Turn Your Wreck Into Riches

Turn Your Wreck Into Riches

Turners Auctions has today launched a unique initiative to help clean up New Zealand’s roads by removing old, unsafe and environmentally unfriendly vehicles from streets and backyards.

The initiative, which runs until 1 December, will provide New Zealanders with the opportunity to sell their old, unsafe, broken down, too-expensive-to-fix or de-registered vehicles through Turners Auctions for free, with all profits from the sale going to the vehicle’s owner.

“You will be surprised at what an old car is worth. Even the saddest old wreck can fetch $200 plus as scrap,” says Todd Hunter, Turners’ spokesperson.

Hunter says the company has become increasingly concerned about environmental issues associated with used vehicles and they believe this initiative provides an easy solution to the problem.

“There were almost 100,000 vehicles written off or rendered unusable last year in New Zealand. This represents a devastating impact on the environment if they aren’t recycled or disposed of in the correct manner.”

“Vehicles that have been retired to a paddock or the backyard are exposed to the elements, leading to corrosion and engine and brake fluids leaking into the soil and waterways.”

“Older cars are generally poorly maintained, less fuel efficient and emit more harmful emissions into the environment than newer vehicles. This initiative is one way that Turners can help people to get rid of these problem cars, and get some money for them in the process,” says Mr Hunter.

As a part of the initiative, Turners will be proactively communicating with vehicle wreckers to recycle and dispose of all the vehicles purchased in an environmentally friendly way.

None of the vehicles that are sold through this initiative will be able to be fixed, so they will all be de-registered by Turners Auctions as part of the process.

In 2007 Turners ran a three month trial to encourage the public to dispose of their old, unsafe and environmentally unfriendly cars. The trial was a success resulting in 238 drivable vehicles and 73 non-drivable vehicles being sold.

Wrecks to Riches Auctions will take place at Turners Auctions locations across New Zealand from 1 September until 1 December 2009.

For more information on this service, please call your local Turners branch or visit www.turners.co.nz. If the vehicle can’t be moved, Turners will arrange for it to be picked up for free provided it’s within 30km of a Turners branch (conditions apply).

ENDS