June 1st 2020

VW Beetle Salvage Yards Near Me – Find Used Bug Parts

Volkswagen Beetle junkyards are great for salvage parts and saving money. If you are restoring an old VW Bug, then a salvage yard is often your best option for hard to find vintage parts. The way these junkyards work is they take in junked Volkswagen Beetle’s and sell off the parts that are still functioning. While you won’t see many of these exclusive yards around, the ones that do exist are a Mecca for Beetle collectors and VW enthusiasts. Below I’ll share where to find a Beetle junkyard, the pros and cons of salvage parts, and my experience with the VW Beetle salvage yards near me.

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Find VW Beetle Junkyards Near Me – Beetle Salvage Yard Locator

If you are searching for “VW Beetle Salvage Yards Near Me” or “Used VW Beetle Parts Near Me”, check the map below. While Volkswagen salvos are pretty popular, Beetle only salvos are a bit tougher to locate. You can adjust the map controls to hone in on your results.

Operations of Volkswagen Beetle Salvage Yards Near Me

A Volkswagen Beetle junkyard is a sub class of junkyards. Meaning there are automobile junkyards, Volkswagen junkyards, and then there are junkyards specific to only Volkswagen Beetles.

If you are looking for salvage parts for a new beetle 2011 and later, these can be found at a late model salvo. The yards we are discussing today will be for the Volkswagen Type 1’s produced between 1938 and 2003. You may find some newer VW bugs on these lots, but a majority will be type 1’s.

These places operate similar to any other local business, except it’s more a thrift shop for salvage parts. They have some government regulation around environmental standards for recycling, but other then that, they are simply just like a store for used VW parts.

Volkswagen Bug’s often make their way into the salvo as a result of a private owner junking it. Sometimes the owner will try and fix the car before junking it and then give up and get their losses. Some Bug’s come in because of an accident. In this event an insurance company deems the vehicle “totaled” and gets money for the car to offset some of the payout on a claim. Other times these cars come in through junked vehicle auctions where the salvo buys a bunch of junked Beetles.

How the Yard Processes the Vehicle

All yards generally follow a similar process for breaking down the vehicles. When a new one comes in, it needs to be prepped before parts can be pulled. First the fluids will get drained. Some fluids like gas, windshield wiper fluid, and antifreeze, are containorized and resold. Fluids like oil need special handling and get containorized in huge metal tanks and sent for recycling. These process are all governed by state recycling laws.

There is additional processing that occurs to ensure the salvo gets the maximum amount of value from the vehicle. They will pull valuable parts off first so that they don’t rust and corrode in the yard. Batteries, engines, starters, and alternators are good examples of parts that get pre-pulled. These items will be sold in the salvos warehouse or online. If the motor doesn’t run, they may rebuild it and sell it with a warranty.

Yard Arrangement

At the VW Beetle salvage yards near me, the Bugs are arranged in rows and never stacked. They are arranged loosely by decade. The yards are laid out in a typical pick and pull style format with a few feet in between each car and large rows in between each aisle.

The better the yard is arranged, the more efficiently you can find what you need. It’s also helpful if you know a little of your VW parts history. Knowing what years Volkswagen used the same parts will help you find what you need faster. If you aren’t sure, the people who work at the yard are VW Beetle experts. You can call ahead and ask about their inventory. They can probably even tell you exactly where a certain model is on the lot.

An Example of a VW Bug Junkyard

One of my favorite places is Don’s Bug Barn. They have tons of classic parts they have been collecting for over 30 years. It’s located in Athens Texas and it is a Mecca among Volkswagen collectors…

Salvage Yards That Buy VW Beetle

A Beetle is just a little two door vehicle, so it’s scrap price isn’t very alluring. Sure the old Type Ones are these big steel frames, but still not that much curb weight compared to lets say a 70’s muscle car. Since scrap metal prices aren’t much your best option is an auto salvage. Truthfully, selling it independently is the way to go, but that can be difficult if your Bug doesn’t run. To get the most out of junking your VW Beetle read this.

You can get an offer any auto salvage, but a Beetle junkyard will be the most competitive. This is because they are dealing with a much more niche customer base they can sell to.

If you are considering junking your Bug for cash, I would recommend first assessing if the car is repairable and the cost to fix it. Ask yourself, Would a repair change the value?

If you think junking is your best option read: How to Junk a Car in 10 Easy Steps. You may also want to consider who buys junk cars in your area.

Whether or not your vehicle runs you should check the Kelly Blue Book value and get a scrap metal price estimate based on the curb weight. This will help you frame your offers on the vehicle. You are not going to get anywhere near the KBB value on a wrecked Beetle, but your should know the number. If your Beetle still runs negotiate higher. If you just recently took it off the road, mention that and negotiate up. Know what valuable components are still in working condition when you negotiate.

Used VW Beetle Parts Near Me

At the VW Beetle salvage yards near me, you can find frames, shells, hoods, boots, convertible tops, starters, alternators, mirrors, seats, doors, axles, carborators, radiators, frames, panels, exhausts, etc. These are goldmines for restoration projects. Even better is not just the selection of parts, its the variety of years, If you are looking to keep your Beetle original, these yards are a must.

The way most yards work is that you walk the yard and use your tools to pull the parts you need. Then you purchase only those parts. Here is our best 16 Tips for pulling salvage parts efficiently.

All of the VW salvos near me are free to walk around, but there are a few in the US, that charge a small entry fee.

if you are looking for newer VW Beetle parts, there may be some, but your best option is a Volkswagen junkyard.

Pros of Salvage VW Beetle Parts at a Junk Yard

Going to an exclusive VW yard means you are going to find Volkswagen assembled original parts. This beats fabrication and after market parts all day. You will also get parts at huge discounts on rare parts and certainly beat the prices directly from Volkswagen. There is no other place that will have more parts exclusively for Bugs then these salvos.

Another great option with used VW parts at a salvage is you can often get a warranty. Usually it will cost you about $8 to $12 per part and allow you to exchange the part or get a junkyard credit. No junkyard that I know of gives cash back. I like to get a warranty on a part that I feel is expensive or mechanical.

Disadvantages of Buying Used Beetle Parts from the Junkyard

Quality of parts is always the biggest question mark at any type of junkyard. You never know how these parts were used or beat on. It is best to visually inspect the parts and test any electronic parts with a small portable battery. To mitigate the risk of getting low quality parts you should ask for a warranty.