SELL A JUNK CAR OR A CAR THAT WON’T RUN

Sell your junk car.
Know your options.

List your junk car for sale to someone willing to buy it in its current condition. Show buyers what works, what needs repair and the price you’re asking. CarTruvo helps you create a listing and talk directly with interested buyers, even when your car won’t run.

List my junk car ↗How to prepare my listing ↗

List free until sold. You and the buyer agree on the sale, payment and pickup.

A silver Toyota Camry parked on a street in daylight — Stock photo by Kevin Bonilla / Unsplash. Not current CarTruvo inventory.

PRICE THE CAR YOU HAVE

How to price your junk car for a private sale.

Start with the year, make, model, mileage and actual condition. Look for similar cars advertised with similar problems. A running car’s asking price can provide context, but it is not a direct comparison for a car that needs major repairs. Asking prices also tell you what sellers want, not what buyers have paid.

If you have a mechanic’s diagnosis or repair estimate, use it to explain the problem. Keep the condition of the body, interior and other systems in the comparison. Don’t describe the whole car as worthless because one part has failed, or promise that a buyer can fix it cheaply.

Our junk-car pricing guide explains what to compare. For a confirmed problem, read about selling a car with a blown engine or selling a car with a bad transmission. Review your price as you receive questions and actual offers.

MAKE THE CONDITION CLEAR

Write a listing that helps the right buyer decide.

Identify the car. Include its year, make, model, odometer mileage, city and state.
Lead with the known problem. Say whether it starts or moves. Share a confirmed diagnosis, or describe the symptoms if the cause is unknown.
Show the rest of the car. Use current photos of all sides, the interior, visible damage and any missing parts. Explain what comes with the sale.
Explain ownership and pickup. State the title status accurately and whether the buyer needs to arrange transport. Keep personal documents and your exact pickup address out of public photos.

A blank opening you can adapt: “[Year make model], [mileage], in [city, state]. [Known fault or symptoms]. [Other condition details]. [Title status]. [Transport needed]. Asking [price].” Fill it with your own facts. This is a writing template, not a real vehicle listing.

See what buyers need to know about a non-running car and how to look for junk-car buyers near you. When your details and photos are ready, create your free car listing.

Answer buyer questions and agree on the handoff.

An interested person may want more photos, maintenance records or an inspection before making an offer. Keep your answers consistent with the listing and correct the ad if you learn something new. Arrange an inspection that suits the car’s condition; don’t offer a road test of an unsafe car.

Before accepting, agree on the price, included parts, payment method and who pays for transport. Use the pickup checklist for a private sale and payment-verification guide. Check transfer requirements with your state motor vehicle agency. A buyer’s message is not a completed sale.

CHOOSE HOW TO SELL

Private sale or junkyard: which route fits your car?

Selling to another person gives you a chance to find someone interested in your specific car. Selling to a business or recycler is a separate option. Compare the work involved, actual offers and costs. A private listing takes time and does not guarantee a buyer or a higher sale price.

Compare how much you’ll receive, pickup costs and what you need to do.
Selling option	When to consider it	What to confirm
Sell it yourself	You have time to answer questions and find someone willing to buy the car and fix it.	Check the listing rules, describe the problems and agree on who pays for towing. Finding a buyer can take time, and the sale price may differ from your asking price.
Repair shop or car-buying business	A business says it buys cars like yours, including cars with the same problems.	Get the buyer’s name and offer in writing. Ask about payment, pickup fees and anything that could change the price.
Junkyard or auto recycler	You decide to sell the car for parts or scrap rather than repair it or find someone who will.	Ask what paperwork you need and how much you’ll receive after towing, loading and other charges.

CarTruvo lets you list your car for sale. If you choose a junkyard or another business, contact it directly for an offer and pickup. Use our guide to finding junk-car buyers to find businesses to contact.

COMPARE THE MONEY YOU KEEP

Compare what you’ll get after fees.

Ask how much the buyer will pay, what fees you’ll owe and how long the offer lasts. Check what could change the price at pickup. Subtract towing, loading, storage, advertising and any remaining car loan to work out what you’ll keep.

JUNK CAR OFFER CALCULATOR

Compare what you’d keep from each offer.

Enter the offers you have and the costs you would pay for each one. See what you’d keep after fees and your remaining car loan.

Amounts are in US dollars. Enter $0 when a cost is included in the offer. Other costs can include storage, advertising and any other charges you expect to pay.

Offer ABuyer’s offer ($)Towing or pickup ($)Loading fee ($)Other selling costs ($)

Offer BBuyer’s offer ($)Towing or pickup ($)Loading fee ($)Other selling costs ($)

Remaining car loan ($)The same loan payoff is subtracted from every offer. Use $0 if you own the car outright.

Enter an offer and every cost for each buyer. Use 0 for costs you won’t pay.

This compares the amounts you enter. It does not estimate your car’s value or obtain offers. Confirm payment, fees and pickup terms with each buyer. Your entries stay on this page; refreshing clears them.

Listing your car at a higher price doesn’t mean it will sell for that amount. Compare realistic prices with the offers you have, and consider how much time you want to spend finding a buyer.

Download the offer-comparison worksheet ↗Read the junk-car value guide ↗

SELL YOUR CAR IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION

See what someone is willing to pay before selling for scrap.

If your car meets our listing rules, set an asking price and show buyers its condition with recent photos and an honest description. Someone willing to fix it may offer more than a junkyard. Compare what you’ll keep after costs before choosing a buyer.

Free until sold

Creating an account and saving a draft are free. Finish your listing and submit it to publish for free. The optional tools upgrade does not guarantee a buyer or a sale.

Start my listing ↗

Read the listing rules

Questions about selling a junk car.

How do I sell my junk car?

Tell buyers what’s wrong with the car and whether you have the title. Get offers in writing and ask about towing fees and paperwork. If the car meets our listing rules, you can list it on CarTruvo and sell directly to someone willing to buy it in its current condition.

Does CarTruvo buy junk cars or provide free towing?

You can advertise your car on CarTruvo and talk to interested buyers. You and the buyer arrange the sale and pickup. CarTruvo does not buy your car or provide towing.

How much is my junk car worth?

What a buyer offers depends on your car’s condition, parts and location. Give each buyer the same details, get offers in writing and subtract towing fees and other charges. An ad saying “up to” a certain amount does not tell you what you’ll get. Read our junk-car value guide to compare offers.

Can I sell a junk car without a title?

It depends on your state, whether you own the car and whether you still owe money on it. Ask your state’s motor vehicle agency and the buyer what documents you need before booking pickup. Start with our missing-title guide.

Can I list a car that won’t start on CarTruvo?

Check our listing rules first. Tell buyers whether the car starts, what problems you know about, whether you have the title and if it needs towing. Use recent photos of your car and read the marketplace terms before submitting. A car that won’t run is not automatically classified as junk on its title. Check the title and your state’s rules.

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