Today’s the day: you’ve decided that it’s time to sell your junk car. It’s something you’ve agonized about for months, but you’re done waiting. Well, congratulations are in order! Believe us, you’ll be glad once that old clunker is out of your life for good.
Here’s the thing, though: before you sell your junk car, it’s important to take stock of the situation. A lot of people make a big mistake at this point. They’re convinced that their junk car isn’t worth more than a few pennies, and they end up taking chump change for it rather than a reasonable amount of money. Some people may even go so far as to pay someone to haul it away for them, effectively losing money on the deal.
Don’t make this same mistake! Your old junk car might be worth serious cash, and it’s important to do what you can to squeeze every possible dollar out of it. Don’t fall victim to a scammer or a dishonest junkyard. If you’re wondering how to get the most cash for your junk car, read on to find out.
Your Car’s Condition
Before you go any further, the first thing to do is determine the condition of your junk car.
If your vehicle is in excellent condition, you’ll be able to sell it to a private party using an online classified website. You can head over to the Kelley Blue Book and use their tool to assess your car’s value.
However, the reality is that your vehicle is likely in very poor condition: if it weren’t, you wouldn’t be calling a junk car, would you? You can still use the Kelley Blue Book to come up with a rough estimate of what your car’s worth, but keep in mind that your vehicle may be in even worse condition than the KBB’s “poor” rating (in which case the Blue Book won’t be able to provide an accurate sense of what your vehicle’s value actually is).
Selling it Part by Part
Your car has seen better days, we know. But just because it won’t start when you turn the key in the ignition doesn’t mean that there aren’t valuable parts under the hood. We’ve even encountered some vehicles that were covered in rust and falling apart, but which still had a couple of valuable parts that could be removed and sold. Take a peek beneath the hood and see if there are any salvageable parts that can be sold on their own.
Finding the Right Junk Car Buyer
At the end of the day, you’ll need to find the right company to purchase your junk car. The sad truth is that the junk car world is full of scam artists. If you’ve never sold a junk car before, you’re more likely to fall prey to a scam. When looking for a junk car buyer, be sure to take a look at their customer reviews. You’ll also want to call and ask for a quote. Don’t be afraid to call around to multiple junk yards and compare prices: some companies will pay more than others, and some will charge various fees that change the amount you end up with at the end of the deal.
By assessing your vehicle’s condition, determining whether there might be parts to sell individually, finding the right junk car buyer, and comparing quotes, you’ll be sure to get the most cash for your junk car.
Rusty’s Auto Salvage is a national company that buys junk cars. Visit their website to learn more about how you can get cash for your junk car.