There are countless reasons why people drive junk cars. Some do it because it’s too costly to repair or upgrade. Others might do it for sentimental reasons, as the old car may be closely tied to some cherished memories.
Believe it or not, some people voluntarily choose to drive junk cars even though they could afford something better. If a car could still get them from Point A to point B, then they find no reason to replace their junk with a new one.
Driving a junk car has plenty of drawbacks, and admittedly, a few benefits as well. But before you hop into one, you should read this article to the end. Here, we’re going to discuss the dangers and risks of driving a junk car so that you can make better-informed decisions about driving such a vehicle.
What Is Considered a Junk Vehicle?
Before anything else, let’s get on the same page about what a junk vehicle is or isn’t, because people have different views. Here, it’s important to note that there is no cookie-cutter or black-or-white definition of what a junk car is, but it’s certainly more than just an ‘old car’.
As far as this article is concerned, we’re referring to an old car with little or no financial value left in it. To be more exact, a junk car is also one that has experienced extensive damage (like from previous accidents) and plenty of wear and tear.
Sure, it’s easy to assume that all junk cars are unusable, just parked on the side of the road and rusting away. But that definition would be incomplete, as there are plenty of functional junk cars rolling around on Aussie streets daily.
What Are the Dangers of Driving Around in a Junk Car?
Now that we have a rough idea of what a junk car is let's talk about why driving one is incredibly dangerous. Here are just a few examples.
Extensive Rust
Rust is a fact of life for all vehicles, no matter the type. The problem with a junk car is that it’s been riding around for so long that by now, rust may have covered a significant portion of its body.
The more significant issue here is that a lot of automobile rust tends to be out of sight. Think about it: most of us only ever see the painted exterior of the vehicle. And while the paint may have faded on a junk car, there’s no telling how bad the rusting is under all of the car’s various panels.
Why is rust so bad? Well, rust undermines the structural integrity of the vehicle. So, a car with an extensive rust problem can break apart and crumble when experiencing even minimal impact.
Passive Safety Issues
All cars are built with safety in mind; there's no denying it. While modern cars have plenty of active safety features to protect their occupants, older ones only ever had passive safety features to rely on.
With a junk car, those passive safety features, like the structural design, airbags, and so on, may have become compromised with time. As mentioned earlier, rust is a perfect example of what could undermine that passive safety.
Besides that, you may have problems with old airbags that may not deploy, doors that won’t open and shut as they should, and more.
Junk cars with these passive safety issues will likely fail to protect you in a collision, or they might be such a distraction that they undermine your ability to drive safely on the road.
Leak and Fire Risks
This point is somewhat of an overlap between the previous two. On older cars, extensive rust, cracking, and compromised safety features could also lead to leaks of all kinds. The fuel tank may be rusted and leaking, while gases like carbon monoxide may find their way into your car’s cabin.
Compared to a regular oil leak, petrol and gas leaks are much more dangerous. They can lead to fires, accidents, injuries and most certainly death.
Considering those dangers, it may not be an exaggeration to call a junk car a ‘death trap’.
When Should You Consider Selling Your Car?
Sadly, cars don’t have expiration dates printed somewhere under the hood. So, there’s no ‘perfect time’ to know when your car becomes a junk vehicle or when you should sell it. Some junk car owners maintain a simple philosophy: as long as the car still runs, they’ll keep driving it.
When It Becomes Unsafe to Drive
Prudence dictates that if a car poses risks to safety, life or property, you should get rid of it immediately.
Take note that if your car is still safe to drive, there are other reasons that make it wiser to let go of a junk car.
When Repairs and Maintenance Get Too Expensive
Yes, you may be saving lots of money by choosing not to buy a new car and paying for things like a car loan. However, does the cost of keeping your junk car exceed what you’d pay to drive a brand new vehicle?
Suppose you’re not planning on getting a new car either way. Well, here’s another perspective: Is the cost of keeping your junk car more than the price of relying on public transportation? Here, we’re not just talking about the financial cost, but also emotional cost and health risks. Imagine the stress of maintaining a junk car and constantly praying it doesn’t break down when you need it most!
By asking yourself these questions, you may find that it’s time to immediately sell your old junk car and get rid of the mental and financial headaches associated with it.
When the Lack of Reliability Affects Your Daily Routine
Again, there’s nothing wrong with keeping a junk car if it serves you well. But what if it doesn’t? What if it starts breaking down often enough to affect your daily routine, like commuting to work or sending the kids to school?
If that’s the case, then you may want to consider selling the junk car for the greater good. Sure, buying a new car will come at a cost, but at least you can trust that it’ll get you to the office on time.
Learn the Best Way to Sell Your Junk Car
If, or when, you decide to sell your junk car, here’s one way to start. Sign up and head on over to Carpart.com.au/ads and let the world know that you’re putting your car up for sale. Advertising your car at CarpartAU is the best way to start because your ad will be seen by people from all over Australia, including those looking to buy an old car just like yours!
By Ray Hasbollah