There are so many ways to get rid of a junk car that it can be overwhelming for someone who is new to the process. But once you know the most common scams in the junk car trade, you’ll be much more equipped to recognize them and avoid being scammed yourself. With so many different ways to dispose of your old car, there will always be new scams popping up. But if you are aware of the most common tricks, you can avoid falling victim to them as easily as they can avoid catching you.

Don’t buy a car from a stranger

This is an obvious scam, but it’s also one that is all too common. When someone offers to sell you a car for cash, you should always be cautious. If the car is in bad condition or has a salvage title, there is a good chance that it’s been in an accident and been declared a total loss by the insurance company. If this is the case, you’ll be stuck with a car that you can’t drive and that you will have to pay to get out of the impound lot.You should also be wary of anyone who wants to buy your junk car. If you aren’t able to find a buyer at a reasonable price, the best thing to do is to get it appraised and then take the loss of the difference in value. If someone offers you cash for your car and you aren’t able to find a buyer, be wary.

Don’t buy a car that has been damaged

The most common scam in the junk car trade is to sell you a car that has been in an accident and has extensive damage. This is especially true if the accident was caused by the seller. If a car has been in a collision, it will have to be inspected by the state. If the car has been in an accident, it will be written up as a salvage title, which means that the insurance company will not pay out on any claims if the car is totaled.If you buy a car with a salvage title, you will have to pay out the difference between the value of the car and the amount that the insurance company paid out. If the car has been in an accident, you will have to pay out even more money to get the car fixed.If you are offered a car with a salvage title, be very careful. The car may be in perfect condition, but the owner may have a clean record. The owner may have been in an accident and is trying to avoid getting a repair bill by selling the car to you.

Don’t buy a car with no title

As with the previous scam, this is another common way to get you to pay for a car without actually giving you a car in return. If a seller is unable to find their title, they may try to sell you a car without one. If the car is registered in their name, they can simply transfer the title to the name of the person who is selling the car to you. If the car is registered in the name of the person who is selling the car to you, they can simply transfer the title to their name.If you buy a car without a title, you will have to pay the difference in value between the car and the amount that the insurance company paid out. If the car has been in an accident, you will have to pay even more money to get the car fixed. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Don’t buy a car with a clean title

This is the opposite of the previous scam. A seller may be able to get a clean title, but they may be trying to get you to pay for a car that is worth less than the amount that the insurance company paid out. If a car has been in an accident, the insurance company will write the car off as a total loss. If the car has been totaled, the insurance company will write the car off as a total loss.If you buy a car with a clean title, the car may be worth less than what you paid for it. If the car has been in an accident, you will have to pay even more money to get the car fixed. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Don’t buy a car that has a clean title but has been in an accident

This is similar to the previous scam. If a seller is able to get a clean title, but the car has been in an accident, the insurance company will write the car off as a total loss. If the car has been totaled, the insurance company will write the car off as a total loss.If you buy a car with a clean title and it has been in an accident, the insurance company will not pay out on any claims. If the car has been totaled, you will have to pay out the full value of the car. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Don’t buy a car with a clean title but no accident history

This scam is very similar to the scam above. If a seller is able to get a clean title, but the car has no accident history, the insurance company will not pay out on any claims. If the car has been totaled, you will have to pay out the full value of the car. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Don’t buy a car with a clean title and no accident history, but that has been in an accident

This is the same scam as the scam above, but with the difference that the seller is able to get a clean title. If a seller is able to get a clean title, but the car has been in an accident, the insurance company will not pay out on any claims. If the car has been totaled, you will have to pay out the full value of the car. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Don’t buy a car with a clean title and no accident history, but that has been in an accident and has been written off as a total loss

This is the same scam as the scam above, but with the difference that the seller is able to get a clean title. If a seller is able to get a clean title, but the car has been in an accident, the insurance company will not pay out on any claims. If the car has been totaled, you will have to pay out the full value of the car. If the car is in perfect condition, you will have to pay out the full value of the car.

Bottom line

The bottom line is that you should always be cautious when buying a car. Even if the seller has a clean title and the car is in perfect condition, you should do your due diligence. If you don’t have a mechanic you trust, you can always take the car to a mechanic to get it inspected. If the car has been in an accident, you should get it inspected by the state to make sure that it is safe to drive. If the car has been written off as a total loss, you should get it appraised to make sure that you aren’t paying more for the car than it is worth.There are a lot of scams in the junk car trade, but there are also a lot of legitimate ways to get rid of your old car. You just have to be careful and do your research to make sure that you aren’t getting scammed.

Frequently Asked Question

Yes, we can buy a car without a Title as long as you have a Florida registration in your name and matching ID
It depends, sometimes we pay in cash, other times we pay in check. Generally, larger amounts we’ll pay in check due to the fact we’ve had drivers get robbed with cash. So, for the safety of our drivers we’ll pay in check most of the time unless otherwise requested by the customer within reason.
It’s possible, but we do not do any of the scheduling on our end. We do know pick up is typically about a day or two out.
If it’s just a frame, then we’ll most likely offer a free removal on it. But if it’s just missing a lot of parts, then it’s possible we will pay something for it. We would need to know what parts are missing to give an accurate offer.
Yes, we buy fire damage vehicles. If the fire damage has completely engulfed the entire vehicle, then we may only offer a free removal.
Yes, we buy vehicles with flood damage. Depending on the severity of the flood damage would dictate what we can offer, or only could provide a free removal.
Do I have to be there when they pick it up?    Anyone over the age of 18 can be available for the pickup.
Yes, we can take the Title if it’s not in your name as long as it’s signed by the previous owner and there are no liens or loans on it.