Every other service on this site, we charge you. This one, we pay you.
A car that doesn't run isn't worthless. Scrap steel and reusable parts both carry real value, and what we pay you depends on the vehicle's weight, whether the engine or transmission is intact, and the current scrap metal market, which moves month to month like any commodity. A dead sedan with a good transmission is worth more to us than the same sedan with a blown engine and a missing catalytic converter, and we'll tell you the difference on the phone before anyone drives out.
Polk County code enforcement treats an inoperable vehicle sitting in a driveway or yard as a nuisance complaint waiting to happen, especially if a neighbor calls it in. We've picked up plenty of cars that started as a "I'll get to it eventually" project and ended as a code enforcement letter taped to the door. Getting it off the property before that happens saves you the letter and the hassle, and you get paid for the trouble instead of paying to have it hauled away.
What we take
- Non-running cars and trucks. Blown engine, bad transmission, doesn't matter, if it has a title we can work with it.
- Wrecked or flooded vehicles. Total-loss cars from a collision or storm flooding, provided the frame is intact enough to load.
- Vehicles missing parts. Missing a catalytic converter, wheels, or an engine still counts, it just changes the quote.
- Cars without current registration. As long as you have the title or can get a duplicate from Florida HSMV, an expired tag isn't a dealbreaker.
The Florida title step, done right
Florida requires the seller to sign the title over to us and file a Notice of Sale with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which removes your name from the vehicle's record and protects you from liability after it's gone. You're also required to remove your license plate before the car leaves your property, either to transfer it to another vehicle or turn it in to the county tax collector. If you've lost the title, Florida HSMV has a duplicate-title process, it takes a little longer, but it's not a dead end. We walk you through exactly which form applies to your situation when we call to confirm the pickup.
How it works
- Call and describe the vehicle, make, model, year, condition, and whether you have the title.
- We give you a cash quote based on weight and condition, no in-person inspection required for a standard estimate.
- You confirm a pickup window, we don't need you to be present the whole time, just at drop-off for signatures.
- Our driver loads the vehicle, verifies the title signature, and pays you cash or by other agreed method on the spot.
- We file the Notice of Sale paperwork so the vehicle is off your record.
A standard pickup from a driveway or a flat, accessible yard takes 20 to 30 minutes once the truck arrives. A vehicle stuck in soft ground, deep grass, or blocked in by other cars takes longer, and may reduce the quote slightly to cover the extra winch or maneuvering time.
Real price range
Payouts run $75 to $150 for a small, stripped, or badly damaged vehicle, up to $150 to $400 for a larger vehicle with an intact engine and drivetrain. Scrap steel prices shift with the market, so the exact number depends on the week you call as much as the car itself. We quote the real number on the phone, not a lowball we plan to renegotiate once the truck's already there.
Do I need the title to get paid?
Yes, or a duplicate title issued in your name through Florida HSMV. We can walk you through that process on the phone if you've lost the original.
Will you tow it for free even if it's worth very little?
Pickup is free either way. If the vehicle's scrap and parts value is genuinely low, the cash payout will be small, but you won't ever owe us a towing fee for the removal itself.
Does Polk County actually enforce inoperable vehicle complaints?
Code enforcement responds to complaints about vehicles that sit inoperable on private property, and an unresolved case can end up in front of a special magistrate. Getting the car off the property before a neighbor complains avoids that entirely.
Ready to get paid for it? Call (863) 500-8467 and describe the car.