How To Get Cash For A Car That Doesn’t Run

Has your car gone its last mile? Do you find yourself spending more time at the mechanic than you do on the road nowadays? It can be hard to be excited about the prospect of getting a new car when you’re still staring down the old one sitting in your driveway.

What many drivers don’t realize is that even a car in the worst condition still has some value, and that money can make a big difference toward the upfront costs of getting a new vehicle. Learn how to sell your old clunker fast and get back on the road!

What’s My Car Even Worth?

Many people assume that just because a car has been badly damaged or is no longer running that it’s worthless. This assumption makes sense, as to most of us a car’s primary value is in its ability to get us around. It turns out, however, that that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

In reality, there’s an entire industry devoted just to finding the value in old junk cars that employs hundreds of thousands of people. This industry is responsible for pumping billions of dollars into the country’s economy each year.

When a car is sold for salvage, it can find new life on the road in one of two ways. Cars that have been totaled due to cosmetic or highly localized damage may be restored and put back in working order. Most others that can’t be repaired are recycled, a complicated process that finds a new purpose for a majority of your car!

Any parts that can be resold are removed and sent to the user parts market, saving your fellow drivers money when it comes time to make repairs. The recyclable components like metal, glass, and rubber are melted down for use elsewhere. Did you know the roads we drive on every day are partially composed of recycled car tires?

If you’re curious about the approximate value of your car, you’ll need to take a different approach than normal to get an estimate. Traditional sites for estimating car values aren’t set up for totaled or junk cars.

Instead, you’ll need to look at car auction websites to see what cars of your make and model with similar damage sell for. This method can be helpful, but should be used for a ballpark range rather than a hard number. This is because different types of damage can drastically change the value of a vehicle, even if it is of the same make, model and year.

Selling Your Clunker

Step 1. Prepare The Car

Selling a salvage car is fortunately much easier than selling a car in working order. You won’t need to make preemptive repairs or deep clean your car to raise its value or make your own listing, nor will you need to arrange test drives and negotiate towing. A quick tidying up after you’ve cleared out any personal items isn’t a bad idea, though!

One of the main ways you’ll prepare to sell your car is photographing it, so making it look appealing is optional but may be helpful. Take clear pictures on a bright day, and show any damage to the vehicle to make sure your quote is accurate. Write down your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), as you’ll need that as well.

The only other real prep you’ll need to do is gathering your documentation. The only required document is your title, so your first priority is to make sure you have it.

If you’re missing your title, contact your DMV about applying for a duplicate. You may wish to gather any mechanic’s reports or repair records for your car as well, in case you’re asked questions while shopping for quotes.

Step 2. Finding A Quote

Shopping for quotes is really the bulk of this process, if you choose to sell to a junkyard in the traditional way. This involves calling every junkyard in town, describing your vehicle, clarifying their policies, and receiving a quote.

This process can be a bit tedious, and introduce you to some risk if you’re not careful. Know what to look for in a reputable salvage yard, as well as signs of a scam. This may include asking you to bring your car in for an inspection to get a quote, offering to buy your car without transferring the title, or claiming they can only send your payment after the car has been towed away.

If you’d prefer to skip the hassle, you can actually sell your car from the comfort of your own home using WeBuyJunkCarsFast.com! WeBuyJunkCarsFast specializes in cars just like yours, meaning we’re better prepared than anyone to give you the best possible quote. All you’ll need to do is upload pictures of your car and your car’s VIN and you’ll get a guaranteed quote in just 90 seconds!

Step 3: Making The Sale

Once you’ve gotten a quote you’re satisfied with, all you’ll need to do is accept and arrange your free pickup! Towing and title transfer are always included, and one of our professional tow drivers can come to you in just 24-48 hours.

If you accept an offer from WeBuyJunkCarsFast, all you have to do is wait for the tow truck driver to arrive~ Sign over your title and hand over your keys and get cash for your car, and you’re good to go! Don’t let searching for junkyards get you down in the dumps — sell with WeBuyJunkCarsFast today!