Ending up with a crashed, salvaged, non-running or wrecked vehicle can be an anxiety-inducing, cumbersome and painful experience (particularly if it is uninsured). Following the car accident or blown gasket, you are probably left with more questions than answers. What will you do with this vehicle? Is it worth repairing? Should you sell your accident-damaged or non-running car (and if so, where and how)? As you weigh up the options, it’s good to understand the positives and negatives of each decision and the impact it will have on your time, stress levels and bottom line.
Let’s unpack the pros and cons of selling your smashed or dead-weight vehicle so you can make an informed decision about your future with this damaged car:
The pros:
#1 A financial benefit
Whether the car accident took place a few hours or a few months ago, there’s not much use in keeping a salvage vehicle. Allowing it to accumulate dirt, rust and space in your garage or backyard is a pointless exercise.
Selling the damaged vehicle for a market-related, fair price is a good option for getting cash in your pocket and an opportunity to move on. Whether the vehicle only has a small dent or barely resembles the car you once swooned over a few years ago, selling your accident-damaged car is a financially savvy activity (particularly if you choose to sell it to a reputable auto salvage dealer).
#2 Avoidance of future repair headaches
Choosing to repair a non-running or crashed car is one solution to your dilemma – but at what cost?
The time it takes to gather quotes, assess the viability of the repair job, and sit without a vehicle during the restoration process makes you wonder if it was all worthwhile. Does the cost of repair (in time and money) outweigh the benefits?
When you choose to sell a non-running vehicle, you reduce the pain of finding a trustworthy mechanic or panel beater, incurring excessive bills and running the risk of incurring further repair costs at a later stage.
#3 An easy, quick & convenient process
Opting to sell your accident-damaged car is not as cumbersome as you might imagine (especially if you find a buyer who will offer you a competitive price).
When you make the decision to sell, ensure that you choose a service provider that will offer the following benefits:
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- A safe and secure online process
- A hassle-free, instant payment
- Free towing
- Handling of all the paperwork concerning change of ownership.
#4 An environmentally-friendly solution
Damaged cars and older vehicles pose a serious threat to our planet. They are generally less fuel-efficient and produce more carbon emissions.
When you opt to sell your damaged vehicle to a reliable auto salvage dealer, you can be assured that they will recycle or dispose of the car parts and fluids in an environmentally ethical manner. This gives you a higher chance of clean air to breathe a sigh of relief in.
The cons:
#1 A lower selling price
Accident-damaged or non-running vehicles sell for less than those that are fully functional – that is an unfortunate, but legitimate reality for any damaged vehicle owner.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Not all damaged car buyers are equal. Selling your non-running or accident-damaged vehicle to a scrap yard is unlikely to give you a fair price, since these dealers only pay you based on the weight of the scrap metal you supply; not according to the inordinate number of fully functional parts remaining in the vehicle.
And while opting for a private sale could give you a good price, finding that one trustworthy and competitively-priced buyer is like finding a needle in a haystack – it’s not very likely.
Your best bet is finding an industry leader with a renowned reputation (take a look on Hellopeter).
#2 Difficulty in finding potential buyers
The truth is that most people prefer buying vehicles that are in a functional and roadworthy condition – so finding a potential buyer without having the right contacts can be very tricky.
Rather choose to sell your damaged vehicle the easy and convenient way through a trustworthy online platform with a track record of success.
#3 Emotional attachment
Waving goodbye to a vehicle in which you have travelled thousands of kilometres and made countless memories can be very difficult. But holding onto a written-off, wrecked or unroadworthy vehicle is not a financially viable decision.
After taking some time to reflect on the past, rather make a rational decision that aligns with your future goals by opting to sell your damaged car.
Once you’ve weighed up the pros and cons, make the choice that’s going to allow you to sleep better and give you the best bang for your buck.
