If you live in Pickering and have an old car you want gone, you probably have a handful of practical questions before you pick up the phone. Do you need to be home? Can a truck get into a condo lot? What happens to the plates? This page answers the questions Pickering owners ask us most about cash for cars in Pickering, from Bay Ridges and Amberlea out to Claremont and the rural north end. For an overview of the service itself, see our cash for cars Pickering page.
Canadian Auto Wreckers is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and has been buying scrap, junk and unwanted vehicles since 1981. Want an answer about your own car right now? Call 416-559-3683 or send the details through our online quote form.
CAW Team, Canadian Auto Wreckers
Key takeaways
- We pick up across Pickering, including the rural north, as well as the rest of Toronto and the east GTA.
- Towing is free and included in the quote you accept.
- The registered owner, or someone they’ve properly authorized, needs to hand over the signed ownership.
- Apartment, condo and visitor-parking pickups are doable if you sort out access ahead of time.
- Your licence plates stay with you. Take them off before the car leaves.
Quick answers at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Do you come to my part of Pickering? | Yes, urban and rural Pickering both. |
| Does the car need to run? | No. The tow truck moves it. |
| Do I have to be there? | Someone has to hand over the signed ownership. Confirm the details when you book. |
| Can you pick up from a condo or apartment lot? | Usually, once you’ve checked access and clearance. |
| Is towing extra? | No. It’s free and part of the quote. |
| What happens to my plates? | You keep them. |
Do you pick up everywhere in Pickering?
Yes. That includes the established south-end neighbourhoods like Bay Ridges, West Shore, Amberlea, Liverpool and Dunbarton, the newer Seaton subdivisions, and the hamlets and farm properties up north around Claremont, Brougham and Greenwood. A car sitting at the back of a rural lot is fine. Just tell us how far it is from the road, what the ground is like, and whether there’s a gate, so we can send a truck that can reach it. If you’re further east, our post on rural scrap car pickup in Clarington covers the same kinds of access questions.
Does the car have to run or pass a safety?
No. Plenty of the cars we buy in Pickering don’t start, have flat tires, or failed a safety inspection, and that’s often why the owner is selling. The truck does the moving. If you’re still deciding whether to repair a car that failed its safety, read fix, sell or scrap after a failed safety inspection first.
Do I need to be home for the pickup?
Somebody has to be there, or arranged in advance, because the ownership (vehicle permit) needs to be signed over and your plates need to come off. In most cases that’s simplest if the registered owner is home. If the car belongs to a parent, a spouse or an estate, sort out who’s signing before you book, and tell us on the call. We’ll confirm what’s needed for your situation so nobody is caught off guard on pickup day.
Can you pick up from an apartment, condo or visitor parking?
Usually, yes. The things that cause trouble are a low underground garage ceiling, a locked gate or fob-only entrance, and building rules about tow trucks. A situation we often see is a car that’s been sitting in a visitor spot or an underground stall after it stopped running, with property management starting to send notices. Before you book:
- Ask your property manager or superintendent whether a tow truck is allowed on site, and when.
- Find out the garage clearance height if the car is underground.
- Arrange for someone to open the gate or meet the driver.
- Tell us which level and spot the car is in.
For more on tight spots, see condo, laneway and street pickups in Toronto.
What should I say when I call?
The more accurate the description, the more reliable the quote. Have this ready:
- Year, make, model, and roughly how many kilometres
- Whether it runs, and what’s wrong with it
- Anything major missing or damaged, including the catalytic converter
- Whether the ownership is in your name and whether there’s a loan on it
- Where in Pickering it’s parked and how a truck can reach it
If you’re curious why the converter comes up, our post on catalytic converters and scrap car value explains it.
How is the quote confirmed?
We give you a quote based on what you tell us, and towing is included in it. When the driver arrives, they check that the car matches the description. If it does, the quote should match too. If something was left out, like a missing converter or a car that turns out to be a different trim, that’s when numbers can change, which is why an honest description up front matters. We don’t quote dollar figures in articles because every car is different. The year, condition, missing parts, and current scrap metal markets all play a part.
What happens to my plates and insurance?
In Ontario, the plates belong to you, not the car. Take them off before the tow truck leaves and keep them for your next vehicle or return them at a ServiceOntario centre. Keep the plate portion of your permit, sign over the vehicle portion, and call your insurance company once the car is gone. Our Ontario paperwork, plates and insurance guide walks through it step by step.
Can I sell a car that still has a loan on it?
Not until the lien is paid off or released by the lender. That doesn’t mean the car is worthless. It just means one extra step first. Here’s how that works: selling a scrap car with a loan or lien in Ontario.
What happens to the car afterwards?
It’s recycled responsibly, as Ontario law requires. Fluids are drained, usable parts are recovered, and the remaining metal goes for recycling. Read more about what happens after junk car removal.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy cars in rural north Pickering?
Yes. We pick up in the rural north, including around Claremont, Brougham and Greenwood. Tell us how a truck can reach the car when you call.
Is towing free in Pickering?
Yes. Towing is free and included in the quote you accept.
Can you remove a car from an underground condo garage?
Often, yes. Check the garage clearance height and building rules first, and arrange for someone to let the driver in.
Do I keep my licence plates?
Yes. In Ontario the plates belong to you. Remove them before pickup and keep them or return them to ServiceOntario.
Do you also serve Toronto and the rest of the east GTA?
Yes. We serve Toronto, Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
Get a quote for your car in Pickering
Got a question we didn’t cover? Ask us directly. Tell us the year, make, model, condition and where it’s parked in Pickering, and we’ll give you a clear quote with free towing included. Call 416-559-3683 or use our online quote form. You can also visit our cash for cars Pickering page, or see how we handle scrap car removal in Toronto.