If you have a broken car sitting in your driveway, you might have no idea how to get rid of it. Most people know how to buy or sell a used car. Even if you’ve never sold a used car on the private market, you’ve probably made a deal with a car dealership to trade in your used car when you purchase a new model. None of that will prepare you to sell a broken car. The market for cars that aren’t running is completely different than the regular used car market. That leads to looking out the window at the clunker in the driveway and wondering, “Who will buy my broken car?”
Sell It To A Car Recycler
The good news is that there are several ways you could find someone to buy your broken car. The easiest and most lucrative way is probably by selling it to a vehicle buying service like Sellthecars. Junk car services will give you a quote for cars in any condition, tow it away the same day if you like, and give you a cash payout based on several factors, mostly the age, make, and model of the car.
Sell It As Is
If you’re determined to sell the car on your own, don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you’re not a car dealer, you don’t have to follow the same laws. You’re not allowed to sell a car with hidden damage. If you put an ad in the local newspaper or online message board that says buy my broken car, you should list everything that’s wrong with it. Don’t leave out anything. If you’re totally honest, and you clearly list the car as being sold as-is, you don’t leave yourself open for people asking for their money back if they discover that the damage to the car is worse than you described. If the car is in running condition, but needs so many repairs to pass a vehicle inspection that it’s no longer worth it to you, you might be able to sell it for more than a junkyard will give you for it.
Taking It Apart
Parting out is the process of removing every component on your car that can be sold to mechanics for use as repair parts. There are a few parts that are especially in demand, depending on the make, model, and year of the car. Alternators, catalytic converters, wheels and tires, window and seat motors, headlight and tail light assemblies are commonly needed for repairs in older cars, and are a good place to start. There are other parts that are harder to take apart, like doors, and hood and trunk panels, that also are in demand from body shops. When you’re all done scrapping out the parts, you’ll have to arrange for the remainder of the car to be taken to a scrap-yard, where you still might be able to get some money for the steel that’s in the car’s chassis and remaining body panels.
What If No One Will Buy My Broken Car?
Remember, when all else fails, your broken car is worth money for the scrap metal that makes up the majority of the motor, chassis, and body panels.
