Once the tow truck pulls away, most people never think about their old car again. But if you are booking junk car removal GTA pickup for the first time, it is fair to ask where the car actually goes, what happens to the fluids and parts, and what you still need to do on your end. This guide walks through the journey of a scrapped car in Ontario, from your driveway in Toronto to the recycled metal at the end.
Canadian Auto Wreckers is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and has been removing scrap, junk, and unwanted vehicles since 1981. We pick up across Toronto and the east GTA, including Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes.
CAW Team, Canadian Auto Wreckers
Key takeaways
- A junk car is not simply crushed. It is usually checked for reusable parts, drained of fluids, stripped of hazardous items, and then shredded so the metal can be recycled.
- In Ontario, end-of-life vehicle processing is regulated under O. Reg. 85/16, which sets out how fluids, batteries, refrigerants, and other hazardous materials must be handled.
- Steel, aluminum, and copper are recovered and sold back into manufacturing, which is a large part of why a scrap car still has value.
- Before pickup, you keep your licence plates, remove your belongings, and sign the transfer section of your vehicle permit.
- After pickup, return or reuse your plates at ServiceOntario as needed and cancel your insurance.
What happens on pickup day?
Pickup is usually the simplest part. The driver confirms the vehicle matches what you described when you booked, checks the paperwork, and loads the car onto a flatbed or tow truck. A car that does not run, has flat tires, or has been sitting for years can still be towed. If your car is parked somewhere tight, such as a condo garage or a laneway, our guide to condo, laneway and street pickup in Toronto explains what to expect.
Before the truck arrives, you should:
- Remove your licence plates. In Ontario, plates belong to the owner, not the car.
- Take out personal items, including the glovebox, trunk, under the seats, and any garage door opener or toll transponder.
- Have your vehicle permit (ownership) ready, with the transfer section signed.
- Have photo ID ready so the driver can match it to the name on the permit.
For a fuller checklist, see what to remove before scrapping a car in Ontario.
Step 1: Is the car checked for reusable parts?
Yes, in most cases. When a car arrives at an auto recycler, it is assessed for parts that still have life in them. Engines, transmissions, alternators, starters, doors, mirrors, lights, wheels, and body panels can often be cleaned, tested, and resold as used parts. Reusing a working part means one less new part has to be made, which saves energy and raw materials.
How much of a car is reused depends on its age, condition, and how common the model is. A newer car that was written off after a crash may have many good parts, while a very old, rusty car may be mostly valued for its metal.
Step 2: How are fluids and hazardous materials removed?
This is the step that matters most for the environment, and it is regulated in Ontario. Under O. Reg. 85/16 (the end-of-life vehicle regulation under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act), businesses that process end-of-life vehicles must remove and manage hazardous materials before a car is crushed or shredded. That includes:
- Fluids: gasoline or diesel, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant (antifreeze), brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid.
- Refrigerant: air conditioning refrigerant must be recovered, not vented into the air.
- Batteries: lead-acid batteries are removed and sent for recycling. Hybrid and electric vehicle batteries need special handling.
- Mercury switches: some older vehicles have mercury-containing switches, for example in hood or trunk lights, that must be taken out.
- Other items: such as oil filters, tires, and airbags or other components that need careful handling.
Fluids are drained into proper containers so they do not soak into the ground or run into storm drains. Many of them, such as used oil and coolant, can be re-refined or reused. If you have a hybrid or electric car, our guide to scrapping a hybrid or electric car in Toronto covers the battery side in more detail.
Step 3: What happens to the catalytic converter, tires, and glass?
Several parts are separated before the car is shredded because they are recycled on their own:
| Part or material | What usually happens to it |
|---|---|
| Catalytic converter | Removed and sent to specialists who recover the precious metals inside it |
| Tires | Removed and sent for tire recycling, where they can become products like rubber mats or surfacing |
| Lead-acid battery | Sent to a battery recycler, where the lead and plastic are recovered |
| Engine oil and other fluids | Collected for re-refining, reuse, or proper disposal |
| Usable parts | Tested, cleaned, and resold as used auto parts |
| Body and frame | Crushed or flattened, then shredded to recover metal |
Wondering how the converter affects what your car is worth? Read catalytic converter and scrap car value.
Step 4: How is the metal recycled?
Once the car has been drained and stripped, what is left is mostly metal. The shell is usually flattened so more cars fit on a truck, then sent to a shredder. The shredder breaks the car into small pieces, and magnets and other sorting systems separate steel and iron from non-ferrous metals like aluminum and copper.
That sorted metal is sold to mills and foundries, where it is melted down and made into new products, from new steel to building materials. The leftover mix of plastic, foam, fabric, and glass that cannot easily be separated is often called shredder residue. Recyclers keep working to reduce how much of it ends up in landfill.
Because metal can be recycled again and again, recycling a junk car keeps useful material in circulation and reduces the need for new mining.
Why does a junk car still have value?
Even a car that will never run again is made of materials that are worth recovering. Its value usually depends on:
- The weight of the vehicle and how much metal it contains
- Whether it has parts that can be resold
- Whether the catalytic converter is still on the car
- The make, model, and year
- Current scrap metal market conditions
- Whether the car is complete or has parts missing
Scrap metal markets move over time, so the best way to know what your car is worth is to get a quote based on its actual condition. Our article on questions to ask before you accept a cash for cars offer can help you compare quotes fairly.
What do you need to do after junk car removal?
Your part does not end when the car leaves. To finish things properly in Ontario:
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Keep your licence plates | Plates stay with you. You can put them on another vehicle or return them to ServiceOntario. |
| Keep your copy of the vehicle permit | The plate portion of the permit stays with you, and it is a record of the transfer. |
| Keep your receipt or bill of sale | Shows the date and time the vehicle left your hands. |
| Cancel or change your insurance | Call your insurer once the car is gone so you are not paying for a vehicle you no longer own. |
| Remove toll or parking accounts | Take the vehicle off any 407 ETR, parking, or app accounts linked to the plate. |
For more detail on the paperwork, read cash for cars in Ontario: paperwork, plates and insurance. If you no longer have the ownership, see scrapping a car without ownership in Ontario.
Junk car removal GTA checklist
- ☐ Book a pickup by phone or online and describe the car honestly
- ☐ Remove plates, personal items, and transponders
- ☐ Sign the transfer section of the vehicle permit
- ☐ Have photo ID ready for the driver
- ☐ Make sure the truck can reach the car
- ☐ Keep your receipt and the plate portion of the permit
- ☐ Cancel insurance and update any toll or parking accounts
Frequently asked questions
Is my junk car just crushed and thrown away?
No. A properly recycled car is checked for reusable parts, drained of fluids, stripped of hazardous materials, and then shredded so the metal can be recovered. Very little of a car needs to go to landfill when it is handled properly.
Do I need to drain the fluids before pickup?
No. Leave the fluids in the car. Draining them at home creates a spill risk, and recyclers have the equipment to remove them safely as part of the process.
Can you take a car that does not run?
Yes. Non-running, damaged, and long-parked cars can be towed. See our guide to scrapping a car that has been sitting for years.
Is towing free?
Canadian Auto Wreckers offers free towing in our Toronto and east GTA service area. See free towing for junk cars in Toronto for how pickup works.
Which areas do you cover?
Along with Toronto, we cover Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes.
Book junk car removal in Toronto and the east GTA
If your old car is ready to go, Canadian Auto Wreckers can give you a quote and book a free pickup. Call 416-559-3683 or use our online quote form, and have the year, make, model, and condition of the car handy. You can also read our full guide on how to scrap a car in Ontario or learn about our scrap car removal Toronto service.