Updated at: 05-04-2022 - By: micdot

Selling a used car can be a difficult task. This article explains the pros and cons of selling it as a whole or breaking it down into individual pieces.This author has been thoroughly vetted and is qualified to write about this subject matter. Learn more about us by visiting our website’s “About Us” page.Does your car appear to be nearing the end of its useful life or has it already?

If this is the case, you may be considering your alternatives. Selling it to a dealer or a private individual should be straightforward if the vehicle is mechanically sound.But if not, selling it for parts may be the best option.Do you think it’s a good idea to sell your automobile for scrap? It’s definitely possible, especially if you’re mechanically skilled and have some spare time.Dismantling and selling each component separately is an option in this circumstance. However, if you’re just getting started in the car-parts business, there are simpler solutions.Fortunately, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to selling a car for parts!

Prior to beginning the process, we’ll go over some questions you should ask yourself. Then, we’ll have a look at the various possibilities.

Let’s get this party started!

List of Chapters

Is It Worth Selling Your Car For Parts? Ask Yourself These Questions

Question #1 – Am I Mechanically Savvy?

An oil change, air filter exchange, or spark plug replacement may be out of your league if you’ve never done it yourself. You can still sell a car for components, but you’ll have to do it in a different way. It’s possible to sell it as a full unit to a scrapyard, where it will be dismantled and sold for scrap metal parts. You can always just take the most profitable parts and sell the remainder for scrap if you have a basic understanding of how to work on an automobile.

Question #2 – What Condition Is My Car In?

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In other words, if you’re considering selling your car for parts, you’re admitting that it’s worth more broken apart than as a whole. Despite the fact that there is nothing wrong with this, you certainly don’t want to disassemble your automobile if you don’t have to. NADA Guides and Kelly Blue Book are two excellent resources for evaluating used cars online (KBB).

Once you get to the site, all you have to do is enter your vehicle’s year, make, model, and trim level, along with your zip code, and you’ll get a list of values. Even though these aren’t official values, dealers and private purchasers around the country use them on a regular basis.Consider selling your car for parts if the trade-in or retail value is less than you expected. It’s probably best to try to sell it privately if it’s under ten years old and has fewer than 150,000 kilometers on it.

Question #3 – How Much Time Do I Have?

Time is required to completely dismantle an automobile. It may take weeks or even months, depending on your level of expertise, to completely disassemble it. In addition, selling each element individually takes considerably longer, particularly if it is not an important component. You can reduce the time it takes to market your items by just including those that are more likely to sell quickly (while still earning a better profit than selling to a junkyard). Otherwise, selling your car to a scrapyard for parts might be completed in less than 24 hours if you need to get rid of it quickly. Now that you’ve answered the following three questions, what’s next? Consider the various alternatives for selling a vehicle for components.

Selling Your Car For Parts – The Options

Option #1 – Sell Your Car To A Scrapyard, Private Buyer, Or Online Seller

A scrapyard, private or online vendor may be your best option if you have little time and don’t feel comfortable working on your car. Which of these three should you choose? If you own a large vehicle such as an SUV, truck, or van, scrapyards are a wonderful option. Why? Because the remaining metal will be melted down for scrap after the profitable components have been scrapped. As a result, the more weight your vehicle has, the more money you’ll make selling it.

You should be able to sell your car to a private buyer if you’re honest about its condition and that it’s simply for components. Without doing so, you could alienate any potential buyers who were searching for something in better condition. If you don’t want to deal with a scrapyard, an online junk car buyer offers an alternative. CashCarsBuyers, CarBrain, and JunkCarMedics are just a few examples. They’re all reputable, offer free removal, and will take almost any vehicle, no matter how bad it is. You should be aware, however, that selling your car privately will almost always result in a higher price.

Is It Worth It To Sell Your Car For Parts? [Guide] - Auto Chimps

Option #2 – Disassemble Your Car Yourself And Sell The Parts Separately

People that are mechanically talented can take use of this option. If this is the case, then selling the individual parts of your car will bring in the most money. Even so, it’s the most time consuming and exhausting. You become a mini-scrapyard, with an unlimited supply of random parts and pieces. A full garage for a long period of time is likely to occur as a result of this. It’s not just a matter of listing; you’ll also need to meet with customers and haggle over price with them. When considering this option, don’t forget to look into eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.

Option #3 – Remove Essential “High-Dollar” Parts And Scrap The Rest

If you’re curious about how your engine works rather than puzzled by it. You may be able to salvage the most valuable parts from your vehicle and dispose of the rest. Engine, transmission, airbags, catalytic converter, wheels, and seats are just a few examples. If you aren’t sure how to remove a particular part. By searching “how to uninstall” and then the component’s name on YouTube, you should be able to obtain step-by-step instructions. You should be able to sell your engine for at least $300-$500, which means the remainder of the money you make will be yours to keep. To dispose of the rest, take it to a scrapyard and sell it for its metal content.

Is It Worth It To Sell Your Car For Parts? [Guide] - Auto Chimps

Put The Hammer Down – Do You Know What You’re Getting Yourself Into?

Do you think it’s a good idea to sell your automobile for scrap?

You should already know the answer if you’ve gone through the process of asking yourself the questions listed above and researching your various possibilities. Even if you’re only getting bids of $300-$500 for your automobile, it’s still a good idea to sell it for parts regardless of how you do it.