When I Sell My Car to a scrap car company, I always make sure I deal with a legitimate and reputable business. I only deal with the companies I’ve dealt with before, or with those who have dealt fairly with people I know.

But what if you’re doing this for the first time and you don’t know anyone who’s sold a car to a junk car company? Don’t worry, you can still do research by yourself so you can see if they’re legit or not. Below are some factors you need to check out.

Sell My Car The Easy Way

• They’ll take your car no matter what. This may seem like sour-graping (“If you don’t want to take my junk car then you’re no good anyway!”) but it’s actually true that a legit car company will be able to buy your car no matter what condition it’s in.

• They don’t make you wait for the quote. When you deal with junk car companies, they’ll usually ask questions about the condition of your car, and it’s your responsibility to answer them honestly. After that, they should be able to give you a quote right after. That lets you contact several junk car companies to see which one offers the best price. You can even quote a higher price from a previous company to see if the company you’re talking to can top it.

• They don’t renege on their offer price. This is a very common scam done by disreputable companies. They offer you a price, and when they get to your place they say that, for some reason or another, the real value is actually lower than what they told you about earlier. Now if you answered their questions honestly, then they’re trying the “bait and switch” scam on you. Be firm in saying no and try again with another company.

• They’ll offer towing for free. Some companies even charge you for this service, and if you’re a newbie then this may seem legit and reasonable. But one sign of a reputable company is that the towing service is free. The company won’t give you a quote and then suddenly subtract the “cost” of the towing service from the price they offered. If they do this, then you’re dealing with a scammer.

• You get paid in cash on the spot. You get your money when they take away your junk car. It’s that simple. You don’t get the cash at the office or after a week when they’ve recycled the parts. That’s their problem, not yours anymore. And they won’t offer you a check (even if it’s a certified check) or a money order.

It’s really simple when you deal with a reputable junk car company, which is why I only deal with these types when I sell my car to them. You contact them and they respond quickly, they ask you questions about the condition and you answer honestly. Then they give you a quote. If you pick them, they show up at the appointed time, take care of the title transfer, and tow away your car while they pay you cash up front. It should be that simple for you, and if it isn’t then you need to find another junk car company to sell junk cars.