Can I sell my car if it doesn`t work?

There's only so long you can keep tipping money into the bottomless pit that is an exhausted car. Recognising the point at which it's better to sell your car than spend any more money on it can be a subtle art and it's one that often eludes a lot of drivers. If you miss that point, it can be a slippery slope leading to the day where you find yourself in the unenviable position of having a car that no longer runs and wondering if it's possible to make anything back from it at all. However, there are a number of companies you can sell your car to even if it is a non-runner and you will find that you can make a lot more money from it than you might have thought. It's just a case of following a few simple rules.

The first step is to do some research on your vehicle's worth. Since its non-operational, the primary reason why anyone would buy your car is so that they can scrap it and recycle the useable parts for resale. Obviously some cars' parts have greater worth than others and it's up to you to find out how popular your car is for scrap. Fortunately, there are a number of websites that you can consult, which will list the value that you can expect for each vehicle's make, model and year. Once you know your car's worth you will be in a good position to negotiate a selling price.

The next step is to shop around. While it's true that the majority of non-runners are sold to scrap yards, this might not be the best option for you. Scrap yards will pay handsomely for a popular vehicle with a high potential for the resale of its parts (or at least they will if they know that you are aware of its value) but if your car is not a popular model then it's unlikely you'll get much at all. In that case, you're likely to fare better by looking for online companies that will buy non-operative motors. These are usually quite easy to find: it's as simple as a quick search on Google, or on forums with titles like "buy my car". Remembering what you learned from the first step will help you find the company offering the best deal for you.

Lastly, be aware of any hidden fees that may arise from the transaction. Ordinarily a company that is prepared to buy your car will pick it up for you but if the car doesn't run then some may expect you to get it to them. Look into this, as you might end up with a hefty tow bill. This also applies to scrap yard owners, who might not be prepared to collect. Provided your vehicle is popular enough then the best thing to do is call their bluff. If someone wants to buy my car badly enough then they should be prepared to pick it up themselves.

Abide by these rules and you'll find that it's simple enough to shift a car that doesn't work. Making sure that you're aware of all the ins and outs is the key to getting a good deal and perhaps even making a little money.