Blown engine, bad transmission, or it just won’t start — your car is still worth real cash, and fixing it is often more than it’s worth. Here’s the honest repair-or-sell math, what a non-runner actually pays, and how we tow it free.
A blown engine or a dead transmission forces one decision before anything else: is this car worth fixing? The answer is almost always a number. If the repair costs more than the car will be worth afterit’s done — which is common on older, high-mileage vehicles — you’re pouring money into a car you’d still struggle to sell. Here’s what the big repairs typically run:
| Failure | Typical repair |
|---|---|
Blown engine / engine replacement Used-engine swaps land at the low end; a new engine with labor can top $10,000. | $3,000–$7,000+ |
Transmission replacement Rebuilt or used units plus labor. New OEM transmissions run higher. | $2,500–$5,000 |
Blown head gasket Labor-heavy, and it often signals further engine damage already done. | $1,000–$2,500 |
Won't start (major) Could be a cheap starter or battery — or a dead engine. Diagnose before you spend. | $500–$3,000+ |
The engine is one part. These are the things that still carry value on a non-running car — and why we can still write a real offer.
A blown engine doesn't touch the transmission. A good gearbox is one of the most resold parts on the car.
Holds real value for its precious metals whether or not the engine runs — often a meaningful share of the whole offer.
Panels, doors, glass, wheels, alternator, starter, infotainment — all resold individually regardless of engine condition.
The steel floor under every car. A non-runner is still worth its weight in metal at current scrap prices.
Want the full breakdown of what carries value? See the most valuable parts on a car to scrap, or check current scrap prices.
The whole point of selling a non-runner is that you don't have to get it running. Four steps.
Enter the year, make, model, and condition — tell us it doesn't run. You get a real number based on parts and metal value, not a teaser.
The offer holds for 7 days. No haggling at pickup, no surprise deductions because the engine is dead — we already knew that when we quoted you.
This is the part that matters for a non-runner: our partner brings a flatbed and tows it for free, anywhere in the country. You don't have to get it started or moved.
Cash or check at the gate when the car is loaded. Sign the title (or use one of the no-title paths) and it's gone.
Usually not, once the car has age and miles on it. An engine replacement on a 15-year-old sedan can cost more than the car was worth when it was running. The honest test is simple: get a repair quote, then look up what the car sells for in good condition. If the repair is anywhere close to that number, fixing it is a bad trade — you’d spend thousands to own a high-mileage car that’s now had major surgery, which buyers discount anyway.
There’s also the hidden risk: a “blown engine” on a car that’s been neglected often comes with company — a tired transmission, a rusted exhaust, deferred maintenance. You fix the headline problem and the next one shows up a month later. Selling as-is puts a firm number in your pocket today and makes the next owner’s problems their own.
They feel similar from the driver’s seat but they’re different sales. A blown engineleaves a perfectly good transmission and catalytic converter on the car — both valuable. A bad transmissionleaves a good engine, which is one of the highest-value parts there is. “Won’t start” is the one worth diagnosing first, because it ranges from a $100 battery to a seized motor — if it’s cheap, fix it; if it’s the engine, sell it. Either way, the car has real value as parts and metal, and we buy all three situations every week.
We’ve bought more than 42,000+cars, and the large majority didn’t run when we picked them up. A non-running car isn’t an edge case for us — it’s the normal job. That’s why the offer is firm, the tow is free, and there’s no lecture about the engine when the driver arrives.
When you’re ready, the general process is the same as any car — see selling a broken or non-running car for the wider picture, or just get your offer.
Tap any to expand.
Get a firm cash offer in about 90 seconds, then decide. No repair, no jump-start, no tow bill.
