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Best Place to Sell Junk Cars for Top Dollar in 2023

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There may come a time when you want to sell your car, but you know it doesn’t have a ton of value.  Even if your car doesn’t run, there are ways to get cash, as some companies will even come to you with a tow truck.  There’s no excuse.  You may be surprised what you can get for your vehicle.

In today’s post, I wanted to talk about the best places you can sell your junk car for top dollar.  And, when I talk about “junk cars,” I’m often referring to cars that hold very little value, don’t work and/or look like they were destroyed by an apocalypse.  I think you get the point.

As always, 100% honest.

Best Places to Sell a Junk Car

Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist

Almost every car will have value, as many will want your car just for the parts.  Breaking down a car can be very lucrative for junk yards and even individuals, so you never know who may have an interest.

I personally recommend you start with Facebook Marketplace and just be honest with your post.  eBay Motors and Craigslist is an option as well, but I see the most luck with Facebook Marketplace.  99% of the time, you can at least get $500, so if you want to get rid of it, list it for that price.

As long as you provide photos and a lot of detail, you may get some bites as long as your car is priced accordingly.  The Kelley Blue Book can provide a value, no matter what kind of car you own and what kind of condition it’s in.  If it’s aggressively priced, people will come and take it off your hands, no problem.



Pull-A-Part Junkyard

Pull-A-Part is a fairly reputable junkyard that allows customers to pick used parts from their yard.  The nice thing about the company is that they will buy your junk card for you, even picking it up if you’re near a location.

To get started, you will want to follow this link and then enter your information to see what they are able to offer you.  If you accept the quote, then they will tow away your car free of charge.

If you want to sell your car to Pull-A-Part, they do ask no major mechanical components are missing and it has all four wheels.  It also must have all major body parts in tact.  They don’t care that it doesn’t work; they just want to make sure your car looks like one.

Peddle

Reading through Reddit and doing some research, I came across a very reputable company called Peddle.   It seems like it’s an auction house of sorts that will compete for your car, which means you will get a very aggressive rate.

This company will offer you an instant offer, giving you up to seven days to accept.  If you like the offer, then they will come to your home and pick your junk car up for no cost.

There’s no obligation and the quotes seem to be quite aggressive, so may want to at least give them a shot to see what they are willing to offer you.  The great thing is that they will pick your car up almost anywhere.

Wheelzy

Wheelzy seems to work just like Peddle, only that they aren’t as big.  It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least get a quote.

To get an offer, just answer a few quick questions and then wait for your guaranteed offer.  If it’s an offer that you want to accept, they will send you a tow truck at no cost to pick your car up.  Every quote comes with a free tow.

The company works nationwide and there’s no obligation to get a quote.

CarMax

CarMax is one of the nation’s top car dealerships and they are more than happy to at least provide you a quote for your car, no matter what kind of condition it’s in.

The nice thing about CarMax is that you can fill out a form online and then wait a few minutes for an offer.  Worst case, they say they aren’t interested or you get a quote that you can compare with the other resources I mention here.

If you’re happy with the quote given, then you have up to seven days to redeem that offer at a local CarMax location.  They do not pick up, so you will have to get it to the parking lot somehow.

Contact Multiple Junkyards

This is obvious, I know, but there are so many junk yards in the United States.  I’m just creating this post more for informational purposes, so I always try to include as much as possible.

What I recommend is that you search for something along the lines of “buy junk cars near me” or  “best place to sell junk cars near me,” etc.

From there, don’t go with the first result.  Rather, you will want to contact the companies with the highest ratings according to Google.

9 times out of 10, a local junkyard will be more than happy to offer you a quote over the phone.  Try to get at least five quotes before making a decision as you will find your results will vary.

Donate it

If all else fails or maybe you would rather see the money go to a good cause, consider donating it to a charity.  I’m sure you have heard of the company, 1800 Kars4Kids, for example. They have the catchy jingle you often hear on radio commercials.  They aren’t the only company, either, as there are hundreds of other options.  A quick search can often yield a ton of results in your area.

While donating is great as these companies donate to a good cause, your car sale can also help you save money on your taxes.

Donating your junk car is easy, too.  Just let them know what you have and they will schedule a pickup usually within the next few days or so.  After your car sells, the company will send you a receipt, in which you can use for the upcoming tax season.

Final Thoughts

What you will find is that there are a lot of places that will buy your junk car, and while there’s nothing wrong with these options, you may be surprised as to how much someone will give you if you put it on Craigslist, etc.  The process isn’t as bad as you think as long as you’re honest with your post.

In the end, what I would do is get at least five quotes from local junkyards.  Take that quote and add maybe a few hundred dollars to it and throw it up on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.  If you get a lot of action, then that’s great, you maximized your value.  However, if it’s rotting there for about seven to 10 days, then it may be best to have a tow truck come pick it up.  Your results will vary.

That’s going to wrap it up.

If you have any options that I’m missing or you want to comment on what’s mentioned, you’re more than welcome to comment in the comments below.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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