Can You Ship a Car From a Junkyard?

What's in this article?

What a Salvage Vehicle Means
Shipping A Salvaged Car
Special Equipment Needed For Shipping Salvage Vehicles
The Costs Associated with Salvage Car Shipping
Steps for Shipping Your Salvaged Car
Check the wheels
Make sure there are no loose parts
Look for leaks
Wrapping Up

Car enthusiasts love a salvage project. The thought of uncovering a hidden gem or dream car amidst a bunch of junk is incredibly alluring.

However, what happens once you've bought one? What do you do if the diamond in the rough car can't actually move? And can you ship a car from a junkyard?

Find out whether transporting your salvage vehicle from the junkyard to the other side of the state or country is viable.

What a Salvage Vehicle Means

Defining a "salvage vehicle" can be ironic. A "salvage vehicle" comes from the term salvage title—a status for cars that have been damaged and cannot be repaired. Hence, the car is actually unsalvageable.

It becomes unsalvageable when its damage is so comprehensive that the repair cost surpasses the car's actual value. Hence, it's not worth it for insurance companies to fix it.

The insurance company will instead provide a payout based on the vehicle's pre-accident value minus any applicable deductibles on the comprehensive or collision policy.

The decision to declare a vehicle unsalvageable is not solely based on financial considerations. Sometimes repair shops face a car so heavily damaged they can't return it to its original condition, leading to reduced reliability and performance.

So when determining whether a vehicle is 'salvageable,' insurers must examine both safety and economic concerns before making their choice.

A common place to find salvage vehicles is junkyards. Most damaged-beyond-repair cars go here for dismantling. Knowing how to ship a salvage car from a junkyard can be useful.

Shipping A Salvaged Car

Salvage car transport can be a tricky task for a shipping company, especially since the car may not roll, brake, or steer due to heavy damage or a locked-up drivetrain.

Salvaged cars that roll and steer can be pulled with winches or cables onto a carrier similar to inoperable car transport.

Additionally, with some attention and effort, these cars could become pristine vehicles again, making them quite valuable when fully restored. As such, arranging for an experienced provider for salvage car transport is usually worth any associated cost.

Salvage car auctions can be a wonderful place to find hidden gems and diamonds in the rough.

Special Equipment Needed For Shipping Salvage Vehicles

When dealing with a salvage vehicle, you need special equipment to safely and securely transport it.

First of all, a tow truck or flatbed truck must be available for cars with front-end damage. In this situation, you can use a simple forklift with an attachment to pull the vehicle along, leaving the wheel that still rolls on the ground.

For seriously damaged vehicles—those that don't roll, brake, or steer properly—use a long forklift designed for carrying vehicles. This device will allow the car to be lifted and loaded onto a carrier straight on.

Additionally, you can also use small standard forklifts to load these vehicles from the side of the truck before being delivered successfully and safely.

The Costs Associated with Salvage Car Shipping

Shipping a salvage car can be slightly more expensive than shipping an operable vehicle. That's because of the size of the vehicle, pickup, and delivery location. The type of carrier, distance traveled, and difficulty level also factor into the final price point.

The price can climb higher due to shipping salvage cars requiring specialized training for truck drivers. These talented drivers need to know how to safely transport them in the event that they leak dangerous fluids or pose other hazards to the driver's safety that require taking extra precautions.

It's important to be upfront about disclosing any damage or condition of your vehicle when you get quotes from auto transport companies. If this information is undisclosed, the truck driver might arrive without the necessary equipment to transport your salvage car onto their truck, which would incur additional expenses.

The best-case scenario would be having to wait until they can get the proper equipment, but even in that situation, there might still be costly delays in getting your salvage car shipped.

Steps for Shipping Your Salvaged Car

Shipping a salvaged car can be overwhelming, but it should be doable if you have taken all the necessary steps before you even start looking for a free quote or transporter.

Remember that a salvage title does not necessarily mean the vehicle isn't running. It may still be capable of functioning, just with too much damage in some areas to make fixing it worth it financially. Some just need a little more care.

So the first step is ensuring the salvaged car can roll and steer. This detail will let you know what options you have next.

After confirming the details, you will need to properly represent the condition of your vehicle when speaking to our advisors so that they can accurately answer all your questions and provide you with the right price for the job.

Unexpected situations or surprises can result in additional costs further down the line, so be upfront about any damage or issues with the vehicle from the start. After completing all of this, you will be ready to get a free quote and scheduled transport for your salvaged car.

Check the wheels

Properly inspecting the car is imperative in ensuring a successful car shipping experience from a junkyard.

Check if the car's wheels roll and steer. An inoperable vehicle will require alternative loading assistance from a forklift, flatbed, or wrecker at both pickup and delivery.

It's also important for you to conduct your own car inspection to be aware of any damage that could be present but not previously disclosed. This damage can include bigger scratches, dents, or rust spots than the seller previously told you about.

Make sure there are no loose parts.

Verifying there are no loose car parts during transport is an important step to ensure the safety of any shipment. When transporting a vehicle, check that all car parts are either inside the vehicle or fastened to the exterior before continuing your journey.

It's especially important when shipping vehicles to salvage car auctions as they will take pictures of all angles before placing them on their lot. Take a good look at all areas of the undercarriage to make sure nothing has gotten knocked out of place while moving.

If you cannot physically inspect the vehicle, ask for photos from whoever is responsible for taking it from one place to its destination.

It's also helpful to take inventory of all parts and components before shipping a car. This inventory gives you an idea of what should be in its proper place when going through the inspection process and can remove any guesswork if you cannot physically see it yourself.

If you catch anything out of order before shipping, ensure everything has been tightened or placed securely back within the automobile's body structure before continuing your journey.

Look for leaks

It's crucial to look for leaks of any kind when checking a car before loading it onto a carrier. This inspection includes checking for fuel or oil leaks, as they could potentially cause a serious hazard.

It's recommended to completely drain the fluids from the car before loading it onto the carrier to minimize this risk.

This draining will prevent any leaking on the journey and ensure that whatever remaining liquids are onboard are not hazardous.

The carriers themselves may also refuse to transport any cars with a large amount of fluid leakage present.

Doing this can save time and money as the car won't have to be unloaded/reloaded or returned due to fluid leakage-related issues once onboard the vehicle carrier itself.

Wrapping Up

Transporting a vehicle from a junkyard is not only conceivable but may be a cost-effective choice for individuals seeking to restore a dream automobile or unearth a hidden gem.

A lot of the parts may be broken or missing from their original state.

Every good salvage vehicle deserves a good home, don't let a junkyard car go to waste. Get down to your local junkyard and help give a salvage vehicle a new life with the help of professional shipping services.

A1-Auto Transport makes the transport of cars accessible. We offer an instant quote to compare rates and pick a specific service that fits your budget.