I've 'wheeled and dealed' when I've purchased new vehicles in the past and ordered the car-fax ( especially when dealing w/ a private owner to negotiate asking price down) when looking at pre-owned vehicles and always thought I'd gotten a pretty good deal (though probably not) but I've never purchased a vehicle from the junk yard (just parts). I drove past a 'yard yesterday when I noticed a yota pick up 4x4 (same body style as mine-'89) inside the fence. How does one go about inquiring/purchasing a vehicle that's in a junk yard w/o getting ripped off? I realize that there may be issues such as body/frame damage, mechanical or electrical problems. Are those negotiable items in 'junk yard' dealing? Any suggestions/tips are appreciated. Thanks

 

depends on the owner of the yard. from what I have seen around the portland area if the truck is in the yard they can't sell it. but sometimes they have 'rebuilders' set aside that can be sold but will have a salvage title.

Take a look at part out threads in the classifieds, sometimes folks will have a buy the whole thing price for $500 or so...also just ask the guy. the Pick n Pulls around my area have set prices they get for each part...$150 for a rear end, $25/seat etc...

 

ive never had a problem before cause my best friends dad owns a junkyard so everything i get is cheap but when i go other places i do bring cash and that goes along ways!

 

in nj, ive tried a few times to buy a vehicle in the lot, but like oc said, once its in...its in for good.

if youre close with the owner though, i know for a fact they can pull some strings (legeally or not idk) and get the vehicle released.

it all depends on how close you are with the owner, and your state laws.

 

yeah i dont think you can buy the whole truck for liability reason but i sure wish you could after seeing 5-6 year old ford, dodge or chevy diesels waiting to get crushed when cash for clunkers happend! lol

im sure if you said you have a large list of parts you need and you want to buy it all at once then might help you out on the price alittle.

 

I am also in NJ and there are a few yards by me that you can buy the whole vehicle.

 

The yards I frequent here in GA give you the option to buy cars at a flat rate... today the rate was $12 per 100lbs of car

 

Heard the girl who works at my local yard will give them away for a bag of weed.. haha. May have to try if something interests me there..

 

so far i know of one junkyard that does that. its shorty's on rt. 42.

they have theyre "for sale vehicles" in a fenced in lot, wihthin the fenced in lot. people who pay to get into the junkyard dont have acess to the "for sale vehicles" and they are only for sale as wholes, so you cant pick and pull on 'em.

i think the rule is if they dont sell after like 4 months or something, the owner moves them to the pick and pull lot and parts them out.

but so far ive yet to see any toyotas in a junkyard, besides for a few old celica's and stuff, but soo far, no pickups or 4runners

 

There are a lot of junk yards that can and will sell a complete vehicle, but when you go to register it, it will have a salvaged tittle.

 

i dont know about the wrecking yards in your area, but i worked at one for 2 years and we could not sell a vehicle as a whole.

 

The yard a block from my house will only sell you a whole truck for the cost of the combined parts. My buddy tried to buy a crusty old 4runner from them and they gave him a price that was over $3000, for an 86 that had been sitting for years growing stuff.