Some people have the time to sell junk car. But very few have the time or patience to deal with a junk car. Whether you’re stuck in a situation where you can’t afford to fix your vehicle, or you didn’t bother to do it because you don’t have collision insurance, you’re stuck with a car that’s going to be hard to sell. Having said that, you still want to get top dollar for your junk car. And you need to do it as quickly as possible. Here are ways to get rid of it and get the best price as well.

Try fixing it

If you’re aiming to get the most cash for a junk car, make sure it runs and drives. People will be more likely to pay a fair price for a vehicle that’s in working order. But fixing up a junk car isn’t a simple task. You could end up spending thousands of pounds on engine, transmission, electrical, or bodywork just to get it up and driving again. If the sale of your car won’t cover the cost of repairs, it’s probably not worth fixing it.

Sell it privately

List the car on your own. An online auction site or a local ad is an excellent place to begin. Keep in mind that it’s going to be a long wait. Interested buyers will call or email before a meeting can be arranged. Remember to have all the documents ready before the sale.

Look for junk car buyers

This is a limited market. Most people want a car they can drive right away, not one that needs hours of work and lots of money to get it into shape. Look for junk car dealers that have a license to purchase old cars and sell them for parts. Make sure to check up on online reviews to get an idea of what previous customers are saying about the company. You need to find a trusted, properly regulated professional with a proven track record of excellence and one that maintains the standard of service.

Look for the dealers closest to you

As you’ve already figured out, the biggest secret to getting the best amount is really about location. Find the right dealer in your vicinity. Distance plays a significant role in the price. The further the junkyard dealer has to travel to pick up your car, the more they end up knocking off the final price to cover their costs. So, if you want to get maximum value even for your junk car, you’re best off checking out the closest ones first.

Don’t take apart your car

Since a junk car dealer is in the business to take apart cars and sell them off piece by piece, an automobile with missing parts will not fetch a good amount. If you sell some parts individually, the junk dealer may not find it worthwhile to buy your automobile. Or they may end up subtracting the price of the missing pieces from the total. Keep in mind that a lot of scrap cars are valued within the £100 to £300 range. So, any deductions from that may well leave you with nothing at the end. If you’re not careful, some dealers may level additional charges against you for the extra time and effort it took to collect your car.

It’s all about timing

Most junk dealers find themselves nearly fully booked by the end of the month. So, they tend to reduce the price. By offering such a rate, they make themselves temporarily less competitive. It might sound a bit confusing, but what it actually does is it limits the number of incoming customers. This leaves more time to handle the clients that they already have.

Take advantage of this lull by doing research early in the month. Remember to get a guaranteed quote at that time. You’ll notice that the figure is more competitive then. Aim at getting a quote within the first two weeks of each month. It may be wiser to let your junk car sit in your driveway for a couple more weeks in hopes of scoring a better deal.

What factors influence the price?

Often car owners wonder about how much cash they will get for a junk car. Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick, simple answer. The price of your junk car depends upon a couple of factors. These include:

The make, model, and age

Just as make and model affect the purchasing price of your vehicle, they also influence the rate at which it’s sold. Often cars that are more expensive to buy are also worth later. It’s not only about their resale value but about their parts as well. For instance, you can expect to get more for a junked Mercedes than a Nissan. Similarly, age can also make a difference. For example, an automobile manufactured in 2000 is worth less than one from 2010.

The size and weight of your car

When a junk dealer cannot salvage enough parts from an old car, he then sells it for scrap. The price that a car fetches is greatly dependent on its weight. Bigger and heavier vehicles generally get the most cash. So, your bulky Land Rover is going to be worth more in scrap than a smaller automobile, like a Ford Fiesta.

Beware of trickery

Don’t believe a dealer who says that your junk car isn’t worth anything, especially if he offers to do you a ‘favor’ by helping you get rid of it. Even if you sold it to a scrapyard, you would get money for its weight.

Some dealers will knock a few pounds off the price if you don’t have the logbook. You don’t necessarily need one if you’re selling it for scrap. Just remember to inform the DVLA that the car is no longer in your possession.

Make sure you’re getting the best deal

Overall, look for an online car buyer if you have a junk car to sell, but be careful. Consider the following points to make sure you’re getting a good deal:

• Does it offer free towing?

  A majority of reputable companies provide free towing services. If a company asks you to pay for it, you need to start looking elsewhere.

• Look for a guarantee.

  This means that the junk dealer guarantees to pay the amount that they quoted. The price won’t change when a representative comes to pick up the car later.

• Check the physical location.
  

  The website should provide an address and contact number. Make sure that the company that you contacted online has an actual physical presence. In fact, the company should be listed somewhere. This way, if something does go wrong, you’ll know where to go instead of filling out an online complaint form.