Sell My Damaged or Non-Running Car
Crash damage is never well timed. Chances are if you’ve got a car in pieces then you’ll be wanting to replace it with one that works fairly rapidly. Getting a broken car sold can be very difficult, but thankfully Scrap Car Comparison is here to make that process as quick and stress free as possible.
With a nationwide network of specialist buyers at our fingertips, we’ll get you an unbeatable quote in moments. Your car can be collected, absolutely free of charge, often within 72 hours.
Sell Fast With Any Damages
A damaged car won’t slow this sale down, in fact our buyers are specialists in this very field, so we’ll be able to find you an offer much faster than any private sale.
Top Prices Quickly Paid
Because our team and buyers are all experts in damaged cars, we know what values to look for, and can make sure that the price you’re getting is the best on offer.
Free Collection From Anywhere
Our network spans the entire UK, meaning that no matter where you live we can arrange a collection absolutely free of charge for every customer.
Sell your car with any damages and no fuss
Here at Scrap Car Comparison, with our expansive network of specialists, we can ensure a sale for your broken car no matter what damage it has suffered. Not only are we experts in our field in terms of finding buyers for damaged cars, we only work with experts when it comes to who we sell the cars to. This means we know that we can provide the same level of service and speed for any car, in any condition.
The types of damaged vehicles we’ve previously sold includes, but is not limited to:
- Accident damaged cars
- Insurance write-offs
- Non-starters
- Mechanical failures
- Electrical faults
- Cars sold for parts
Selling a damaged car; a simple step by step guide
1. Get an initial quote
All you need to get started is to put your registration plate and postcode into our online quote generator. With this information, we’ll get you a selection of quotes for your car. These will be scrap prices, however, and you’ll be able to better your offer with our next step.
2. Provide more details
One of our friendly team will be in touch to ask some more questions regarding the condition of your car. This is where you can explain exactly how its damaged and any other issues it may have. With this information, we can provide a more accurate salvage quote for your broken car
3. Accept the best offer
With your offers in front of you, it’s up to you to decide which you want to accept. All of our specialist buyers are certified in buying broken and damaged vehicles, so you can be safe in the knowledge that whoever you choose, you’ll be dealing with licensed individuals.
4. Arrange a collection
Our network of collection agents stretches to all four corners of the country, meaning we can provide a free collection for every customer. With your car now safely being taken away, the money will be transferred to you and you can start looking for your next set of wheels.
What information do we need from you?
To enable us to get a more accurate understanding of the extent of the damage and to help source the best quote for you, we will need a clear picture of the condition of your car. This information is then analysed by our buyers network to provide you with an instant quote and if you accept, one of our buyers will collect your vehicle, free of charge, at a mutually convenient time.
Details we need to know includes:
- The vehicle’s mileage
- MOT history
- If it has alloy wheels
- If it is a runner
- Any known mechanical faults
- Body or paint damages
- Whether it has been written-off previously
What to expect when selling a broken car
When selling a damaged vehicle you should always be up-front about the condition of the car. A completely accurate portrayal of both the positives and the negatives of your vehicle helps us to search our network and generate the best quote for your vehicle. Of course, it can be a little disheartening to hear that the car you paid so much for is now worth significantly less for salvaged parts, which is why it’s important to remember that you are selling damaged goods.
Please note that when it comes to selling damaged cars, vehicles which have been unrepaired tend to achieve higher quotes. This is because the quality or safety of vehicles which have been self-repaired cannot be guaranteed.
Differences Between Selling a Car as Scrap or Salvage
Selling damaged cars does not mean you’re consigning it to the scrap pile. Some broken cars can be salvaged. Salvaged cars or their parts can be returned to the road again once made roadworthy. If you are scrapping your car, however, it will often be considered an end-of-life vehicle and will be taken to a government Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) where, following legal guidelines, it will go through a depollution process before being disposed of and recycled into something else.
If you’re not sure whether your vehicle is suitable for salvage, one of our experienced advisors will be able to help identify this for you. Simply give our team a call and our team of experts will guide you.
When using Scrap Car Comparison to sell your car there’s no difference in your user experience, as our buyers specialise in purchasing non-running vehicles for both salvage and scrap purposes. |
Who is Scrap Car Comparison?
- We are one of the biggest vehicle buying companies in the UK, having offered over £275m since the company began.
- With our nationwide coverage, we’ve taken over 38,000 tonnes of vehicles off the road.
- Through our charity programme, we’ve donated over £750,000 to charity in the past four years.
You may have seen us
Testimonials
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“From start to finish flawless. Excellent customer service. Would highly recommend if you are are suddenly in the position of needing to dispose of a damaged car.” – Alison
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“The whole process of disposing of my damaged car was stress-free using Scrap Car Comparison. They provided me with the highest offer very quickly and efficiently. I have no hesitation in recommending them” – Allan
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“Everything went very smoothly. Very helpful throughout. I had been concerned as to how to dispose of my bodywork damaged car. As the damage repair cost was more than the cars value. I was happy with the price, but the ease and convenience earns 5 stars.” – Mr B.
FAQs
What’s the difference between scrap and salvage?
Salvaged cars or their parts can be returned to the road again once made roadworthy. A scrap car, however, is considered an end-of-life vehicle and will be taken to a government Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) where, following legal guidelines, it will go through a depollution process before being disposed of and recycled into something else.
What information do you need to sell as salvage?
To enable us to get a more accurate understanding of the extent of the damage and to help source the best quote for you, we will need a clear picture of the condition of your car. This will include details such as; the vehicle’s mileage, MOT history and whether there are any known faults. This information is then analysed by our buyers network to provide you with an instant quote.
How do I get paid for selling a damaged vehicle?
All payments are made via bank transfer or cheque however occasionally one of our buyers may pay for your vehicle in cash. Please note that whilst the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 makes it illegal to sell scrap vehicles for cash, this only applies if the vehicle is destined to be depolluted and recycled.
Can I sell my car for parts?
You can, but your question should really be ‘should I sell my car for parts?’. The reality is that unless you’ve got the skills, the storage capacity and the time to strip it yourself, selling your car as a whole entity, even if it’s broken, will be a much faster sale. You can guarantee everything is out of your hair and sold instantly, rather than having to hang on to a set of spare parts that you can’t offload for weeks or even months.
How are damaged vehicles defined?
Most damaged vehicles will often end up being written off by your vehicles insurers, and when this happens they’re sorted into one of four categories – A, B, S and N. A and B are for more severe damages and will be scrapped, whereas vehicles in categories S and N are able to be repaired and put back on the road.
Articles
Find out the Value Of My Damaged Car
Use our scrap and salvage value calculator and receive an instant free valuation online.
What documents do I need to sell my damaged car?
Let us guide you through all of the paperwork and everything else you may need to sell your broken old car
The difference between scrap and salvage
We guide you through all you need to know about what differentiates a scrap and salvage vehiclef.
How can salvage save me money?
Cars designated as salvage vehicles may be easy to write off as undesirable, but there are actually some fantastic benefits to considering a salvage car. Primarily, saving money and time.
How To Sell A Damaged Car
There’s an array of different reasons which can cause a car to be classified as damaged, broken or a non-runner. However, the reasons often fall into one of the following three categories; bodywork, engine/parts or interior.
Because it is usually an element which is damaged, and not the entirety of the car, it means that the rest of the vehicle can often be sold as salvage and the car’s parts can be used to help repair other broken vehicles. For example; if you had two of the same cars in terms of make, year and model but one of them had a damaged engine and was a non-starter and one of them had a smash-damaged shell, a specialist would be able to use elements of each car to create one working vehicle. Did you know that Mercedes is the most in-demand salvaged car brand? We have a team of experts who are brimming with niche car knowledge like this. That’s why we also know that fixing damaged cars can be time-consuming, expensive and often people don’t have the required expertise to be able to do so themselves. Which is why vehicles that require a certain level of work, are often sold on as salvage vehicles.
Get Offers for Your Damaged or Broken Car
With over 100 specialist buyers on our system, it’s easy to get the best price for your damaged vehicle. Just enter your details into the form at the top of this page to get started. Our system will compare the best offers for your vehicle instantly, providing you with a guaranteed price including free collection and no hidden charges.
How to Sell a Car for Parts
While it is easier and cheaper to sell your car for scrap, you’re likely to make more money if you break your car up and sell for spares.
In order to sell your car for parts, you’ll need to carefully dismantle the parts yourself. This means that patience, knowledge and the right tools are necessary. Once you’ve removed the parts you wish to sell, you can list them on secondhand sites like Gumtree and eBay. We recommend researching listings from other sellers to gauge appropriate pricing for each part. You can essentially strip your car back to the bare bones, but if you’re looking for the easiest ways to make money, the engine, gearbox, airbags and seats are most likely to be in-demand
Understanding a Vehicle’s Damage Levels
Selling a broken car can be a confusing time and you may find yourself wondering whether people will want it, especially if you’re selling an MOT failure, a non-runner or need to sell an insurance write-off, but salvage categories have made it easier for people to understand the differences between broken and damaged vehicles.
The salvage categories used to be classified as Category: A, B, C or D, however the Association of British Insurers (ABI) recently re-categorised these to make them easier for the general public to understand when looking into a vehicle’s history. As of the 1st of October 2017 the following categories will be used:
Category A – Scrap
Category A is the rating given to vehicles which are not suitable to be repaired. No parts of the car are allowed to be reused for salvage and the entire vehicle must be scrapped.
Category B – Break
Category B is given to vehicles which are not suitable to be repaired, however some of the vehicle’s parts may be used elsewhere.
Category S – Structural
Category S is the rating given to vehicles which have received damage to the structural frame or chassis. This rating is given for cars where the owner/insurer decided not to repair it, however these vehicles can be used for salvage.
Category N – Non-Structural
Category N vehicles do not have any structural damage and this category is given to repairable vehicles where the owner/insurer decided not to proceed with repairing the vehicle.
Damaged Cars For Sale
Our network of buyers at Scrap Car Comparison specialise in buying both damaged and broken vehicles for salvage, so whether your car’s head gasket has blown, you’ve crashed your van or you’re having issues with your vehicle and don’t have time to deal with the problems, our buyers can help you retire it whilst also paying you for doing so. Here are a couple of scenarios that explain the sort of damaged car or van our buyers are looking for:
If your vehicle was in a crash and the body sustained damage from the impact, this would classify the vehicle as damaged. Depending on the severity, the insurance company may weigh up the cost of insurance payouts, repairing the vehicle and hiring a courtesy car, and decide that the vehicle is uneconomical to repair. However, just because an insurance company has deemed it as uneconomical, doesn’t mean it cannot be repaired. In this instance whilst the shell may have sustained damage parts of the car can still be reused for spares and repairs in other vehicles. Read more in our Buy Back Hub. Read more in our Buy Back Hub.
If you were selling a non-running car or van without an MOT certificate, the vehicle would be classified as broken as it isn’t actually working. But just because the vehicle is broken, doesn’t mean it’s unusable and can’t be sold. The body of a broken car may be perfectly fine, which means that it could be repaired if the parts which are broken, are changed or fixed.
In many cases broken vehicles can be timely to fix depending on the cost and time required for sourcing the parts, so it’s often easier to have an unwanted vehicle removed, not just because of cost or time factors but because sometimes an unused car can take up valuable space. This is especially the case in circumstances where the vehicle is damaged or broken, and a non-runner, as it may mean you have difficulty in removing it.
The salvage car buyers available on Scrap Car Comparison’s network specialise in damaged vehicles and, due to their many years in the industry, are experienced in moving almost any type of broken car or van. Which means that even if it is a little bit worse for wear, you can still sell your broken car for cash!
How Do You Get Paid For Selling A Damaged Vehicle?
All payments are made via bank transfer or cheque however occasionally one of our buyers may pay for your vehicle in cash. Please note that whilst the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 makes it illegal to sell scrap vehicles for cash, this only applies if the vehicle is destined to be depolluted and recycled.
Old processes meant that cash payments were often untraceable, so The Scrap Metal Dealers Act was bought in in 2013 as a way to create accountability in the metal trade and stop rogue traders from selling stolen materials. However, customer safety is our top priority, which is why we only use buyers with trusted reputations on our network. In addition to this when our buyers come to collect your vehicle they will always view your Photo ID and the V5 or a utility bill to ensure that the details match.