It makes sense to drive an older car for a number of reasons, the most notable of which is the money you save by owning the car outright rather than making monthly payments. Owning a vehicle with no outstanding loan balance also allows you to carry less insurance coverage than a lender would require you to have, which can further reduce your ownership expenses.
But no vehicle lasts forever, and when a car ages to the point that it’s no longer reliable, you may realize you need to reevaluate whether you should really continue to drive it. Should you decide your old automobile is costing too much to maintain or putting your safety at risk, you’ll need to figure out what to do with it
What are the best ways to offload a vehicle you no longer want? Here are five ideas for getting rid of your old car.
1. Donate to Charity
One of the simplest ways to get rid of an old car that still runs is to donate it to charity. You can take a tax write-off for the gift, and the organization will typically pick your vehicle up and have the paperwork ready for you to sign the car over to them.
Since the charity takes care of everything, all you have to do is select a convenient pick-up time to hand over the keys. Your old car will go to someone in need who is down on their luck, and you’ll have performed a random act of kindness by gifting someone a vehicle that can help them get back on their feet.
2. Have It Fixed
Even if you need a more reliable daily driver, if you have room to store your old car, it may be in your best interest to keep it and have it fixed. That’s especially true if your car has antique value.
Modern cars have safety features that, for the average consumer, make them more appropriate as daily drivers, especially for individuals with children. Fans and hobbyists, on the other hand, are quick to declare how much more fun it is to drive an antique vehicle.
Should you choose to fix up your old car, you may be able to sell it to a hobbyist or antique enthusiast for a handsome sum.
3. Sell It to an Eco-Friendly Salvage Yard
A third option is to sell your car to a salvage yard, where they’ll pull the usable parts and turn the rest of the vehicle into scrap metal. You'll know you're disposing of your automobile in a responsible manner since its functional parts will be cleaned up and sold to other consumers, and the metal will be melted down for reuse.
Much like a charitable donation, selling your car to a salvage yard means you won’t deal with the hassle of finding and negotiating with a potential buyer. Instead, you simply call the yard, and they’ll let you know how much they can pay you based on the weight of your automobile.
If you agree to the price, you’ll schedule a convenient time for yard staff to stop by your location and pick up the vehicle. They’ll bring along the paperwork you need to transfer ownership, so you don’t have to worry about the details. It’s quick, simple, convenient, and in many cases, the easiest way to get rid of an old car that’s no longer fit for driving.
If you plan on selling your old car to a yard, check out 4 Tips on Selling Your Automobile for Parts to learn what you should do before selling your vehicle.
4. Part It Out
Does your vehicle still have several functional parts that are worth a good chunk of change? If so, and you have the tools to pull those parts, you may want to do that and list them for sale.
Keep in mind that when you take this route, you’ll still need to figure out what you’ll do with the body of the vehicle. If you sell the remainder of the automobile to a junkyard as scrap metal, pulling and selling the parts on your own may net you a greater return than selling the fully intact car to a salvage yard.
5. List It on an Online Platform
If you own an older vehicle that would increase in value if it were fully restored, there’s a good chance you can sell it to a car enthusiast even if it’s not fully functional. While you can certainly list your vehicle for sale in your local area, listing it online as well will get you more exposure to more prospective buyers.
Where should you list it? Try platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp, all of which won’t charge you a fee to sell your old car. eBay Motors is another great place to list an old vehicle for sale, but be aware that the site will take a percentage of your final sale price and will also require you to pay a fee to post your listing.
Sell Your Old Car or Junker to Ace Auto Parts in St. Paul!
Got an old car you just want gone? Let our team at Ace Auto Parts take it off your hands! We buy junkers and old vehicles throughout the Twin Cities area and can come to your location and haul your vehicle away. If you’re interested in fixing up your old ride, we also carry an extensive selection of used and discount auto parts, which you can easily browse using our handy parts search tool or our app.
Ready to learn more about selling your old car to Ace? Then give us a call today at 651-717-4299 or message us with your questions, and we’ll be in touch.