A title usually receives a salvage brand when an insurance company decides a vehicle’s repair cost exceeds a set percentage of its book value (search “NADA Blue Book” or “Kelley Blue Book”), and the vehicle in question is a passenger vehicle no more than ten years of age. Thus in 2017, a 2015 Honda Accord with high repair costs would likely receive a salvage brand. The cause of damage is irrelevant; collision, hail, even water damage or theft recovery can result in a salvage brand, nor is sweat-equity a factor, since repair costs are based upon repair facility rates. This situation translates to a significant savings for the individual with an acumen for automotive repair. In South Dakota, salvage-brand vehicles are equal to unbranded vehicles in every respect except price. Lending institutions approve loans for lower amounts on salvage-title vehicles, but the purchase prices are also lower. The resale values of salvage-brand vehicles are are not as high, but neither is the sales tax. Salvage title laws vary from state to state, so verify your own state’s title policies before making a purchase.

Junking titles are issued on vehicles insurance companies deem beyond repair. They may never again be operated on public roads in South Dakota. In some cases, motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles, and other such recreational motorized vehicles with junking brands are sold for repair, either because the vehicle’s primary function does not include public roads (e.g., an ATV, a snowmobile, a racing motorcycle), or because ownership is transferred to a state where junking titles are processed differently (e.g., a state or country where titles are not even issued for motorcycles, sleds, etc.)

Yes. Depending on the form of your payment, titles and corresponding paperwork may be delayed by up to 14 days, but your purchase can leave the same day, and temporary plates good for 45 days are included.

The VIN (vehicle identification number) of your vehicle is located on a metal plate on the driver’s side of your car’s dash. It can usually be viewed only by standing outside your car and looking at the lower edge of the windshield. The plate is about three inches long. You may also have a VIN sticker on the driver’s door of your vehicle, either on the door itself, just under the latch mechanism or on the door jamb under the latch post. (Open the driver’s door and look along the rear edge for a sticker.) The VIN is 17 characters long; without all 17 characters, it is very difficult to decode a VIN. You may search the internet for various services that will decode your VIN, or you may telephone / email your VIN to us for decoding. Our software decodes the make, model, year, engine size, and number of doors for almost any passenger vehicle. It will not decode a vehicle’s transmission type, color, seat fabric, etc. in most cases. There is no charge for decoding your VIN.

Rates vary by part size, part weight, distance shipped, and urgency. If you have a good idea what your part weighs and how you’d like it shipped, log on to your preferred shipper’s website and input your information and our zip code (57701). If your weight / size estimate is close, you’ll have a general idea of cost. Alternately, you could call or email us. Our sales staff has several decades of experience and can usually get within a few dollars of actual charges just from memory. A salesperson can also make more definite calculations using one of several shipping programs.

Depending upon the distance and mode of transport, from same-day up to 6 days. Our sales staff can advise you of exceptions.

Contact us by phone or email to arrange payment and shipping. One of our customer service technicians will verify your order to insure our part interchanges with your vehicle. You’ll get the part you need rather than paying for something that almost fits.

If you are unable to contact us and are uncertain of your part’s proper name, we recommend Car-Part.com, a user-friendly site with copious helpful resources.

There is an industry short-hand which often uses Hollander Interchange numbers and abbreviations to describe options and conditions of parts. A Ford Taurus engine described as 3.0L,AT,FAC,C-125,O-55,WARM,GL,EXC.SHO,FWD, for example, is a 3.0 liter engine from a car with an automatic transmission and factory air conditioning. The compression averaged 125 pounds, the oil pressure 55 pounds, and it was a warm check, meaning the engine was operational. The trim package of this Taurus is a GL, not a Taurus SHO, and it was a front-wheel drive. One might also see GRN, BLU, ORNG (for green, blue, or orange), or part numbers, as in LESS 128 (without the side-view mirror), PAIR W-591 (both–usually airbags–with the sensor module), W-LH 202 (with left-hand seat). If a description is too cryptic, rely more on the information you gave at the beginning of the search or contact us for a complete explanation.

A-1 Auto Recyclers guarantees parts against defect for 30 days after the sale. We do not guarantee parts against improper installation, misapplication, abuse, or other factors beyond our control. If we sell a bad part, we’ll replace it with a good one or refund your money, but the guarantee is on the part, not its handlers. Returns must be accompanied by a receipt.

If the part goes bad within a year of purchase, we’ll get another one and pay to have it installed. Warranty claims must be accompanied by a receipt. For a more detailed description of specific drive-train and other warranties, contact us by phone or email.

Returns must be within thirty days of purchase and accompanied by a receipt. Some restocking fees may apply, depending upon the origin of the part.

Deposits, when permitted, are 25% of the purchase price, must be paid in full within three days, and are non-refundable.

Usually our staff can see how many miles were on a vehicle before it was parted out, how long it has been in stock, and how often similar parts have gone bad in the past two years or more. Some parts harvested from inventory vehicles are marked as ‘rebuilt’, or ‘remanufactured.’ While this is an encouraging sign for the buyer, it is usually impossible for us to definitively say how many miles such parts have logged.

We are at 7804 South Highway 79, just outside the Rapid City limits. Follow 79 south out of Rapid City until the speed limit changes to 70 m.p.h. A-1 is the first left after the speed change. Click here for a map.

8 a.m - 5 p.m. Mountain, Monday-Friday.

Click to download a PDF application

A complete car and its title are all you need. We process fluids on-site, and you do not have to remove the battery. Towing charges can be deducted from the total scrap value, but we only tow in the Rapid City area. Steel prices vary, and you may want to call ahead before deciding to sell. If you have a newer battery, tires, or some component of particular value on the car, mention it. Demand for that item may increase the total value, but if the increase is inadequate, you can remove the part(s) and take a lower scrap rate.

Our warranty policy can be found here.