The cost of buying a new or used vehicle is rising rapidly. When your current vehicle is reliable, safe, and affordable, it makes sense to stick with it. If your vehicle is paid off, you should do your best to keep it maintained and in good running shape to save money on transportation.
Eventually, even the most reliable vehicle reaches the point that you should consider whether you should keep it or look for another vehicle. You might become attached to your current car, but wear and tear will lead to the day when you must get rid of it. The following can help you to know when that time has arrived.
Is it time to get rid of my car?
A very simple rule of thumb tells you when it is time to get rid of your car: When the cost of maintaining and repairing it is nearly equal to the cost of buying a car, you need to get rid of the old one.
You cannot save money by pouring it into constant repairs on your car. When a vehicle has reached the end of its service life, a smart owner lets it go and gets another. Most vehicles these days can run perfectly fine well beyond 100,000 miles and possibly even 200,000 miles – but only when they are well-maintained.
If you have a vehicle with 200,000 or more miles on the odometer, it could be a couple of decades old. Its safety systems are outdated, and the engine usually runs less efficiently than current production models. The time has come to replace it.
How do I know it’s time to junk my car?
Safety always is the top consideration for whether a vehicle is viable for continued use on public roads. When the suspension is well beyond the end of its service life, the brakes are worn out, and the engine is running roughly, it is unsafe for driving.
The repair costs are too high, and you likely could not sell it for anything other than parts. That answers the question: How do I know it’s time to junk my car?
Alaska weather also might reduce the body to a rusty hulk. When it is time to junk your car, you could sell it as scrap for a few hundred dollars. If it mostly is rust, you would do well to simply let someone haul it away and get rid of it.
Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling in Wasilla buys junk cars and hauls them away. We can strip some parts from it that still are useful and crush the rest to use as scrap metal.
If you have an eyesore in your yard and want to be rid of it, call us at (907) 357-7775 and schedule a pick-up time. We are family-owned and operated and have been in business for over 20 years.