Junk cars are an eyesore. Before neighbor decides to have your vehicle towed, take steps to get rid of old vehicles no longer in use.
If you’ve recently asked yourself “can I sell my truck for cash?” its time to educate yourself on how to handle used car transactions.
Whether it runs or not, trucks and cars have value. Your ability to profit depends on the strategy you use for the sale.
How Do I Sell My Truck?
The most common way to put a truck or van up for sale is online. Free classifieds ads often get the most traffic, but leads aren’t qualified.
If you choose to use a free classified ad, be prepared to heavily screen potential buyers. Free services attract scammers looking for an easy target.
Practice safe selling practices by showing your vehicle in public, well-lit places. Shopping centers and malls are great options for meeting potential buyers.
Paid ads are also a good way to get leads from qualified car buyers. Sites that require buyers to set up profiles usually have more serious inquiries.
Fees can accumulate quickly though. If your vehicle doesn’t sell right away, it means paying weekly or monthly for an ad that might not get a return on its investment.
Avoiding Fraud
Avoid any buyer who wants to buy a car sight unseen. These scams usually involve wiring money or counterfeit cashier’s checks.
The number of fake check scams on Craigslist doubled from 2014 to 2017.
Deal only in funds you can verify. If you prefer cash, have buyers meet you at the bank where you can confirm with a teller the bills are real.
Having buyers meet you at the bank also means avoiding carrying around a wad of cash. No matter the method of payment, wait for the payment to clear on your account before handing over the title.
This is a major inconvenience for buyers but it protects you from the countless instances of fraud private sellers experience every day.
Private Seller vs. Dealership
Car buyers have options. They can choose to buy cars directly from private sellers or contact used car dealerships in the area.
The appeal of the two buying options varies based on the person’s needs. A buyer looking for cars at cash prices are more likely to contact private sellers.
Private sellers are easier to negotiate with as they usually own the car outright. It takes only two people in the transaction to agree on the price before the car is sold.
Dealerships have a bottom line they have to meet in order to profit. Corporate policies prevent negotiation beyond this minimum price even if the car has high mileage.
For the private seller, the transaction is usually all profit. This gives private sellers the upper hand when selling a car or truck.
Dealerships also don’t keep an inventory of junk cars. Private sellers with junk cars open a new world of possibility when marketing to junk car buyers.
The Junk Car
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. This saying couldn’t be truer than when it comes to junk cars.
A junk car is any vehicle that no longer runs or is too old to make a decent profit when sold. No matter how old and useless you think the car is, there’s a buyer looking for a model like yours.
If you’re not sure whether you have a junk car, consider whether it includes the following issues:
Missing Title/Registration
It’s time to give up on the dream of selling a car that doesn’t have a title. No matter how well an old car runs, the hassle of attempting a transaction without the proper paperwork is likely to cause you to lose potential buyers.
Major Parts are Missing
Cars without tires or heavily mangled parts are the most common junk cars people see. These cars are so deteriorated there’s no way to move them around without towing.
Even during the towing process, parts might fall off during transit.
Doesn’t Run
There are cars with parts intact and a great looking exterior that still won’t run. If the cost of repairing the car costs more than its junk car price, it’s automatically considered a junk car.
Why Junk Cars?
Junk cars are primarily used for parts. This means the condition of the car doesn’t matter because the buyer will decide which parts are useable.
The remaining car parts can be used for scrap metal. Used car parts are a profitable product for auto salvage companies so don’t be shy in offering cars in the worst condition.
The amount you can earn from a junk car varies. To get an accurate quote, you’ll need to contact an auto salvage company.
They’ll ask questions that help them determine how much the parts on the car are worth. Common junk car offers range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Sell Your Van for Cash
It’s easy to attract buyers for your truck or van. If it still runs, the options are plentiful.
But you might still wonder “how do I sell my truck if it doesn’t run?” The best next step is to reach out to companies who buy junk cars.
Their generous offers will make you a believer. Get access to the cash you need by selling your truck or van today.
For more information on how much you can earn from a junk car sale, please contact us for a free quote.
