Every car owner dreads the day when their vehicle isn’t working the way it should. Whether it’s making weird noises, leaking all over the place, or just not starting, everyone sees this for what it is: a bite out of their bank account.
It’s going to cost you a small ransom to get it back up to par – money you might not necessarily have or just plain don't want to spend (on that car).
Figure you’ll just cut your losses and sell it? That could be easier said than done. Selling a car with mechanical issues is no easy feat — it’s not impossible, though!
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Selling a Car with Mechanical Problems
If your vehicle isn’t working as it used to but it’s still reliable, that’s one thing. But if you can’t trust it to get you where you need to be, it’s time to fix it or sell it. Since fixing big problems is expensive, you can use one of these methods to sell your car with mechanical issues.
Selling a Car with Problems Online
You have your favorite online classifieds to choose from. If your car is relatively new, you could try your hand at advertising a ‘mechanic’s special’ on AutoTrader. But if you don’t want to pay for an ad or your car is up there in years, it’s easy and free to advertise it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
The problem with posting private sales is that private buyers want cars they can drive. It’s tough to sell a car with issues especially if it doesn’t run or drive. This is primarily because the buyer can’t test drive it. And if it has electrical issues or other mechanical problems, you can expect a lowball offer or a “Thanks, I’m not interested” as they walk away.
Trade In A Car With Mechanical Issues at a Dealership
Because it’s an easy way to get you out of your damaged or broken car and into a new vehicle, trading your car in with mechanical problems can seem like the route to take. However, even if your car, SUV, or van looks fantastic and still has the new car smell, a dealership won’t give you near what it’s worth if it has mechanical issues.
With dealerships, it’s normal for the trade-in value to be well below the price you’d get selling it privately. But when you have mechanical issues, that value is even lower. For example, to trade in a car with engine problems, you can immediately deduct the cost of a new engine from the trade-in appraisal. You’ll have to seriously consider if the convenience is worth the steep cut in profit.
Selling A Used Car with Mechanical Problems at Auction
In cities across the nation, automotive auctions sell cars in any condition. Again, it’s an easy way to sell your salvage car without having to do any repairs on it whatsoever. Depending on what’s wrong with your car, you might need to tow it to the auction (and there’s always the potential that it doesn’t sell and you have to drag it back home).
With car auctions, you can’t guarantee the price you’ll get for it. You may win or you may lose badly on it. Auctioning off your car with its mechanical issues is a bit of a gamble in that regard.
Donate Your Car
If you’re feeling particularly generous, you could donate your car to a charity instead of trying to sell it or trade it in. One thing you can guarantee: they won’t refuse your donation!
When you donate your car, you receive a receipt for its actual cash value. When you file your taxes, you’ll use it to reduce your taxes owing or boost the amount of your tax refund.
However, while you’re doing some good in the world by donating your vehicle, you’ll only get a fraction of its worth back. Plus, you’ll have to wait until tax time to realize the benefit of donating your vehicle.
These are all options to sell your car when it has mechanical problems…but is there a better way?
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DamagedCars Buys Cars With Mechanical Problems
If you're thinking about selling a used car with transmission issues or other problems quickly for cash without any hassle, check out DamagedCars.com. It’s extremely easy and you’ll get a fair price for your vehicle in any condition, running or not. Whether you have a junk car to sell, a vehicle damaged in an accident, or a car with mechanical issues that needs repairs, you can sell it fast with DamagedCars.
First, request an offer for your vehicle. Enter your vehicle’s details into the proprietary valuation tool and in about 90 seconds, you’ll have your offer. DamagedCars guarantees your offer for seven days.
Next, accept the offer. If the offer looks good to you, accept it. We’ll do the rest on your behalf.
Get paid. Once you’ve accepted the offer, you’ll receive a check within just one or two business days. Unlike other car buyers, we won’t suddenly change the price on you – your payment will be exactly what we’ve promised.
See your car disappear. Your car is picked up by someone in DamagedCars’ network, and at no charge to you at all.
If you’re trying to sell a car with mechanical issues, avoid the headaches. Check out DamagedCars.com today to get a free, no-obligation quote for your car in as-is condition
