Cars are necessary investments but are potentially bothersome at the end of their lives. They simply don’t last all that long, and when they no longer run, they are tons of metal that won’t budge. Consider these options the next time you are stuck with an old car that no longer runs.
Sell to a salvage yard
One of the easiest methods to get rid of your old car is to sell it to a junkyard. A salvage yard is easy to locate via an online search, will pick up the vehicle for you, and typically will pay cash for cars.
Of course, you won’t get back what you paid for your car, but most junkyards will accept a car in any condition and pay you a small amount, perhaps starting around $200, depending on its age and other factors.
Sell the parts yourself
This option takes some mechanical know-how, but you may be able to sell some of your car’s parts if they’re in decent condition. To determine which parts are worth the effort and time invested, research some of the most expensive car parts to replace (and, therefore, the most worthwhile to sell).
If you enjoy working on cars and selling the parts goes well, you might even consider doing so as a profitable side hustle. If this were a simple undertaking, more people would be doing it. However, some people do make money in this way and do so legitimately.
Repair the car
On the other hand, if you are handy enough, you might want to repair the car. In this case, you would need to invest a great deal of effort, time, and money. It’s perhaps not worth the cost unless it’s a labor of love.
Still, it’s possible that your car’s issues are solvable, and it would undoubtedly be worth more as a functional vehicle.
Sell or trade-in at a car dealer
Another easy way to get rid of an old car is to sell it to a dealer. It’s difficult to predict how much you could get, and you’ll likely need to cover the cost of towing the car there to get a quote. The dealer might require you to purchase a new vehicle as a condition of the trade-in.
Knowing these drawbacks, however, you might find that selling to a dealership is a good option. Trading in an old car is one of several ways to save money on a new car, solving two issues for you at once.
Donate to a charity
Also worth mentioning is the option to donate your car to a charity. Donation may be the option for you if you do not require the money you could sell it for or if you’re unable to fetch an agreeable price.
You could do a good deed by donating the charity a car to sell themselves while claiming the car’s value as a charitable donation on your taxes. Be sure to do the necessary research and be upfront about the car’s condition if you opt to donate it to a charitable organization.
Before you go
Depending on how much you know about cars, an old junker might be a nuisance to sell for scrap metal or potentially a way to make money for the business-savvy.
Whatever means you choose to get rid of your car, don’t be afraid to shop around to get the best price for your vehicle or its parts. Someone will value some or all of its components, and you don’t want to miss that opportunity.
