Finding a Great Car

Car Conundrums: Selling Your Junk Car

5 November 2019 by Elaine Kelly

If you have a car or two on your property that you're either no longer using or have parked because they don't run, you need to consider the possibility of selling them to a junk car buyer. However, getting money for junk cars shouldn't be something you take lightly. Don't just call the first junk car buyer you come across and let them take it. Here are some things that you need to think about as you're preparing for a junk car sale.

How Much Is The Car Worth?

In most cases, people who buy junk cars do so for the scrap metal. However, some people buy them to restore and run them, so you'll need to consider that when you're thinking about selling. If you're selling it for the metal scrap, you'll need to consider the weight of the car, the amount of metal present, and the current rates for the metal to determine its worth.

When you opt to sell it to someone who wants to restore it, you'll have to consider the condition of the body and the engine, as well as any age or mileage-related issues that exist. Be practical about your assessment and look at the values objectively.

Knowing what the car is worth no matter which way you've decided to handle it will help to ensure that you get a decent return for selling the car.

Is The Car Running?

You'll want to avoid selling the car to a junk car dealer that's looking for metal scrap if the car is still running. There's no need to scrap it completely if it is fixable and running, even if it isn't running well. Talk with a few different people to see what you can get for it if you have a car that's not completely dead.

If the car isn't running anymore, that's when you'll probably want to look at selling it for the scrap metal. However, if there are parts on the car that you know are still in working condition, such as the water pump, power steering pump, or other similar components, consider removing those parts before you sell the car for scrap. You'll make more selling the working parts individually than if you let them go with the car. Just be sure to let the junk car buyers know that those parts aren't in the car so that they have an accurate estimate of the car's value.

 

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