How Selling Your Junk Car Works
Describe your car once, screened local buyers compete for it, and the one you choose tows it for free and pays you at pickup. Here is every step in detail.
- 25,000+Cars bought through our network
- 24hrAverage pickup
- $465Average payout
- 15 minAt your door
Describe your car
Year, make, model, honest condition and where it sits. One form, no obligation.
Compare offers
Screened buyers near you bid. Take the highest or the fastest, and schedule pickup.
Get paid at pickup
A quick check, the paperwork, payment — then the car is towed away for free.
Describe Your Car Once
Start online or call (877) 451-4417. Identify the vehicle by year, make and model or by its 17-digit VIN, and answer a few questions about its condition.
Your description goes to screened buyers who cover your ZIP code. Each one prices it on scrap rates, weight, local parts demand and condition. You never repeat yourself to five different companies.
Zero obligation. Offers typically stay good for 5 days as long as the car's condition stays the same, so you have time to think it over.
What you'll be asked
- Vehicle: year, make, model — e.g. "2008 Honda Civic"
- Mileage: a rough figure is fine
- Condition: does it run, any major damage, missing parts? Accuracy protects the price at pickup.
- Title status: have it or lost it — buyers take both where the state allows
- ZIP code: where the car is, so local buyers can price the pickup
Choose an Offer and Schedule Pickup
Offers usually arrive within 5 to 15 minutes. Compare them, pick the one you want, and choose a pickup time. Most pickups happen within 24 hours and often the same day.
The buyer can collect from any accessible location — home, work, a storage lot or a mechanic's shop. Running or not, missing wheels or not, the tow is free. The driver calls ahead so there are no surprises.
What to have ready
- Vehicle title. Have it in hand if you have it. No title? Say so on the form — many states have other options.
- Photo ID. The driver checks it against the title or ownership documents.
- Keys. Not required, but helpful — and needed to confirm the car runs if you said it does.
- Personal items removed. Check the trunk, glove box and under the seats.
- License plates removed. Most states require you to keep or return your plates.
Get Paid at Pickup
Here's exactly what happens when the buyer's driver arrives.
- 30–60 min beforeDriver calls aheadConfirms the arrival time.
- Minutes 0–5Walks the carA quick check that it matches your description.
- Minutes 5–7Paperwork signedTitle transfer and release forms.
- Minute 7You get paidBefore anything is hooked up.
- Minutes 8–15Car loaded and goneOn the truck and done.
What Happens to Your Car
Scrapped for Metal
Fluids are drained and disposed of under EPA rules, and the car is crushed, shredded and sent to a steel mill.
Salvaged for Parts
Working components — engine, transmission, catalytic converter — are pulled and resold before the shell is scrapped.
Resold at Auction
Cars with life left in them go to salvage auctions and back on the road.
Reap My Ride vs. the Alternatives
| Reap My Ride | Local scrapyard | Private sale | Dealer trade-in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Sell | 24 hours | 1–3 days | Weeks/months | Same day (their price) |
| Price Transparency | Competing offers | Negotiated | Haggling | Below market |
| Towing | Free, always | You haul / $75–$150 | Buyer picks up | You drive in |
| Paperwork | Driver brings forms | On you | Fully on you | Dealer handles |
| Payment | Paid at pickup | Sometimes delayed | Scam risk | Applied to purchase |
| Hassle | 15 min | Medium | Flakes, scams | Low but lowest pay |
| Non-Runners | Any condition | Yes | Very hard | Usually not |
Process Questions
More detail on why offers change and whether quotes are guaranteed.
How long does the whole process take?
About 60 seconds to describe your car, 5 to 15 minutes for offers to come back, usually within 24 hours for pickup, and about 15 minutes at your door.
What vehicles do buyers take?
Cars, trucks, vans and SUVs of every make and model, in any condition. Motorcycles, ATVs and RVs are not accepted.
Do I need to be there for pickup?
Yes. The title owner or an authorized representative needs to be there so the driver can verify ownership and pay you.
How are offers calculated?
Each buyer prices your car on scrap metal rates, weight, local parts demand, condition, completeness and location. Because several buyers see the same description, you can compare their numbers instead of taking the first one.
Will the price drop when the driver shows up?
Not if you described the car accurately. An offer can only change if something major is different — for example the engine is missing when you said it ran — and the buyer has to show you why. Lowering an offer without a documented reason counts against that buyer's Reaper Score.
What if I don’t have the title?
Buyers purchase without titles in most states, though offers are lower — about $160 less on average. A replacement title usually costs $15 to $50. See selling without a title.
Is the car still in my name afterwards?
No. The title transfer is completed at pickup and the buyer files the paperwork your state requires. You cancel your registration and insurance, and turn in your plates if your state requires it.
What if I change my mind?
You are never obligated to accept an offer, and you can cancel a scheduled pickup at no cost.
What if the driver says the car is different?
If there is a significant discrepancy, the buyer gives you a revised offer. You can accept it or decline and keep the car.
Ready to See What Your Car Is Worth?
60 seconds to describe it. Offers in minutes. No obligation, no pressure, no surprises.
(877) 451-4417Get My Free Quotes →