How to Find Out if Your Car is Still Under Warranty

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Benjamin

Did your just car break down and now you are wondering what your options are? Well, you are not alone. Most car owners lose track of their warranty coverage over the years, especially since so many warranties vary in terms and conditions. Before you take your car in for repair or claim it as a total loss with your insurance carrier, be sure to check on the warranty status first.

Continue reading to learn how to find out of your car is still under warranty, plus what to do if your car is a total loss and not covered under automotive insurance in Indianapolis.

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Locating Warranty Coverage for Your Car

You probably heard in almost every single car commercial ever made in recent history. At the minimum, most new cars come with a three year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. This means that the car is covered under a limited warranty for either three years or up to 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Alternatively, some new vehicles come with extended warranties or specialized warranties, like rust or seat belt guarantees. It really just depends on the automotive dealership you do business with and the particular make and model vehicle you purchase. Even if you purchased a preowned car, it may still have an active warranty depending on how old it is.

To locate the warranty coverage for your particular vehicle, start with these steps:

Start With the VIN – The first step is to find your Vehicle Identification Number, or for short, VIN. Typically, this number is displayed on the driver-side door jam, but you may also find it on your insurance card or car title.

Find a Relevant Dealer – Your next step is to find a dealership that specializes in your make and model vehicle. It cannot be a dealership that sells your type of vehicle; it must be a dealership that solely deals with your make and model vehicle. So, if you drive a BMW, go to a BMW dealership, not an import car dealership.

Ask For the Service Department – Once you find a relevant dealer, contact them and ask to be transferred to the service department. Simply ask the service department representative for information about your car warranty. They should have the proper software to look up that information for you.

If the dealership for your make and model vehicle does not have the warranty information you need, you may also contact the dealership in which the car was originally purchased. If you don’t know where the car was originally purchased, you might be able to find warranty information on your insurance paperwork.

Is your car no longer covered under warranty and the cost to repair it is more than what the vehicle is actually worth? Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 to sell your junk car in Indianapolis for cash on the spot! We serve all of Central Indiana with FREE junk car removal!

Can I Reset the Check Engine Light in My Car?

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Benjamin

An illuminated Check Engine Light on the dashboard of your vehicle could mean a lot of things. Some things are quite minor, while others might suggest you need a whole new car. If your Check Engine Light problem is something serious, it is critical that you have it repaired by a certified mechanic as soon as possible. Driving with the Check Engine Light on is dangerous, plus it can cause serious internal damage to the engine and more.

If for some reason you wish to clear the Check Engine Light on your vehicle yourself, there is an easy way to get the job done. Continue below to learn how to reset a Check Engine Light.

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What is Your Check Engine Light Doing?

A flashing Check Engine Light indicates a serious engine problem, such as a bad catalytic converter. A solid Check Engine Light icon signifies a less urgent problem, such as a loose gas cap or defective spark plug. If your issue is something that can be done yourself, like tightening up the gas cap, go right ahead. For all other automotive problems, you will need a professional. A mechanic has the proper skills to read the Check Engine Light code, repair the problem, and clear the icon from your dash.

DIY Check Engine Light Clearing

Unless you have your own Check Engine Light code reader, you will not be able to reset the icon yourself. It is not recommended to ignore a serious mechanical problem and simply reset the Check Engine Light. Not only is this unethical if you want to sell the car down the line, but it is dangerous and only does more harm to the vehicle.

How to Reset the Check Engine Light

Was your problem minor, like a loose gas cap, and you fixed it, but the light won’t turn off? Do this:

Try disconnecting the car battery. Let it sit for several minutes, then connect it back up. This is known to work well.

At a steady pace, turn your vehicle on and off, three times in a row, driving a few miles in between. This usually triggers the onboard computer to reset itself.

You can also just drive for a while, without stopping. Often times, the onboard computer system will run self-tests and finally confirm that the issue is resolved, thus switching off the light.

Are you using a code reader?

Simply plug it in, select the Check Engine Light error code, and erase the code. Some code readers do not have this feature, but most will.

Did you clear a Check Engine Light code a long time ago, never repairing the vehicle, and now you want to sell it? Great news! Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 to get a quote from an experienced Indianapolis junk car buyer who will pay you the highest cash payout for totaled cars in Central Indiana. We provide free junk removal!

Should I Detail My Junk Car Before Scrapping It?

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Benjamin

Consumer sciences might agree that better-looking goods sell for more. However, this supply-and-demand principle does not always apply to all types of sales. Junk cars might be an example. Many people naturally wonder if they can get more money for their junk car before selling it to a scrap yard in Indianapolis. The answer depends on a few factors.

Continue below to learn what those factors are, plus how to ensure you make the most cash for junk cars in Indiana.

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Automotive Detailing Options

Automotive detailing generally involves a comprehensive and methodical series of steps that cleanses, sanitizes, and freshens up the exterior and interior of a vehicle. You can choose to take your vehicle into a professional automotive detailing center and pay between $75 and $600, depending on the size and scope of your vehicle. Or you can detail your car on your own using store-bought products, materials, and equipment. If you choose DIY automotive detailing, you can expect to spend anywhere between 1 and 7 hours getting the job done, plus upwards of $200 for the supplies. It can be a lot of work and still cost you.

The Value in Detailing a Junked Car

Junk cars are just that: junk. But in some cases, a junk car can still drive, be repaired enough to be drivable again, or contain major car parts that can be refurbished and resold on the used auto parts market. Depending on the condition of your junk car, detailing could add value and get you more cash at the scrap yard, or it can end up a complete waste of money.

Ask yourself these questions to determine if automotive detailing is a worthwhile expense for your junk car:

Will my junk car operate again with just a few repairs, even if those repairs are major like engine replacement? Is my junked car very old and corroded? Does my junk car have a bunch of garbage inside?

For junk cars that might one day operate again, detailing could be very worthwhile before scrapping it at a local Indianapolis auto salvage yard. As mentioned earlier, the better looking something is, the more money it will sell for.

For junk cars that are old, corroded, or filled with garbage, automotive detailing could be a huge waste of time and money. Instead, it is wiser to tidy your car up before taking it in for a junk car evaluation. Although it won’t increase the innate scrap value, the auto buyers will reduce any fees from your offer related to cleanup and bio-hazard removal. This puts more money in your pocket!

Before Selling a Junk Car

Although you do not need to detail your junk car before selling it, it is smart to clean it up a bit. Give it a wash, clean out any trash inside the cabin or trunk, and remove any personal belongings. Be sure to also remove the front and back plates, plus cancel the insurance and registration with the state. And that’s all you have to do before selling a junk car for cash in Indiana!

Are you looking for the best junk car buying company that can pay you the full value of your junked motor vehicle? Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 to sell your junk car in Indianapolis for cash on the spot! We serve all of Central Indiana.

When Does a Car Turn Into a Junk Car?

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Benjamin

Has your car been giving your strife for some time now? Are you constantly battling new repairs and replacements, barely getting through your commutes from one day to the next? Are you surprised and delighted each time your car starts up? Although you know the car is too damaged to sell to anyone, you might be wondering if it has crossed the line into junk territory just yet. After all, it still runs, even if barely!

So, when does a car transition from a regular car to a junk car? Continue below to learn how junk cars are defined, plus where you can get free junk car removal for your own hunk of scrap metal in Indianapolis.

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Junk Car 101

A junk car is an automobile that is no longer capable of operation and the cost to make it operational exceeds its pre-scrap value. Junk cars are classified by the state’s department of motor vehicles (DVM) as total loss vehicles and give them a salvaged title. Total loss vehicles are entered into a national database that is accessible by police, governmental agencies, the DMV, and for a fee, the general public.

How to Get Rid of a Junk Car

After beginning the claim process with your insurance company you find that the payout is not worth making the claim, you can choose to sell your junk car to an Indianapolis IN auto salvage yard. Junk car buyers accept all motorized vehicles in any condition, whether just a burnt out frame or an entire car totaled out by flood damage. The worth of a junk car depends on several factors, including the current market prices for steel, as well as national and global demand, vehicle weight, vehicle location, and more.

If your car is not insured, but you are sure it is junked for good, your best option is to scrap it at a local salvage yard and get paid cash on the spot. Just be sure to choose a business that actually pays cash. Many unethical lots will promise cash, but then make an excuse later on and send a check that arrives weeks later, or in worst case scenarios, never.

Once you sell a junk car to a Cash for Cars Company in Indianapolis, they will arrange a time for them to come pick it up. Some companies will require you to arrange your own tow and bring the vehicle into their lot. Most junk car companies charge a towing fee that is deducted from the offer they initially give. If you choose a reputable junk car buyer, you can get free towing and cash on the spot! But who provides these cash for junk car services in Indy?

Benjamin’s Junk Cars! Here at Benjamin’s Junk Cars, we only make honest offers for junk cars, and stand by our services 100%. Contact us at 317-218-7133 to get a quote for your junk car, today! Learn how it works and what you need to do to prepare your junked car for pickup. We offer free towing, flexible scheduling, and same day service, plus adhere to all Indiana EPA regulations for scrapping. Furthermore, we serve all of Indianapolis, as well as the surrounding Central Indiana areas!