How to Define and Get the Best Scrap Value from Your Car

Got an old car, and want to find the best way to get rid of it?

If so, then scrap trading your car might be worth it. It’s an especially fruitful activity if your car’s too old, and you can’t find a sale.

In fact, it’s good if your car’s damaged beyond the point of repair. And it often pays off more to just submit the car to a scrapyard, rather than head to a dealer.

Recommended: How You Can Find The Kelley Blue Book Values For A Used Cars

Today, we’ll help make that process simpler for you. And we’ll do so by breaking down the benefits you gain, and basics you should know!

To Get Started…

You want to find the best channels that let you do price research.

After all, no two cars can be traded in for similar values. Some cars (which are better in condition) trade at higher values.

The reason being, some scrapyards will take apart a car, and use its functional spare parts for commercial reasons.

So I Won’t Get Excellent Value?

Not at all. You can get good value. And often, you can get value for your vehicle that’s equivalent to if not more than an online sale!

How So?

When selling a car online, you might end up running into many budget buyers.

After all, many people buy cars online in order to avoid dealerships. And sometimes, they’ll do so to take a car apart. And that happens even on highly popular auction platforms, like Craigslist, eBay, and the like.

Regardless, you can actually scrap your car online. It’s similar to selling, except that you can find many reliable vendors through an online search!

But Still – Isn’t Selling Online Better?

No, and here’s a breakdown of the reasons…

First – Most Sales are Interstate.

Specifically, 75% of all online car sales are done between clients from different states.

For example, you could be a car seller in Florida, and your prospect might be buying the car from you in New York. This makes it a long distance sale, which is sometimes impractical, because…

Second – You Can’t Meet.

Car sales need to happen in-person. The other side needs to get a chance to test drive or inspect a car before driving it.

Thus, pictures and videos alone aren’t enough. And this applies especially if you’re selling a beat-up car that’s best thrown into a scrapyard.

Third – Variety.

Many car buyers (especially of used models) have a specific vehicle in-mind. And your old car might not match their description.

Also Read: KELLEY BLUE BOOK CAR BUYING GUIDE

This might make sales difficult for you, especially since older cars don’t have many selling points.

So How Do I Discover the Scrap Value of My Car?

Many online vendors exist that provide pricing for your cars (like Car Brains).

However, you’ll need to be detailed with the information you provide, and that’ll include.

• Model, Make, and Year
• Mileage and Trim
• Condition, Damages, and Recent Repair
• Previous Owner Counts (if possible)
• VIN number
• Selling Location (by ZIP Code)

Besides the previous information, you’ll need to provide your buyers with detailed and accurate descriptions of the car.

Be sure to get to the point by trying to make your listing creative, and in a manner that stands out from other listings online!

Working on the Description.

As a tip, try to make your car description as enthusiastic and as detailed as possible. The more it can attract attention, the better.

Plus, you should take care to make your description grammatically correct.

Also Read: The Top 20 Car Problems and Complaints to Know About!

Try to ensure that there aren’t any misspelled words, which is a sign of being non-professional. That’ll make sellers wonder if they’re buying a vehicle from a serious seller.

In fact, think of your car description as something similar to a job application. It should be clear, organized, and attractive!

Plus, you can take your description a step further. You can add in visuals that are rounded, representing your car’s interior and exterior to the full.

You can create a gallery that gives a buyer the chance to evaluate their car in-detail, without having them come over and inspect every part of it!

And If I Want Cash for My Car?

Let’s get back to the stat we referenced previously.

At least 75% of vehicle transactions happening online are interstate. And those are way too impractical when selling a car that better belongs to a scrapyard.

And as we also mentioned, the buyer will want to try the car, which means travelling, in addition to more trouble than needed accommodating the client, and providing the same info over and over.

That Aside: Here’s the Best Way to Market Your Car

We’re assuming you have a good description and a photo gallery setup by now. So it’s time to market your wrecked vehicle.

And the best way to do so is with a good headline that’s catchy and attractive. Plus, you have to add in keywords that your market will most likely be typing.

Also Read: How to Use a Used Car Resale Price Book

Those keywords represent lucrative aspects of wrecked cars, or the primary reasons for their purchase.

Examples include…

• New brakes and tires.
• Extremely low mileage
• Amazing stereo system
• Luxurious/leather interior.

Simply think of your car’s most important features, and use those as a marketing gimmick!

However, it’s important if you stay away from “customer features” that are difficult to disconnect form a wrecked car.

That is, you shouldn’t mention items like cruiser control, powered windows, and good air conditioning in your descriptor. Few scrap collectors would be interested in those!

Marketing Aside: Don’t Forget the Price Evaluation.

Don’t forget to do your homework. You need to user a calculator to find out the price of your vehicles.

You can utilize guides such as the Nada Guides or the Kelley Blue Book, which do provide used car prices, and especially those that are damaged!

And doing that price evaluation is important. After all, you don’t want to list your vehicle for too high of a price, only to find that it isn’t selling!

Customer Service Matters Too.

The world’s top sales professionals all share a single trait, and that’s their sense of responsiveness.

Don’t forget to give your buyers an easy time. After all, the last thing you need is a good and willing prospect, only for them to leave as a result of mistreatment!

Also – Communication is Easy Online.

And thus, you should be responding fast.

Customers contacting you should receive a response within 48 hours (less if possible). Also, keep as many channels open as possible (so provide your email, a phone number, or link to your social media).

And don’t forget, you should seek to diversify your ad placements. Ensure that many websites receive your ads, allowing you to sell your car off as soon as possible!

Final Word.

Trading your car for scrap is an act of effort. That’s assuming you want to get as much value as possible from your car.

You can go through the easy route of driving up to a scrapyard, trading in your vehicle, and just taking the money they offer.

But, to really bank on scrap, there’s marketing, sales writing, and some customer service involved.

And assuming you go through that process, you can eventually trade-in your car, and make good value on it too!