Should You Repair Your Car or Sell It for Parts?
Sometimes, car owners face the tough choice of investing in repairs or selling their cars for junk or parts. While each situation is unique, most car owners opt to sell their vehicles for junk or parts when the cost of repairs greatly exceeds their budget, the car’s current value or both.
In some situations, investing in repairs may make more sense, regardless of cost. Sometimes, costly transmission or engine repairs can drastically increase the value or lifespan of a vehicle. To decide if your best choice is selling or repairing, consider the factors below.
Factors To Consider Before Selling Your Car for Parts
If you’re weighing your options to get the best value for your car, we recommend the following considerations before and during the selling process:
- Your car’s age: If your vehicle is over 20 years old and isn’t considered classic or luxury, you may be better off selling your entire vehicle for scrap metal.
- Whole car vs. per-part value: In some situations, your car may be worth more as a whole-car sale. Newer vehicles with repair potential, classic cars and select luxury models may fetch higher sale prices if everything is included.
- Value of car vs. cost of repairs: If the cost of repairing your car exceeds the car’s resale value after repairs, selling it for parts or junk may be the sensible option.
- Current car value vs. value after repairs: Repairing classic cars or newer models could fetch a higher price from buyers and dealerships. Make sure to do your research on how much your car might sell for in optimal condition.
- Methods of selling: If you plan to sell for parts, you’ll need to list the parts on appropriate local and online marketplaces.
- Additional time and work required: Selling your car for parts means putting in more time and effort photographing, listing and discussing specifics with potential buyers.
How To Sell a Car for Parts
After you’ve weighed the ins and outs and decided to sell for parts, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure a safe and profitable selling process.
#1: Determine Your Car’s Value
It pays to know what your car is worth when selling it, either “as-is” or for parts. By determining your car’s value and the value of its parts, you learn what prices to ask for, when to haggle and when to stand firm on your asking price.
Note Your Car’s Condition
If you’re ready to sell, it’s time to be realistic about what shape your car is in and which parts are worth trying to sell. Some of the most frequently resold car components include:
- Catalytic converters
- Stereos and GPS systems
- Doors and windows
- Batteries
- Whole engines
- Transmission systems or components
- Tires and tire rims
- Air conditioning systems
- Seats and airbags
- Windshield wipers
Other parts consistently resold include body components like hoods, bumpers and fenders. Window motors, locking mechanisms and electrical components are also frequently resold.
You may be surprised which car parts have resale value. Start with the list above and note the condition of each item. Next, determine the potential market value of parts you have in good condition.
Research Market Values for Car Parts
Before you list parts for sale either online or in local marketplaces, research their market values. You can do this by comparing costs for new parts with what other sellers are asking for similar used parts on car forums, eBay Motors or Craigslist.
You can also request quotes from local junkyards or salvage buyers. Write down ranges for parts in new to rough condition and determine where your parts sit on that spectrum to determine a starting asking price.
#2: Weigh Your Options
When selling your car for parts, you can sell those parts to a local junkyard or salvage buyer, or list your parts for sale online. While local salvage buyers may provide faster sales, you may receive lower offers or even offers for scrap metal price only. By listing online, you expand your exposure to potential buyers, including dealerships and car shops that source used parts online.
#3: Prepare Your Vehicle
If you’re selling your car for parts or scrap metal, you’ll need to prepare it first. Remove all possessions and personal information from the vehicle, make any repairs you’ve deemed necessary and clean your car and components as required.
#4: Safely Remove Salvageable Parts
Next, safely remove any parts you intend to sell. If it hasn’t been long since you’ve operated the car (such as within the last hour), make sure the car has plenty of time to cool down before you start removing parts. It’s important to wear protective gear like gloves to avoid accidental cuts, scrapes and punctures on car parts. Thoroughly clean all parts you plan to sell.
For larger, more challenging car components such as the engine or transmission, you may need to purchase special equipment or hire additional help for removal.
#5: Choose Where To Sell Your Parts
If you haven’t already, it’s time to choose where you want to sell your parts. Listing the same parts for sale in multiple marketplaces might seem tempting but could result in confusion or complications with multiple buyers. Instead, choose a single online marketplace to list on or sell directly to a junk buyer.
#6: Photograph Your Car Parts
If you’re selling online, you’ll need to photograph your vehicle components as part of creating the online sale listing. Take as many clear, well-lit photos as possible from multiple angles. As mentioned, make sure the car parts are properly cleaned before taking pictures. If the part comes with screws or other necessary accessories, photograph these as well.
#7: Create Listings
When listing your car parts for sale, include as much descriptive information as possible. Includes the make, model and year of the vehicle the part is from, as well as the car’s trim level and other features. Discuss the condition of the part in detail, and be sure to list any accessories or installation components that come with it.
Remember that shipping car parts can be expensive due to weight and other factors. Try to include this as part of the asking price, and research your available shipping options in advance. You can sell car components separately or as a group.
#8: Securely Sell
Once you have a buyer for your car part, it’s time to complete the transaction. If you’re meeting your buyer in person for a pickup or drop-off, choose a safe, public location for the exchange. Request cash upfront for your car part in these scenarios to reduce the risk of check fraud.
If you’re selling online, you’ll most likely need to ship any car parts you sell. After a buyer has bought your car part, safely package and seal the part to reduce the risk of damage during transit. Next, drop your package off at the appropriate shipping hub or post office. You can also schedule package pickup services.
Other Ways To Sell a Junk or Inoperable Car
Not interested in selling your old car for parts? Fortunately, you can always sell your entire vehicle for junk or scrap car prices or choose to repair it before selling.
Sell It as Junk
Many junk buyers, both local and online, will offer you a set price for your entire vehicle. While these offers may be lower than the sum of what you may get for individual parts, junk buyers and salvage yards offer a way to get fast cash or unload a damaged car quickly.
Repair It
If you’re unsatisfied with the per-part or junk price you can fetch for your car, your only option may be repairing the vehicle. For some owners, this upfront investment can pay off. Restored classic or luxury cars can fetch a high price, as can new cars in operable condition.
How To Sell a Car for Parts: The Bottom Line
If you’re ready to sell your car for parts, you have options. Although selling a car part by part takes additional time and effort, you may get more money than you would by selling the whole car to a junk or scrap buyer. However, drivers can still earn a fair price for selling car parts for junk if their cars are older, inoperable or require repair costs that exceed the car’s value.
Regardless of your chosen method, our team recommends comparing offers from online car selling apps and services. Consider online junk buyers like Peddle and Copart while deciding how to get the most money for your car.
Best Places To Sell a Junk Car
To make an informed decision regarding selling your car, request quotes from Peddle and Copart during your research process.
Peddle: Good Choice for Older Vehicles
If you’re interested in junking your whole car instead of parting it out, consider starting your online quote search with Peddle. Peddle specializes in older and junk vehicles and provides free cash offers within minutes. The company buys direct, meaning you won’t need to worry about vetting private buyers or connecting with a dealership.
Keep reading: Peddle review
Copart: Quick Payments
Compare quotes from Peddle and local scrap buyers with other potential buyers, including Copart. This company partners with dealers to expand your access to potential buyers for the best possible deal. Copart also offers tow truck pickup service and reasonable prices for junk cars.
Keep reading: Copart review
How To Sell a Car for Parts: FAQ
Below, we cover some of the most frequently asked questions about how to sell a car for parts:
Depending on the age and condition of your vehicle, you may get more for your car by selling it for parts than you would by selling it for junk or scrap. However, the process takes more time and tools than selling the car as-is to a junk buyer.
Parting out a car refers to removing working, high-quality components and selling them individually. For some car owners, selling parts can result in a higher overall sum for the vehicle than selling it for scrap metal.
You can list your car parts for sale on online marketplaces like eBay Motors or Craigslist. Local scrap yards may also buy your car parts but will often offer lower prices.
Yes, you may be able to sell your car parts to a local junk buyer or parts shop. Call junkyards and scrap buyers in your area or list the car parts for sale on locally focused marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace.
The older the vehicle, the more likely it is you’ll need to junk it. While select classic or luxury model cars have valuable parts even at advanced ages, most cars older than 15 model years will fetch more money as scrap than parts.
Our Methodology
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.
- Platforms: 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.