If your car’s best days are behind it, you may think that your only option is to send it to a scrapyard and pocket the small sum associated with doing so. However, there is another option. Selling a car for parts opens up a number of possibilities for your old car, helping keep other vehicles on the road and netting you a much healthier total price for your car. However, before you start dismantling your old vehicle on your driveway, let’s take a look at what parting out a car actually involves in this AutoFlip guide.
What Does It Mean to Sell a Car for Parts?
Sometimes, a car reaches a stage where it is just uneconomical to repair, and therefore, not viable to sell. That’s where selling a car for parts comes in, breaking your car down into its individual components and advertising each one individually. While there is a fair amount of labour involved, this process turns a scrap valuation into a considerable sum of money, which can make the whole process worthwhile.
Why Do People Sell Cars for Parts?
While selling a car for parts isn’t an ideal scenario for most people, there are a number of scenarios that may lead you to choose this path for your vehicle.
Your car is beyond repair: If you’ve been handed a large repair bill by your mechanic, or they’ve advised you that your car is uneconomical to repair, selling a car for parts ensures the usable components on your car keep someone else’s on the road.
You want to maximise value: Rather than accepting a scrap valuation of a few hundred dollars, parting out your car helps to surpass that figure in just a few component sales.
It’s a tempting side hustle: While selling a car for parts is time consuming, it can also be financially rewarding, additionally exposing you to new skills and techniques you otherwise would not have learned.
Considerations When Selling a Car for Parts
Can you sell a car for parts? Absolutely, however there are a few considerations worth factoring in before you begin your dismantling project:
It’s a big job: Selling a car for parts is a considerable undertaking, requiring several weekends or months worth of commitment. Balance this out with the learnings, connections and money you’ll make along the way.
Knowing where to advertise is key: There are a number of online platforms that you can use to advertise your car for parts. Owners’ groups are a great place to start, as these are the people who have both the most use for and the greatest knowledge about the parts of your car. It can also be better to create one big listing of everything you’re selling, and mark off each item as it sells, rather than several separate advertisements.
Do you have the space? It’s not a requirement, but a workshop, garage or carport makes it much easier to dismantle your car than working on a lawn or driveway. Something else worth considering is that the components of your car will take up a lot of space, sometimes double or triple the space of the vehicle itself. However, if you have the space for both the car and its components, parting it out could be a fun and profitable project.
Sell Your Car Easy With AutoFlip
Selling a car for parts might seem like an appealing option if you have the time, space and desire. If, however, you are looking for the simplest way to sell your car, why not try AutoFlip? Our sales platform connects you with over 1,000 trusted dealers who compete to buy your car, regardless of its type, mileage or current condition.
Our comprehensive platform is quick and easy to use, and helps you understand your car's true value by connecting you directly with dealers eager to make an offer. Join thousands of satisfied sellers who have sold their car for cash and discovered why AutoFlip is the convenient choice for Australian car sellers.
Ready to get started? Get your instant offer today.