6 Signs Your Car Needs to Go

Be responsible, of course, and keep up with standard maintenance and replacements. As the vehicle gets older, however, you might find that your check engine light is on more often than not, or your warning symbols flash on and off when you hit a bump in the road. If you feel like you're always bringing your car in for repairs or find that the overall charges to fix it are more than you paid for it, you may want to say goodbye.

If your car goes through a lot of snow, ice, or puddles, you're likely to attract rust on the undercarriage. If you notice this buildup and allow it to continue, you risk further damage to the vehicle since the rust compromises the integrity of the structure. If chunks of sheet metal start falling off, there's no question — you're definitely in the market for a new ride.

Many states have inspections, emissions tests, or other required ways to check out your car and make sure it's roadworthy. If your car doesn't pass these tests, you'll be driving illegally — and with good reason, since your vehicle is no longer safe at that point. You might be able to repair it and keep the car running for a little while longer, but you're probably better off shopping for a new ride.

Newer cars have the advantage of innovative design, one of which is fuel efficiency. Older cars use more fuel for less mileage than newer vehicles, but it only gets worse with age. If you find that you're filling up often and it takes a long time to satisfy your tank, you may want to check out your options for a more recent model that can save you some fuel costs. 

Your AC and heat are often the first systems to go, and the replacement costs make many people hesitant to fix the problem. If you've driven with broken climate control for a while, you're probably already halfway to buying something better. You don't have to give up on your car right away, but be on the lookout for transportation you can trust to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Ultimately, you'll want a vehicle you can trust to get you from one place to another without issues, and you'll need to have confidence in the car you drive to make that happen. If you hear noises or feel unsafe in any way as you drive, then you should look for an upgrade as soon as possible — not just for aesthetics or the need for something new and shiny, but for the sake of safety.

When you scrap your car, make sure it's going to a recycling plant and not just a junkyard, so that the metal from the car you loved can keep giving people reasons to celebrate. Do you need somewhere to recycle it? Check out Big Daddy Scrap today — a family-owned and operated scrap metal recycling plant that can help you say goodbye to that old clunker.