How to Prepare Your Car for Pickup: A Checklist
A little preparation makes pickup day quick and keeps your offer exactly as quoted. Use this checklist to get your car ready for scrap pickup or sale: what to take out, what to leave in, which papers to have ready, and what happens when the truck arrives.
Your pre-pickup checklist
Work through this list in the day or two before your scrap pickup. Most items take only a few minutes.
- Find your ownership (vehicle permit) Keep it somewhere handy, and don't sign the transfer section until the driver is with you.
- Have photo ID ready The registered owner, or the person authorized to sell, will need valid government-issued photo ID at pickup.
- Gather every key and fob Put all keys, fobs and valet keys in one place, since a car with keys can be worth more.
- Empty the car Check the glovebox, centre console, door pockets, under the seats, the trunk and the spare-tire well.
- Remove your licence plates Plates belong to you, not the vehicle, so take them off before the tow and keep them or return them to ServiceOntario.
- Take off transponders and passes Remove any 407 ETR transponder, parking permits and building fobs from the windshield or visor.
- Clear your personal data Unpair your phone, delete saved addresses and reset any built-in garage door buttons.
- Leave the parts and fluids alone Don't drain fluids or remove the battery, catalytic converter, wheels or other parts, because it lowers your offer.
- Sort out any car loan If there's a lien on the car, deal with it through your lender before pickup day.
- Clear a path to the car Move other vehicles, shovel snow and open any gates so the truck can reach the car.
- Tell us about tight spots Let us know about underground parking, low clearances, narrow lanes, steep driveways or a car that won't roll.
- Keep your insurance until the car is gone Cancel or change your policy only after the sale is complete and the car has been towed.
What to take out of your car before it's towed
Once the car leaves, anything inside it is very hard to get back. Go through it slowly, ideally in daylight.
Personal belongings
Start with the obvious places: glovebox, centre console, door pockets and trunk. Then check under and between the seats, the seat-back pockets, behind the sun visors and under the trunk floor where the spare tire sits. Sunglasses, child car seats, umbrellas, phone chargers, dashcams and paperwork get left behind all the time.
Licence plates
Remove your licence plates before we tow the car. In Ontario, plates belong to you, not the vehicle, so you can keep them for your next car or return them to ServiceOntario. There's no refund for returning them. A screwdriver usually does the job; if the screws are rusted solid, mention it when you book. Our guide to licence plates when you sell has more detail.
Toll transponders and passes
If you use Highway 407, take the 407 ETR transponder off the windshield and update your account so it isn't linked to a car you no longer own. Do the same with parking permits, condo or office fobs, and any tags for car washes or gas stations.
Your personal data
Modern cars remember more than you'd think. Delete your paired phones, saved contacts and home address from the infotainment system, and reset any built-in garage door opener buttons. If the car is linked to a manufacturer app or connected service, remove it from your account and cancel any subscription.
Your paperwork
Take out old insurance slips, service records and anything else with your name, address or account numbers on it. Keep your ownership handy for the driver; you'll sign over the vehicle portion and keep the plate portion. If there's still a loan on the car, read selling a car with a lien before pickup day.
What to leave in the car, and why
It's tempting to sell the battery, pull the catalytic converter or drain the gas before pickup. In most cases it costs you more than it saves.
Leave these in place:
- The battery, even if it's dead
- The catalytic converter and the rest of the exhaust
- Wheels and tires, including the spare
- Fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids
- The engine, transmission and other parts
Your offer is based on a complete car. Draining fluids at home is also messy and risky. Gas is a fire hazard, and oil and antifreeze harm pets, wildlife and storm drains. Licensed recyclers have the equipment to remove them safely; see how car recycling works for what happens to each one.
Making sure the tow truck can reach your car
Most pickups are simple. A few details, shared when you book, save time on the day.
Clear the way
Move any cars parked in front of or behind it, and open any gates. In winter, shovel around the car and brush snow off the windshield so the driver can read the VIN, which is usually visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side.
Underground and tight spaces
Underground garages often have low ceilings, and some tow trucks won't fit. Tell us the building and the clearance height if it's posted. If the car can be driven or pushed to the surface, that's usually the quickest option. Narrow laneways and backyard parking are fine too, as long as we know ahead of time.
Cars that won't roll
Flat tires, seized brakes, a locked steering wheel or a car stuck in park all change how it's loaded. None of these stop a pickup, but the driver may need different equipment. Mention them when you book, along with whether you have the keys. Our non-running car service covers these situations.
Where the car is parked
Give the full address, plus anything that helps the driver find the car, like a back lane entrance, a parking spot number or a nearby landmark. If the car is at a repair shop or on someone else's property, let us know who to contact there.
What happens on pickup day
Here's how a typical pickup goes from booking to tow.
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Step 1: We confirm the time
After you accept your offer, we book a pickup time that suits you. Same-day pickup is usually available if you call before noon, and we're open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Towing is always included; our free car removal page explains how it works.
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Step 2: The driver checks the car
When the driver arrives, they check that the car matches what you described: the year, make, model and condition, and the VIN on your ownership. If everything matches, your offer stands. This part usually takes just a few minutes.
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Step 3: You sign and get paid
You show your photo ID, sign the ownership over and sign the bill of sale. Then you're paid cash on the spot. Keep your copy of the bill of sale and the plate portion of your ownership with your records.
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Step 4: The car is towed away
The driver loads the car, and it's on its way. Most pickups take about 20–30 minutes from arrival to departure. If you can't be there yourself, call us ahead of time to talk about who can sign for you and what they'll need.
After the car is gone
A few last tasks close things out:
- Call your insurer once the car has been towed, not before, to cancel the policy or remove the car from it. Until then, the car is still yours and your coverage protects you.
- Keep your plates for your next car or return them to ServiceOntario.
- Update your 407 ETR account and any connected-car or subscription services, if you haven't already.
- File the bill of sale with your records in case you ever need to show when the car changed hands.
Selling a running car rather than scrapping one? The steps are much the same, and our paperwork checklist for selling a car in Ontario covers the extras. We pick up across the GTA and Golden Horseshoe; see all our service areas.
Scrap car pickup questions
Still have a question? Call (289) 349-2006 and ask a real person.
Do I need to be there when the car is picked up?
Usually, yes. Someone authorized to sell the car needs to show ID, sign the ownership over and receive payment. If you can't be there, call us before pickup day to talk about who can sign for you and what they'll need to bring.
Should I remove the battery or catalytic converter before you tow the car?
No. Your offer already includes the value of the battery, catalytic converter and other parts. Removing them after you've been quoted means the offer has to be adjusted, and cutting off a converter without the right tools can be dangerous. Leave the car as it was when you described it.
When should I cancel my car insurance?
Cancel it after the sale, once the car has actually been towed away. Until then, the car is still yours and your policy covers it. Call your insurer on pickup day or soon after, and ask how any unused premium will be handled.
Do I need to empty the gas tank?
No. You don't need to drain any fuel or other fluids. The recycler removes them safely with proper equipment, and siphoning fuel at home is a fire risk. Leave the car as it is, whatever is in the tank.
Can I keep my tires or stereo?
You can, but tell us before we quote. Removing tires, rims or a stereo changes what the car is worth, and a car without wheels needs different equipment to load. If you've already taken parts off, mention it when you call so your firm offer reflects the car as it really is.
What if my car is buried in snow or blocked in?
Clear what you can and tell us when you book. Snow around the wheels, ice, or another vehicle parked in front can slow the pickup or call for extra equipment. A quick photo of where the car sits often helps the driver plan.
Ready to book your pickup?
Call (289) 349-2006 for a firm offer in about 3 minutes. Towing is free, and you're paid cash on the spot when we pick up the car.
Open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.