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How and Where To Sell a Damaged Car (2023 Guide)

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The best websites to sell a broken, salvage or otherwise damaged car are Peddle, Copart Direct, CarBrain.com, DamagedCars.com and CarBuyerUSA.com Automotive Engine Accessories

How and Where To Sell a Damaged Car (2023 Guide)

Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team writer and has written for numerous automotive news sites and marketing firms across the U.S., U.K., and Australia, specializing in auto finance and car care topics. Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team authority on auto insurance, loans, warranty options, auto services and more.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.

If your car has seen better days, it may be challenging to find somewhere to sell it. Whether your vehicle has severe body damage or no longer runs due to mechanical problems, websites that specialize in purchasing damaged cars can be a good sales option.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team will walk you through how to sell a damaged car and the best options to do so. We’ve reviewed the best places to sell a car online , and we’ll recommend the best websites that purchase broken, wrecked or totaled vehicles in this guide. 

Selling a damaged vehicle or salvage car — one that’s been deemed a total loss by an insurance company — isn’t too different from selling a used car in good shape. The main difference is where you sell it and what you need to disclose about the vehicle’s condition. The most common way to sell a salvage or damaged car is to list it online and get offers from private buyers, but other options are available.

Below are some of your options for selling a damaged car:

There are many places to sell a broken car online. Below, you’ll find some of the best websites to sell your car if it’s damaged. In addition to the options below, you can also check out our run-down of the best apps for selling or buying a car .

Years in business: 18   Direct purchaser: Yes BBB rating: A+

Peddle primarily buys junk, scrap, damaged and otherwise non-running vehicles. The company has been in the car buying business for nearly two decades and has an excellent reputation for its easy, transparent process. We named the company Good Choice for Older Vehicles, as it will buy cars in any condition.

Once you input your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) and confirm details about your vehicle, you’ll instantly receive an offer from Peddle. In many cases, Peddle can offer same-day pickup, at which point the pickup partner will do a quick inspection, take the keys and title and pay you.

Read more in our Peddle review .

Years in business: 41 Direct purchaser: Yes BBB rating: A+

Copart Direct will buy cars in any condition. If you have a damaged or wrecked car, Copart offers free towing after purchase, relieving a bit of the stress of having to transport a non-running vehicle.

Copart’s three-step process of selling is simple and easy. You can either complete the instant offer form on Copart’s website or call the company directly. You’ll confirm details about your vehicle and a Copart representative will put together an offer. If you choose to accept the offer, you’ll schedule a pickup time — most can happen within 24 hours. Copart offers cash for cars at the moment of pickup, meaning you’ll get paid the moment you hand over the keys and title. We awarded Copart the title of Quick Payments thanks to its prompt pickup and payment process.

Years in business: 6 Direct purchaser: Yes BBB rating: A+

CarBrain specializes in “less-than-perfect” cars according to its website. This means the company will buy cars with body damage, mechanical problems or excess wear and tear. CarBrain will assess the market value of your broken or wrecked vehicle and work to get you a fair price.

CarBrain’s car buying process is similar to most online car dealers. First, you’ll enter vehicle details into CarBrain’s offer tool. In most cases, you’ll receive a cash offer instantly. Once you accept the offer, you’ll turn over the keys and title. CarBrain will contact a towing partner to come pick up your vehicle, usually within 24 to 48 hours of accepting the offer. 

Years in business: 16 Direct purchaser: Yes BBB rating: A+  

DamagedCars.com started as its own entity in 2007 but has since become a part of CarBrain. The company also specializes in buying cars with various types of damage, purchasing scrap vehicles and accident-damaged cars in almost any condition.

First, you’ll fill out the instant offer form on DamagedCars.com. If you don’t receive an offer immediately, a representative will contact you with a guaranteed offer. If you accept DamagedCars.com’s offer, you’ll need to arrange to provide the keys and title to the company. DamagedCars will arrange towing and you’ll get paid at the time of pickup.

Years in business: 11 Direct purchaser: Yes BBB rating:  A+

Though CarBuyerUSA currently purchases all types of vehicles, the company started out buying only damaged, inoperable and crashed cars, trucks and SUVs. According to the company’s website, CarBuyerUSA pays more for damaged cars than any other car buying site.

Like most online car buyers, CarBuyerUSA has a form on its website to input your car’s information. You’ll then provide pictures of the car and any damage to the company and speak to a live agent to receive your offer. The company will schedule an appointment for an inspection and pickup, and you’ll then receive payment for your vehicle.

Selling a damaged vehicle can be a little tricky, so we’ve compiled a list of tips for making the process as hassle-free as possible.

The first thing you need to do is learn exactly what kind of damage your vehicle has and how it affects the car’s value. Take the car to a mechanic for a full inspection and ask for a report on its major systems. Then, look up the Kelley Blue Book value of your vehicle based on its condition. That will give you a good idea of what you expect to be paid when selling a damaged car.

It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but you’ll get the best price by selling an operable car over a broken one. However, this depends on the condition of your vehicle and the cost of repairs. If only minor repairs are needed to get the car into driveable shape, it’s likely worth getting those done to add value back to the car and charge more when selling it. If you have a junk car that would cost more to repair than the vehicle is worth though, the repairs aren’t worth it.

Note that if you do decide to make repairs before selling your car, you must inform any potential buyers about its previous status as an inoperable vehicle.

If your car is severely damaged, it’s worth looking into selling it to a salvage yard. Salvage lots buy non-running and totaled cars, then sell parts from those cars to other consumers for a lower price. This is a good option if you want to scrap your car or need to simply get rid of an inoperable old car, but keep in mind that you’re not likely to get top dollar. 

One good way to sell a broken car is to strip it to sell car parts individually. Most salvage yards will take parts in good condition. There may be private buyers looking for specific car parts. You can list parts on local marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or on online auction sites like eBay.

If you need to sell a damaged or otherwise inoperable vehicle, you have a few options at your disposal. Junkyards and private buyers are always an option, but you may be able to get a good price by selling to an online car buyer. Make sure to fully assess the damage and disclose the car’s past and present condition to any potential buyers as you begin the car selling process.

Below are some frequently asked questions about selling a damaged car:

In some cases, yes, you can trade in a badly damaged car, but it may not be financially worth it. Some dealerships won’t take broken or salvage cars because it’s more profitable to sell cars in good condition.

According to J.D. Power, the most common way to sell a slightly damaged car is to list it for private-buyer sales. Some people look for “as is” car sales in order to restore the vehicle or use its parts.

Depending on the damage, you can get a rough estimate of how much to reduce the Kelley Blue Book estimate. Light damage usually warrants a 10-15% reduction in price, while more extensive damage can reduce the price by much more. The best way to figure out how much a damaged car can sell for is to get it appraised.

It’s not illegal to buy or sell a salvage title car in Florida, but it is illegal to operate one. You may be able to sell a salvage car to someone who’s willing to part it out or use it as a way to learn mechanical repairs, but you’ll have better luck selling it after it’s repaired. The buyer will also need to repair the car before driving it.

Yes, it is possible to sell your car if it has hail damage, but expect to get a lower price. It is a good idea to get your vehicle repaired from these damages if you would like to get the best value out of a sale.

Selling a car with flood damage is not illegal as long as it is disclosed to buyers. Typically if you have comprehensive car insurance , these damages are covered, so you may be able to be reimbursed. But, if selling is your only option, expect a much lower value for your vehicle.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

*Data accurate at time of publication

Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team writer and has written for numerous automotive news sites and marketing firms across the U.S., U.K., and Australia, specializing in auto finance and car care topics. Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team authority on auto insurance, loans, warranty options, auto services and more.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.

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How and Where To Sell a Damaged Car (2023 Guide)

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