If you had a junky car, how would you sell it?

[Anonymous]

I have a ten year old car that has been dinged a few times and has various imperfections, ranging from the cosmetic to issues like a door window not rolling down. Everything in the engine is functional though. I really wanted to sell it, but someone told me I will only get $1000 if I sell it to a dealership which is ridiculously low compared to the blue book value. My question is, what's the best way to get value for a car that will need some repairs to make it "perfect" (mostly cosmetic, but there are various little dings all over the outside of the car)?

[Anonymous]

I think the window not rolling down is a pretty big deal. It seems like you are downplaying what is wrong with the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the window not rolling down is a pretty big deal. It seems like you are downplaying what is wrong with the car.

Why?

[Anonymous]

You will get the most money through a private sale, advertising on listservs or craigslist but it can be a pain and I would only take cash.

[Anonymous]

You can get the car fixed up and then sell it. But, I doubt you would recoup your cost. I think the easiest thing for you to do is to take it to somewhere like CarMax and see what they offer you. No one wants to pay top dollar for a dinged up car with a window that doesn't roll down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will get the most money through a private sale, advertising on listservs or craigslist but it can be a pain and I would only take cash.

Thanks for this. Does anyone have any thought of the price difference between private sale vs selling to a dealership? I'm willing to take less, but $1000 seems not even worth it to sell

[Anonymous]

CARMAX just take what they give you and you'll have no guilt for screwing over another person bc they'll fix it first. Or donate it.

[Anonymous]

You can also look into donating it. We always donate our used cars to the local NPR station. You get a pretty big tax benefit. It’s easier than selling.

[Anonymous]

Just take it to Carmax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also look into donating it. We always donate our used cars to the local NPR station. You get a pretty big tax benefit. It’s easier than selling.

I dont' think you get tax break any longer right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just take it to Carmax

I took my 17 year old small sedan (with back windows that did not work) and got $1000 for it at Carmax.

[Anonymous]

You still get the tax break if you donate to a place that actually uses it versus selling it at auction. Check out JASA.

Fewer people get to use the tax break now with the increased standard deduction, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You still get the tax break if you donate to a place that actually uses it versus selling it at auction. Check out JASA.

Fewer people get to use the tax break now with the increased standard deduction, though.

Is this true? Can someone confirm this? What is JASA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the window not rolling down is a pretty big deal. It seems like you are downplaying what is wrong with the car.

Why?

Because of the way you put "perfect" in quotes, as if anyone who is concerned with not having a functioning window is being outrageously picky.

You didn't say which window doesn't roll down--is it the driver's window? That would be a HUGE deal. Even the front passenger side window is a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also look into donating it. We always donate our used cars to the local NPR station. You get a pretty big tax benefit. It’s easier than selling.

+1 It's a happy feeling watching your junk car get towed down the street!😊👍