If you have an old car that you plan to take to the wrecker, the wrecker may give a bit of cash for the car. However, if you want to maximise the experience financially, you may want to remove objects of value before taking the car to the wrecker. Here are a few things you may want to remove:

1. Tyres

If the tyres on your old car are relatively new, you may want to take them off and sell them. If you are driving your car to the wrecker, find a cheap, old set of tyres and put those on the car as you drive to the wrecker. Then, sell your tyres to someone else. Alternatively, you can harvest the tyres from your car to use them as a fun craft project. People make everything from planters, to swings, to footstools using old tyres.

2. Personal Possessions

Removing personal possessions from your car before taking it to the wrecker may seem obvious, but in the rush of getting rid of their car, some people forget to dig through it and remove their stuff. Whether you leave a small sentimental token in the glovebox or a stack of cash in the centre console, it will be impossible in most cases to retrieve it after you've handed the car to the wrecker. Go through your car and take out any personal possessions.

3. Valuable Aftermarket Electronics

Have you outfitted your car with a new stereo system or a GPS? If so, remove those items before taking your car to the wrecker and sell them or put them in your new car. When removing valuable things, make sure that they are not part of the deal. For example, if a wrecker has offered to pay a certain price for your car, make sure that you still get that price if you remove things like the stereo.

4. Various Car Parts

Some wreckers take your car apart and sell the parts, while other smash the car into scrap metal. If the wrecker you are using does the former, check with them before removing parts. Every part in your car is likely worth a bit of money, but to get some value without taking apart the whole car, focus on the solidly valuable and easy to remove parts such as the car battery and your windscreen wipers if they are new.

5. Petrol

Petrol, although not that valuable, is worth something, and if your car has a half or full tank of petrol, you may want to remove it. Use the petrol to power your lawn mower or other tools, but be careful whilst removing it.