• Ya know what they say, "one man's junk (car) is another man's treasure(d) (dream car)..."

The problem with selling a junk car is described in different ways. Someone doesn’t get a call on an ad for the sale; someone constantly receives calls, but there’s still no one who wants to take a closer look; some constantly show the car, but no one has agreed to buy. So, what’s stopping you from selling junk cars? And what about ads like “we buy junk cars in Baton Rouge“?

How much is your car worth?

This is the first thing to decide. It’s necessary to adequately assess the condition. A scratch on the body that you are used to and no longer notice will be new to the buyer who agrees to see your car. Scuffs in the cabin, holes in the rugs and a TV screwed to the dashboard can scare off a potential buyer. Try to look at your car through the eyes of a person who sees it live for the first time.

To realistically assess the value of your car, do a short market analysis: search a junk car sales site (for example, JunkCarsUS).

In the search specify the year, mileage and equipment. This way you’ll be able to understand: how much your car is approximately worth in the junk car market.

The price can be adjusted up or down depending on the condition relative to those that are already on the junk car sales market.

It doesn’t hurt to make a pre-sale car diagnostic. This way you get a clear picture of the technical condition.

Now you have a starting point for further thinking and action.

 

How to convey information to a potential buyer?

It would be nice to take a photo of the junk car in some detail. It’s advisable to do this in daylight so that the car is clean. You shouldn’t take pictures with beautiful alloy wheels if you’re going to say in the description that they are offered for an additional fee. Show only what you sell.

Much means a complete and objective description. Ads with empty lines usually fall out of the view. Since the information isn’t enough even to talk about something on the phone.

 

Lifehack

There is an option to pay the provider more to get your ad in the top. It will really be higher than the rest — in the top five or ten, depending on how much you pay. But remember yourself — do you open the first search links marked “advertising” or scroll down? “He paid for the top on purpose,” you think, “that means there’s something wrong with the car.”

 

Do you need to restore junk car before selling?

To answer this question, you need to do arithmetic and calculate:

• How much is the car worth in its current condition?
• How much will it cost to repair the damage?
• What is the difference between the price of a real car and a restored one?

Let’s say you decide to fix the malfunctions and get more for the restored car. Then it’s better to picture any error before repair: so, you can convince the buyer that these are not traces of a serious accident.

For example, your windshield is cracked and you’re afraid to change it because there are problems with selling (such a replacement usually occurs in an accident with a head-on collision). In order to explain the replacement to the buyer, simply take a picture of the cracked original glass before removal.

When selling a junk car, even a trifle can work in plus. Fresh oil in the engine can be a confirmation of the owner’s care. If you will not sell the car, then the replacement of filters and fluids will not be required in the near future and will postpone the visit to the service.

Be careful with documents

Everything written here is just words. As well as what you say or write to a potential buyer. Words become real truth when they are documented. Therefore, it’s necessary to take seriously the collection and storage of papers on the condition, value and ownership rights.

You need to carefully keep the history of junk car repairs. If the service station doesn’t issue certificates of completion with prices, dates and scope of work, you should think about the quality of such an enterprise. Suppose you’re repairing a car all the time at an excellent service and there are no comments on work, but it doesn’t issue forms with completed work. In this case, it’s worth hinting that such papers are very important to customers.

Also, there is always the option to manually maintain such accounting on your own. When selling a junk car, the service history is a valuable addition to the car itself, and a savvy buyer will definitely appreciate the presence of such documents.

 

Lifehack

Selling a junk car usually involves deregistration. Don’t rush into this if you’re the owner and your car is honest and well maintained. Deregistered cars are often sold by resellers whose main task is to “drain the car” and get their profit. Such cars aren’t recommended by auto experts for purchase.

Money is needed urgently, but the car is still not for sale

Auto experts do not recommend an urgent selling of a junk car as a solution. You can sell it yourself as long as it’s a popular make and model. If you’re selling a rare car, it’s still worth considering selling to car dealers. By transferring your car to intermediaries, you deprive the buyer of the opportunity to get detailed information about the car from you.

In addition, there are companies in the US market that are engaged in an integrated approach to buying junk cars. The main advantages of the services of such companies (for example, JunkCarsUS) are:

• quick response to announcements
• minimal formalities
• car transfer
• paperwork
• the sales procedure

Perhaps in this case, you’ll receive less than you expected when selling on your own. But save yourself the peace of mind you’ll need to enjoy your new car.