The bottom line: Peddle, CarBrain and CashForCars are the most reliable buyers we found for a car with mechanical issues. All three give immediate online quotes and free pickup, where a junkyard might charge for pickup.
When we gave all three the same car details, CarBrain offered the most.
A private sale on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist typically brings the most money, but it takes a lot of time, since you deal with buyers yourself.
What would buyers pay for your car with a blown engine?Fill in one form, answering whether the car starts and drives, and see which buyers make an offer for it as it is.
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- You can cancel before pickup at no cost
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
- Owned by Copart, the salvage auction company
- Buys almost any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Free towing, and it handles the title transfer
- Hands you a check at pickup, or mails it
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Offer amount 30% 3/5
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Quote speed 20% 4/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 3/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Buys wrecked, totaled and non-running cars
- A quote online in under 90 seconds
- Free towing, usually 24 to 48 hours after you accept
- Pays by check before your car is towed
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Compare Instant Offers
Best Places to Sell a Car with a Blown Engine
The process for all companies is similar. You fill out the quote form online, provide details about your vehicle, and they give you an offer.
Some companies may provide slightly better offers for the same vehicle specifications, so getting quotes from each company is worth it.
If you accept the offer, they will arrange a vehicle pickup. Payment is usually cash or check, depending on the tow company.
Describing your vehicle accurately is important to ensure the offers you receive online match what you’ll get at pickup.
Here’s how the quotes compared when we submitted information for a 2010 Toyota RAV4 with 150,000 miles and a blown engine:
1. Peddle
Peddle buys junk, salvage, and non-running cars
- Free towing
- Fast payment
- Buys non running cars
- Pays by check at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
Peddle made the quote process exceptionally simple. Their online form took less than 2 minutes to complete, and we received an instant offer of $1,220 for our 2010 Toyota RAV4 with a blown engine.
The quote had a section where we had to answer whether we could start and drive the Toyota. That was the only question that indicated if the engine was blown. Select “No, it doesn’t start (or requires a jump-start)”.
2. CarBrain
CarBrain specializes in wrecked and broken-down vehicles
- Pickup 24 to 48 hours after accepting
- Buys totaled and wrecked cars
- Buys cars with blown engines
- Handles bad transmission sales
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Offer amount 30% 3/5
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Quote speed 20% 4/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 3/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
CarBrain specializes in damaged vehicles, and their quote process reflected this expertise. Their offer came in at $1,355 for our RAV4.
The online form took slightly longer to complete, asking more detailed questions about the car’s condition. Initially, they asked if you could drive the car, and then they asked what repairs were needed.
3. CashForCars
CashForCars is owned by Copart and buys cars in any condition
- Free towing from nearly 200 locations
- Buys any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Backed by Copart auction yards
- Pays a check right at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
CashForCars provided an initial offer of $1,187 through their online system.
Their quote form was straightforward, with one question specifically addressing a blown engine: “Does your vehicle start and drive?”
Who Gives the Most Cash for a Blown Engine?
Based on our testing, CarBrain offered the highest amount for our car with a blown engine at $1,355, which was higher than the other services we tested.
Offers can vary depending on your specific vehicle’s make, model, year, and overall condition. Getting multiple quotes is always recommended.
How to Sell a Car with a Blown Engine
- Identify if you have a blown engine. Common signs include knocking sounds, excessive smoke, engine seizing, or oil mixing with coolant. A mechanic’s diagnosis can help when providing details to buyers.
- Get multiple quotes. Submit your information to all three services listed above. The process is free and takes only minutes per company, but could result in hundreds of dollars of difference in your final offer.
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
FAQ Questions
How much is a car with a blown engine worth?
In our offer data, buyers offer about 46% less for a car that does not start than for a comparable car of similar age and mileage that drives. Factors like the car’s age, make, model, and overall condition can make a big difference in the final offer.
How much can you get for your engine if you sell it on its own?
A blown engine sold for parts typically brings $150 to $500 depending on the make and model.
The logistics of removing, storing, and selling the engine yourself often make this less practical than selling the entire vehicle to a specialized buyer.
Is it worth fixing a blown engine?
Rarely. Replacing the engine often costs more than the car is worth once the repair is done.
Unless the vehicle is relatively new, rare, or has strong sentimental value, selling it as-is to a specialized buyer usually makes more financial sense.
Can you get money from insurance for a blown engine?
Standard auto insurance typically doesn’t cover mechanical failures like a blown engine.
If you have mechanical breakdown insurance or if the engine damage resulted from a covered accident, you might receive compensation.
Check your policy or contact your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
Can you trade in a car with a blown engine to a dealership?
Yes, but dealerships typically offer less than specialized buyers. In our test, the highest dealership offer was $600, about half of what CarBrain offered.
How long does the entire process take?
With most online car buying services, the process takes 1 to 3 days from getting quotes to receiving payment.
Do these companies buy cars with other mechanical problems?
Yes, all three companies purchase vehicles with various mechanical issues, not just blown engines.
They also buy cars with transmission problems, flood damage, accident damage, and other issues that make the vehicle hard to sell through traditional channels.
Article Update History
Quote amounts, company details and the buying process checked; nothing needed to change.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
Junk Car Value Statistics, Sell Car Advisor
"On this page: 1 figure from same-day quotes by several buyers" Accessed Oct. 19, 2026
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