Sell My Junk Car for Cash
If you have an old junk car that takes up space in your garage and you think it’s worthless, stop right there! Before you give away your old car or let a nearby junk yard take it away as a favor to you, consider the fact that every car is worth something. No matter how trashed or broken down it is, that old piece of junk car in your garage can bring a few buck to your wallet. You can sell your junk car for cash easily but there are a few tricks you need to be aware of before you start looking for the right buyer.
Who will buy your junk car for cash?
It may sound silly that someone would actually buy your old, run-down car for money. However, there are people who make a living out of reselling old cars. Now, you may think your car isn’t in a good condition to be resold, but that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. If the car isn’t suitable for reselling, junk yards can either scrap it down and recycle it or take apart the parts and sell the ones that are worth something.
Therefore, there is no doubt you will be able to sell your junk car for cash. The only question is what is your junk car actually worth? Before you let the junk yard professionals give you an estimate on your car’s worth, get to know the criteria used to determine how much money you can get for it.
What is your junk car worth?
There are two key factors that determine how much money you can sell your junk car for. The first factor is the demand of parts. If your car is of a brand or year of manufacturing that features parts that can easily be sold, your car is going to be worth more money. Older cars that cannot be seen on the road anymore don’t have parts that will easily sell and they are more often scrapped and recycled. However, some of the older car models feature rare parts that are high in demand. If you’re lucky to have a gem like that in your garage, you will get a lot more cash for it.
The second factor in determining your junk car’s worth is its weight. If the car is more suitable for scrapping and the recycling of its part, its worth will be determined by its weight. The heavier the car is, the more metal is going to be scrapped, which makes the price go up. However, keep in mind that the price of metal varies from country to country and, in order to determine an estimate on the car’s worth, you will need to look up the current prices of metal in your area.
How to get the most out of your junk car
If you want to sell your car for cash, you need to be cautious in terms of finding the right buyer. Some junk yards and junk car buyers are going to try to scam you and you have to be able to recognize when they’re trying to do that. For starters, use the above mentioned factors to try to determine your car’s worth before asking junk yards for their estimate.
Do some research on your car’s model and year of manufacturing to find out whether its parts are high in demand. If its parts can be sold easily, take them apart and sell them individually yourself. That way, you will get much more money for it than if you were to just hand it over to a junk yard.
The next step is to do your research on nearby junk yards that are looking to buy junk cars for cash. Make sure to look for reputable junk yards and dealers, since there are a lot of them out there who will try to scam you and rip you off the money you worked hard for. Make sure the junk yard or car dealer you choose has a high rating and a good reputation.
Once you’ve chosen the right buyer, you will have to discuss the estimate of your car’s worth. That can either take place in your garage or at the junk yard, depending on whether your car can be driven. If the car is in a better condition and it can start, it is best to drive it to the junk yard. That way its price will grow as they see the great condition the car is in.
Now, it is obvious that the car won’t be in a perfect condition but it is very important for you to stay honest about its flaws and positive features. Therefore, make sure to accurately describe the car and let the buyer know of any flaws it may have, including corrosion and broken parts. Another thing you should do is drain all fluids out of the car prior to taking it to the junk yard. Junk yard workers will charge you for that so, if you do it yourself you will save some money.
Things you should keep in mind when selling your car for cash
As the car dealer or junk yard worker gives you an estimate of your car’s worth, you will be able to strike a deal with them that suits both of your needs. So far you’ve learned where you can sell your junk car for cash and how you can get an accurate estimate of its worth. It is important to know the factors we mentioned above to avoid being given a wrong estimate.
Some junk car buyers will use tricks to get you to accept a smaller price for your car. As long as you’re aware of their intentions and you’re familiar with the price of metal and car parts at the given time, you will be able to sell your junk car for a fair price.
Most importantly, look for car dealers or junk yards that have a good reputation. If the buyer is working without a license, it is better to back out and look for a legit junk yard or car dealer to avoid any legal issues.
Speaking of legal issues, if your car isn’t registered or it is missing some paperwork it may a bit more difficult to sell it for cash. However, as long as you’re able to prove in any way that the car belongs to you, you will be able to sell it for cash to a junk yard collector. If you want to sell it to car dealers, you will need to have full paperwork ready.
Besides trying to get the car for a lower price, junk yards will try to scam you in different ways as well. For example, they may offer to tow your car to the junk yard at a time that is convenient for both of you. However, always check whether the towing service is included in the price as it should be. Junk yards take advantage of people who have little knowledge regarding scrapping and selling cars for cash so they charge for towing the car to their premises.
Always make sure you’ve been paid before you let them tow the car.
Final Thoughts
Overall, selling your car for cash is much easier than you thought. All you need to do is prepare the paperwork, get an estimate on its worth and find the right buyer. In terms of determining its worth, you need to look at two key factors, which are the demand for its parts and the weight of the car. If the parts of your car are high in demand, it is recommended to sell them individually before proceeding to scrap the whole thing.
If there are no valuable parts included, the weight of the car will play the most important role in determining its worth. The heavier the car, the more metal will be recycled. However, the price of metal varies from place to place so make sure you check it before you sell the car. As long as you make a deal with a reputable car dealer or junk yard, you should be safe.
Unfortunately, many buyers will try to scam you into selling the car for a lesser price, which is why you should be familiar with the basics of selling a junk car. Remember to drain the fluids out of the car before selling it and do the relevant research regarding the parts of your car. The year of manufacturing as well as the car model will play an important role in how high in demand the parts of the car are.
Once you gather all the necessary information, get the estimate from a professional car dealer or junk yard worker to make a deal suitable for both sides. Only work with licensed buyers to avoid unnecessary legal issues and complications. Overall, no matter how old your car is, it will be worth something so don’t just give it away for free!