If your car has reached the end of its life, you are likely weighing your options to find the best way forward. Many car owners come to a fork in the road at this point: One path is the ‘part out’ route, and the other is the one-and-done sale. Before you start turning bolts, let’s talk about what actually happens when you try to sell a car piece by piece versus getting cash for your car in one shot.
The Cost of Parting Out
Selling individual parts of your car might seem like a smart move financially, but here is the not-so-simple reality.
The logistics: There is a lot more that goes into stripping a car than just “listing” or “selling” each part. You need specific tools for each component, a dry storage space to prevent rust while you take each part out, and hours of free time and energy. Not to mention, after the labor you still have to photograph and/or sell every item.
The buyers: Listing all of your parts means managing dozens of different buyers and their inquiries. We have all heard of or dealt with the marketplace headache. Lowballing, fake inquiries, and the waiting games are all things you sign up for when listing. Even if you choose to scrap your parts for less at a business, you still have to make the time to go and handle the sale of your parts.
The excess: Once everything is listed and sold, you are still left with a steel frame that needs to be disposed of. Most scrapyards won't be able to pick up a shell and if they do, you could either get very little for it or even end up paying to have it hauled away.
Is Selling Your Car Whole a Smarter Move?
If you have the time and energy to put into parting out your car, it isn’t always the lesser option; however, it is important to consider both paths before diving in. Here are the upsides to selling your car in one go.
Immediate removal and payment: When you sell your car to a professional service, your car will typically be sold and picked up within a day or two. During pickup, you will also receive cash for your car on the spot. No car sitting in your driveway for months and no broken out payments for each part.
Free Towing: Towing away a car, especially a non-running car, can get very expensive. Some professional buyers include towing in their offer, which not only simplifies the pickup but also allows you to keep more money in your pocket.
Process Handled: Removal, towing, and payment are all important steps of the process that we have already covered. However, there is one more step that can be stressful when trying to part out a car. When you sell parts from a car, you still technically “own” the shell of the vehicle and the VIN until it is legally handled. When selling a car whole, professional buyers can ensure the title transfer happens correctly.
Final Thoughts:
If you have the experience, tools, and time it takes to part out cars then it may be a profitable option for you in the long run. However, if your goal is to get fast removal and quick cash for your car without the labor intensive steps, then selling your car in one go is the best option for you.