We all know it’s true: cars don’t last forever.
Whether your transmission goes or your engine blows, there’s going to come a time when it will cost more to repair your car than it’s worth.
So how do you sell a car with a bad engine? All hope is not lost.
You can still get cash for your car, even if it’s not in working order. Let’s take a look at your options.
Sell Your Car for Parts
The first fact you’ll need to realize is that you don’t necessarily have to sell your entire car.
You can sell your car for its parts; there’s a good chance you’ll get more money that way, too!
Take your car to a trusted mechanic and have him or her help you organize a list of the salvageable and sellable parts of your vehicle.
You’d be surprised what you can salvage, from the battery to the door panel, it can all be sold!
Keep in mind that if you’re salvaging car parts in this manner, it’s probably going to take longer to sell than other methods.
But with a bit of mechanical knowledge and a sprinkle of patience, you can earn quite a bit from your vehicle, even if it has a bad engine.
Sell to a Private Buyer
If you don’t have the time to part out your car, or just need the money right away, you can sell your car to a private buyer. Websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace can help you, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
Firstly, it’s critical that you offer full disclosure about the condition of your car.
Buyers deserve to know that it’s not in perfect working order before they drive out to see it.
If needed, take it to a mechanic to get a full list of any repairs needed.
Secondly, understand that you’ll get a lot of tire kickers who will waste your time.
Be prepared to answer questions about the car, but recognize that not everyone is serious about the purchase.
It could help to keep a detailed description of the car’s condition in a document on your computer.
Then just copy and paste when you get a reply to your ad.
Finally, realize that you’ll probably get much less for your car than you post it for.
You’ll be lowballed by potential buyers. You can help mitigate this by listing your vehicle for about double what you expect to get, but don’t go overboard.
Many car buyers know what they are doing, they know how much your car is worth, and if you’re asking for a ridiculous sum, they’ll likely reject you outright.
Sell to a Junkyard
You also have the option of selling your car to a scrap yard. Just because the engine doesn’t work doesn’t mean your car doesn’t have value.
Scrapping your car is a great option if you need cash in a hurry.
You can use what you earn to put a down payment on a new car or just to pay the bills.
You can sell a car with mechanical problems, a blown engine, no tires, destroyed upholstery, and pretty much anything else.
Junk car buyers will take anything and most of them promise a turnaround in under 48 business hours.
It’s a completely hassle-free process.
Get a quote online or over the phone in less than 90 seconds and sell your junk car quickly.
You can use this site to search for the best junk car buyers in your area.
Of course, cars with engine problems sell for a lot less than those without, but they will give you an offer for your car that reflects the remaining parts, as well as the scrap metal value.
Sell to a Car Dealership
In rare cases, you may be able to sell a car with a bad engine to a dealership.
If the car runs and drives, but the check engine light is one, all hope is not lost.
Large dealerships like CarMax will evaluate the condition of your vehicle and determine what they feel it’s worth.
Then, they’ll make you an offer, sometimes based on a trade-in.
Be sure you bring your title and all your key fobs with you in case you do decide to take that offer.
As with a junk car buyer, you’re likely not going to get oodles of money for your car.
But there’s a good chance you’ll get more from a dealership than you will from the scrappers.
That’s particularly true if you’re opting to trade your car in and buy another vehicle from the same dealership.
Conclusion: Selling a Car with a Blown Engine
Even if your car isn’t in perfect working order, you can still sell it. You have options for selling a car with a bad engine. Some take longer than others, and some pay more.
But regardless of your situation, you can earn a little extra cash from your imperfect car.
