Selling A Car For Parts

Q: Where should I sell my car for parts?

If your car is less than three years old and is considered to be new, you won’t need to get an MOT for it just yet. If it’s older than three years, the easiest way to check whether your car has got a valid MOT would be to look at the paperwork. If everything is in order, you should have a valid MOT test certificate, which will tell you the date in which the MOT test took place, whether your car passed, and when the current MOT is due to expire. Alternatively, if you don’t have the relevant paperwork or you don’t know where it is, you can use online websites such as gov.uk/check-mot-status which will tell you if your vehicle has a valid MOT certificate and if so, the date in which it is due to run out. All you’ll need to do is to enter your car’s registration plate number and the site will do the rest. These sites can also provide you with a full MOT history, including passes, fails and any issues.

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Can I sell my old car for parts?

The short answer is yes - but you should consider if the value of the parts is worth more the value of your car as a whole or as transportation in itself. Selling a car’s parts can take longer than selling your car as a whole for its parts.

You should also consider a few factors. Get some quotes to see how expensive it would be to fix your car to the point where you can sell it to a private buyer or a car dealership. Consider if it still makes sense to sell it for parts and if your new budget enables you to buy a new car. It’s probably unwise to repair the car if the repairs are becoming more frequent, or if the repairs will cost half the price of a new car.

How do I sell my car for parts?

This depends on whether you want to dismantle your car yourself which may get you more money but is more hassle to do. You will need the tools and skills to remove the parts from your car safely, then you can take pictures of them and list them for sale online. An engine will take approximately 6 - 8 hours to remove, with interior trim and seats being easier. If you damage the part removing it, the value will diminish drastically.

The easiest option when selling your car for parts is to sell it whole to a scrapyard or junk yard for them to dismantle themselves however you will receive less money.

Where should I sell my car for parts?

If you want to sell your car whole, call scrap yards and junkyards for quotes on your car in its current condition. Some may even pick up your car.

For both individual parts and the whole car, you can advertise online. There are make/model specific forums online - this may make your process a lot quicker. Heavier parts will be easiest to sell locally on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Craigslist.

eBay is a good site to gauge how much to sell your parts for, and you can price slightly cheaper than the rest on the market for a quicker sale. The site is also good for protection if something goes wrong in the sale. Gumtree is worth checking out although it is not as strict as eBay and you will not be as protected if things go awry.

Is it worth scrapping a car?

You may get more money if you sell your car for parts than scrapping it, but scrapping your car is easy, convenient and cheap (often free)! Scrapping your vehicle needs to happen at a scrapyard or an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) licensed by the Environment Agency. It’s illegal to take your car to an unlicensed facility.

You need to tell the DVLA if you have scrapped your car. You could be faced with a £1,000 fine if you fail to do so.

To scrap your car you will need to have your vehicle logbook (V5C document) and make sure that you keep the yellow slip (V5C/3) from it and keep the receipt from the ATF. You should then get the Certificate of Destruction (CoD) emailed or posted to you from the DVLA. This proves that you have had the car recycled, and exonerates you of any future responsibility for it.

What parts of a car are worth money?

Electric items in the car such as the GPS system are one of the most valuable, along with sturdy metal like the fenders. Other parts that may get you some money include the doors, catalytic converters, air bags, bumpers, wheels, tyres, rims, side view mirrors, tail lamps, and the engine.

How much money will I make if I sell my car for parts?

This has no definitive answer until you actually sell a part. It depends largely on the make and model. Selling your car for individual parts can be a lengthy process and you need somewhere to store your parts where they will not get damaged. It is a double edged sword as it is a laborious procedure requiring time and effort however you will make more money than if you scrapped the car.

If you have a damaged car or a car on finance that you want to sell, GoodBye Car can help. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!