The average age of vehicles on the road in the United States in 2019 was 11.8 years.
This number has been slowly rising in the past couple of years and is expected to continue to grow.
Americans are holding onto cars longer than ever before, but is it a good thing?
There are several key indicators that its time to junk your car. Keep reading this guide to learn more about the signs.
The Signs It’s Time to Junk Your Car
We have all been there before, the check engine light has been on for some time now, and you are starting to hear some concerning sounds coming from under the hood.
What do you do?
Keep reading to discover some of the critical warning signs telling you when to junk a car.
Cost of Repairs
When the cost to repair your vehicle is higher than what the car is worth, it may be time to consider vehicle recycling.
Vehicles engines can last up to 200,000 miles and even more if you keep up with routine car maintenance. This means keeping up with oil changes, filters, tires, belts, hoses, and fluids.
Without keeping up with routine maintenance, you could run into some serious issues. To replace an engine, in some cases, could cost upwards of $9,000 or more. Most engine replacements costs will be around 41,500 to $2,000.
The problem is these costs are just for the parts. They don’t even include labor or take into account other components that may be damaged from the engine failing.
If you are looking for a sign for when to scrap a car, the labor report that is handed to you by the mechanic may tell you its time.
Covered in Rust
If you are looking at your vehicle and the word “rust bucket” comes to mind, it may be worth junking your car.
Rust will eat away at the frame and body of your vehicle as well as any metal components, leaving your car vulnerable to breaking down.
Worried About Safety
Most new cars that are being manufactured today come equipped with modern safety features. Some of these safety features include:
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Blindspot warning
- And adaptive cruise control
These features are being developed to keep your safety first by trying to eliminate human error accidents.
If you are worried about your safety or the safety of others in your vehicle, it is probably time to consider scrapping it.
Additions to the Family
As your family grows larger, you will need to have a vehicle that can support the whole family.
It is probably about time to retire the old two-seater and upgrade to a nice SUV or truck.
For More Automotive News
Now that you know the critical signs showing you its time to junk your car. Ultimately, under certain circumstances, you are better off just scrapping it and buying a new car or slightly used.
For more automotive news, including car reviews and specs, check out our website!