Cars are usually a necessity for anyone looking for convenient ways to travel. However, no matter how good your car is, it’s bound to wear over time and depreciate in performance and value. Once you feel your car doesn’t run as well as in the old days, you leave it in the garage and backyard, and you acquire a new, more efficient one.
Some owners forget about their old car and each passing day means more damage to the car. Some look for other ways to dispose of junk cars like donations or selling. Selling junk cars is a beautiful way to make some extra cash whether your car is running or not. It also helps to clear up some space in your home for other essential activities and aesthetics.
What to Know Before Selling Your Junk Car
There are several things that you’ll need to know before selling your old car. These tips will come in handy during the process to ensure you have a smooth transaction with the buyers. They include the following:
- Avoid Scammers: When you place an advert about selling a junk car, many offers will come which may take advantage of your need to get rid of the car. Scammers don’t target buyers only but sellers, too. You should only accept payments in cash or cheques to avoid being scammed.
- Prepare Contracts: Contracts are legally binding documents that hold the terms of the trade. When you prepare a contract and the buyer signs it, the terms of the contract will guide the trade preventing fraud and other inconveniences.
- Follow Regulations: When selling your junk car, familiarize yourself with any regulation guiding the sales. Regulations may vary depending on the state, and you should understand this, especially when selling online.
First of all, you need to gather information on who buys junk cars near your place.
How To Sell a Junk Car
Once you make up your mind that you need to get rid of your old car, there are several ways through which you can do it. As discussed, you can donate, or you can sell it. Both have got advantages, although selling gives you a chance to get part of your money back no matter how small it is.
Here are different ways in which you can sell an old car:
1 Sell Your Old Car ‘As Is’
Selling your car ‘as is’ involves selling it with all the faulty conditions in it. No repair is usually done on the car, and the owner indicates this in the advertisement. This is usually the best way to sell a car as no extra cost is incurred on the seller’s side. The buyer is also made aware of the car’s condition and wouldn’t have any significant expectations.
One downside of the ‘as is’ method is that it’ll take time before you find an interested party. You can, however, do it through car dealerships, but they can underprice your car. You’ll need to be a tough negotiator to get the best out of the sale. If you manage to sell the car as a whole, it’ll take less time, and you dispose of the car once.
2 Sell Your Car to Junkyards
Selling your car to junkyards is also another viable option to get rid of your old vehicle. Junkyards will either take your car as a whole or in parts. Before contacting the local junkyard, you should check if they take junk cars and whether they offer free towing services or not. Being aware of any fees will help avoid being caught off-guard as you try to make some money out of your old car.
You should also notify the junk collectors about any part that has been changed before or already sold. This is a courteous gesture as this affects the worth of the car. The collectors will sell the saleable parts and recycle the others, making good use of the car.
3 Sell Your Car as Parts
Original parts of the vehicle can fetch good money in the market considering the influx of mimic parts. If you have the skills to take apart a car, then you can opt for this method rather than selling it as a whole. If the car’s body is in poor condition, but other parts are in good condition, selling parts will bring more money.
However, if you don’t have the mechanical expertise to take apart a car, avoid this selling method. You could cause damages such as steering wheel off-center. You should also have a way to dispose of the other car parts that can’t be sold as spare parts.
4 Sell Your Car as Scrap
After you’ve sold the valuable parts of your car, the body can still make you some money. The bodies of cars are made with metals which attract scrap metal buyers. The car will be taken apart for materials such as rubbers and plastics to be removed, which will reduce the weight and subsequently the amount of money you get.
This way can also be considered when the car has been severely damaged, and you can’t find buyers. However, scrap buyers won’t provide free towing services, and you’ll incur extra costs. You should therefore consider this path as a last resort.
5 Sell Your Car Online
Online shopping has grown in popularity in recent years, and junk cars have also found their way into digital auto marketplaces. Several websites can purchase your junk cars. The most important thing about selling your junk car online is never sleeping on your research.
Look for those websites that deal with junk cars around your area. You can ask friends who’ve sold before about them. You should also ask if they can pick your car from where it is and offer free towing services. The price of selling online can be low, but it could be hassle-free if you get a good dealer. Checking reviews of previous customers can help you get a better deal.
Conclusion
Selling your junk car is a good move for making some extra money that can be useful somewhere else. Even if the car is still running, you can get rid of it and raise money to acquire a more efficient one. You should be careful when selling junk cars, and if possible, avoid dealers and do it yourself.
You should also ensure that you follow the legal procedure guiding the sale of junk cars. This includes filling the proper paperwork with the buyer and accepting only cash or cheques to avoid being scammed. Once you get all these right, then you’re good to go.
