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How To Sell A Damaged Car For Cash Near Me

Some cars age relatively well and seem like they’ll last forever. Others...do not.

Your car might be close to the end of its road. What do you do with it? Do you scrape together enough money to fix it up, sell it as a used car, or sell it for parts?

Selling your car might be the best option.

If your car was in an accident, the option of fixing it may come to mind. Much of the time collision repairs are too costly when measured against the value of the car. We have detailed when it might be worth it to sell your car over repairing, and what you should do afterwards.

Maybe you have an engine rod knocking or perhaps multiple engine oil leaks. Your transmission might not be shifting or it’s stuck in limp mode. Your truck’s differential or transfer case has piled up inside, or your car’s air conditioning has called it quits.

It just seems like the mechanical problems continually add up. They’re also very costly to repair and could stretch your credit card to its limits.

Sure, the symptoms might be minor or it’s just one thing right now. But after this repair, what’s next? Something else always goes wrong and you’re back to square one.

Whether it’s a major or minor mechanical problem, and whether you know precisely what the issue is or not, CarBrain is always a good option to sell your vehicle.

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How Much Do Accident Repairs Cost?

Sell broken carMinor fender-benders happen. So do big accidents. You’ll overlook a small ding in your bumper but if your front end is pushed in, you can’t ignore it.

Sometimes the collision you’ve been in either isn’t covered by your insurance company or it would cause your premiums to skyrocket. You can decide to forgo your claims process and deal with your car on your own…but now you're stuck with it and you want to sell your car.

Hail damage on a car can be both brutal and likely unavoidable. If your car was pelted by large pieces of ice, you could face thousands of dollars in hail damage repair.

Selling a junk car can be the easiest way to move past the wrath of nature, particularly if you don't want to deal with your insurance company. But where is the best place to sell a damaged car? 

My Car Was Damaged in Collision — What Can I Do?

If your car was totaled in a collision or your totaled by insurance company, you’ll soon discover it’s not easy to sell an accident-damaged car. No one wants to pay good money for a project so you’ll get lowball offers from damaged car buyers.

You can pay out-of-pocket to have it repaired but auto body repairs aren’t cheap. In the end, it’s usually not worth it.

So, where and how can I sell a totaled car? Trying to sell a totaled car to a salvage yard can be a frustrating experience for anyone, and selling a vehicle for parts takes a very long time.

Getting rid of your vehicle with reputable buyers online is usually the quickest and easiest way for you. Trying to salvage a damaged car can lead to endless hidden costs of time and money.

You could sell a damaged car for cash as is, however you’ll encounter the obstacle that many options will try not to pay you well. Some ‘services’ will pick up your car from you for free, but they aren’t interested if you want to sell your car for cash. The "sell my crashed car" options start getting limited.

Selling crashed cars is a unique business, and because of that you'll have to find unique buyers. Let’s go over all the options: private buyers, junkyards, selling a crashed car online, trading in an accident car and more. Keep reading to find out more.

You could sell a damaged car for cash as is. The problem you’ll encounter is there aren’t many options that will pay you well. Some ‘services’ will pick up your car from you for free, but they aren’t interested if you want to sell your car for cash. The "sell my crashed car" options start getting limited.

How can I get a quote for my damaged car instantly?

It's simple and it takes less than 90 seconds... click the button below to get started and find out how much your vehicle is worth!

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Who Buys Damaged Cars Near Me?

How can you get the best price? Well, you’ll find damaged car buyers that say they pay cash for cars. They may pay next to nothing for your car – significantly less than its actual value – and then, they may even charge you to take it away.

To sell a damaged car privately means spending a lot of your own valuable time talking to people who just want to talk you down in price. So what's the best place to dispose of a less-than-perfect vehicle? Let's explore a few options.

You can sell it on Craigslist or in your local paper, but then have to make yourself available for people to come and kick your tires. After that, you can expect there to be haggling and arranging for it to be hauled away. It is often more time and trouble than it’s worth.

Selling damaged cars is definitely different than selling a used car. What are the other options for these types of vehicles?

To sell your car fast, you might think a junkyard is the best choice. They’ll take your car in as-is condition, haggle you down to pay the lowest price, then they’ll turn around and sell it piece by piece to turn a profit.

With local junkyards, there might be other complications like how to get your vehicle to them, and thorough inspections which all take time. Then you're running on their schedule and might have to wait to even have your car seen.

Options To Trade In Damaged Cars For Cash

You might think "Can I trade in a damaged car?" and the answer is yes...if the dealer is willing to accept it. Trading in a damaged vehicle at a dealership might be fast, but usually, dealers will barely give you anything for it.

Since used car dealers are interested in reselling cars, they see it as a huge expense for them to repair the vehicle. Additionally, they can’t predict the total cost of repairs. So, rather than give you the full value of your damaged car, they will give you a low offer to mitigate their risks and maximize their profits.

Because of this, trying to trade in your damaged car usually isn't the best option. The situation is further complicated if you are trading in a damaged financed car. When you still owe on a damaged car, you'd be lucky to get back the value of the vehicle when it comes to the trade in of a damaged car.

An alternative is to be your own junkyard. You could sell your car for parts and get a little bit more from it. After all, eBay and online classifieds are full of people selling car parts for cash. Is it really worth selling your car for parts though?

The problem with that – you’ll need to have the time, space, and the knowledge to sell a damaged car for parts. It’s harder than it looks to dismantle a car. If you want to sell your car fast, this is not the way to do it. Your car will be torn apart in your yard for weeks or months, rusting away.

CarBrain: We Buy Damaged Cars

If you ever wondered "where to sell my broken car", there’s a better option than a junkyard or a classified ad. Sell your car for cash to CarBrain. We serve most areas of the United States.

If you want to sell your broken vehicle, or if you’ve said, “I NEED to sell my car”, CarBrain is your best bet. When you sell a damaged car online you can complete the entire process without even leaving your house!

Just request a quote online. With your vehicle information and a description of its condition, we’ll provide a guaranteed offer for your broken or damaged car. It’s fast and it’s easy. Click below to get the process started right now!

Get your guaranteed offer in less than 90 seconds from CarBrain, the smart way to sell your car.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Sell A Damaged Car?

Yes, you can sell a damaged car, but the amount of damage your car has will have an impact on how much you get for it. Even if you Google "damaged car buyers near me," you might still be lowballed by places that take advantage of your lack of experience.

Get a quote with CarBrain instead. We provide fair market quotes with free towing and fast pickup. It takes just 90 seconds — start today for your no-obligation offer!

How Do I Get The Most Money Out Of My Wrecked Car?

You have a few options for getting rid of your wrecked car: you could sell it for parts, but that requires some knowledge of how to tear your vehicle apart. You could leave it on the side of the road with a "for sale" sign, but that's not guaranteed to go well.

You could always contact a junkyard, but it could take a while of calling around and comparing quotes to find a safe, reliable yard that will pay you a fair market rate with towing included.

Easiest option? Contact CarBrain. We take cars in any condition, including:

  • Collision damage
  • Water damage
  • Frame damage
  • Damaged by Animal
  • Damaged by Tree

Just describe your vehicle, send a few pictures and get your quote. We'll pick it up in under 48 business hours with free towing always included.

Should I Repair Body Damage Before Trading In A Car?

In most cases, it doesn't make sense to do so. Body damage often will not severely affect the value of the vehicle, particularly for a junk car, but repairing it can cost you a few hundred dollars that you won't get back in the sales price.

How Do You Get Rid Of A Damaged Vehicle?

The fastest way to get rid of your damaged car is to find a service that can make a quick offer and pick it up for you. For instance, CarBrain can provide a quote for your vehicle in 90 seconds and pick it up in under 48 business hours with free towing included.

How Much Can I Get For My Damaged Vehicle?

That always depends on what you're offering. Junkyards will typically offer you between $100 and $1,000 for your vehicle, depending on its size and on current scrap metal prices. As of 2021, scrap car prices are elevated, which means you can typically get at least $200 for your vehicle.

Will A Dealership Take A Damaged Car?

Yes — but you won't necessarily get a fair market value for it. Dealerships don't specialize in damaged cars, which means in most cases they'll be accepting the car as a trade-in as a favor to you. Accepting the car gets your foot in the door to ensure that you buy one of their vehicles in kind, but they aren't going to offer top-dollar for it — they'd rather you pay them for the car they want you to buy.

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