Who Buys Cars Near Me? Where to Sell Your Used Car & Get Cash Today

Marc Skirvin
Marc Skirvin

What's in this Article

The average age of a used car is 10.5 years old. During that time the car will have had an average of 2.23 owners. So are you ready to pass your used vehicle on to its next owner? 

If so, you may be wondering, who buys cars near me? You have more options available than you might realize. So let’s get started helping you get your car sold for cash. 

Who Buys Cars near Me?

Most people don’t want to buy an older used car for personal use. Even if they wanted to, they don’t have the available cash to hand over. Your options for selling your car for cash will be organizations. 

If you do want to try the private sale route, you could list the car in multiple places and wait. You might get someone who likes your car and has the cash to buy it. 

Car Dealerships 

The most obvious place to start is at your local car dealerships. Not all of them will, but some dealerships will pay cash for cars. 

If you want to buy a new car from them, then you can go through the trade-in process. They will give you a cash credit for your car and then put that towards the purchase of your new vehicle. 

You don’t have to buy your vehicle from them though. Many will buy your car even if they don’t intend to sell it to someone else. 

Keep in mind that your vehicle needs to be in decent condition for this to be a viable option. Most dealerships are not interested in true junk cars. If you do find one willing to buy a junker, you probably won’t get much. 

Online Companies 

We do virtually everything online these days, so why not sell your car online? No, we aren’t talking about listing your car on some auction site and waiting for people to bid. 

Instead, head over to a website that specializes in buying vehicles for cash. The process is simple and almost instant. 

All you need to do is give them a few details about your vehicle and its condition. Then they will give you an offer that you can either accept or decline. 

If you accept the offer, then you’ll give a few more details to complete the transaction. Once the agreement is finished, they’ll make arrangements to come and pick up the vehicle and give you payment. 

Parts Recyclers 

Parts recyclers are similar to junkyards, except that their main purpose is to buy cars that they can dismantle and sell the individual parts. They tend to want newer cars, so consider this option if your vehicle is less than 15 years old. 

They look for cars that run and are in decent condition. Then they will offer you a cash value based on what they think they can make off of the salvaged parts. 

Cash for Clunkers 

In certain parts of the country, there are programs called Cash for Clunkers, or something similar. California is one such state that participates. 

These programs encourage car owners to get rid of their older, less environmentally friendly vehicles for newer cars. The program aims to help offset the cost of the new vehicle. 

If your car is especially old or in bad condition, this program is likely to be your best option for getting the most for your vehicle. 

Schools 

Sometimes schools and universities like to buy older cars for students to learn how to work on them. It’s easier to learn the mechanics on an older car that lacks the newer technology. 

If you are ok with getting a tax credit instead of cash in hand, you could donate the car instead of selling it. Then you can claim the deduction on your taxes. 

Independent Repair Shops 

Some people make a business of buying less than perfect used cars for cash, fixing them up, and then selling them. If you have the time, you can call around your area and ask local shops if they are willing to buy your car. 

Keep in mind that the shop will offer you a lower cash value. They will need to factor in their time and costs for making repairs. Then they will factor in what they think they can sell the repaired vehicle for. 

Collectors or Museums

If your vehicle a classic, limited edition, or super unique in some way? If so, then you may be sitting on a goldmine and not even know it. 

Enthusiasts and car collectors may be willing to give you cash for your car. Do a little research before you decide to sell if you think you might have a potential collector car. 

Did you know there are many car museums across the country? For example, there’s the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, or the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA. 

These are all large museums, but there are plenty of smaller, independent museums across the country. 

Get Cash for Your Car

If you are looking to get cash for your used car, keep in mind that you probably won’t get top dollar for it. The value also goes down the more miles and the worse condition it is in. 

If you need cash quickly though, your best option is to work with an online buyer. They have the capital to act quickly and be flexible about completing the sale. 

So before asking, “who buys cars near me?”, ask who buys cars quickly for cash. 

Want cash for your car? Get an instant quote right now. 

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About the Author

Marc
Marc

Marc is the Co-Founder of Cash Auto Salvage and Director of daily operations. He retired from a leading Internet Marketing company in 2013 and has been involved in the automotive industry ever since.

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