Lost car rescue is all about turning “unwanted” into “invaluable”

Sometimes that old scrapper feels like a lost cause. That old jalopy that’s been sitting out in the back lane? Whipper snippin’ around it, one summer after another, can get old. Shoveling it out of the latest snow fall gets a little tiresome. The car we loved (sometimes) needs a rescue.

Every vehicle has a story. You can extend the legacy of your beloved (but unused/unwanted) car, truck, van, or SUV by donating it for ANY charity in Canada!

Thinking of donating a scrap car?

Every vehicle donation is considered for re-sale and recycle.

So, our starting place when we see your SUV particulars is an assessment of age, condition, make, and model. We pay careful attention to your vehicle notes and use them to guide us in our determination of best process for your Jeep, junker, or Jaguar.

If it is auction-ready we’ll set you up with free transport to auction. There it will be sold as-is to the highest bidder.

If your vehicle is not quite the right fit for your local auction house we may assign it to a re-sale/recycle agent. These capable crews will assess the car when they have it on their yard and determine if they’ll be able to find a buyer, or if they need to pay out a recycle amount.

And if you are donating a scrapper it’s as simple as any of the above. Your free tow will ensure your junker gets to the agent’s lot and they’ll pay us the going rate for recycling in your region.

A bit more about the recycle process

Here at Donate a Car Canada we have been fortunate. Our agents, despite a metal market that ebbs and flows and ebbs again, ensure that our charities receive a donation for every donated vehicle.

We often hear the words, “My tires alone are worth more than what you’re offering!” How we appreciate the cost of tires! When you and I put new tires on our vehicles it costs us several hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, that rubber just doesn’t hold its value once a car is ready to recycle.

Recycle agents and scrap yards cover their own costs in different ways. Some will sell individual parts. Some make their largest return on the metal that the car is made of. Others are able to fix and re-sell vehicles. Whatever the case, our agents pay us out at what the market will afford based on their own initial investment in transport, vehicle breakdown, and administrative costs.

Scrap car donation outcomes: those dollars add up!

Despite the ups and downs in the market, thanks to our cooperating agents and conservative budgeting on our side, our charities continue to benefit through our program. Your lost car rescue gift is added to the next…and to the next…and to the one after that, too! Your charity of choice won’t take that for granted, and they’ll put your gift to great work!

The post Lost Car Rescue | From Done-In to Dollars appeared first on Donate A Car.

Car prices: Revved up? Slamming on the brakes?

Have you noticed that your grocery cart, gas tank, and electric bill aren’t the only things spinning you for a loop these days? We’ve been front-and-center to the wild shifts in car prices over the past couple of years. In Donate a Car Canada’s two-decades-plus of caring for car donors we haven’t seen anything like it!

Our donors have weathered staggering dips in the market. Not so long ago, there were months and months where a scrap car wasn’t worth the rubber it was sitting on. That was a hard hit to auto owners across the country.

A fabulous time to be buying a new vehicle; a terrible time to be letting an older model go.

Then, along came capital “C” Crazy! This past year older vehicles were selling for mad cash!

An old Ford Focus that previous markets would have priced at a few hundred dollars? Sold! For a few thousand dollars! Old, new, and everything in between — your four-wheeled wonder was worth hearty money.

A fabulous time be selling any ol’ vehicle; a terrible time to by trying to get your hands one a new (or used) one!

Enter Summer/Autumn 2023

I had the happy luck of owning a newer model Toyota for a time. ‘Wonderful Corolla. Sturdy, spacious, reliable. I loved that car. And right around the onset of Springtime this year I got a little niggle, “You know, if you were to sell this beauty right now, you’d make back every dollar you paid for her, and probably a few thousand dollars profit!”

That niggle poked and prodded me for weeks. I had all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t sell. Good reasons! But, I told myself, demand isn’t shifting, and I have time to sit on this. ‘Really think it through. Be 100% sure I’m ready to let go of the car.

Finally, by summer’s end, I was ready to make the leap. I wandered into a dealership full of confidence. Dealerships and other re-sellers were hungry for inventory. I knew the market and I knew exactly what my car was worth. Just write me a cheque and send me on my way!

Yeah. Not so fast there, sister.

I’d taken my courageous leap about 2 weeks too late.

Two weeks. That’s how quickly things shifted. A few dealers and a hearty attempt at online sale later I resigned myself: the market had dipped back toward normalcy. I did make back every penny I originally paid (Unheard of, right?! When have work-a-day cars ever appreciated in value?), but waved a sad goodbye to my hoped-for profit.

What a dip in car prices means for you

You and your charity of choice may have been some of the lucky ones to ride the wave of bonkers-high car prices this past year. If so, we celebrate with you! What a crazy ride.

Charities across Canada saw unprecedentedly high donation outcomes in the last 12 months as a result. High car prices and strong demand meant folks buying second-hand vehicles were ready to pay BIG! That resulted in some deliciously strong donation outcomes for charities in every province.

As the market stabilizes a little, and prices settle back to something more recognizable, we will continue to see robust donations — but they will be more in line with familiar price spreads.

“In terms of Canadian pricing, all but one of the nine segments experienced a decrease; the most significant coming from sports cars (-0.61%), followed by near-luxury cars (-0.39%) and compact cars (-0.38%). The one segment that saw an increase was sub-compact cars (+0.24%).” (Canadian Auto Dealer)

Your car, your charity of choice

For some, it can be a little easier to part with a vehicle for donation if the value is modest. Some donors feel a twinge of disappointment that the car they’re donating this year isn’t worth quite as much as the one they donated last year. (ps: This is a real thing! Many, many Canadians donate multiple vehicles to the charities they love. We get our socks knocked off by the generosity of businesses and private donors alike every month.)

Whatever the market may be doing, we’ve got you covered. Your beloved…or loathsome…vehicle will make a marked difference for your chosen cause.

The process is simple, quick, and free. Free for you; free for your charity. Any charity in Canada can benefit, and you will always receive a tax receipt for your donation.

The post Are Car Prices Going Down in Canada? appeared first on Donate A Car.

“I donated a scrap car 10 years ago and got a $200.00 tax receipt! Why is my receipt lower now than it was then?”

The short answer to that question is that our vehicles simply aren’t worth their weight in metal when the market hits certain lows. When the scrap metal market is strong, our ’98 Honda or ’01 Mazda may be worth $200.00 or $300.00 at the yard. When the market hits the lows we’ve been seeing since 2015, the same cars may be worth $25.00 – $75.00 on the scale.

Thinking of donating a scrap car?

Here at Donate a Car Canada we have been fortunate. Our agents, despite scrap car values dropping perilously low, were able to continue to ensure that our charities received at least a small donation for each donated vehicle.

We often hear the words, “My tires alone are worth more than what you’re offering!” How we appreciate the cost of tires! When you and I put new tires on our vehicles it costs us several hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, that rubber just doesn’t hold its value once a car is ready to recycle.

Recycle agents and scrap yards cover their own costs in different ways. Some will sell individual parts. Some make their largest return on the metal that the car is made of. Others are able to fix and re-sell vehicles. Whatever the case, our agents pay us out at what the market will afford based on their own initial investment in transport, vehicle breakdown, and administrative costs.

Scrap car donation outcomes: those dollars add up!

Despite the press of the recently depressed market, thanks to our cooperating agents and conservative budgeting on our side, our charities continue to benefit through our program. Your $100.00 gift is added to the next…and to the next! Your charity of choice won’t take that for granted, and they’ll put your gift to great work!

The post Scrap car: your car in today’s market appeared first on Donate A Car.

It is becoming more and more prevalent to ensure vehicles are disposed of properly. There is a lot of controversy around carbon footprints. What is left behind when a vehicle is no longer drivable? Moreover, what about the carbon footprint left behind in the manufacturing of our cars and trucks?

Recycling is all about stewardship

The truth of the matter is we need to increase awareness. Let’s take whatever recycling action we can! For us, that means we assist in the proper removal and disposal methods available to us.

We believe Donate A Car Canada has a role and responsibility when a vehicle is submitted for donation. It is our best effort to work with agents across the country that have a similar mindset. We understand that it is a costly process for scrap yards/auto wreckers to engage in. Furthermore, not all agents are in a position to make the recycling transition as of yet.

In the words of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada, “Recyclers purchase end-of-life and accidented vehicles, and ensure that all vehicles are retired in an environmentally sound manner. They spend significant resources to build and maintain facilities specially designed to capture and store harmful materials, keeping them from contaminating soil and groundwater.”

When a vehicle is properly discarded, up to 85% of parts can be recycled for other uses! This typically means recycled steel manufacturing. Proper disposal of gasoline, oil products, or anti-freeze helps! These agents prevent waste from seeping into the ground. That eliminates contamination that can cause harm both to the environment and to the soil long term.

Who is behind the wheel on recycling?

One of our key agents has been instrumental in pursuing and generating change in the industry. As president of the Alberta Automotive Recyclers and Dismantlers Association he helps the cause. He is also on the Board with the Automotive Recyclers of Canada. As you will see in this interview, Steve Cox from Allwest Auto Parts in Edmonton, Alberta, is passionate about his work! See the difference he and his staff are making for our environment and future generations! We are proud to be affiliated with his organization. 

Please visit any one of these websites for more information on environmentally responsible processes for your vehicle:

Automotive Recyclers of Canada

Alberta Automotive Recylers & Dismantlers Association

Automotive Recyclers Association

Ready for a little four-wheeled recycling of your own?

You are less than 10 minutes away from your free tow! Go ahead! Donate your unused or unwanted car, truck, van, or SUV. The charity you love will benefit. Your driveway will be all the happier! And, on top of it all, we will work together to tend our earth.

Not quite ready to donate? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you will get an overall feel for how we care for each other and our charities. This is a caring community, here to serve you.

The post Keeping it Green in the Recycling Industry appeared first on Donate A Car.