How to Safely Get Rid of a Used Car Battery

Changing and replacing a car battery is common knowledge for most car owners, however, knowing what to do with a used car battery is not. There are several constituents inside a car battery that allows it to cooperate and function within vehicles. These same components are mostly chemical-based, and can be tremendously hazardous in various aspects.

Continue reading to learn why safe battery disposal is so important to our health, safety, and surrounding environment, as well as, how to properly get rid of a used one when the time comes for you to do so.

Junk Car Buyers Indianapolis
Sell Us Your Junk Car Parts! 317-608-2188

Car Battery Anatomy

Car batteries contain several dangerous chemicals, materials, and heavy metals.  For instance, a standard 12 volt car battery contains elements such as lead, plastic, sulfuric acid, and more.  Diesel engine vehicles, like semi-trucks and tractors, may use a 24 volt system; requiring the use of two 12 volt batteries to operate. This means double the toxins, chemicals, and heavy metals. These 12 volt car batteries are made with lead plates and lead dioxide plates. These plates are submerged in an electrolyte solution made up of sulfuric acid and water. The chemical reaction of the two elements creates electrons that let them pass through conductors, running electricity to the vehicle’s engine and inner components.  

When a battery begins to lose its power, it is because the acid within the electrolyte solution has reacted with the plates, changing them from lead and lead dioxide, to lead sulfate. When a car battery is recharged, this same process is simply reversed. All these chemicals that make a vehicle’s battery function have proven useful in the automotive world, but they still need to be handled responsibility to protect ourselves and the environment from harm. One of the best ways to do this is by recycling used car batteries. It is the best and most responsible method to car battery disposal.

Car Battery Recycling

One unique aspect of automotive batteries is that they are almost completely recyclable. This means that nearly all of a battery’s components can be recycled and reused for new car batteries. For example, the lead is virtually 100% recyclable, and can be melted down, filtered, and refurbished in new car parts. The plastic components are also completely recyclable and can be reused in other products. Surprisingly, the sulfuric acid can even be reused. It can be counteracted and purified to be released as uncontaminated water, converted into sodium sulfate (for fertilizers, dyes, etc.), or reused in new car batteries.

To recycle a used car battery, simply take it to a local automotive salvage company near you.  Most auto salvage professionals will accept used batteries and other vehicle parts, regardless of age or condition.  This includes car batteries. Recycling an automotive battery is a great contribution to protecting our environment and preserving our natural resources. 

How to Sell Junk Cars and Automotive Parts

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your old car parts or junk car for cash on the spot! We will buy any junk cars and car parts in Central Indiana, regardless of age, make, model, or condition. For those who wish to sell a junk car, we offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, anytime!

How Does the Junk Car Buying Process Work?

After years of collecting weeds and stray animals, your junk car is ready to be sold to a salvage yard. Although you might think that its value is not worth the trouble of going through the junk car selling process, you’d actually be surprised to learn how much a buyer would pay for it’s metal content. You see, cars contain a large amount of metal, which is 100% recyclable. This reusable metal is highly value to our economy, and therefore, fervently sought out by a variety of buyers, including junk car companies.

Sure, the worth of a junk car will vary on a large spectrum depending on a wide range of factors, but the reality is that you can still get rid of a piece of junk and put some cash in your pocket, all in the same day. All you have to do is get the junk car selling and buying process started on the right foot.

Continue reading to learn how the junk car sales process works, what you need to know, and who to trust for the highest payouts in Central Indiana.

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188
Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188

Junk Car Research

Your first step to selling a junk car is happening right now; research. It is important to educate yourself on the basic economics and practices in the junk car buying industry. This knowledge will set you up with a basis that will allow you to ask the right questions and choose the right buyer. Typically, the first item of information a junk car seller wants to know is how much their car is worth. As mentioned, junk car values will vary depending on a wide scope of factors, including make, model, age, condition, and current market demand.

The only way to know how much your junk asset is worth is to have it evaluated in-person by a qualified junk car professional. Such professionals will retain state of the art technologies, like electronic weight scales and metal analyzers, and apply these technologies to their years of experience, allowing them to develop an accurate estimation of value for a junk vehicle.

Contact a Junk Car Pro

Once you have given yourself a basic crash course in junk car economics, you are ready to start contacting junk car companies to see who will pay the most and offer the best customer conveniences. For instance, it is wise to choose a junk car buyer who can provide pickup and haul away service at no extra charge. They will simply come to you. Some junk car companies deduct towing fees from their total offer for this type of service. See our blog, “How to Choose the Best Junk Car Buyers” to learn effective strategies for finding a dependable Indianapolis junk car buyer near you.

Accept an Offer

Once you have a junk car buyer on the phone, request a free estimate for your junk car. They will simply ask you a few questions about the vehicle regarding the age, make, model, and condition, and from there, give you a rough estimate. If you prefer a more precise estimate, you can bring your vehicle in and have it evaluated in person. However, if the company does not offer free pickup, you will have to pay to have it towed. In the case that the company does offer free pickup, and you choose not to accept their offer, you will have to reimburse them for the towing.

Prepare Your Vehicle

After you accept an offer, you will need to prove your ownership. A car title is the best way to do this, however, some junk car buyers will accept other documents that prove you are the owner, such as the registration. See our blog, “How Do I Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title?” to learn more about obtaining one for your junk car. Locate the car title and have it ready for the junk car buyer when they arrive. Finish by clearing out all other personal belongings, including trash and your license plate. Once the junkcar4 buyer arrives to collect the vehicle, just give them the title and they will hand you cash or check.

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.