What the Law Says About Scrapping Cars in Indiana

Posted on August 9, 2019 by junkcars17

By reviewing all sections in Indiana Code § 9-22-5, you will learn everything you need to know about scrapping junk cars in our state. This literature can come with some confusing industry and legal jargon, making it difficult to fully understand the laws surrounding scrapping motor vehicles in Indiana. For this reason, we have compiled some fundamental facts and information derived from the Indiana Code for a brief rundown of what you can expect.

Continue reading to review them now!

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188

Scrapping Motor Vehicles – IC § 9-22-5-1.1

Here are some important points to take into consideration when scrapping a vehicle in Indiana:

You May Need a Certificate of Authority

According to the BMV, “A person who owns a vehicle that has a certificate of title that is faulty, lost, or destroyed, or who is the possessor of an abandoned vehicle may apply to the BMV for authority to sell, give away, or dispose of the vehicle for scrap metal without applying for a certificate of title. An approved Certificate of Authority – Disposal of a Motor Vehicle – State Form 55018 must be provided to the automotive salvage recycler, or other appropriate facility when disposing of the vehicle.”

You Need Proof of Ownership

In order to sell a junk car to a scrapper, you will need to prove ownership. According to IC § 9-22-3-4.4, “ (…)A copy of a certificate of title endorsed under IC 9-17-3-3.4 constitutes proof of transfer of ownership under subdivision (2).”

Try to Understand Fair Market Value

Fair market value is defined in IC § 9-22-3-2 as, “(1) the average trade-in value found in the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Official Used Car Guide, vehicle valuations determined by CCC Information Services, Inc. (CCC), or valuations determined by such other authorities as are approved by the bureau; or (2) the fair market value determined by the bureau upon request.”

Avoid a Class C Misdemeanor

According to IC § 9-18.1-4-8, it is a Class C misdemeanor if a person, “knowingly sells, offers to sell, buys, possesses, or offers as genuine a certificate of registration for a vehicle that is required to be issued by the bureau and has not been issued by the (1) bureau under this article; or (2)appropriate governmental authority of another state.”

Learn More About Selling a Junk Car in Indiana

When you really just don’t know who to trust when it comes to scrapping a salvaged vehicle in Indiana, simply go with the best. Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to request a free, over-the-phone quote, or more information regarding the junk car selling process. Whether your vehicle runs or not, we are ready to make you an excellent offer and take it off your hands for free. We have an in-house tow truck that will come directly to your location to pick up your junk car.

Want to Know What You Can Do With Your Totaled Car?

Posted on March 27, 2019 by junkcars17

If you’ve just totaled your car, hopefully you are well and in full recovery. But now, you have a damaged asset on your hands. What can you do with a totaled vehicle besides hand it over to your insurance carrier? Well, the truth is, there are many alternatives to accepting the insurance payout from your policy. Continue reading to learn what all you can do with a totaled vehicle.

☑ Repair

There are many cases in which an insurance company deems a car totaled because it costs more than 51% of the total cash value to repair it back to its original condition, yet, it is still repairable as a luxury or modern vehicle. You see, just because it is too much for the insurance company to pay to repair it, it may not be for you. You might decide that your 2018 Mercedes should be repaired rather than totaled out. The same theory applies to other luxury or newer vehicles that can be totaled as a result of something small, like a catalytic converter or cosmetic damage. Keep in mind, you have to get a rebuilt title and prove the car roadworthy. Otherwise, many automotive insurance carriers will not insure a rebuilt vehicle.

☑ Donate

If you want to be philanthropic, it would make sense to donate your totaled vehicle. Not only is this charitable, most automotive donation organizations will tow your vehicle away for free. Best of all, you will get certain tax deductions for the depreciated value of the car you donate. Keep in mind, you would have to first buy back the car from your insurance carrier before giving it away to a charity. In this case, your insurance carrier would deduct the vehicle’s salvage value, which generally hovers around a few hundred dollars, plus any policy deductible if the accident was your fault. In the end, you would get a check for the remainder, plus a salvage title.

☑ Sell

The most popular and lucrative option for a totaled car is to keep it, and then sell it to a local salvage yard for cash. As mentioned, if you decide to keep your totaled vehicle, you will have to first have to get a salved titled through your insurance carrier. Once you have the title and your vehicle is no longer insured under the carrier, you can choose a reputable Indianapolis junk car buyer to do business with. They will haul your car away for free, plus pay you cash on the spot. Just be sure you have the title, otherwise, it can be difficult finding a cash for cars company to do business with in the first place.

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers at Your Service

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. No title? No problem! Give us a call anyway! Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.

What To Do After a Total Loss Car Accident

Posted on February 12, 2019 by junkcars17

After you are involved in a total loss automotive accident, the first and most important step is to seek professional medical care. Once you are medically stable, your next step is to contact your insurance carrier to learn how to get your auto accident claim started. But when it comes to closing a total loss insurance claim, you can expect more steps in the process than if you were closing a car repair claim. This potentially makes the entire process take longer.

Getting compensation quickly is very important, especially if you rely on a vehicle to get you to and from your means of income. If you need to get paid by your insurance company as fast as possible in the event of a total loss accident, continue reading for some tips that should help.

Having the right knowledge after a total loss automotive accident is the best strategy for getting compensation quickly by your insurance company. Here is what you need to do:

✔ Contact Your Insurance Carrier

As soon as you are medically capable of making and comprehending phone calls, immediately contact your automotive insurance carrier to report the accident. It is best to do this on the same day, or better yet, at the scene of the accident; but in cases where you are seriously injured, medical attention comes first. The sooner you contact the insurance provider, the sooner the entire process can begin, which can ultimately take months to finalize. You will also discover information about residual loan amounts on your vehicle.

✔ Tow Your Vehicle

A total loss car accident means that your vehicle is totaled. This means that the amount to repair your vehicle back to the condition it was in before the accident exceeds the total worth of the vehicle. So, if your car is totaled, you can choose to have it towed to your preferred automotive repair shop to confirm it as a total loss, or you can have it towed to your insurance company’s preferred body shop. The secret here is to just have it towed to your insurance company’s place. It will make the process much faster.

✔ Find the Title

Your next step is to locate the title, because the insurance company will need you to sign it over to them before paying out your policy. If you cannot find the title to your vehicle, you will need to apply for a duplicate at your local BMV. See our blog, “How Do I Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title?” to learn how to replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed car title.’

✔ Send in Paperwork ASAP

To make the entire process faster, be sure to mail back all of your complete claim paperwork, as requested by your insurance carrier. Before doing this, be sure to also do your research and learn what the current value of your vehicle was before the accident to ensure your insurance policy is paying you a fair amount. You might also want to gather evidence of upgrades and improvements made to your vehicle, namely receipts.

If you do not want to accept the insurance company’s offer, or do not have insurance at all, sell your vehicle to a local Indianapolis junk car buyer for cash on the spot. Even if you do not have a title, it still may be possible with the right Cash for Cars Company!

Indianapolis Cash for Junk Cars

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.