If you have a junker car taking up space in your garage or driveway, it might be time to sell it.
But what are your best options to sell a car (even damaged!) and still get some money back?
Here are the best businesses that will pay for your damaged car!
Table of Contents
Quick Picks
Best To Sell Damaged Car – CarBrain
Largest Car Buyer – Peddle
All Inclusive For Selling & Buying – Carvana
Where To Sell Damaged Car
Selling a damaged car can seem overwhelming, but many options are available to sell it.
These 7 places to sell a damaged car offer services and have reputations for fair pricing and excellent customer service.
1. CarBrain
CarBrain is a top choice to sell your damaged car anywhere in the USA. They specialize in buying damaged vehicles, offering a fair price for them.
Here’s how it works in a few easy steps:
Share your car’s make, model, year, and condition.
Get a free quote from CarBrain.
If you like the offer, arrange a free pickup (free towing!).
Receive cash on the spot when they pick up your car.
I actually called and asked because I saw age limits on other sites- they told me there’s no limit to the car’s age, so it’s not just cars less than 40 years old or anything like other sites.
Check out my CarBrain Review to learn more about the platform!
2. Peddle
Peddle is a top-notch car-buying site specializing in damaged vehicles with many happy reviewers.
Whether your wrecked car has minor dings or major damage, they’re interested- at least if it’s not older than a 1950 vehicle.
Just input basic details about your car, like its make, model, year, and current condition. In return, they’ll quickly give you a guaranteed offer.
Once you’re happy with the offer and decide to sell, Peddle takes care of the rest.
They’ll arrange free towing to get the car picked up. The tow truck driver will have your check, so you’re done with your car in no time.
3. Wheelzy
Wheelzy also makes it easy to sell a damaged car. Just tell them about your car, and they will give you a price in less than half an hour.
They also come to pick up your car for free and pay you right away in cash or with a check.
But remember, they only buy cars made after 1981, and they don’t buy motorcycles or other types of vehicles.
4. Carvana
Selling your old car is super easy with Carvana, and it’s quickly becoming a popular place to buy a new car if you’re looking.
Just enter your car’s details on their website, and they’ll tell you how much they can pay for it based on its history and value.
They generally offer a fair price, but they only buy cars from 1992 onwards that are in good condition and still running/driveable.
You get a whole week to think over their offer, no pressure. If you choose to sell, they can pick it up for free from your place if you’re near one of their centers.
5. Carmax
Selling your car to CarMax is easy and quick.
You can tell them about your car online and get an offer in just 2 minutes, or you can visit a CarMax store near you.
The good thing is, their offer lasts for a whole week, so you have time to think about it.
And if you’re still paying off your car, CarMax can help you sort that out, saving you both time and stress.
I called the local office by my house, and the guy I talked to said that they typically don’t have an age restriction, but you need to have the title to sell here.
6. CashForCars
CashForCars offers a convenient service for purchasing vehicles and allows you to pay cash within 24 hours or less.
They accept different types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and even boats.
The best part is that they offer a free tow from nearly 200 locations nationwide, making the process even more convenient for selling a damaged car.
I also called here to check for any age restrictions on your car, and they said there’s no age limit to what cars they’ll buy.
Provide the details about your vehicle, and CashForCars will offer you a quote.
If you accept their offer, they arrange towing for free and give you a check at pickup.
7. Sell Max.com
SellMax.com is a user-friendly online service that gives you a cash offer for your car, no matter its condition.
Here’s how it works when you sell a car to SellMax.com:
Tell Them About Your Car: Share details about the vehicle’s condition, like the year, model, and any damage or missing pieces.
Get a Cash Offer: They’ll quickly provide a competitive cash offer for your damaged car or any other vehicle and set up a pickup time.
Easy Process: Their team will come to you with a free pickup, check the car swiftly, and handle the paperwork, and then you’re all set.
Again, I called to check for any age restrictions,
The woman on the phone said as long as it’s not an empty shell and you’ve got the paperwork, they buy old classics and older cars.
Step-By-Step: Sell A Damaged Car
Get Your Car Assessed
The first thing you need to do to sell damaged car is to get your car assessed.
Whether it has been in an accident or a junk car, make sure you get an assessment from a reputable mechanic or body shop.
This will help you determine the extent of the damage, which could affect your offer from any of these sites.
Check Out Car Buying Sites
Now that you know the extent of damage and the value of your car, you can start looking for potential car buyers online.
Car buying sites like CarBrain, Peddle, and Carvana could provide a quick and convenient quote for your damaged car.
These sites would also provide an instant quote based on the car damage and the information you provide.
Review The Quotes
After getting quotes, look at the offer side by side with the other car buying site (s). This will help you figure out which one is the best for you.
In some cases, you might find that you can get more money than the insurance company said your car was worth, especially if it is a totaled car.
Accept A Final Offer
Once you’ve reviewed all the quotes, it’s time to accept an offer and wrap up the sale.
After you’re happy with the offer and you say yes, the company buying your car will usually sort out picking up the car and paying you.
Before you say yes to the offer, carefully read the sale rules of sale, especially to check if the quote will change upon car review.
FAQs
How does body damage affect car value?
Body damage can substantially reduce a car’s value.
When a car has dents, scratches, or is badly damaged, buyers might see it as a sign of potential mechanical issues or costly repairs in the future.
Most car-buying sites will walk you through the damage and how it affects the value.
Be sure to know if the site only buys driveable cars that are damaged or if there are other restrictions.
What kinds of damaged cars will businesses buy?
Businesses that purchase damaged vehicles usually acquire vehicles with the following:
Body damage (dented doors, scratched sides, etc.)
Salvage titles
Cars that have been involved in collisions
Cars that have experienced mechanical difficulties
Cars that have been damaged by floods or fires
Some sites will only buy driveable cars, cars with an engine/motor, etc., so you must review that before finding a place to sell.
What do businesses do with damaged cars they buy?
Some businesses might purchase broken cars with a little body damage and sell them again.
If a damaged car is really beaten up, they can take it apart, use the good parts in other cars, or sell them to places like garages and repair shops.
They might also sell crashed cars at auctions or sell a damaged car privately to someone looking for a damaged vehicle for parts.
What is the best site that buys damaged cars?
If you’re looking to sell a damaged car online, you might want to check out CarBrain.
It’s a great site to sell your used car or even older vehicles that have seen better days.
They make the process easy and hassle-free with an online form where you can give all the details about your car, and they handle all the work.
How much does CarBrain pay?
CarBrain figures out how much to pay for your car by looking at several things:
Where you are: Your location matters.
Car’s Original Value: What your car value was before any accidents.
Damage Level: If the car has severe body damage or mechanical or electrical issues.
Market Demand: How much people want your car or its parts right now.
Vehicle Details: The make, model, age, and how many miles it’s driven.
Does Carvana buy damaged cars?
Yes, Carvana is open to purchasing vehicles even if they have some damage. However, there are just a couple of conditions.
Firstly, it should have been manufactured after 1992 and is still running.
Additionally, the car’s odometer must be functioning properly, and it should be safe to drive.
My Thoughts
It may seem like there is a lot of work to sell a damaged car or a totaled vehicle, but with the right steps, it can be a rewarding experience.
And you don’t have to post online and search for a buyer just to get let down- you can sell your damaged car directly to CarBrain.
They’ll give you an instant quote, and if you accept, they’ll schedule and pay for towing.
And the tow guys will have your check ready for you at pickup- making fast money, no problem!
