The Clunker Junker: From Cash-for-Cars Startup to Tech-Driven Recycling Force

The Clunker Junker has turned a simple cash-for-cars site into a tech-driven marketplace that standardises pricing, titles, pickup and payments, connecting consumer-sourced vehicles to a nationwide network of licensed recyclers, dismantlers and auctions. For buyers, it reduces admin friction and variability, improves service consistency, and shows how data and automation are reshaping ELV supply and margins.

Corey Kusaba, CEO of The Clunker Junker, standing with arms crossed in an office setting p — Corey Kusaba

The Clunker Junker, based in Florida, has grown from a basic cash-for-cars website into a tech-enabled marketplace linking consumer vehicles with recyclers, dismantlers and auctions across the US. By standardising offers, paperwork and logistics, it helps buyers access a more consistent supply while highlighting how data and automation are reshaping the auto recycling value chain. CEO Corey Kusaba tells us more.

From Side Project to Tech-Driven Marketplace in Auto Recycling

The Clunker Junker started back in 2009 with Co-Founders Eric and Valerie Mitz. What began as a small side project quickly became one of the most recognizable brands in the cash-for-car space. Eric came from a software engineering background, and Valerie had just finished law school. Together, they built the foundation of TCJ around efficiency, automation, and transparency; three things that were totally missing from this industry at the time.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve evolved into a technology-driven marketplace that connects consumers to a nationwide network of licensed buyers and recyclers. What hasn’t changed is the mission: to make selling a vehicle fast, fair, and easy. What has changed is the sophistication behind it. Our systems now leverage automation and data intelligence to maximize both consumer satisfaction and profitability while keeping the process smooth and predictable.

Connecting Consumers to a Trusted National Buyer Network

A typical customer visits our site, enters a few vehicle details, and receives an instant offer. From there, our platform automatically connects that offer with a qualified buyer in our network; usually a local recycler, dismantler, or licensed dealer. Once accepted, we schedule pickup, verify ownership, handle payment, and the vehicle is on its way.

What’s critical is that every step is automated without losing the human touch. Our network is built on long-term relationships, not transactions. We’ve spent years building credibility with our buyers, and that trust allows us to hold everyone to a high standard, from communication with consumers to the speed of pickups.

Data-Driven Transparency and Consistent Service Standards

You can’t fake transparency; consumers are too smart now. What we do is ensure that communication remains consistent and proactive. When someone sells their car, they get real-time updates, and if there’s ever a hiccup, we’re on it before it becomes a problem.

On the partner side, we hold buyers accountable through data. We track pickup times, title accuracy, and even communication scores. If a partner falls short, they know about it quickly and have the chance to fix it. We do our best to form business relationships with our vendors. So when something happens, we need to reach out; it’s not a compliance call; it’s a conversation among peers who want to keep the industry’s reputation strong.

Building the Tech Backbone of Modern Auto Recycling

We’re already living in the future that most of the industry is still talking about. Technology is no longer optional; it’s the backbone of this business’s survival. We’re using automation and AI in ways that make our operation faster, smarter, and more consistent; from pricing to scheduling to consumer communication.

But I don’t believe tech replaces people; it elevates them. The way I see it, AI should handle the repetitive work so humans can do what they’re best at: solving problems, creating ideas, and connecting with customers. Five years from now, I think this industry will look a lot less like a junkyard and a lot more like a tech platform with tow trucks.

From Metal Movers to Material Managers

The future of recycling is about adaptability. As EVs and hybrids grow, this industry needs to evolve from “metal movers” to “material managers.” That means smarter logistics, better data, and stronger relationships between recyclers, dismantlers, and tech companies.

At TCJ, we’re focused on connecting those dots. We already help keep hundreds of thousands of vehicles out of the waste stream each year, but as the landscape changes, we’ll continue finding ways to make the process cleaner, faster, and more circular.

Starting With the Engine Before the Adjustments

When I came in, my first job was to truly understand the tech engine that Eric had built, and it’s a serious machine. I’ve been in this industry my whole career, but every dealer, every operator has their own flavor of how they compete. Before I started changing anything, I wanted to understand how TCJ’s systems worked from the inside out, especially the technology that connects our pricing model to machine learning.

From there, my focus was simple: find out what’s already world-class, and double down on it. Then identify what slows us down and eliminate it. TCJ’s tech and operational efficiency are best-in-class; that’s our heartbeat, so I leaned hard into those strengths while pushing to make the company even more agile, data-driven, and consumer-focused.

“My first move wasn’t to fix things, it was to understand how good things already were, then crank the volume.”

Doubling Down on Strengths While Scaling the Machine

The company’s technology is rock solid, and that’s largely thanks to Eric and Valerie. The system does two brilliant things: it generates leads at scale profitably and uses smart pricing logic to balance conversion with margin. Valerie’s operational model also deserves a ton of credit; it’s like a Swiss watch. It minimizes risk around titles and automates the flow from offer to pickup to payment.

Eric and Valerie Mitz, co-founders of The Clunker Junker, pictured outdoors in a vehicle lot. p two — Eric and Valerie Mitz

Where we’ve focused transformation is in how we scale that machine; more integration, smarter data feedback loops, and communication transparency at every level.

“TCJ was already efficient. My goal was to make it unstoppable.”

Running a Metrics-Driven Recycling Engine

I’m a metrics junkie. Three KPIs tell me exactly how healthy we are:

Lead Conversion Rate – It’s the pulse of the business. If this drops, everything drops.
Gross Profit Per Vehicle – Volume doesn’t pay the bills — margin does.
Cycle Time to Sale – From lead to pickup to sale to payment. Faster cycles mean stronger cash flow and more turns on capital.

I also keep an eye on our Title Problem Rate and Aged Inventory %. I’m a bit of a data hawk. I don’t micromanage, but I do watch patterns.

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t fix it. And if you can’t fix it fast, someone else will.”

Turning Long-Standing Relationships into Competitive Advantage.

The short answer: collaboration. I’ve always believed competition is healthy, but collaboration pays better. I’ve spent decades building trust with recyclers, dealers, and auction partners, so when I pick up the phone, people listen because they know it’s a real conversation, not a sales pitch.

We’ve partnered with other dealers and industry players in ways that make sense for everyone; sharing best practices, not secrets. After 25 years in this space, I can usually forecast where things are headed before they land, and that’s only possible when you’ve built real relationships.

“I’ve been in this game since flip phones. People know me. I’m the guy who hugs before he shakes hands.”

Tackling the “Bermuda Triangle” of Titles, Transport and Payments

Titles, transportation, and payments; that’s the Bermuda Triangle of our industry. Fifty states, fifty rules, and about fifty different ways to mess it up. Some states require notarization, others don’t. Some accept e-signatures; others might as well be using carrier pigeons.

So we’re building solutions that standardize the un-standardizable. We’re piloting digital payment options to modernize the consumer experience and exploring automated title-resolution workflows that eliminate manual headaches. Every hour saved on paperwork is an hour gained for growth.

“This industry loves paper. I love progress.”

AI, Computer Vision and Superpowered People

AI is obviously the headline act, but for us, it’s not hype, it’s habit. Our pricing intelligence learns from millions of historical auction outcomes and external market factors to accurately and consistently predict value. We’re now experimenting with computer vision to automatically assess vehicle damage.

We’re also integrating AI into our communication flows; inbound, outbound, and follow-up, so that every customer interaction feels seamless. The next generation of sellers expects this level of polish.

But here’s the thing, I don’t want robots replacing humans. I want them helping humans. Automation should handle the repetitive stuff so people can focus on solving problems and building relationships.

“AI shouldn’t replace people; it should give them superpowers.”

Connecting Driveway Sellers to Industrial “Smartyards”

The “cash for car” boom of the 2010s brought in everyone with a laptop and a logo. A decade later, only the serious players remain. The shift has been massive: consumers are now completely comfortable with someone coming to their driveway to buy their car. Amazon, DoorDash, and Instacart built that trust, and COVID sealed it.

Now the large recyclers see consumer-sourced inventory as the new gold mine. The lines between consumer-facing and industrial recycling are blurring, and we’re right in the middle, connecting both worlds with technology and trust.

“The future of recycling isn’t scrapyards — it’s smartyards.”

Quiet Execution and a Connected, People-First Culture

Honestly, we don’t really think in moonshots. The way I see it, this industry still has so much low-hanging fruit that big leaps come from simple execution. What used to be futuristic, AI, automation, and instant payment, is already here, and we’re integrating it now.

“We don’t dream about moonshots; we just build them quietly.”

It’s all about engagement, communication, and transparency, and a little fun never hurts. We tell our people exactly where we are, where we’re going, and how they fit into that journey. That’s how you build trust.

We throw in random DoorDash gift cards, joke around in chat, and make sure everyone feels like they belong. Work is serious, but people aren’t robots. The more connected our team feels, the more they care about the mission.

“Culture isn’t built in meetings, it’s built in moments.”

Trust-First, People-First Leadership

I’m the kind of leader who’s available. If my team made the call, I’ll back them completely. Communication and organization are my north stars. Whether we’re debriefing a meeting, mapping a roadmap, or brainstorming new ideas, I make sure every voice gets heard.

When it comes to trade-offs, I prioritize two things: our people and our purpose. If a decision supports those, it’s usually the right one.

“I lead with trust first and details second because good people make good decisions.”

Building a Trusted Stewardship Reputation

I want people to say we’re good stewards of the industry, the company that does things the right way, that brings credibility and transparency to every transaction. We process older vehicles that get recycled or repurposed, giving them a second life and keeping materials in motion.

If we keep doing that consistently, the reputation will take care of itself. You don’t need to chase fame when you’re already building trust.