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The Clunker Junker Review 2024: Pros & Cons, Alternatives, and More

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Written by: Michael Becker
Last Updated:

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The Clunker Junker Review

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The Clunker Junker is a junk car company in the US that matches you with local car junkers. The company buys cars no matter what condition they are in, making it one of the best places to get cash for your junk cars. The company also offers a 100% payment guarantee, so you can rest assured that you will receive payment. Plus, there are no hidden fees and you can get an instant online offer.

Rating

4.4

Legit & Safe

Offers Value

Turnaround Time

Payment Process

Pros

  • Instant online offer – just fill in an online appraisal form with your car’s details such as the make and model, and get an offer in just 5 minutes.
  • 100% payment guarantee – if an affiliated car junker that takes your junk car does not pay you, the company will pay you for the full amount promised.
  • Free towing service available – an affiliated car junker in your area will travel to your location and tow away your car at 0 addutional cost to you.
  • Instant payment – an appraisal will usually be done within 1 to 3 days, and if everything checks out, you will get a check for your car on the spot.

Cons

  • No guaranteed pick up time – since pick ups are arranged by local dealers, you may sometimes have to wait up to 5 days or more for a pick up.
  • Payment only via check – it can take anywhere between 3 to 5 days for your check to clear, so you can’t exacly get instant cash for your junk car.

Jump to: Full Review

Best for Older & Damaged Cars

Peddle logo

Buys used, damaged or junk cars

Free tow and no hidden fees

Pays by ACH trasfer or check

Top Pick for Junk Cars

Wheelzy logo

Free, no-obligation cash offers

Offers free paperwork service

Pays on the spot upon pick up

Highly Rated by Customers

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Excellent customer service ratings

Honors guaranteed offer for 7 days

Can pick up a car within 48 hours

Great for Low-Mileage Cars

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Gives a real offer in 2 minutes

100% hassle-free online process

Free car’s Value Tracker available

How Does The Clunker Junker Work for Car Sellers?


The Clunker Junker makes it possible for you as a car owner to sell your used or junk car. It allows you to:

Enjoy the Fast and Simple Service

Some of the information you need to provide include:

  • Make and model of your car, and year of manufacturing
  • Zipcode where your vehicle is located
  • Whether you have the vehicle title or not
  • Condition of the car

Get an Instant Offer

After providing crucial details about your car, you’ll receive an offer within minutes. Once you accept the offer, The Clunker Junker will proceed to buying your car and scheduling a pickup.

Receive Payment Upon Pick-up

The Clunker Junker ensures you’ll get paid when they pick up your car. Specifically, a representative will write you the check for the offered amount right before they take your car away.  

Additionally, you won’t have to pay any fees for their towing services, nor get deductions from the price they offer. Whatever amount you accept will be the amount you receive. 

How Much Can You Get for Your Car with The Clunker Junker?


Most junk cars are currently worth anywhere between $50 and $300. While this is a big range, there are a lot of factors such as the condition of the junk that can affect the price of your vehicle. 

Who is The Clunker Junker Best For?


The Clunker Junker is best for individuals who want to sell their used and junk cars fast and earn extra income.

How to Sell Your Car to The Clunker Junker?


To sell your car to The Clunker Junker, you can choose either to do it online or through a phone call at (888) 383-4181. Here are the steps that you’ll need to complete: 

Step 1: Provide the Information About Your Car

At The Clunker Junker website, choose your car’s year of manufacturing, and make and model from drop-down lists. Then, click on Get Offer! 

Additionally, The Clunker Junker needs to know where they’ll need to pick up the car from. So you’ll need to provide your zip code for the beginning. If your vehicle is not where you live, make sure to enter the zip code of its current location. 

You’ll also need to enter your contact information, such as:

  • Your name
  • Phone number
  • Email address

Choosing preferred contact methods, such as call, text, or email, is also vital to receive updates from The Clunker Junker team.

Confirm the title and ownership

After completing the contact information form, your next step is to confirm the title and ownership. At this point, you’ll need to choose whether you have:

  • A clean title
  • A salvage or rebuilt title
  • No title
  • An unreleased lien

If you chose the “I have no title” option, you might need to provide the following:

  • Registration 
  • Matching photo ID
  • Other relevant documents

Suppose you have a title but it has someone’s name on it. This can happen if the first owner has already died. If that’s the case, you’ll need to provide additional proof of ownership. 

It’s also crucial to note that The Clunker Junker doesn’t buy vehicles that have an unreleased lien. You’ll need to settle any existing liens and have them signed or stamped on the title. You can also get a lien release document from the applicable bank. 

When The Clunker Junker picks up your vehicle, make sure you can present the original signed or stamped version of the release. 

Describe the vehicle condition

To describe the vehicle condition, you’ll need to select from options that apply to your car’s:

  • Wheels
  • Mechanical condition, where it starts, runs, and drives 
  • Mileage
  • Exterior damage, with size comparison to a baseball
  • Exterior parts or body panels, such as fenders, bumpers, hoods, and doors. 
  • Lights and glass
  • Interior condition
  • Water and fire damage

Suppose there are some conditions that you feel are important to share with, such as missing or removed parts. In that case, you can use the comments box to enter said information. 

Step 2: Accept The Clunker Junker Offer

After providing your vehicle information, the Clunker Junker website will show you an instant offer.

In some cases, you might receive an email confirming your vehicle submission, instead of an instant offer. This can happen if The Clunker Junker needs to check with the potential buyers in your area. 

Once an offer is available, the company will contact you through one or more contact methods you’ve selected. 

In case you’re wondering how The Clunker Junker comes up with the offered amount, here are some things they consider:

Year, make, and model

These are possibly the most significant factors in how much your car is worth. According to The Clunker Junker, newer cars that are not considered junk can sell at a higher price. They auction these cars and get the best prices. 

Size and weight

Say the car is due for the salvage yard, instead of auction, these two factors affect the value. Typically, a small car is worth less than a large vehicle. 

However, it’s noteworthy that some buyers dismantle the cars to resell the parts. Vehicles with replacement parts that are more in-demand may cost more than rare parts. 

Damage and functionality

The overall condition can critically affect your car’s valuation. Cars that are still working will always be worth more than those that are not starting and driving. This is because the car has more salvageable parts that buyers can sell. Conversely, it’s difficult to sell a damaged car as fewer valuable parts remain.

If the offered amount is reasonable to you, you can accept it and schedule the pickup. The Clunker Junker’s local partner will contact you to arrange the pickup day. In some cases, there might not be a specific time frame. However, the company or its partner will pick up your car within one to three business days after you accept the deal. 

Step 3: Get Paid

At this point, you only have to wait for the carrier to arrive. Once they do, they’ll conduct a quick inspection to confirm the condition of your vehicle. 

If everything is okay, you’ll receive your payment in check. This helps the company track the transaction, besides serving as proof of payment.

What Types of Vehicles Does The Clunker Junker Purchase?


The Clunker Junker buys almost all cars in any condition. Whether the vehicle has severe mechanical issues or accident damage does not usually matter.

How Fast Can You Sell Your Car with The Clunker Junker?


Once you accept the offer, a Clunker Junker representative will schedule a convenient pickup time. While the company does not guarantee a specific pickup time frame, the vast majority of its vehicles are picked up within 1 to 3 business days of finalizing.

The Clunker Junker Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Use The Clunker Junker?


As a seller, you won’t have to pay for anything when you sell your car to The Clunker Junker. You’ll receive a check for the amount you accepted as long as the condition of your car is accurate upon verification. 

The Clunker Junker Payment Options


The Clunker Junker issues payments in the form of either cash or check at the time of pickup. This is done by either the local junk car buyer or the company’s carrier. In some cases, the company can mail the payment to you if you cannot be present for pickup.

The Clunker Junker Reviews: Is The Clunker Junker Legit?


As a free car listing site, The Clunker Junker holds an A+ accreditation by the BBB. Some of the notable praises from sellers are the swift transaction and communication efficiency due to several options. 

However, some sellers complained about waiting a long time for the pickup and not getting any offers. In the latter case, The Clunker Junker explained that they were not able to locate a nearby buyer. 

Considering The Clunker Junker received mostly compliments and its BBB admin managed to address issues, it’s safe to say that it is indeed a legit company.

What are The Clunker Junker Pros & Cons?


The Clunker Junker Pros

  • You can get an instant offer in minutes
  • A local carrier picks up your car, no need to take it anywhere
  • Towing service is free of charge
  • You can choose all contact methods: text, call, and email

The Clunker Junker Cons

  • There is no guaranteed time for pickup
  • Buyer availability depends on your location

How Good Is The Clunker Junker Support?


The Clunker Junker has a frequently asked questions page, resources page and articles that covers most of the queries you have. You can contact them if you have more queries. Its support can therefore be considered good.

The Clunker Junker Review Verdict: Is it Worth Selling Car with The Clunker Junker?


Overall, The Clunker Junker is one of the best online car-buying sites that offers a quick and hassle-free way to sell your old car. Whether its condition is good, has some damages, or is junk, The Clunker Junker will buy it anyway.

All you need to do to sell your car is to provide the company with details about your car. After that, you’ll receive a quote in just a few minutes. If you accept the offer, the company representative will come to your driveway to pick up or tow your car and hand you the check.

The Clunker Junker FAQ


What is The Clunker Junker?

The Clunker Junker is an automotive company that offers a fast and easy way to sell your used or junk car. 

The company started in 2011 in Florida, United States. Since then, it has expanded services up to all 50 states, working with third-party local junk car buyers.

The Clunker Junker is owned by Eric and Valerie, a husband and wife team who have been working together for over a decade. 

The couple has been passionate about automobiles and building a strong, sustainable business that creates jobs and careers in their community.

The Clunker Junker is a small family owned and operated company.

Can The Clunker Junker accept a car without a title?

This depends on the location, age of your vehicle, and what other documentation you may have available. While The Clunker Junker can buy some cars without titles in some states, you will usually need a photo ID that matches a valid registration and/or insurance card to prove ownership.

How does The Clunker Junker calculate offers?

The Clunker Junker Our offers are calculated in real time based on a large number of market forces such as recent sale and auction prices, prices of raw scrap metal, current buyer inventory, distance from your location to the buyer’s facility, among others.

For how long is The Clunker junker offer valid?

The Clunker Junker offers can change at any time until they are both accepted and all required information is provided. This is due to the extremely volatile wholesale vehicle markets.

Is the Clunker Junker legitimate?

The Clunker Junker is a legitimate junk car buying service that has partnered with thousands of local car buyers across the country to get you the highest offers possible for your vehicle.

How long does The Clunker Junker take to pick my car?

The Clunker Junker is not directly involved with pickup hence can never guarantee any specific day, time, or window of time for pickup. Most vehicles are, however, picked up within 1 to 3 business days from the time everything is finalized.

If the car is still in the previous owner’s name, but you have signed it as a buyer, you will not be able to legally sell that vehicle until you have a new title issued in your name.

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Michael Becker

Dollarbreak

About the author:

Michael Becker is a car enthusiast and expert who has been working in the automotive industry for over 15 years. He started his career as a salesperson at a local dealership, where he learned the ins and outs of the car market. Then he moved on to flipping cars for a profit.

Michael has also helped many of his relatives and friends to sell their cars, using his knowledge and skills to get them the best deals. He will guide you through the process and help you avoid the common pitfalls.

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