When is it time to sell your junk car?
In some ways, cars are like people. We make memories with them. We associated times in our lives with our vehicles. Be it a first date, a memorable trip, day one on a new job, or any other time in our lives that sticks out in our minds, we often couple those times with the car that got us there. Particularly if your vehicle treats you well and runs with few problems, it’s easy to get pretty attached to it.
Eventually, though, every car starts to wear out. No matter how hard you try to take care of your car, it’s bound to break down eventually. At first, you’ll just be performing repairs more frequently. More things go wrong, and at a faster rate. Initially, it’s not a huge deal; but, over time, the cost of repairs really starts to add up. Then, one day, the question hits you: is it time to get rid of my old car?
Selling an old vehicle that you love can be a challenging and emotional decision. We’ve all been there. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to help you come to the right conclusion. Is it time to sell that junk car? Let’s find out.
How much do parts cost?
All of us have that one friend or acquaintance: the person who’s always bragging about how they drive an old beat up foreign car because of how cheap the parts are for it. They’ve replaced all sorts of things on it, but in the end they haven’t really spent all that much money.
The cost of parts (coupled with the cost of labor) can be a huge determining factor when it comes to whether or not it’s time to junk your car. If you have a vehicle with notoriously cheap parts, it makes sense to hold onto it a little longer. Even if something unpredictable goes wrong, the cost of repairing it might still be reasonable. On the other hand, if you have a car for which parts are predictably expensive, it might be high time to get rid of it while you still can.
How much money have you already spent?
If an expensive repair comes up–say, a head gasket that needs replaced–it’s easy to cringe at the price. However, it’s better to think in terms of the bigger picture. Have you spent much money on your car recently? Add up the total cost of repairs over the last year. That’ll give you a sense of what you’ve invested into the car. If you haven’t spent much on the vehicle lately, an expensive one-time repair might not be so bad. If, on the other hand, you’ve poured thousands of dollars into it over the past year, it’s probably best to let the car go.
Does the cost of repairs exceed the vehicle’s value?
This should be the single bigger determining factor in your decision. Here’s the bottom line: when the cost of maintaining your vehicle dramatically exceeds its value, it’s time to sell it. If you continue pouring money into it, you’ll likely regret it. When the time comes to get rid of your old clunker, don’t waste your time with private buyers or scrap yards. Your best bet is to go with a reputable company: call Junk Car Traders, and get cash for your old junk car.
You have had your car for a long time and have had many adventures in it. Maybe you have driven across the country from New Mexico to New Jersey. We want to make this process as easy as possible for you, we have great customer service, good quotes, and free towing no matter where you are.
References
http://www.sturtevantauto.com/salvageYardNews/SignsYouShouldJunkCar
