How to Find the Right Buyer for Your Old Car

You don’t have to be a certified business expert to find the best ways to sell your car, but there are some tips to know that’ll ensure you make the right decision. For the most part, finding the right buyer for a used car really comes down to how you want to sell it. Before you can make the best choice for your needs, you should consider who buys old cars and why. Some people prefer a one-on-one transaction (like selling your car to a private buyer) , while others like to be as far removed from the process as possible. Please take some time and consider why junkyards like Pull-A-Part are typically the easiest and most reliable places that buy junk cars near you, no matter where you are.  Wherever you land on the chart, there are a number of ways for you to get rid of your old car — read on for some of the best options and tips to navigate each one. 

PERSON-TO-PERSON

Selling a car the old-fashioned way — a good ol’ person-to-person transaction — is the first option many people take. With websites like Craigslist and even Facebook Marketplace, you can create your own free listing and set your own price. The downside of this option, though, is that it can be pretty time consuming to contact, screen, and meet with potential buyers. If you decide to sell your car to a private buyer, be patient and make sure your buyer can provide a verified form of payment and identification to avoid the likelihood of a scam. Need more help? Read our article for more tips on spotting and avoiding car buying scams here.

SELL IT TO A DEALERSHIP

Dealerships can be the way to go if you’re looking to trade your vehicle in for a new one or if you just want something more secure than a person-to-person sale. Unlike a private sale, this option puts you at the mercy of the dealership in terms of how much you can actually get for your car since they are in control of setting its value. If your car is no longer driveable, they most likely won’t even buy it at all. While selling to a dealership may save you some time and effort, there’s a greater chance that you won’t walk away with as much money as you were hoping for.

USE A THIRD-PARTY SERVICE

If you’re looking for a hybrid of the two, using a third-party service like Autotrader might be worth looking into. These services work by listing your car for you, optimizing the ad and getting it seen by a large audience of interested buyers. They also share your vehicle’s history report and offer customer support and consumer protection. But there is a catch — none of these perks are free. You’ll have to shell out some cash to use these services and renew every 30 days until your car is sold.

SELL IT TO PULL-A-PART

Most of these options have one major stipulation: cars need to be in working condition in order to be sold. Whether your car is drivable or not, Pull-A-Part will give you a quote, buy your car and tow it for you — free of charge! This is especially helpful if your car is truly a junker or you’re looking to sell your car for scrap, since we buy any car regardless of the age, size or condition. We even handle the transfer paperwork and processing according to your state’s transfer laws.

You can find out how much your car is worth by filling out our Get a Quote form. Your local Pull-A-Part will contact you to set everything up!