Selling a junk car can be tricky, but it’s a familiar process for many. Believe it or not, around 27 million cars are junked every year, and not all of them are done properly, either for the environment or your wallet.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get rid of your junk car and make some money. Let’s talk about how to get cash for junk cars as soon as possible.
What You’ll Need to Sell Your Junk Cars
Before we discuss what you’ll need to bring, how do you know that your car is truly junk? If your insurance provider or mechanic tells you that the cost of fixing the vehicle will be more expensive than the value of the vehicle, then it’s considered “totaled.”
In this case, you may receive reimbursement from your insurance provider, which you might need to use to pay off your car loan before selling or junking it. If the car wasn’t in an accident, then you may have to cover these costs out of pocket. Either way, here’s what you’ll need before selling it.
A Tow Truck
If your car doesn’t run, then you’ll need a tow truck. Fortunately, most junkyards and dealerships that accept trade-ins will be able to do this for you. All Car Buys, for example, will come to your location and tow your vehicle for free.
When and How to Sell Your Junk Cars
There are plenty of ways to diagnose a totaled vehicle and take it off the road for good. You don’t need a mechanic or insurance agent in most cases. If the car doesn’t run and it’s not a simple fix like a battery replacement, then there’s a good chance that it’s done.
Alternatively, the engine and transmission might be fine, but the rest of the car is falling apart and is unsafe to drive. If you’re going to need to spend $4,000 just for the car to pass inspection, but the car is only worth $2,000, then it’s time to take it off the road. Here are some of your options.
Trading In
If you plan on purchasing your next vehicle from a dealership, then trading in your junk vehicle might make sense, even if it doesn’t run. Sometimes, they want junk cars for parts on their used car lines, or they may want to fix them up and resell them for profit. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to see what they have to offer.
For a car with a bad engine or transmission, you shouldn’t expect more than $500 when trading in your vehicle. On average, you should expect $300 to $400, but this could still help you with your down payment on your next car, especially if you didn’t receive an insurance check.
Private Sale
If you post your car on a popular online buying site, you may find a private buyer in the market for cars they can flip for profit or fix up to drive. If so, they’re probably looking for something cheap but with some potential. If your car fits that description, then give it a try.
Of course, you shouldn’t expect a lot of money, but it will likely be more than trading in or junking the vehicle. You could get anywhere from $500 to $2,500 for a car that isn’t running but is in decent condition. Either way, it’s worth a shot.
Selling to a Junkyard
When all else fails, a junkyard is your best bet to save garage space and forget about it. They’ll come and pick up the car for you, get it off of your property, and sell it piece by piece. This is by far the easiest, most hassle-free way to get rid of your junk car.
All you’ll need is the title and a pickup location, and they’ll hand you a check or cash for your car right on site. See how much you can earn for your junk car today.
Get a Move On
Now that you know how to get rid of junk cars and make some extra money off of them, why wait? You don’t want to stare at your junk vehicle forever, so get to selling and earn some extra money for it.
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