How to Sell Your Junk Car for the Most Money: A Beginner’s Guide

When drivers have a junk car that they would like to sell, they often try to assess the vehicle’s value by consulting respected industry price guides, such as Kelley Blue Book. However, the majority of these price guides don’t estimate the value of junk vehicles, as it’s difficult to assess the value of an end-of-life vehicle without knowing any of the many problems it could have. Consequently, some end-of-life vehicle owners consider their car to be financially worthless.

However, this is often not the case. While a used car dealership may not be interested in purchasing a car that doesn’t drive or buying a vehicle that drives but operates unreliably, a professionally operated junkyard is a business that would definitely be interested in purchasing your end-of-life junker. In this entry, we provide four, time-tested tips that help first-time sellers of junk vehicles get the most value from their automobiles when they offer them to a junkyard.

1. Solicit Several Price Quotes

Just as you would do if you were selling a used automobile that still drove well, don’t sell your end-of-life vehicle until you receive several price quotes for the vehicle — preferably at least three quotes. In most cases, the offers you receive will be roughly the same, but one of the offers is likely to be a bit more lucrative than the others. This is the offer you want to accept.

2. Choose a Buyer That Offers Free Towing

The price for towing a recalcitrant automobile from the seller’s property to the junkyard’s car lot could easily cost hundreds of dollars, which is probably about how much your automobile is worth. That’s why it’s important to sell to a junkyard that offers free towing. In terms of how to sell your junk car and receive the best profit, receiving free towing is absolutely essential.

3. Select a Buyer That Doesn’t Price Haggle

Price haggling is a common occurrence at auto dealerships. This is mainly because the vehicle in question is worth at least a few thousand dollars and thus gives the seller and buyer an incentive to try to sell the car at near full price or for a meaningful discount, respectively.

However, because junk cars are typically worth a few hundred dollars each, there isn’t much to gain on the seller’s end. The junkyard assesses the value of the car based on its make and model, popularity, and the number of useful parts on the vehicle that can be sold to consumers. If a buyer tries to haggle down the price of your end-of-life vehicle, look for a different buyer.   

4. Get Paid When the Car Changes Hands

Another aspect of how to sell your junk car for the most money is receiving payment right after transferring ownership of the vehicle to the buyer. Otherwise, there is a chance that you might not be paid. Most professionally operated junkyards have plenty of cash on hand from the sale of used auto parts. So, there shouldn’t be a reason why they can’t pay you on time. In fact, many junkyards are motivated to pay cash to reduce cash that is kept in the business office.

Contact Wrench-A-Part for a Price Quote

Wrench-A-Part is a professionally operated junkyard that pays competitive prices for end-of-life vehicles that are wrecked, have failed due to wear, have been declared “lemons,” etc. Because drivers who sell us their cars make our business possible, we’re motivated to provide best in business service that comes down to how to sell your junk car for the most money. To receive a free price quote today, contact one of our Texas locations in Austin, Belton, Lubbock, or Holland.

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