Sometimes knowing what’s on the other side of a decision can help you make it. When it comes to selling your junk car or keeping it, you might be better swayed into an easy profit by learning just what will become of your junk car after you sell it to a local auto salvage yard or junk car buyer.

Continue reading, in fact, to learn the typical after-life of a junk car, and why you should sell yours ASAP.

Most of Your Junk Car Will Be Recycled

The auto recycling industry reports that an average of 85% of a junked car is recycled and repurposed. No other consumer product is recycled and reused more than vehicles. Now that in itself is a good enough reason to sell your junk car. You would literally be contributing to the betterment of our planet by helping preserve our natural resources, reduce air pollution, and create jobs all around the world.

Junk Car Parts are Also Reused or Refurbished

Many junk cars, probably even your own, still have many working or reusable parts that can be refurbished and put in another car. Common reusable automotive parts include engines, transmissions, alternators, starters, headlights, taillights, fenders, bumpers, windshields, and water pumps. In addition to parts, most auto salvage workers also remove all liquids and fluids from a junk car, and place them for reuse if possible, such as gasoline, motor oil, and coolant.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Once all reusable parts and fluids are removed, all that’s usually left is generally metal. This metal is cleaned, sorted, shredded, and then melted down in bars, or sometimes other shapes, for future distribution. Common industries that use this recycled scrap metal include the construction and building industry, automotive manufacturing, food processing, and more. Parts that are not metal can also be reused, such as tires, which are shredded and repurposed as asphalt, tarmacs, playground aggregate, and mulch.