Auto Recycling Facts That Will Shock You

Posted on March 12, 2021 by gardencity

If you are to read through the various automotive recycling facts and figures throughout the years, you will come to learn that your current vehicle will not only serve its purpose with you, but continue to play a valuable role in various industries and applications after it has been totaled or junked. That is because metal is 100% recyclable and can be repurposed indefinitely. Accordingly, vehicles contain a lot of metal, making them one of the most valuable commodities to recycle in the world!

Continue reading to learn some auto recycling facts and statistics that might surprise you, as well as where to go to recycle your junk car for cash on the spot!

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Metal Recycling in the Automotive World

It is known that nearly 80% of the average vehicle is recyclable, and not all of that is necessarily metal. Vehicles like cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and more contain all sorts of reusable materials along with metal, including upholstery, plastics, rubber, and glass. The common metals found in the average car include steel, iron, nickel, aluminum, copper, and in some cases even a little platinum and gold!

Car Recycling Facts and Figures

Today, vehicles are the most frequently recycled consumer-bought commodity in the world.

More than 25 million tons of materials are recycled from old or junked vehicles, every single year!

The 16^th largest industry in the United States is the auto recycling industry, ranking a national GDP of 25 billion per year.

More than 100,000 people in the United States alone are employed within the automotive recycling industry.

The international car recycling industry has been in operation for over 7 decades.

Around 40% of ferrous metal is derived from the North American car recycling industry.

Thanks to automotive recycling, consumers have access to used car parts that cost 20% to 80% less than comparable auto parts bought brand new.

Around 27 million vehicles are recycled world-wide, each year.

Want to get involved in the automotive recycling industry? Contact Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle cars in Indianapolis, Indiana for cash on the spot. We provide free quotes and free junk car removal!

You Might Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions About Junk Car Recycling
Most Valuable Metals in Junk Cars
How to Safely Get Rid of a Used Car Battery

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What is This Junk Car Worth?

Posted on April 24, 2020 by gardencity

There are many reasons why you might have a junk car. Perhaps you couldn’t afford auto repair, or another insurance claim after totaling your car. Or maybe you started a restoration project that you never got around to finishing. Most often, people wind up with a junk car through inheritance. No matter the reason for owning a junk car, you have realistic options for selling it to a local junk car buyer for an instant profit.

Continue reading to learn what a junk car is valued at in Indiana, and who to call for the highest return for your asset.

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Estimating the Value of Junk Cars

The items that make a junk car valuable are made from metal. And the most valuable metals in a junk car are its parts, like the catalytic converter made primarily from platinum. If your junk vehicle has all its parts intact, even if they are not functional, they are worth good cash. The rest of the steel in the vehicle is valuable and recyclable as well. Even the headlights, taillights, fenders, bumpers, windshields, tires, and more are reusable and valuable. So, the more intact your junk car is, the more money it will be worth to a junk car buyer.

Let’s say your junk vehicle is not very-well intact, missing valuable auto parts like the motor or catalytic converter, it is still profitable. The steel, steel frame, and more can be sold for cash and recycled at a junk car lot. Although the overall value and return is less, it is still worth something.

The current metal prices in the market determine the maximum payouts at local junk car buying lots and scrap metal recycling centers. One year steel can be worth more, while the next it brings in less profit. This is how junk car buyers evaluate the overall worth of a junk vehicle. See our blog, “Most Valuable Metals in Junk Cars” for some help understanding market values for metal.

Where to Sell a Junk Car for the Highest Price in Indiana

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell a junk car for cash in Central and Southern Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all make and model vehicles and metal equipment, including cars, trucks, vans, SUV’s, boats, tractors, auto parts, appliances, construction equipment, farming equipment, and more. Request a free estimate for your junk car, today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Defective Car Batteries

Posted on February 25, 2020 by gardencity

You should think of your car battery as the heart of your vehicle. You would think the engine would be a better metaphor, but your car battery is what essentially gives your vehicle power. Just like you wouldn’t want your body to go without a beating heart, you wouldn’t want your vehicle to go without battery power. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting stuck somewhere because of a dead or defective battery. The best method for maintaining a functional and reliable automotive battery is to have your vehicle serviced professionally at least twice per year.

If you are concerned about your car battery, or simply wish to learn more about them, continue reading for some frequently asked questions about dead car batteries, as well as, their answers.

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How Long Do Car Batteries Last?

The typical lifespan for a standard lead-acid car battery is between 3 to 5 years. For those who drive often or long distances, change out your batteries closer to the 3 year mark. This is recommended for older vehicles as well. Keep in mind that although this is the standard lifespan, there are several factors that can shorten the life of your car battery.

How Do I Know if My Car Battery is Dying?

There are several signs that indicate it’s time to service or replace your car battery. These signs include but are not limited to: slow engine crank, weak engine power, dashboard lights illuminated (even if it seems unrelated), check engine light turns on, low battery fluid, dim lights (interior and exterior), sluggish car start, bloated battery casing, smell of sulfur or rotten eggs, and more.

Why Did My Car Battery Die?

The most common cause for a dead car battery is drainage. If you leave your headlights or interior lights on all night by accident, you may wake up to find that your car battery is dead. A simple jump start will fix this issue in as little as a five minutes. Other circumstances that can cause your battery power to drain include not closing the visor or glove box all the way, leaving a stereo on, leaving a door ajar, and leaving the dome light on.

After several hours, a battery will drain entirely, even sooner if it’s old or close to replacement. As for other reasons why your car battery might have died, things like parasitic draw, defective battery cells, low battery fluid, and more can all play a role. It is best to have your battery inspected by a trained mechanic for accurate and professional assistance.

How Can I Tell the Age of My Car Battery?

The age of your automotive battery is easy to locate. The manufacturer date is always stamped on a label, which is usually on its side. The information on the label will provide the date the battery was sent by the manufacturer. The first two characters of the label represent different pieces of information. The letter represents the month the battery was made, while the number represents the year (i.e. JAN=A, FEB=B, 9=1999, 1=2001, etc.).

✨ HELPFUL HINT: Contact a trusted Indianapolis scrap metal buyer to sell your old car battery for cash.

Where to Scrap Old Auto Parts in Indiana

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to scrap used auto parts in Indianapolis, Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all metal and metal commodities, including vehicles, car parts, appliances, construction equipment, farming equipment, and much more! Collect all the scrap metal you can, and then sell it to us for the highest profit in town! Request a free estimate or information, today.

How to Safely Get Rid of a Used Car Battery

Posted on October 29, 2019 by gardencity

We have all had to change a car battery in our lives. It is a familiar circumstance for many drivers. Once a car battery has died, you contact a friend or roadside assistance company to either jump start it again, or replace it entirely. We are all aware of how to change a car battery, but many of us are not sure what to do with the old one once it’s removed. There are many things within an automotive battery that allow it to operate and function properly. Unfortunately, many of them are harmful to the environment and a hazard for us as well.

Continue reading to learn how to safely dispose of car batteries in order to protect our Eco-system and communities.

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Car Battery Disposal

The constituents within a car battery are mostly chemical-based. These chemicals can be extensively damaging to plant life, Eco-systems, water supplies, wildlife, pets, and humans. This is why safe battery disposal is so vital. On top of containing several dangerous chemicals, they also carry heavy metals and other toxic materials. For example, a standard 12 volt battery contains hazardous elements like lead, mercury, plastic, sulfuric acid, and more. When you think about it, diesel engines like trucks, use 24 volt car batteries; that’s twice the amount of chemicals and harmful elements!

Here’s the easiest way to safely dispose of a used car battery:

➀ Safely remove old car battery.
➁ Find a safe location to store it, temporarily.
➂ Call a local scrap metal recycling center to sell it for cash.

Dangers of Improper Disposal

Improper battery disposal comes with a wide-range of trouble and consequences. The chemicals inside them can have negative effects on our health, homes, Eco-systems, and surrounding environment. Most damages caused by irresponsible car battery disposal take decades to reverse, if reversible at all.

If you ever come into contact with any chemical or liquid inside a car battery, be sure to wash your hands immediately. Always be sure that the battery is in a sturdy upright position so leakage doesn’t occur during transportation. For expert information on proper car battery disposal, contact a reputable Indianapolis scrap metal recycling center and receive accurate industry advice.

Our Indianapolis Scrappers Will Buy Your Used Car Batteries!

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to get rid of used car batteries in Central and Southern Indiana. Our Indianapolis metal recycling professionals pay cash on the spot for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including junk cars, automotive parts, appliances, construction equipment, motorized farming equipment, and more. Request a free estimate for your scrap metal, today.

How to Extend the Life of Your Car’s Transmission

Posted on September 23, 2019 by gardencity

The transmission inside your vehicle is one of the most critical engine components. Without it, your wheels won’t move. In order to preserve your vehicle for as long as possible, it is in your best interest to maintain the transmission to the best of your ability. Otherwise, transmission troubles can quickly worsen, and even lead to entire transmission failure. Fortunately, transmission care is straightforward and easy. And in the case that your transmission blows, there is a pleasing recourse that might help you pay for a replacement.

Continue reading to learn more about transmission maintenance, including how to get payment relief for a new one.

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If you want your transmission to last a long time, plus withstand natural wear and tear along the way, be sure you add these priorities to your maintenance plan:

⛮ Transmission Fluid Monitoring

There are many variables that influence how to properly check a car or truck’s transmission fluid. It depends on the make and model of the vehicle, as well as, other more specific factors. For example, in most cases it is instructed to leave the car engine on while checking the transmission fluid. However, if you are driving a Honda, the engine needs to be turned off.

In a Dodge, the car needs to be in neutral while applying the emergency brake. With all the different rules and elements that apply to each make and model, it is strongly suggested to have a professional car repair and maintenance shop take a look for you. Most auto repair shops are willing to check car and truck fluids for free, so be sure to take advantage of this when it comes to changing fluids in your ride.

⛮ Transmission Fluid Leak Detection

Transmission fluid repair technicians advise drivers to have their car or truck looked at professionally because it can be difficult determining where a leak originated from in a car or truck. The technicians will start an inspection to find the source of the leak. Often times, this type of inspection is accompanied with a small fee, usually around $75 or so.

However, if you have the leak repaired at the same place it was inspected, the fee is typically waived. When an auto mechanic technician facilitates an inspection to seek out a transmission leak, they will check everything from the cooler lines to the differential cover. Somewhere in between they will typically find the leak and can assess its severity.

⛮ Never Drive With a Transmission Leak

Many people on the road have transmission leaks and don’t even know it. These minor leaks can go unnoticed to an amateur eye. This does not mean that it is safe to drive with a transmission leak or any other car fluid leak. Minor leaks typically do not impose an immediate danger when it comes to driving, but they will most certainly lead to more severe damages to other car parts. Corrosion and deterioration will occur to pumps, seals, and more. These damages are costly and can be avoided by having a transmission fluid leak repaired right away.

⛮ Learn About Transmission Rebuilds

A common question regarding transmissions is about rebuilds. Rebuilding transmissions is a costly repair that can be avoided prematurely through regular service, maintenance, and care. However, there always comes a time in a car or truck’s life when the transmission needs rebuilding or replacing.

A few telltale signs that a transmission is on its last leg are as follows: if the gear is slipping in and out, if the engine is revving high when the vehicle is moving moderately or slow, if it will not go in reverse, and many more. If any of these are happening when driving your truck or car, call a professional auto repair company in your area, and have it inspected right away.

⚠ If your transmission fails, and you need to buy a new one, scrap your old one for some instant cash! Then use this cash to pay for your new auto part!

Where to Scrap Old Auto Parts in Indiana

Most Valuable Metals in Junk Cars

Posted on August 19, 2019 by gardencity

You will soon learn that the number one way to get paid for a junk car is to visit a local scrap metal yard, or metal processing center that retains the proper equipment and tools to strip it themselves. By choosing a junk car salvager that does everything in-house, you are cutting out the middleman, which in return, puts more money in your pocket.

Continue reading to learn which metals junk car buyers are interested in acquiring, and how to get started on selling a junk car in Indiana.

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If you were to strip a junk car of all its parts, and then sell them to a scrap metal yard piece by piece, you have an opportunity to make some great cash. That is because junk cars are full of all sorts of metal constituents, all of which can be recycled and reprocessed over and over again. But if you can’t dismantle your junk car on your own, don’t feel defeated; you are not alone. In fact, it is quite rare for a person to dismantle a vehicle without technical training and specialized equipment.

Scrap Metal in Junk Cars

Almost 95% of a vehicle can be recycled, and almost 65% of all vehicles are made from metal components. Car parts that contain platinum, rhodium, or palladium mostly include catalytic converters. Other metals are found in parts like the chassis, frame, tail pipe, engine, muffler, wheels, car frame, chassis, radiator, cylinder heads, pistons, starters, alternators, electrical wiring, and more.

But most metal recycling centers don’t just buy junk vehicles; they also buy any and all motorized commodities, including motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, golf carts, construction equipment, farming equipment, boats, jet skis, tractors, lawn mowers, forklifts, watercrafts, airplanes, and anything else that ran on fuel. If it has or used to have a motor, they’ll pay cash for it based on the current market prices for metal.

Here are some of the most commonly sought-after metals found in junk cars:

✅ Platinum
✅ Rhodium
✅ Palladium
✅ Iron
✅ Steel
✅ Aluminum
✅ Copper
✅ Lead
✅ And More

How to Sell a Junk Car in Indiana

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell a junk car in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding regions. We pay cash on the spot for all scrap metal and metal commodities, including appliances, vehicles, construction equipment, building materials, and much more! Collect all the scrap metal you can, and then sell it to us for the highest profit in town! Request a free estimate or information, today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Junk Car Recycling

Posted on February 12, 2018 by gardencity

If you have an old or broken down vehicle that has no purpose for you any longer, consider selling it for cash to a local metal recycling facility. To get started, learn some valuable information about the junk car selling process and more.

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How Do I Sell a Junk Car?

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 and tell us about your junk car. Our professional junk car recyclers will provide a free, over-the-phone quote. If you accept our offer, we will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle. Upon our arrival, you will transfer the title over to us. After the title is signed and transferred, we will pay you cash on the spot!

Which Parts of a Car Can Be Recycled?

In the auto recycling industry, metal is the motivator. If it is made from metal and resides within a motorized vehicle, it can be recycled, re-purposed, and reused. Furthermore, it can be sold for cash to a metal recycler. This includes everything from frame and undercarriage, to wheels, catalytic converters, engines, mufflers, radiators, transmissions, brakes, rotors, head gaskets, and more. The electrical components are also accepted since most contain copper and other valuable metals.

What Happens to the Car When it is Recycled?

The first step to the junk car recycling process is comprehensive inspection to determine if the vehicle should be repaired and resold, or dismantled and recycled. If it is to be recycled, the vehicle will be drained of fluids, and then dismantled for parts, starting with lifting the transmission and engine out of the chassis. After that, the rest of the parts are removed, cleaned, sorted, tagged, and repurposed. At the end, the car body is crushed and shredded for new metal.

How Much is a Junk Car Worth?

The amount of money a junk car is worth depends on several factors, primarily the current market values for metal and the total weight of the vehicle. Professional metal recycling companies retain state of the art equipment, like electronic platform scales and similar technologies. Contact our professional Indianapolis metal recyclers to receive personalized quotes for your scrap metal.

Do I Need a Title to Sell a Junk Car?

Having a title is not necessary, but having a vehicle with a title is worth more because of the potential to resell the automobile. If you have questions about your title, please reference the Bureau of Motor Vehicles webpage regarding Titles.

Where Can I Recycle Junk Cars in Indianapolis?

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Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle junk cars in Central and Southern Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all make and model junk cars, automotive parts, appliances, construction equipment, motorized farming equipment, and much more! Call 1-888-586-5322 to request a free estimate, today.

Factors That May Cause Premature Tire Deterioration

Posted on January 15, 2018 by gardencity

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All tires endure exponential wear and tear from the moment they touch pavement. Since tire deterioration is inevitable, routine tire maintenance and replacement are necessary throughout a vehicle’s lifespan. Although you will always have to replace your tires at some point, it is helpful to know what causes tires to deteriorate in order to slow down the process. Furthermore, it is wise to learn what you can do with your old tires so that they do not go to waste.

Keep in mind that tires in poor condition can be potentially dangerous, and even lead to serious motor vehicle accidents and injuries. Not only can learning these facts help you to avoid habits that increase the likelihood of tire wear and tear, it can keep you and your loved ones better protected on the road. Continue reading to explore the reasons behind tire premature deterioration, and how you can make the most out of old, worn-out tires.

✇ Alignment

One of the most common reasons tires deteriorate quicker than usual is due to improper tire alignment. Testing your vehicle’s alignment is easy to do on your own. Start by picking a flat, wide open area. From an idling position, take your hands off the steering wheel, and then slowly remove your foot from the brake. If your car begins to prominently veer or favor one side, the alignment needs attention. If the car seems to remain in a virtually straight path, then your alignment is in good shape.

✇ Rotation

It is crucial to have your tires rotated and balanced on a routine basis to promote even deterioration on the tire tread. This should be done at least once per year, but for optimal results, have your tires rotated twice a year. If you neglect this factory scheduled maintenance, your tires can develop something called scallops, which basically feels like bumps in the road when you drive. If your tires have scallops, then you are not rotating and servicing them enough every year.

✇ Inflation

Believe it or not, but tire inflation affects a few important aspects of your vehicle. Not only does improper tire pressure result in decreased gas mileage, it causes increased wear and tear. If a tire is inflated properly, all parts of the tread should make contact with the ground in all the right areas and in an even fashion.

Sell Used Car Tires for Cash on the Spot!

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Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell used car tires for cash in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our experienced Indianapolis scrap metal buyers accept any and all used auto parts, regardless of age or condition. We also accept used parts from all other motorized commodities, including farm equipment, construction equipment, snowmobiles, jet skis, boats, watercrafts, scooters, motorcycles, RVs, and more! Call 1-888-586-5322 for a free estimate, today.