To sell your car for parts you’ll need to figure out which parts are most valuable, remove them from your vehicle, and find a buyer. The guide below will help you figure out if this is the right option for you.
Selling a Car for Parts
If your car has reached the end of its journey and you just can’t drive it any longer, then you have a choice to make.
Option one is to just sell the car, but it can be hard to find a buyer and the resale value may not be worth the effort. Option two is to scrap your car. This is often the easiest option, and one that many people go with, as you can get good money for your vehicle without the fuss.
Your third option is to sell your car for parts. Since you’re reading this article, this is probably the option you are most interested in – perhaps because you suspect that you can get more money for the individual parts than anyone would pay for the car as a whole.
Is It Difficult to Sell a Car for Parts?
It can be very difficult to sell your car for parts, but this is dependent on your experience. You should find it easier to strip your car for parts if you have done servicing, maintenance, or repairs on a car in the past. Even if you’ve never sold a car for parts before, having some experience with working on a vehicle will help.
You’ll need to be able to take your car apart carefully without damaging anything. Damage will lower the value of the individual parts, which will make the whole process less worthwhile.
It’s not too late to learn how to strip a car and sell it for parts, but if you don’t have a lot of DIY experience, you may wish to consider some of your other options.
Can I Sell My Car for Parts?
Most cars can be stripped down and sold for parts, as long as your car isn’t a Category-A write off. However, before you take it apart, you should check the resale value of the full car – some old or vintage cars can actually go up in value over time.
You should also check your car’s scrap value. Don’t waste your time going through the effort of stripping your car if you could get a good price out of scrapping it.
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Getting Started: Strip Your Car for Parts
The first thing to remember is that not every part of your car will be worth a lot of money. Focus on high-value car components, and be sure to handle everything with care. As mentioned earlier, damaged parts will be worth less money.
It’s very important to look at the service manual for your specific make and model. There are often variations that you will need to be aware of when removing vehicle parts. You will also need access to a variety of tools like spanners, pliers, a breaker bar, and screwdrivers. For certain tasks, you will also need a container to drain fluids. And don’t forget safety gear like work gloves!
Of course, you’ll want to make sure that the cost of all this gear doesn’t negate what you might make from selling your car parts.
Once you’ve got what you need, here are some parts of the car that you might want to focus on removing:
- Engine: Possibly the most valuable part of your car. Engines are a lot easier to remove if you have access to an engine crane, car stands, and a car jack. You could consider getting the help of a mechanic, but this isn’t always financially viable.
- Car Seats: These are usually much easier to remove than the engine, and because of that, it can be worth your time to take them out. People with damaged car seats are often looking for replacements that are in better condition than their own. Just carefully unbolt the seats to remove them.
- Catalytic Converter: You’ve probably heard of these being stolen and sold. That’s because it’s generally straightforward to remove them, and they sell quite easily.
- Air Bag: You can generally sell an intact air bag quickly, but removing it can be a challenge. Be aware that it could easily go off if you do this wrong, which may cause injury. Take extra care, and look up specific instructions for this process beforehand.
There are plenty of other useful parts of your car, so check the quality and condition of every component!
Selling Your Car for Parts
If you’ve managed to successfully dismantle your car, then it’s time to sell it for parts! Believe it or not, your hard work isn’t done yet, as finding a buyer for a car part can be just as exhausting as finding a buyer for your car. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Motorists: There’s a good chance that there’s somebody out there who wants to repair or improve their vehicle with the parts you have. See if anyone on social media or a car forum is looking for your car part.
- Online Marketplaces: Facebook Marketplace might seem like the most obvious option, but you could also try websites like eBay or Gumtree. Just remember to be wary of scammers.
- Scrap Buyers: For parts that can’t be reused, you could sell the metal for scrap. There are entire companies dedicated to buying scrap and car parts. Here at A&L, we can recycle your scrap ethically, and pay you for it!
READ MORE: Our Scrap Metal Prices
How Much Money Will I Get If I Sell My Car for Parts?
The amount of money you will make from this process is highly dependent on demand. Some car makes and models will have parts that are in very high demand. The state of the economy will often determine what people are willing to pay for car parts.
If you are willing to play the long game, and wait for the optimal time to sell each car part, you could end up making more money. However, this is reliant on having space to store these parts, as well as knowing the right time to sell.
Is It Worth Selling My Car for Parts?
If you already have many of the supplies needed, and you are confident in your abilities to safely dismantle, store, and sell the parts of your car, then it might be worth it for you. However, for many people this would be a massive effort and very time consuming.
If you aren’t confident about stripping your car, consider your other options. You can get an instant free quote from us, and we can come collect your car from you. Plus, if you have already started scrapping your car, we are happy to accept damaged vehicles!
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