How to Recycle Your Car in Duluth, MN

While traveling around the country the one blight to be seen in almost all regions is the ever growing collection of abandoned cars that having lived out their usefulness. Driving across New Mexico, the empty hulks sit off to the corner of many lots. With no foliage around to hide them from view they sit with hoods open, windows busted out, simmering in the sun forever more.

Throughout the heartland of the country farmers line up their derelict vehicles. Arranged like trophies on the mantle, this formation of junked and obsolete cars, trucks and farm equipment is left as if in hard times they may be called back into service.

In many rural regions it can be hard to find a practical way to deal with this unsightly collection. Fortunately in Duluth MN and most metropolitan areas properly disposing of unwanted vehicles is as simple as making a phone call.

In my case I found myself with one too many cars. The old Geo Tracker, though still a semi-reliable mode of transportation was dissolving before my eyes. Rust had already removed a good portion of the body and with small mechanical issues accumulating on a daily basis it just became time to put the trusty steed to rest.

I considered trying to sell the vehicle out right. Knowing it was worth maybe $500 on a good day. Though not very pretty it still could get someone to and from work through the worst winter had to offer. The engine didn't use oil, the four wheel drive worked fine, and she started faithfully through the coldest weather. At 30 mpg in the summer it seemed a shame to let her go.

Donating the vehicle crossed my mind as well, it could serve someone less fortunate then myself continuing on indefinitely.

Unfortunately in our litigatious world one needs to be concerned with personal liability. Admittedly one front brake wasn't completely up to snuff as a cheap repair left things less then perfect. With a short high ground clearance vehicle handling on the highway and in ice conditions was a little tricky.

The final issue of concern was even though in Minnesota all that is required to sell a car is for the owner to sign the title and hand it to the buyer. The buyer is then required to take it to the Motor Vehicle Registration Office and transfer the title.

As happens all too often today, especially when cheap older cars are involved, the buyer doesn't have the money to properly process the transaction. Without the required auto insurance he will simple just drive the car on the existing registration putting off or just plain ignoring the need to transfer title.

Down the road he has an accident, or collects some traffic tickets and if your lucky the car gets impounded. Guess who the authorities come after for damages, fines, and storage fees. You, the still legally registered owner of the car. You may have sold it a year ago, but if the title was never transferred your still liable.

I've had it happen to me, and seen it happen to family and friends time and again. After many phone calls and a bit of a legal hassle the problem has been resolved, but you sure don't want to go through that.

This time the better way is to simply recycle the vehicle. I placed a call to Chesney's Auto Salvage. They offered me $100 for my rolling collection of still usable parts. Though they are closed on weekends I can drop off the car in their lot at my convenience and they will promptly mail me a check.

With this method of disposal the car is immediately and forever taken off the road. Usable parts will be stripped, stored, and cataloged then offered for sale at a considerable discount from new parts. At the point the remaining hulk has nothing to offer all fluids will be drained and sold, the body will be crushed and off to the steel mills it goes to return as a shiny new car on some dealers lot.

A nice clean operation removing all liability issues the moment you hand over the keys. Your old dead automobile has become a useful resource helping to conserve our finite quantity of natural resources.

Most salvage operations also offer the option of having them come and tow away your vehicle if your unable to deliver it to them. What could be easier, pick up the phone and with one call your eyesores are gone. You've made a little money and your legal responsibilities have been addressed. To top it off you've done a "Green Living" act of kindness to the environment.