A Complete Guide on How to Sell A Broken Car

What do you do when your car doesn't seem fit to be driven anymore? Sell it of course! 

But the question about selling broken cars definitely pops up in the mind. This guide is going to elaborate you everything in detail about selling a damaged car. 

Here are some tips on how to sell a damaged car, whether that's water damage or just damage from hitting something. 

Determine the Damages in Detail

First, determine what kind of damage there is. If the engine is fine but the exterior has been damaged, then restore the exterior yourself before trying to sell it. There are guides out there specifically for restoring vehicles after they have been in accidents so check those out if you cannot find much help online or with friends - remember though not everyone knows much about cars so the problem may still persist even after you have fixed up all parts outside. If necessary, seek professional advice on auto body work and repairs for your car.

If the car is not drivable due to engine damage, you may want to consider donating it or selling it for scrap metal (if you think that's worth your time). This way, someone else can make some use out of the car and hopefully fix it up themselves.

A Complete Guide on How to Sell A Broken Car

9 Useful Tips on Selling Broken Cars? Now head towards some actionable and useful tips on selling your broken cars!

• Take photos of the car in its damaged state

First of all, take photos of the car in its damaged state - this way, people can see exactly what they are getting themselves into. It is also good to have these photos readily available when you are taking to prospective buyers. This way, you can show them your before and after restoration/repairs on the same vehicle if possible.

• Make some repairs

If you are looking to repair the car for yourself, I recommend buying parts from your local junkyard to save money. You can also try online stores for cheaper prices but they might not always have what you want/need at times so it's good to know where the junkyards around you are and if their fees or spare part conditions are reasonable enough.

• Sell your car locally or online?

There are many pros and cons for selling a vehicle online but it is probably easier just to sell it locally so that you do not have to deal with the shipping/transportation costs of the car itself. If you choose to sell it online, make sure you get yourself a decent website domain name (e.g., www.bestusedcarsforsalehere-state.com) and website hosting for your ad.

The best way is obviously through social media - just post an ad online with details about the type of damage, its price, where you are located if any out-of-state buyers are interested in buying your car - everything important really. You could also try getting in touch with people via email but if they are interested enough they will likely contact you anyway.

• Create a listing with specific damage, mileage, and price

The next step is creating a listing with specific damage, mileage, and the price is probably the best way to sell damaged cars. Include any defects that you know of on your car (damage) while also providing an estimated price below what others might pay for it. The goal here is for people to contact you if they are genuinely interested in buying your car instead of trying to pressure or scam you into selling it at their preferred prices.

• Sell damaged cars at lower prices initially

Finally, try to sell your cars at lower prices initially to lure in more buyers. This way, you will also give yourself some room for bargaining back and forth with potential customers before settling on a final price later on. Remember that all people are different so what works for one person may not work for another but it is always best to be flexible/adaptable when dealing with others; after all, this is business.

• Sell used parts on the side too

On the side though, selling some spare parts can benefit you greatly as well especially if they are rare/hard-to-find ones - but make sure not to overdo it because even this business venture has its risks. Remember that patience is key when dealing with new customers/people in general so don't just start selling everything you have unless you are sure that they will buy from you.

• Remove any personal items from the car before taking more pictures 

Remove any personal items from the car before taking more pictures for sale to have a cleaner look for online auctions/sales. Setting up a good profile page is also important where you can highlight all of your selling points and let people know how much they can save by purchasing from you.

• Reach out to local dealerships about buying your vehicle 

Reach out to local dealerships about buying your vehicle on trade-in value to see if they are interested in using your car for parts or something similar. The price still isn't that great but it is the best you can get in this situation.

• List your car for sale, giving total mileage and accident details

Keep in mind that all people vary so what works well with one person doesn't usually apply to everyone else. It's always best to remain flexible when dealing with others. Lastly, don't forget to list your car online! Listing them offline through physical flyers should be a last resort since there aren't too many potential buyers around where you are currently at right now (i.e., street/neighborhood/building).

What to Expect When Selling a Damaged Car?

Finally, here's a list of what you should be expecting in return from people buying your car:

• If it is a newer car, expect less money in return - older cars are generally more expensive than new ones because they have been used for longer. The value of the vehicle decreases once it reaches about 3-5 years old so that would be ideal age to sell such vehicles - but entering into this realm depends on how the market works near you and who is looking for such parts/items.

• Most buyers will probably ask for lower prices than what you initially put up so just negotiate with them instead of getting upset or angry as you will only hurt your own profits (and relationships with buyers).

• Once your car is sold, expect to receive the money in about a week or even less depending on the market and the buyer. If they are using credit cards/debit cards as payment, you may need to wait a little longer though so I recommend asking for cash instead.

• Most importantly: be patient and don't get discouraged if things seem down at times - it's all part of business! Just keep trying and remember that smarter people than yourself have been through this before.

What to Do If Someone Tries Pressuring Me into Selling My Car?

If anyone tries pressuring you into selling your car when it isn't really what you want, politely turn them down and explain why. If they keep pushing, back off and wait for another person to contact you. I personally recommend removing the listing and trying again later after a while because asking people to wait is something that might be too much for them; but then again, there's no specific 'should' or 'shouldn't' rule here since every scenario is different.

What to Do If an Accident Involved My Car?

If your car was involved in any type of collision (accident), make sure that your insurance policy covers the costs and someone else didn't cause it (e.g., speeding). If anyone tries forcing you into paying for the damages, politely refuse and contact their insurer instead. You should also get a police report to back up your claims here.

Summarizing The Procedure

Here is the summary of tips on selling broken cars:

1) Incentivize potential buyers by including specific damage, mileage, and price within your listing/profile page.

2) Sell spare parts on the side if possible but keep it reasonable since this business venture has its risks too. Don't overdo it!

3) Be patient when dealing with new customers/people in general. Remember that all people are different so what works for one person may not work for another.

4) Ask people to wait if they try pressuring you into selling your car when it isn't really what you want; politely refuse and explain why.

5) Try to sell your cars at lower prices initially to lure in more buyers. This way, you will also give yourself some room for bargaining back and forth with potential customers before settling on a final price later on.

6) If anyone tries pressuring or scamming you into selling your car, take pictures of the serial numbers (VINs), engine number (EIN), chassis number (CIN), etc., if possible; but make sure not to post them online!

7) Contact your insurance company if your car was involved in an accident; make sure that they cover the costs and someone else didn't cause it (e.g., speeding). If anyone tries forcing you into paying for the damages, politely refuse and contact their insurer instead.

8) Remove any personal items from the car before taking pictures for sale to have a cleaner look for online auctions,

9) Be patient when dealing with new customers/people in general. Remember that all people are different so what works for one may not work for another.

Conclusion

We hope this detailed guide will have helped you a lot in selling your broken or damaged cars. Leave your comments to share your thoughts on this article.

1. Take photos of the car in its damaged state

2. Create a listing with specific damage, mileage, and price

3. Remove any personal items from the car before taking more pictures for sale

4. Upload your photos to Auto Trader or another online marketplace for used cars 

5. Reach out to local dealerships about buying your vehicle on trade-in value 

6. Consider selling it at auction if you don't have time to sell it yourself