You can sell it yourself or you can trade it in to the dealership. Selling a car privately isn’t for the faint of heart, so lots of people opt for trading in a car. But what happens when your car is far from pristine condition? What if your car has been bumped around on the road, or it leaks more fluids than it keeps inside? What do you do with a junk car?
Getting rid of junk cars while getting a fair price for them is often frustrating. People don’t want to pay top dollar for junk cars, and used car dealers are skeptical to give money for a damaged vehicle.
Trading In a Car
The best situation for trading in a car is when it’s in average condition. It’s already depreciated a bunch but it still has decent car trade in value. The dealership is typically looking to take your car on trade so they can recondition it, put it on their used car lot, and sell it for profit.
Trade In Value of a Car
The trade in value of car is determined by its Kelley Blue Book valuation, or a tool similar to it. Be aware - it’s not the amount of money that you can sell a car for. It’s a lower price that accounts for dealer profits, reconditioning costs, and title and paperwork costs.
You’ll get less money by trading in a car than if you sell it yourself. What makes it so popular is that it’s easy to do.
Trade In Car for Cash
If you’re not looking for a replacement vehicle, you might think you’re going to trade in car for cash. But essentially, you’re just selling your car to a dealership. Some places will pay your car trade in value in cash, but only if they actually want your car.
When you trade in a car, the dealership profits twice - by selling a car to you and by reselling the car you’re trading in. When you’re only selling them your car, they don’t make as much money. So, you’ll probably get less money selling your car to the dealership than if you were to buy a car too.
Our expert evaluators can help you get an accurate estimate for your cars value, FAST!
Trading In a Car with Problems
But what happens if your car has problems? Trading in a car with problems isn’t as easy. Most dealers don’t want the headache of fixing up a car with extensive issues, and will just sell your car to a wholesaler for junk car value.
Whether your car has a junk or salvage title and runs well, it has major running issues, or it looks like it played pinball on the freeway, trading in a car with problems substantially hurts your car trade in value. The dealer will lowball you or might even tell you they don’t want your trade in at all.
How Much is a Junk Car Worth?
There’s no hard and fast valuation tool for a junk car. How much is a junk car worth? It’s hard to accurately give a number, but here are a few ideas you can follow.
How Much is My Car Worth Trade In?
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Determine your car’s Kelley Blue Book value. You’ll find a valuation tool on the KBB.com website. Provide honest responses about your car’s condition.
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Once you have the KBB value, determine cost of the repairs your car needs. Search for the average cost online. For example, search ‘average repair cost oil pan gasket’.
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Deduct the cost of the repairs from your KBB valuation for a rough idea of your junk car value.
Should I Trade In My Car?
If you’re looking for the best price for junk cars, you won’t find it by trading in a car at a dealership. They’re in the business of making money, not giving you more than they’ll recoup on the purchase.
Unless your car runs and drives, and there’s a good chance it will once again be roadworthy, there’s no point in trading it in.
DamagedCars is Better
Don’t worry about searching for your junk car value or ho to go about trading in a car with problems. There’s a solution right in front of you.
DamagedCars will give you a fair price for your car in cash. Whatever condition your car is in, you’ll find it easy and stress-free to sell your car to DamagedCars.
Simply request an offer from our proprietary system. We’ll give you a guaranteed offer for your car in as-is condition, whether it’s a junk car or otherwise. If you like the offer, just accept it. Within
just a couple days, we’ll put money in your hand and haul away your less-than-perfect car.
