After junk cars are sold, they go through a recycling and salvage process that recovers usable parts and materials.
The typical process:
- Towing and intake: The buyer tows or hauls the vehicle to a junkyard, salvage yard, or auto recycling facility
- Fluid removal: Technicians drain and properly dispose of gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, and refrigerant
- Parts harvesting: Valuable and reusable components are removed (engine, transmission, catalytic converter, electronics, body panels, wheels)
- Hazardous material removal: Batteries, mercury switches, and airbags are safely extracted
- Crushing: The remaining shell is crushed and compacted
- Shredding: Crushed cars go to a shredder that breaks them into small pieces
- Metal separation: Magnets and other systems separate steel, aluminum, copper, and other metals
- Recycling: Separated metals are sold to mills and foundries to make new products
About 80% of a junk car is recycled. Salvageable parts are resold. Metals are melted and reused. Auto recycling is one of the largest recycling industries, processing over 12 million vehicles per year in the United States. When you sell your junk car for cash, you are also contributing to this recycling process.