Salvage junkyard is a term which confuses a good many people.  Is it a place where things are salvaged, or is it a place where junk is tossed, out of sight, out of mind?

It is actually neither of those things.  A salvage junkyard is, in fact, a salvage yard, and refers, most often, to places where wrecked or non-operable vehicles are sold off to the public one piece at a time.  Salvage yards have been a part of the American landscape since the early 1900’s, but by the 1940’s, as World War 2 ramped up the need for metals, salvage yards began to boom as an industry.

Today it is estimated that there are close to 50,000 salvage yards (wrecking yards) in the United States, with many more found around the world in other First and Second World nations.

The advantages of salvage junkyards (wrecking yards)

The most obvious advantage of salvage junkyards is that they save car owners money. Because used car parts and used truck parts are sold, the price of those parts is discounted, oftentimes by as much as 40%.  For car owners struggling to pay the bills and keep their vehicles running, a 40% savings on car parts is huge and oftentimes the difference between having a functioning car and not having one.

Good for the environment

Anything not sold at the salvage yard is then sent to recycling plants where the remaining metals are crushed, processed, melted down, and used to make new car parts.  This means less mining is necessary and it means fewer resources and energy is used in the making of new auto parts. This is a win-win for the environment, and with all the talk about global warming, it is easy to see why salvage yards are gaining in popularity as we move towards 2022.

How you use them

There are two types of salvage junkyards; there are “you pick them,” where the customer walks into the actual salvage yard, finds the part they want, and removes that part using their own tools. The other type of salvage junkyard involves the customer telling a yard operator what they need, and the yard operator goes out into the yard and retrieves the part.  “You pick them” yards usually offer a bit more of a discount because the customer is doing most of the work.

Is there a risk?

There is always a risk when you buy used auto parts, but most reputable salvage yards offer a warranty.  Our own business, All Import Auto Parts, offers a 90-day warranty on all parts sold, so our customers at least have that much of a guarantee.  In today’s competitive world, the customer really should expect some sort of warranty, and if it is not available, shop somewhere else.

A word about All Import Auto Parts

All Import Auto Parts leads the way in Fort Worth for quality used auto parts and used truck parts. Call us and tell us what you need. If we don’t have that particular part in our yard, we will find it elsewhere and have it shipped to our yard for your convenience.  We are family owned and operated, and we have served with distinction for over three decades.