Selling a junk car in January in Wisconsin? Learn how to dig out, prep the locks, and ensure a smooth pickup when the temperature drops below zero.
The Frozen Tundra Challenge
It’s February. It’s -5°F. Your old car has been sitting in the driveway since November. It is now basically an igloo. You decide: “I’m done. I want this thing gone.”
We love buying cars in winter (see our Seasonal Prices guide), but winter pickups present unique physical challenges. If the driver can’t get into the car or move it, they can’t buy it.
Here is your survival guide to selling a frozen junk car.
1. The “Plow Berm” Barrier
If the city plow has buried the rear of your car in a 3-foot wall of ice-hardened snow… we can’t tow it. Tow trucks are powerful, but they aren’t bulldozers. Driving over a hard snow berm can damage the truck’s hydraulic lines or get the tow truck itself stuck.
Your Job: Please loosen the snow around the vehicle before we arrive. You don’t need to detail it, but we need:
- A path for the driver to walk to the door.
- A clear path for the car to be pulled out.
Note: If the car is truly buried and you can’t shovel it, let us know. We might bring a truck with a specialized long-line winch, but we need to know in advance.
2. Frozen Locks & Doors
Moisture gets in door seals and freezes. The driver arrives, hands you the cash, and tries to open the door to put the car in neutral… It’s frozen shut. If we pull the handle too hard, it snaps off. Now we can’t steer it.
Prep Tips:
- The Day Before: Go out and try to open the driver’s door.
- If Stuck: Pour lukewarm (NOT BOILING) water on the seal/handle. Or use de-icer spray.
- Once Open: Put a piece of cardboard or a rag in the jamb so it doesn’t freeze shut again overnight.
3. The “Parking Brake” Nightmare
This is the most common winter killer. You parked the car 3 months ago and set the emergency brake. Moisture got into the cable housing and froze. Or the brake shoes rusted to the drum. The brake is now fused.
The Symptom: We try to winch the car, and the rear wheels just drag, locked up. This tears up your driveway and strains our equipment.
The Fix:
- If you know the brake is seized, tell us!
- We can use “skates” (plastic sleds) under the rear wheels to slide it.
- We can bring a hammer to bang on the drums to loosen the ice (caveman style, but it works).
4. Keys in Winter
Batteries die instantly in Wisconsin winters. If your key fob is dead, you might not be able to unlock the door electronically. Ensure the physical key works in the physical lock. Often, the physical lock cylinder is seized from disuse. Lubricate it with WD-40 or graphite spray beforehand.
5. Flat Tires vs. Frozen Tires
A flat tire in summer is rubber. A flat tire in winter is a rock. If the tire is flat and frozen to the ground, the rim can cut into the asphalt when we pull it.
- Tip: If you have an air compressor, trying to put 20psi in the tires makes the tow 10x easier (and safer for your driveway).
6. Safety for the Driver
Our drivers are tough, but they are human.
- Ice: If your driveway is a sheet of black ice, the heavy tow truck will slide. It might slide into your house or into your good car. Please throw down some salt or sand.
- Daylight: Winter days end at 4:30 PM. Pickup in the dark on ice is dangerous. We try to schedule winter pickups for mid-day (10 AM - 2 PM) when the sun provides maximum light and warmth.
Why Sell in Winter? (The Upside)
Despite all this hassle, winter is a great time to sell.
- Prices are up: Supply is low because nobody wants to go outside.
- Space: You get your garage/driveway spot back before the next big storm.
- No Tickets: Cities issue “Snow Emergency” parking tickets aggressively. Getting that dead car off the street saves you $50-$100 in fines.
Summary Checklist
- Shovel a path to the car based on the plow berm.
- Crack the door seal so it opens.
- Check if wheels roll (parking brake).
- [ ]Salt the driveway for the truck.
Help us fight the frost, and we will hand you a stack of cold (but heartwarming) cash. Call {businessInfo.name} today.