How to Get Rid Of a Car That Doesn’t Run (2024) (2024)

If you have a truck or car that doesn’t start, stay running or drive for any reason, you aren’t stuck with it. People frequently sell vehicles that don’t run, and these sellers cater to people buying for restoration, parts and scrap. However, you should get a diagnostic report before deciding to sell, as some cars just need a quick repair before being able to run again.

Ways To Sell a Car That Doesn’t Run

When selling your junk or inoperable vehicle, choose the option that will get the most value. While many private buyers may offer top dollar for used vehicles, selling an inoperable car might mean accepting cash offers from car dealers or junk buyers.

Sell To a Dealership or Junk Buyer Company

Many car dealerships and junk buyers specialize in making offers for cars and trucks that won’t run. These companies buy inoperable cars for parts, restoration and even scrap metal recycling. Online junk buyers can make offers on inoperable vehicles in seconds and typically provide vehicle pickup as part of their services.

Some junk buyers may make low offers for used vehicles. As a result, owners of older or severely damaged cars may be better off selling to a private buyer or selling for scrap.

Sell To a Private Buyer

In some situations, private buyers will pay more than a dealer or junk buying service for a car that doesn’t run. Many private buyers will buy older, luxury or classic car models to restore these vehicles as a hobby or for resale. Often, these buyers pay competitively against the fair market value.

To see if your old car has potential buyers, look for your make and model on places like eBay Motors, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Some online services like Cars.com and Autotrader also offer private party sale options, though eligibility requirements may vary.

When browsing other online marketplaces, take note of the potential value of your car. Note the asking price for the same make and model in a similar condition, if possible. Private sale prices may vary widely, so take an average of a few as a solid baseline for what you may get from a private buyer.

Sell It for Parts

Depending on your vehicle’s make, model and age, you may get more value if you sell the car for parts. Even if one component of your engine doesn’t function, for example, you may be able to sell the transmission, catalytic converter or other parts either as is or as scrap.

Check used part prices for your vehicle at local junkyards and through online parts marketplaces. Remember, selling your car for parts will take much longer than selling the whole vehicle to a private buyer or junkyard because you’ll need to wait for prospective buyers to find your listings.

Sell It as Scrap

If parting out your car or selling to a private buyer isn’t promising, you may need to sell your car for scrap. Prices offered for scrap vehicles vary based on location, the make, model and year of the vehicle, current scrap metal prices and other factors.

Get quotes from local scrapyards and online junk buyers to compare offers and ensure you’re getting a fair price before selling your inoperable vehicle.

Extra Tips for Selling a Car That Doesn’t Run

If you’re thinking of selling a car that doesn’t run, follow the tips below to streamline the process and get the most value for your vehicle:

• Know your vehicle’s value: Before selling, know how much your car is worth by checking guides like Kelley Blue Book (KBB) or using online car valuation tools.
• Weigh the cost of the repairs: Sometimes, a minor repair can make a big difference in how much you can sell your car for, so get a diagnosis before selling your car as is.
• Compare offers: When selling your inoperable car, compare offers from local junk buyers, parts buyers and online junk buying services before committing to an offer.
• Prepare your vehicle: Get your vehicle ready for sale by cleaning the interior and exterior and removing all personal items.

How much your car is worth will be affected by the fact that it doesn’t run. Most junk cars sell for between $100 and $500 on average. However, you could be offered much more if your car is newer, has little to no cosmetic damage and has most systems in reasonable condition.

Remember if you want to sell your car for parts, this may provide better value than selling the entire car as is. Some of the most commonly sold car components include:

• Whole engines
• Catalytic converters
• Transmission systems or components
• Batteries
• Stereos and GPS systems
• Tires and tire rims
• Air conditioning systems
• Doors and windows
• Seats and airbags
• Windshield wipers

To find the value for these items, check the common prices found on sites like Craigslist or eBay Motors.

Before you sell your car because it doesn’t run, get a diagnostic inspection from a mechanic to determine why it won’t run. In some cases, it may be worth repairing. Even if you repair the vehicle, you can still decide to sell it, and you may get more for the vehicle as a result.

Common Reasons Cars Won’t Run

There are many reasons a car might not run, some of which are easily fixable. Some common reasons are:

• Battery failure
• Alternator failure
• Faulty starter
• Fuel injection issues
• Engine problems
• Malfunctioning sensors
• Key or ignition issues

Many people worry they can’t sell their car if the reason it won’t run is severe, but this isn’t true. Most people selling their cars as junk or scrap are facing repairs that exceed either the value of the vehicle, the amount remaining on a loan or both.

In most cases, people will list why a vehicle won’t run as part of the sales ad. Junk buying services ask detailed questions about a vehicle’s condition before making offers and typically perform a full inspection before finalizing an offer price.

Factors To Consider Before Selling

Before selling a vehicle, you’ll want to consider a few factors.

First, consider the cost of repairs. If repairing the vehicle so it operates properly will cost more than the car’s value or more than you still owe on an auto loan, selling might make sense. When exploring this option, get quotes from more than one repair shop before making a decision.

Next, consider how you’d like to sell. In some cases, dealers will offer trade-in value for vehicles that don’t run. Also, many junk car buyers offer loan payoff when they buy your vehicle. However, sometimes private buyers offer more for a junk vehicle than a dealer or buyer.

You aren’t without options if you’re trying to sell a car that doesn’t run. Consider seeing what similar cars sell for on private selling marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Alternatively, you can sell your car for parts or request offers from online junk buyers and local scrapyards.

When exploring your options, our team recommends considering offers from online junk buyers to ensure you get the best value. Our team likes Peddle and We Buy Any Car for selling cars that don’t run.

Where To Sell a Car That Doesn’t Run

Consider these online car selling services when comparing ways to sell your inoperable car or truck:

Peddle: Good Choice for Older Vehicles

Peddle is an online car selling company specializing in older, used and junk vehicles. The company makes reasonable offers on vehicles in almost any condition and offers free towing services from your location. While the company may not make the best offers for newer vehicles, we recommend requesting an offer from Peddle if your car is old and doesn’t run.

Read more: Peddle review

We Buy Any Car

We Buy Any Car is as straightforward as its name. The company buys any car, including those that don’t run. However, there’s one catch: You are responsible for getting the vehicle to a We Buy Any Car location for the final inspection. As long as you’ve described your vehicle thoroughly and transparently, your final offer won’t change much. If you like the company’s offer, it pays by check on the same day.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Industry Standing: Our research team considers ratings from industry experts and years in business when determining this score.
• Platform: Platforms that offer a variety of features, including instant offers and multiple sales options, are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Cost: To compare providers’ average offer prices, our team conducted a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicle types. We also considered the fees companies charge to use their platforms.
• Support: Car selling companies that offer strong transaction support received the highest scores in this category. This includes offerings like free pickup service as well as how quickly you receive your payment.
• Customer Experience: This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot as well as our team’s experience reaching out to each platform.

*Data accurate at time of publication.