Address: 8116 Junipero St, Sacramento, CA 95828

Phone number: (866) 327-5865

Google Business Rating: 5/5

Sactown Cash For Cars

will pay you on the spot when they pick up your junk car. They buy all sorts of junk vehicles, no matter their make, model, or damage. Removal is free, and they’ve been in business for over a decade in Sacramento.

MORE:

Here’s how to save money on car expenses

How to find affordable car insurance in Sacramento

Ridding yourself of a junk car is one way to make a buck. Another way to save money? By making sure your car is protected by a robust

car insurance

policy by using

Jerry

Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then our

trustworthy super app

gets to work comparing quotes from our 50+ insurance partners to ensure you get the best policy at the best price. Better yet, Jerry automatically searches for better rates before every renewal period, so you don’t have to. Best of all? Jerry users save an average of $800+ per year on car insurance!

“I can’t thank the
Jerry
app enough! They saved me $160 a month, and I didn’t even have to talk over the phone. They took care of everything through text.” —Travis Y.

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?

Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month

Check your rate!