How To Sell A Faulty Car

Wondering how to sell a faulty vehicle?

We can tell you how!

This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to sell a faulty car or van.

You may feel like you’re down on luck, but there are options available for you.
Selling a faulty car isn’t short of some problems but finding a reliable dealer and a stress-free process is a main priority.

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What Is a Faulty Car?

Faulty cars result from various issues and are relatively common depending on the make, model, age and maintenance history of your vehicle. Faulty cars can stem from both mechanical and electrical issues, your car may have some of the faults stated below:

Issues regarding mechanical problems:

Engine issues – Problems such as a failed radiator, water pump, thermostat or cooling system.
Transmission issues – Symptoms such as slipping gears, worn clutch plates, rough shifting.
Brake system failures – You may have a faulty car due to issues with your brake pads, rotors or callipers.
Suspension issues – Having worn-out shocks, struts or ball joints can cause your car to be faulty.
Fuel and exhaust system problems: These and other mechanical issues can significantly impact your car’s performance and reliability.

Another major cause of faulty cars are electrical issues such as:

Battery problems – Can be dead or weak, that prevents your car from starting.
Alternator problems – Causes the battery to drain and causes electrical system failures.
Wiring issues – Damaged wires can cause failure to electrical systems.
Blown fuses – Often indicates underlying electrical issues.
Faulty sensors – Causes the engine to run poorly and triggers warning lights.

These mechanical and electrical faults can often lead to a vehicle failing its MOT and cause the car to become a non-runner. Check out how to sell your non-runner car for a great price and if your car has recently failed its MOT, then head over to our ‘MOT failure to sell’ page to find out how to sell it.

You should learn what type of fault your vehicle has to be able to gauge the estimated value that you could receive on your vehicle.
This is more important when considering scrapping or salvaging a vehicle, as the buyer in question will drastically offer a change in price depending on the age, make, condition and if it has reusable parts.

Take a look at our guide on “How Much Do You Get For Scrapping A Car” for more details.

An Insurance write-off is not always a faulty vehicle as it depends on the insurance write-off category, such as a car being a total loss and therefore non-repairable or your vehicle being classed as a repairable write-off, but the repair costs are too high relative to the value of the vehicle .

Cat N vehicles, for example, and non-structural damage can include electrical or mechanical faults.

Are You Selling a Faulty Car With Mechanical Problems?

Selling a faulty car with mechanical problems may seem challenging, so it’s essential to find a suitable buyer willing to quote the best price for it.

Typically, scrap car buyers or salvage dealers are more inclined to purchase faulty vehicles, as they can either dismantle them for parts or repair them for resale.
In contrast, most used car dealers and forecourts may be reluctant to buy defective cars due to the potential high costs of additional repairs and labor.

As such, those that put in an offer for your faulty car will factor in these costs, reflected in a reduced price when they get to you!

However, if you scrap your vehicle with Scrap Local there will be no hidden fees, a guaranteed price and a free pickup!

Selling A Faulty Car To A Private Dealer

Many car dealers will say that they will buy any car, but the truth is that most will throw a ruckus at the time of collection and reduce your original price.

Typically, many traditional car dealers do not deal with salvage vehicles as they are not experienced in car salvage, and would much rather focus on the used, modern car market.

Salvage vehicles, such as cars written off by insurance, can fetch better value when sold to specialist damaged car buyers.

This is due to the fact that they will attempt to squeeze more cash for cars, focusing on salvaging the vehicle rather than selling it solely for scrap – As is the case with end of life vehicles.

So, if you’re looking to sell a faulty car to a car dealer, remember that they will be willing to offer a great price. Focus on finding a trusted salvage car buyer who will pay a lot of money for your broken or faulty car.

Scrap Local Can Help You Sell Your Faulty Car!

We partner with trusted damaged car buyers who offer fantastic prices for faulty cars and vans – Whatever the make, age or condition.

In fact, for many makes and models, our licence car breakers will offer salvage prices – Helping you squeeze every bit of cash from your non-runner car , MOT failure or accident damaged car.

We go the extra mile with our valuation, asking for images and more vehicle information that allows our scrap car dealers to offer top-of-the-range value – Benefiting both you and them!

So, if you would like to sell your faulty car for the best possible value, get in touch with Scrap Local today!

FAQs Regarding Selling Your Faulty Vehicle

Have a question on how to sell a faulty car?

Please view some of our popular questions here, our complete scrap car FAQs section or our guide on selling a car for salvage.

To sell a faulty car, it’s beneficial to engage with specialist damaged car buyers, as they often provide better value compared to regular car dealers.

These specialists focus more on salvaging usable parts from the vehicle rather than just scrapping it. Thus, they tend to offer more money for faulty cars.

When planning to sell your broken or faulty car, concentrate on locating a reliable salvage car buyer who can offer a higher price for your vehicle.