Sell a car

When Selling Your Car for Parts is Best and How to Do it

Eventually, we all reach the end of the road. For your car, it can happen suddenly or bit by bit. Whichever way you get there, when you do, you might wonder how to sell a non-running car. There are a few ways, we take a look at the when, how and why of selling a broken car.

By
23 May 2022

Whether it’s a series of breakdowns or an accident that has your car written off, selling your car for parts will make some money for your next set of wheels. Just because your car doesn’t run anymore doesn’t mean it’s not worth something to someone. Some businesses buy cars that don’t run for scrap metal recycling. You can even sell your car in parts online – as long as you know how to pull it apart.

When selling your car for parts is the answer

If you’ve been involved in an accident and had your car written off by insurance, it’s sometimes best to buy your car back. It’s not just badly damaged cars that get written off – cars with scratches and dents, but no structural issues also get written off. Insurance companies will write off any car that they decide will cost more to repair than to sell. If you want to buy your car back, you’ll need to let them know ASAP.

If your car is just old, it hasn’t passed the MOT or the repairs are costing more and more each year – and are needed with increasing frequency – it’s time to consider selling your car for parts. If you are planning to sell your car for parts, there’s some work to do first.

You’ll need to start with a little research to discover if your car is unusual or worth more in parts than a whole. Scrapping your car will usually raise you the least amount of cash. When cars are scrapped, the price is usually calculated by weight.

Get a mechanic’s opinion

Take your car to your local mechanic and let them know what you’re thinking of doing. Selling your car for parts isn’t that uncommon. A mechanic may let you know that your car is in good enough condition to sell as is. If this is the case, selling your car in one piece is faster and easier.

But, if you know your car is dying, it’s more likely that you’ll get a mixed assessment of its parts. Some may be good enough to sell, others will need to end up as scrap. A good mechanic will be able to tell you which is which. You may also be able to get an idea of the price you’ll get for the good enough parts. Make note of what you learn and decide which parts are worth making the effort for.

Research your options for selling a broken car for parts

You don’t necessarily have to pull the car apart yourself to sell your car for parts. It’s worth checking out the scrap options in your area. If you have a car with expensive parts still working, like the catalytic converter, you may be surprised to get anywhere from a couple of hundred to a thousand or more pounds for it.

Taking your broken car to a scrap or salvage dealer is the easiest way to sell your car for parts, but not always the most lucrative. If you’re not happy with the price offered for your broken car, it’s time to pull out the wrench kit and socket set to get to work.

Obviously, it’ll take time to pull the parts out and then sell them. You’ll need to weigh up your effort vs expected value. There’s no telling exactly how much you’ll get for selling your car for parts until you’ve sold each piece.

Pulling your car apart to sell for parts

It takes anywhere between six to eight hours to remove an engine from a car. And of course, you’ll need a garage to do it in, this is not a job for the side of the road or even the driveway. The key to dismantling your car for parts is to ensure you do it carefully. Damaging anything as you remove it will reduce its value if not make it completely worthless.

Focus on the parts that you’ve noted as being of good enough quality to sell and will make the most money. There is no point in pulling everything apart if it’s only going to be scrapped anyway.

The easiest parts to sell are the engine, the gearbox, the seats and the airbags. Radio, aircon controls and speakers are also relatively valuable and easy to get rid of – as long as they’re in good working order. Some of the exterior bits – bumpers, mirrors, head and tail lights, fog lights, wheels, tires and suspension can also earn you a tidy sum.

Once you have the parts you intend to sell, you’ll need to find buyers.

Where to sell your car for parts

If you’ve decided not to go to a scrap yard with your entire car, eBay and Gumtree are your best bet. eBay is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for used car parts. You can send your car parts all over the world. The other advantage to eBay is being able to check the going rates for various car parts. This makes it easier to list your car parts and also price them competitively for a faster sale if you need one.

Gumtree is also a good option as it’ll put you in touch with local buyers. This can save you on the cost and hassle of postage. It’s the same story with Facebook’s marketplace. You’ll be able to find local buyers. You’ll need to be a little more careful with these options though as there are fewer buyer protections than eBay.

If your car was looked after while she aged, it’s more likely you’ll get some benefit from selling her as parts. No one is going to be interested in worn out or damaged parts. Make sure you get your car evaluated properly before you try selling parts for cash. And if your car is still worth money for selling as a whole, it’ll be faster, easier and worth your while checking her value to sell online, as is.