Hundreds of thousands of cars reach end-of-life status every year. If not disposed of properly, they pose a significant environmental risk. For one, vehicles typically contain extremely poisonous fluids that endanger the health of anyone coming into contact with them. Examples are motor oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, battery acid and refrigerants. Thus, getting rid of your broken-down car in an environmentally-friendly way is paramount.
Below are five tips for your consideration:
1. Hand it over to cash for cars companies
The most straightforward and hassle-free way to get rid of your rundown car is to sell it to car removal companies. The best firms should buy your vehicle regardless of its condition, model or type. The only thing that’ll vary is the cash offer.
Typically, the firms assess your car and propose a fixed price based on its state of disrepair. The older and non-functional it is, the less money you’ll receive. The perk is that you only have to call the company, and it’ll handle all the rest of the work. It’ll complete any necessary paperwork with the transport agency and tow away your vehicle. The government requires you to deregister your car and provide documents like identification cards or driver’s licenses before disposing of it. Moreover, you receive cash instantly on the spot without any unnecessary waiting. However, dig further to ascertain the firm you’re working with is licensed and upholds sustainability standards.
2. Part It Out
Parting out your old vehicle is another excellent way to make money from it while also minding the environment. However, it takes a bit of technical expertise to do it successfully. You must get the right tools to make the dismantling task easy. Most car parts fetch a reasonable price, including:
- Door handles
- Body panels
- Seats
- Air cleaners
- Exhaust
- Fuel injectors
- Electrical wiring
- Plastic side kits
- Headlights
- Side mirror
- Tyre rims
You can advertise the salvaged parts on online marketplaces, contact local car dealerships, or sell directly to interested car owners. Ultimately, this option may fetch you more money than every other disposal method.
3. Donate to a charity
Giving your car to a charity is a way to support worthwhile causes, from animals in need to at-risk youths. Typically, charities make money from the donated vehicles to fund their activities by repairing and reselling the cars, using them for public transportation or parting them out and selling the parts.
It’d be best to donate to an organisation championing a cause close to your heart. Also, consider going directly to the charity instead of passing through a for-profit intermediary which will take a percentage of the proceeds, leaving little to the charity.
An advantage of such donations is the possibility of getting tax deductions. The exact amount will depend on your car’s value at the time of donation.
4. Scrap it
Your car may be in a terrible state of disrepair, perhaps after a collision, and nothing much can be done to restore it to working condition. In such a case, the most feasible option is to take it to a scrap car recycling firm which will extract the metal parts for processing and manufacturing other vehicles.
Car recycling disposal generally fetches a lower price than the other options, but it’s still worth it, given there’s nothing much you can do with the car. Aside from the metallic components, the following car parts can also be recycled:
- Tires
- Engine oil
- Batteries
- Plastics
- Engine parts
- Windshield glass
- Alloy wheels and hubcaps
- Transmission systems
- Oil filters
- Car mats and carpets
- Starters and alternators
Scrap car recycling is beneficial to the environment as it saves the energy and resources that would have been used to manufacture new components. It also reduces the amount of waste going into landfills.
5. Trade it in
Another feasible disposal option is trading in your old car for a new one at a reputable car dealership. Instead of selling your old vehicle directly, which comes with the added burden of advertising and looking for clients, hand it over to a car dealer who subsidises your new vehicle’s purchase price. It’s a good bargain and a stress-free approach.
Just ensure you know your car’s actual worth to avoid being short-changed. You could hire a seasoned car appraiser to estimate your car’s value before trading it in.
Conclusion
It’s inevitable for vehicles to wear out with age and reach their end of life. When yours gets to this point, take care not to dispose of it in a way that harms the environment and poses a danger to human and animal health. The above five proposals are eco-friendly. It’s good to play a part in caring for the environment.
References
- “Necessary, dirty and unlauded: The industry that scraps 150,000 cars a year”, Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/102939132/necessary-dirty-and-unlauded-the-industry-that-scraps-150000-cars-a-year
- “What Parts Of A Vehicle Are Recycled?”, Source: https://www.wheelsforwishes.org/news/what-parts-of-a-vehicle-are-recycled/
- “Sold or disposed of a vehicle”, Source: https://transact.nzta.govt.nz/transactions/NoticeOfDisposal/entry
- “Selling a vehicle”, Source: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/buying-and-selling-a-vehicle/selling-a-vehicle/