Our cars will always be close to our hearts. No matter what, even if it’s a beat-up old rust bucket, it’s our rust bucket. Parting with one is more difficult than we initially think. But when the time comes to finally let go, that’s exactly what we ought to do. Once we’ve decided to get a new car, no matter what the reason is, figuring out what to do with the old one is always a bit of a hassle. It takes time and attention to figure out it’s worth. And, of course, we always tend to overvalue it. To help you out in this, here are a few tips on what to do with it. After all, a car, no matter what condition, always has some use.
Sell It As Is
Source: pixabay.com
The first thing you can do is also the most obvious option: you could try to sell it. Now, there’s a lot of factors that go into selling your old car. It has to be in fairly working condition and the body generally has to be decent. We’ve all been on public forums and seen the same old car posted there for months. People in the market to buy a used car are going to look for the best possible price for what they want. Because of that, if your car isn’t in the best condition, you’re going to have to go significantly lower than the Kelly Blue Book price for private sellers. It’s not something anybody wants to do, but it’s a better option than just letting it take up space in your garage. If you’re not into having to deal with individual buyers–setting up meetings and negotiating price, there are companies that will purchase your car for cash. They generally have an assessment process and a team that will value the car reasonably, depending on its make, model, and condition. Every city has an option like this. According to CashCarsBuyer, the likelihood of getting a price from a private seller that you agree on is slim to none. It’s not worth the stress unless you know how much you can get for it. With companies like Cash Cars Buyer, you have a one stop shop plus free pickup. That’s a whole lot of peace of mind and a burden off your shoulders.
Source: unsplash.com
Donate It
If you’re feeling particularly altruistic, you can try and donate it. Doing so has an air of nobility to it, and you can feel good knowing that you may be helping someone. The only problem is finding a reputable company to give it to. There have been a good number of well-documented scams revolving around car donation. It’s a pretty heavy thing to think about, especially since every single person who donated did so with the best of intentions. Most scams operate by accepting donations and selling it on the back end. By law, a percentage of the proceeds are supposed to go to charitable programs. Unfortunately, a lot of these scammers only donate 1% and pocket the rest of the cash. If you’re going to donate it, donate it to a friend or family member. Better yet, if it works, sell it to a young person you know. Set the price low enough for them to attain it, yet understand the gravity of the transaction. This way, you help out the youth by essentially giving them their first set of wheels while simultaneously teaching them a good lesson on the value of things.
Sell It For Scrap
Source: unsplash.com
Your last options is to sell it for parts. Selling it for parts is a bit tricky, though. There’s a lot of questions people in the business tend to ask. The last thing they want is to have a stolen car that was stripped at a chop shop on their property. It’s a liability in that case, and scrappers know better than to just take anything in. Be sure to have a clean title and papers to present if you’re going to sell it to a yard. You’re going to have to sign it over just like you would a private buyer. On top of that, if you’re handy with a wrench, stripping it yourself can be of great value. It takes a lot of time to take apart a vehicle and some salvage yards may not want to deal with it.
Your car definitely has more value being sold, donated, or scrapped than just sitting. It may be difficult, but having it gone gives you time to really enjoy your new set of wheels. No matter what, keep in mind the labor and effort you’re going to put in and weigh it against the value of your old vehicle. In the end, convenience always wins.