What Happens to Your Car After You Sell It to a Junkyard?

Ever wondered what happens to your old car after the tow truck drives away? Here's the fascinating journey your vehicle takes through the auto recycling process.

Step 1: Initial Inspection and Documentation

When your car arrives at the facility, it's inspected and catalogued. The make, model, year, and condition are recorded. This information helps recyclers determine which parts are valuable for resale and which will be scrapped.

Step 2: Fluid Drainage

All fluids must be removed before processing:

• Motor oil is drained and sent for recycling or repurposing
• Gasoline is extracted and can be refined for reuse
• Coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid are collected separately
• Freon from the AC system is recovered by licensed technicians

Step 3: Parts Recovery

Valuable and functional parts are removed for resale. Commonly salvaged items include:

• Engines and transmissions (if functional)
• Catalytic converters (contain precious metals)
• Electronics: radios, GPS systems, sensors
• Body panels, doors, and fenders (if undamaged)
• Tires with good tread
• Batteries, alternators, and starters

These parts are tested, cleaned, and sold as used replacement parts, giving them a second life and providing affordable options for people repairing their vehicles.

Step 4: Hazardous Material Removal

Beyond fluids, other hazardous components must be removed:

• Batteries contain lead and acid requiring special disposal
• Mercury switches (found in some older cars)
• Airbags must be safely deployed or removed

Step 5: Crushing and Shredding

Once all valuable parts and hazardous materials are removed, the car shell goes to the crusher. The vehicle is flattened into a compact cube, making it easier to transport to a shredding facility.

At the shredder, the crushed car is torn into small pieces. These fragments then pass through a series of separation processes using magnets and other methods to sort materials.

Step 6: Metal Sorting and Recycling

The shredded material is separated by type:

• Ferrous metals (steel and iron) are separated using powerful magnets
• Non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass) are separated using eddy current separation
• Plastics, rubber, and glass are sorted for their respective recycling streams

Step 7: Melting and Manufacturing

Sorted metals are melted down in furnaces. The molten metal is formed into large blocks called ingots. These ingots are sold to manufacturers who use them to create new products – including new cars!

Today's new cars contain about 25% recycled steel and aluminum. Your old junk car literally becomes part of someone's new vehicle.

The Bottom Line

About 95% of every junk car is recycled or reused. Only about 5% ends up as waste. This efficient recycling process makes the automotive industry one of the most successful recycling programs in the world. By selling your car to a reputable recycler, you're participating in this sustainable cycle.