Automobile.com Blog

What does an automotive wrecking yard do?

By: Nathan D. Adlen

You don’t have to be a charter member of the dumpster diving community to appreciate a wrecking yard. Often called a “junk yard” (which is inaccurate based on what the description implies), junk can be anything; an automobile wrecking yard is just for automobiles and trucks. Some other wrecking yards deal with other vehicles (such as boats, aircraft large building materials etc.) But, being that this is automobile.com - we’ll stick with machines with wheels.

If you have never gone to an auto wrecking yard, you’re in for a treat. Hundreds, even thousands of machines are plucked up in various states of disrepair. Many are purchased at auctions, at an OPG (Official Police Impound Garage), impound sales and by directly purchasing vehicles from their owners. Some cars are in excellent running order, others are burnt out hulks. Wrecking yards have these and everything in between.

The idea for most wrecking yards is simple: sell off as many components from the vehicle as possible before taking the remaining steel to the crusher to be recycled. Now, I know you’ve seen cars crushed in movies. Many were in running order before being turned into steel cube; this is Hollywood folly (like the brand new Lincolnthat Odd Job had crushed in James Bond’s “Goldfinger”.) Only the steel shell and a few trim bits are crushed. Engines, transmissions, wheels and tires, etc. are removed (usually with the interior and glass) before they are crushed.

Wrecking yards each have a different emphasis on what they provide for their customers. As such, some wrecking yards have an option to pick your own parts, using your own tools and purchasing each part for reduced prices. For example, doors, hoods, fenders, bumpers and deck lids sell for about $24.00. Trim, hubcaps and speakers go for around $2.00 (more or less). These prices are one third to one tenth of what you would pay for the parts new. Usually, these self service wrecking yards (like “U-Pick Parts” in Sun Valley, CA) have you sign a liability waiver and pay a small entrance fee of a buck or two. Please note that many self service wrecking yards have age restrictions, so you should call in advance to verify what the age restriction might be.

Other (spin off) wrecking yards keep the customers away from the cars and opt to have their own people remove the components. This limits the liability issues and assures accuracy as many of the wrecking yard workers adhere to parts numbers (provided by reference books) that indicate compatibility (components shared by various vehicles and automakers) which can be pulled by the worker. Some other wrecking yards completely dismantle their vehicles and keep the parts on shelves for easy access. Many higher end vehicles end up at wrecking yards like these and are priced higher accordingly.

Another example of a wrecking yard spin off is “Isa’s International Harvester” in Acton, California. This organization combines used and new parts along with professional fabrications and ASE certified mechanics for International Harvester vehicles which are rather rare. Niche markets like these cater to smaller markets and tend to gain loyalty by personalizing their product and service to their customer base (as seen by the website below). Also, word of mouth plays an integral role for these smaller establishments (the word of mouth for Isa’s International Harvester is excellent.)

In many cases, high valued automotive components are removed by various wrecking yards to be sold separately. In the case of a specialty yard, the entire vehicle (like the International Harvester) is prized and brought to the yard. Some wrecking yards will ship rare vehicles overseas; others may make special shipments for rare components. Still, other wrecking yards may cater to specialty buyers who are only looking for valuable metals.

Aluminum and copper radiators for example can be melted down by specialty buyers and recycled. These buyers often set a bulk price per component or per pound, so a massive pile of aluminum radiators sitting on one end of the wrecking yard may very well be destined for a specific buyer.

Look at it this way: if you own a wrecking yard, you want to achieve maximum profits by recycling as much as possible. I grew up around the family business at “Aadlen Bros. Auto Wrecking” in Sun Valley, California and I can vow for the amount of work that goes into recycling cars. In many cases, a majority of the car is resold for parts and then crushed.

This is how it works:

1. The vehicles are acquired from auctions, dealers, private sales, etc. Then they are brought to the wrecking yard’s staging area for sorting. The sorting consists of gathering pertinent information from the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), removing plates, personal items left in the car (especially items that may give out information about the prior owners) and, in some cases, verifying the vehicle’s status through a DMV database.
2. Vehicles (which in many cases have already been marked during the sale as to who just purchased it) are issued additional markings telling the wrecking yard workers where the vehicle goes. Special/rare cars may not go into public yards as their value might be higher for collectors. Some cars could be sold as runners from a used lot; others might contain components that have been promised to specialized buyers. Foreign cars may have a special section just as the American manufacturers usually have their own.
3. Many wrecking yards remove gas tanks, oil, transmission fluid and batteries before towing the vehicle into the public area. The removal of flammable/dangerous fluids mitigates the danger and dead batteries require special disposal. Storing and properly disposing of these old fluids lessens the chance for ground contamination from cars that are being dismantled. If there is something of real value (like a rare or expensive component) it might be removed for a separate sale.
4. Once fork-lifted to their designated locations, the vehicles are placed upon jacks, welded steel rims, cement blocks or other items to elevate them for easy access. Even though these cars are elevated, you must take care when working on them as some may be precariously balanced.
5. When you enter a self service yard, and after paying and signing the waiver, your tool box is quickly inspected and any returns or core parts are marked before you are allowed onto the lot. If you get there early, you have a chance to get to the most recently acquired vehicles before they are gutted by many other treasure seekers. Most large capacity wrecking yards rotate their selections daily and can have up to half of their total vehicles rotated within a week – or less.
6. Once in circulation at a large wrecking yard, popular vehicles rarely last for more than a few days before being picked clean. If the wrecking yard is a specialty yard or pulls the part for you, it may take a bit longer for the vehicle to be stripped.
7. After a vehicle is reduced to no more than a shell with a few odds and ends, workers strip it and bring it to the crusher. Some wrecking yards still use the condensed cube while others simply crush the cars flat. These machines are hydraulic monsters that can exert several tons of pressure to make the shell as compact as possible.
8. The crushed vehicles are loaded onto trucks, taken to refineries, weighed and melted. Based on the weight, the wrecking yard is paid for the steel – which at current prices can be from $75 - $250 per crushed vehicle.
9. Remaining parts like glass, plastics and others metals can be recycled too. If the glass is in good condition, some automotive glass repair companies have the potential of buying it. Even tires are being recycled nowadays, leaving very little (if any) of the vehicle that cannot be recycled.
10. Prices tend to be set for most components (i.e. hoods tend to cost $20.00 - $40.00) and after you pay, many of the components that have a warranty or can be used as an exchange are marked (usually with a yellow, green or white paint). In many cases, large items like engines and transmissions can be hauled to your vehicle or held for pickup and you may get assistance when removing these and other complicated components depending on the wrecking yard.
11. Finally, you get your receipt and your tool box is checked once again to make sure you didn’t accidentally add a part or two to your toolbox without paying.

When you do the math and consider the fact that the return on a car that is sold for individual components can be up to 400% of what your investment was, owning a wrecking yard seems to be a wise investment. Be warned: the wrecking business is not for the faint of heart. This is a tough, competitive business that (although potentially lucrative) is dangerous, dirty, strenuous and nerve-wracking to operate at any level.

There are constant issues of personal/property safety, adhesions to EPA standards, theft/security, customer satisfaction and all of the additional headaches associated with a mostly cash based business.

For the customer, especially the gear-head, a wrecking yard can be a welcome respite from the overpriced parts stores. I still get a kick out of looking at oddball or unique cars that are in various states of distress. On the right day, visiting a big wrecking or specialty yard amuses me as much as a museum – and I know there are others who feel the same way. In fact, quite a few people who are wandering the yard are looking for unique tidbits. Some are artist, collectors, treasure hunters and yes, many mechanics.

If you have a slightly older car that needs a part and you have never ventured to a wrecking yard, here are a few tips:

• Wear durable clothing which you do not mind getting messy.
• Even if you have no intention of pulling parts, there is very little in a wrecking yard that is clean and you will get dirty.
• Bring thick gloves and a written description of what you need. I use my cell phone’s camera to snap a detailed photo of the old part I’m trying to replace.
• Also, remember the tools you used to remove the component in the first place. Keep in mind that you may have a fight on your hands when looking for a replacement component as it could be rusted on or over-tightened.
• As a good rule of thumb, try to minimize your tool count as you are the one who will be hefting it around the wrecking yard. I have seen some people bring wagons and others use hand trucks in anticipation of a long stay, heavy tools or acquiring heavy components.
• There is no shade and rarely a clean water source in the middle of these yards – so keep that in mind.
• Never assume that a part you pulled will wait for you. In other words, unless you are holding the component, it is fair game.

Here are a few suggestions for first timers in a wrecking yard:

• Do your homework and find out which vehicles share the same component you might be looking for.
• Call ahead and see if they have what you’re looking for.
• Make sure the part you pull (or they pulled) functions properly.
• Keep your tools simple and keep in mind that some vehicles use non-standard bolt patterns (i.e. some of General Motor’s star pattern screws and bolts.)
• A small pry bar or a massive screwdriver can help persuade hoods and doors to open.
• Metric sizes are usually a must for foreign vehicles and many American ones too.

Bringing a friend with is a good idea. Many parts take more than two hands to move and it is very helpful to have a buddy if you need to run to the bathroom (which is quite an experience at a wrecking yard) so no one takes your parts. If your friend is experienced at that particular wrecking yard, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Be very careful when you are working around a vehicle at a wrecking yard! Forklifts, tow trucks, front loaders and dump trucks could be zooming around and are usually in a hurry – keep your distance. Remember that some of these salvage machines were involved in horrific car accidents. It would be wise to refrain from sitting in a car no matter how clean it looks. Most of these cars are open. Animals like open cars for warmth and tend to leave stuff behind, so mind your seating!

Many of these yards have a food coach (often called a “roach coach” - go figure…) on the premises. If you must eat at the wrecking yard, try doing it before you get covered in grease. I know this seems obvious, but you would be surprised by how many opt to wait until they look like an oil rig worker before chewing on a hot dog.

Don’t be discouraged if you cannot find your part. As I stated before, up to half of the inventory can be rotated in less than a week – simply come back in a week or two. Also, this might be a good time to look up a specialty wrecking yard by phone or online to find that part for you. It may be a hair more expensive, but it’s bound to be far cheaper than buying the part as new.

Testing parts before you purchase is a good idea. Some wrecking yards provide warranties for various components with an exchange or cash back return policy. If you are putting out the bucks for an expensive component (engine, running gear, electrical etc) many wrecking yards provide resources to test them. Each facility is different, so be sure to check before laying out the money.

If you have an old vehicle taking up space in the drive way or backyard (running or not) many wrecking yards pay decent money for old cars and trucks. Usually, they will pick it up within a day or two of your call and pay you on the spot (as long as you have enough paperwork to establish that the vehicle belongs to you and not a neighbor you despise.)

Having a place where you can acquire used, cheap parts is a great help for those DIY types of people. Now that you know a little more about the way the business works, think all of the little items you were considering to replace on one of your vehicles and cruise on over to your local wrecking yard.

Special thanks to:

Aadlen Bros. Automotive http://aadlenbros.com/

Isa’s International Harvester http://www.isasih.com/

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