Get Rid of an Old Car
That old clunker in your yard can be worth money to you! Luckily the hunk of junk you are looking to lose can be turned into money, a tax deduction, or just a little good will. If you do not get the price you ask, think about giving it away to a charity organization, and you may get a tax write-off come tax season!
Contents
Steps
- Decide whether to Sell Your Used Car, give it away, or chop it up.
- Consider not wasting too much money on advertising. Try a local web-based service first. Advertising there is sometimes free and will let those in your local area know about what you are offering.
- Think about donating your car to a family member or someone who needs it.
- Consider donating to a local charity which accepts car donations. They will send someone to pick up your car and give you a receipt for a donation. You may be able to use this as a tax deduction. They will probably not use your car, but rather, will have an agreement with someone who will sell it at auction.
- Sell pieces of your car if none of the above will work for you. Old models are especially good for this. Car buffs are always searching online auction pages in order to find compatible parts (e.g., headlights, turn signals or bumpers) for their model of car.
- Call around to local mechanics and Find a Junkyard to see if your car has value for parts or as scrap.
Tips
- Know the value of your car before you try to sell it. Look up the blue book value, take it to a used car dealer for an offer, or check the classifieds or online auctions. Maybe a car of similar age and type is being offered.
- If you donate your car to charity, you may be able to deduct its value from your taxes. There are a lot of rules and limitations on this (in the USA), so consult an accountant or tax preparer in advance.
Warnings
- Do not just abandon the car somewhere.
- Do not burn the car or let it go into the river. This is environmental pollution.
- When you sell or give, get the name of the buyer and a signed bill of sale or title transfer. In some states, you will need to produce this in order to prove that you no longer own the car. This will help you to avoid having to pay registration fees and fines in the future.
