I want to take the guesswork out of selling your car. I analyze market data, decode DMV title laws, and test out online car buyers to give you a straight answer on whether it's worth holding out for a higher price or if you're better off taking the most convenient offer and moving on.
Published:Mar 12, 2026
Last Updated:Mar 12, 2026
✓ Fact Checked:Mar 12, 2026
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The bottom line: Your car caught fire. The insurance company may have already declared it a total loss, or the damage is less severe and you’re not sure if there’s any money left in it.
Either way, private buyers won’t touch a burned car, and dealerships will turn you away the moment fire damage comes up. But a few online car buyers buy these cars regularly and will still make you an offer.
How much you get depends on how severe the damage is, whether the car still runs, and what title situation you’re in after a fire. If you need the full process and paperwork walkthrough, see our guide on how to sell a fire damaged car.
Key Takeaways
was the only buyer to give instant quotes on all 5 fire-damaged vehicles we tested, with offers ranging from $360 to $400.
routed all 5 fire-damaged vehicles to a required phone call instead of an instant online quote.
also required a phone call for every fire-damaged car we submitted, despite having around 200 locations backed by Copart.
lets you counter their first offer, which can matter more when fewer buyers are willing to take on a fire-damaged vehicle.
and can get you more money but require you to handle the listing, buyer screening, and paperwork yourself.
No single company offered the most on every vehicle. The winner changed depending on the car.
Our take on Peddle:Peddle buys cars in almost any condition, including those with fire or smoke damage. They have a built-in question in their quote form asking whether your car has been in a flood or fire, and they still show you a dollar amount on the screen when you answer yes. Towing is free, and most pickups happen within 48 hours of accepting.
Pros
Only buyer in our test to show instant quotes on all 5 fire-damaged vehicles without a phone call
Quote is valid for 7 days so you have time to compare other buyers for your burned car
Free towing handles cars that won’t start due to fire or electrical damage
Cons
Offers can drop at pickup if fire damage turns out to be worse than described online
Cars with a salvage title from a fire insurance claim may get lower offers than cars with a clean title
Pickup windows are 4-hour blocks, not a specific arrival time
Why we picked it: Peddle offered instant quotes on all five fire-damaged vehicles, while Wheelzy and CashForCars both required a phone call every time. The highest offer we saw in the entire test came from Peddle on the 1992 Nissan 300ZX at $400. That consistency across very different vehicles, from a 35,546-mile Ford Ranger to a 200,803-mile Infiniti QX56, shows Peddle’s algorithm is built to handle fire damage without needing a human in the loop.
How Peddle asks about fire damage in their quote form:
Peddle was the only buyer that gave instant quotes on every fire-damaged car we tested.
Our take on Wheelzy:Wheelzy buys wrecked, totaled, and heavily damaged vehicles that most private buyers won’t touch. They ask specifically about fire damage in their form, offering two choices: “No Damage” or “Some Damage.” For every fire-damaged car we submitted with some damage selected, they routed us to a purchasing team call rather than showing an instant quote. You can often counter their first offer if you have quotes from other buyers.
Pros
Buys fire and smoke damaged cars that dealers and private buyers turn away
Will often match or beat competitor offers if you have a higher quote for your burned car
Free towing handles cars that won’t move due to fire-related electrical or engine damage
Cons
Required a phone call for all 5 fire-damaged vehicles in our test instead of showing instant quotes
Won’t buy vehicles older than 1981, which rules out some classic cars with fire damage
Some BBB complaints mention price changes at pickup, which is a bigger concern with fire-damaged cars since damage is harder to assess remotely
Why we picked it: Wheelzy routed every fire-damaged car we submitted to a phone call, but that phone call gives you a chance to push back on their number. Their review process for “Some Damage” fire cars likely means a purchasing agent looks at your vehicle before quoting. If you already have Peddle’s instant offer in hand, Wheelzy will sometimes match or beat it when you call.
How Wheelzy asks about fire damage in their quote form:
Wheelzy will often match a higher offer if you have a competing quote for your fire-damaged car.
Our take on CashForCars:CashForCars is owned by Copart, one of the largest vehicle auction companies in the world, with about 200 locations across the country. They buy cars with fire history and ask specifically about it in their quote form. For all 5 fire-damaged cars we submitted, they routed us to a buyer contact rather than an instant online quote. Their nationwide network can mean faster local pickup in many areas.
Pros
Backed by Copart’s auction network, giving fire-damaged cars more resale options than smaller buyers
Around 200 locations means same-day pickup is possible in more areas for burned vehicles
Handles all title paperwork, which matters if the fire caused a total loss and triggered a salvage title
Cons
Required a phone call for all 5 fire-damaged cars we tested, with no instant online quote available
Payment is by check only, with a 24-hour bank hold before you can access the money
Won’t buy your car if you still owe money on it, which can complicate a fire loss situation
Why we picked it: CashForCars, backed by Copart’s auction infrastructure, has more channels to resell a fire-damaged vehicle than a smaller buyer might. In our test, they required a call for every fire-damaged car we submitted, but Copart’s buyer network specifically deals with salvage and damaged vehicles at auction, which is where these cars end up anyway. If you’re in a metro area with a nearby Copart location, CashForCars may offer faster scheduling than competitors.
How CashForCars asks about fire damage in their quote form:
CashForCars is backed by Copart and has around 200 locations for faster pickup on fire-damaged vehicles.
Our take on CarBrain:CarBrain has been buying problem cars since 2007 and has handled close to a million vehicles. They buy fire-damaged cars along with wrecked, flooded, and mechanically broken vehicles. What sets them apart is that you can push back on their first offer, which matters when fewer buyers are competing for a damaged car. Most cars get an online quote right away; some fire-damaged cars may need a follow-up call.
Pros
You can counter their first offer, which gives you an edge when selling a car with fire damage to a smaller pool of buyers
Buys fire-damaged cars that are non-running due to electrical damage or burned engines
Quote is good for 7 days so you can compare other buyers before committing
Cons
Offers tend to run lower than some competitors for the same fire-damaged vehicle
The title must be in your name before they can buy, which can be a hurdle after a fire insurance total loss
Some sellers report not receiving their paperwork confirmation quickly after pickup
Why we picked it: CarBrain’s negotiation option is specifically useful when selling a fire-damaged car because the buyer pool is smaller than for cars in normal condition. When fewer buyers are interested, being able to push back on a first offer and having 7 days to compare quotes from Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars gives you more control. CarBrain has been doing this since 2007, which means they’ve priced fire-damaged vehicles of many types before.
CarBrain lets you counter their first offer, which matters when the buyer pool for fire-damaged cars is smaller.
Our take on eBay Motors:eBay Motors is a listing platform where you can auction your fire-damaged car to around 11 million monthly buyers nationwide. You pay a flat fee of $19 to $79 depending on the package you choose, with no percentage taken from your final sale price. Fire-damaged and salvage cars do sell on eBay Motors, especially to rebuilders, restoration shops, and parts buyers who look for exactly this type of vehicle.
The trade-off is that you handle everything: writing the listing, taking photos of all the damage, answering buyer questions, and arranging title transfer. You can often get more money this way than from an instant offer buyer, but it takes real effort and time.
Best For Free Local Listings: Facebook Marketplace
Our take on Facebook Marketplace:Facebook Marketplace is free to list on and reaches local buyers quickly. Fire-damaged cars do appear here and sometimes attract parts buyers, rebuilders, or people looking for a project. Be upfront in your listing about the fire history and show clear photos of all damage. Hiding the extent of fire damage wastes your time and theirs.
You’ll likely get more inquiries here than from instant offer buyers, but most won’t be serious. Expect to screen a lot of messages and meet buyers in person. You handle all paperwork yourself with no towing help.
Only buyer with instant quotes on all fire-damaged cars tested
Phone call required for fire-damaged cars
Cash or check at pickup
Will often match higher competing offers
Phone call required for fire-damaged cars
Check at pickup (24-hr bank hold)
Backed by Copart, around 200 locations
Online quote or phone call
Check at pickup
Can counter first offer; buying since 2007
You list, buyers bid or make offers
Buyer pays you directly
11M monthly shoppers; $19 to $79 listing fee
You list, local buyers message you
Buyer pays you directly
Free to list; reaches local buyers fast
Fire Damaged Car Quotes: What Each Buyer Offered
We submitted 5 fire-damaged vehicles to Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars using the same Florida zip code. Here is what each buyer offered or required.
All Offers at a Glance
Vehicle
1992 Ford Ranger
$360
Required call
Required call
1992 Nissan 300ZX
$400
Required call
Required call
2007 Dodge RAM
$365
Required call
Required call
2008 Chrysler Town & Country
$365
Required call
Required call
2010 Infiniti QX56
$365
Required call
Required call
Ford Ranger
Nissan 300ZX
Dodge RAM
Chrysler T&C
Infiniti QX56
1992 Ford Ranger
35,546 miles · Fire damage
$360
Required call
Required call
1992 Nissan 300ZX
140,054 miles · Fire damage
$400
Required call
Required call
2007 Dodge RAM
243,833 miles · Fire damage
$365
Required call
Required call
2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring
159,836 miles · Fire damage
$365
Required call
Required call
2010 Infiniti QX56
200,803 miles · Fire damage
$365
Required call
Required call
Keep in mind: We got these quotes using a Florida zip code. Offers can change depending on where you live, your car’s condition, and what buyers need in your area. You might get higher or lower offers.
What This Tells Us
What this tells us:
Peddle was the only buyer whose algorithm handled fire damage online without routing the car to a phone call, suggesting their system is built to price visible damage directly from seller input rather than relying on human review.
Wheelzy specifically breaks fire damage into two options (“No Damage” or “Some Damage”) in their form, and every car we marked as “Some Damage” was routed to a purchasing team call, suggesting they treat fire damage as a special case that needs agent review before quoting.
CashForCars, backed by Copart’s auction infrastructure, also routed all five fire-damaged cars to a buyer call, which means even a major auction-connected network prefers a human conversation before pricing fire damage rather than relying solely on the online form.
Peddle’s offers clustered in a tight range across five very different vehicles in terms of age, mileage, and type, which suggests there may be a soft floor for fire-damaged cars in their system that doesn’t move much based on the vehicle’s other specs.
CarBrain’s ability to counter a first offer carries more weight here than in a normal sale, because the smaller buyer pool for fire-damaged vehicles means less natural competition between buyers to drive up your price.
If your fire-damaged car was totaled by insurance and now has a salvage title, make sure the title is transferred to your name before contacting buyers. CarBrain and CashForCars both require the title to be in the seller’s name before proceeding.
Getting quotes from Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars takes under 10 minutes. Since Wheelzy will sometimes match higher offers, having Peddle’s instant number first gives you something to bring to that phone conversation.
Not sure which buyer will offer the most for your fire-damaged car? Compare quotes side by side in seconds.
Yes. Peddle buys cars with fire damage and asks about it directly in their quote form. In our test, Peddle was the only buyer to show an instant dollar amount for all 5 fire-damaged vehicles without requiring a phone call first. Their quotes are valid for 7 days, giving you time to compare other offers.
Does Wheelzy buy fire damaged cars?
Yes. Wheelzy buys fire-damaged, wrecked, and totaled vehicles. They ask about fire damage in their form with a “No Damage” or “Some Damage” option. In our test, they routed all 5 fire-damaged cars to a required phone call with their purchasing team rather than showing an instant online quote.
Does CashForCars buy fire damaged cars?
Yes. CashForCars is owned by Copart, which specifically deals in salvage and damaged vehicles at auction. They ask about fire and flood history in their quote form. In our test, all 5 fire-damaged cars were routed to a buyer contact rather than an instant quote. Their nationwide network of around 200 locations can mean faster pickup in many areas.
Does CarBrain buy fire damaged cars?
Yes. CarBrain buys fire-damaged, accident-damaged, and mechanically broken vehicles. Most cars get an online quote right away, though some fire-damaged cars may need a follow-up call. You can push back on their first offer, which helps when fewer buyers are competing for a burned vehicle. The title must be in your name before they can proceed.
How much is a fire damaged car worth?
It depends on how severe the damage is and whether the car still runs. In our test, fire-damaged cars received offers ranging from $360 to $400 from instant offer buyers. Severe fire damage that reaches the engine, wiring harness, or frame tends to lower offers a lot. A car that only has body or interior fire damage and still runs may get closer to its pre-damage value from certain buyers.
Cars with fire damage that was totaled by insurance often come with a salvage title, which reduces what most buyers will offer compared to a clean title vehicle.
Can I sell a fire damaged car with a salvage title?
Yes. Peddle, Wheelzy, CashForCars, and CarBrain all buy cars with salvage titles. The salvage title itself is not a deal-breaker for these buyers. They deal with total-loss and insurance-totaled vehicles regularly. Offers will be lower than for a clean title car, but you can still get a quote and arrange free pickup.
In most cases, selling as is makes more sense. Fire repairs are expensive, especially when wiring, sensors, or structural components are involved. Even after good repair work, fire history on a vehicle’s report tends to lower its resale value anyway. The cost of repairs often exceeds the value they add.
The exception is a car with minor, contained fire damage, such as a small interior fire that didn’t reach the engine or frame. In that case, a cosmetic fix may open up more buyers and better prices than selling to a junk buyer.
Can I sell a totaled car after an insurance payout?
Yes, but there are a few steps. If you accept a total loss payout from your insurer, they typically take ownership of the car. If you want to keep and sell the car yourself, you can sometimes buy it back from the insurer, which will result in a salvage title. You can then sell it to buyers like Peddle, Wheelzy, or CashForCars.
CarBrain also has experience walking sellers through this process. Make sure the title is in your name before contacting any buyer.
Do dealerships buy fire damaged cars?
Most franchised dealerships won’t buy fire-damaged cars for their used inventory because they can’t resell them to the public. Some dealers may send fire-damaged trade-ins straight to auction, and their offer will reflect that. You’ll typically get a better result from dedicated damaged-car buyers like Peddle, Wheelzy, or CashForCars than from a dealership in this situation.
What if my title was destroyed in the fire?
You can still sell the car, but you need a duplicate title first. Contact your state DMV and request a replacement. Most states let you apply online or by mail with a small fee and a copy of your ID. Processing times vary by state, but many issue duplicates within a few days to a few weeks.
None of the major buyers on this list, including Peddle, Wheelzy, CashForCars, or CarBrain, can finalize a sale without the title in your name. Getting the duplicate title sorted out before you request quotes saves time once you’re ready to sell.
What paperwork do I need to sell a fire damaged car?
You need the title in your name and a valid ID. If the fire resulted in a total loss and a salvage title, make sure that title reflects the current status and is signed over to you before selling. Some states require additional forms for salvage vehicles, such as an odometer disclosure or bill of sale.
Peddle, Wheelzy, CashForCars, and CarBrain all walk you through the paperwork once you accept an offer. If your title was lost in the fire itself, contact your state DMV to get a duplicate before proceeding.
Do I have to disclose fire damage when selling a car?
Yes. Most states require sellers to disclose known material defects, and fire damage qualifies. Hiding it from a private buyer can expose you to legal liability after the sale if they discover it. Most states treat this as misrepresentation, which can lead to the buyer reversing the transaction or taking you to small claims court.
For instant offer buyers like Peddle, Wheelzy, CashForCars, and CarBrain, disclosure is built into their quote forms. They ask about fire damage directly, and their offer is based on your answer. If you underreport the damage and the driver finds worse conditions at pickup, the offer can be lowered on the spot. Being honest upfront locks in your quote and avoids surprise price changes when the tow truck arrives.
Methodology
We selected 5 fire-damaged vehicles representing a range of vehicle types, ages, and mileage: a 1992 Ford Ranger Regular Cab (35,546 miles), a 1992 Nissan 300ZX 2+2 (140,054 miles), a 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 Extended Cab SLT (243,833 miles), a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring (159,836 miles), and a 2010 Infiniti QX56 Base (200,803 miles). All five vehicles had visible fire damage shown in the submitted photos or described in the condition fields.
We submitted each vehicle to Peddle, Wheelzy, and CashForCars using the same Florida zip code. We answered all condition questions honestly, selected fire damage where asked, and took screenshots of every result. We did not accept any offers. CarBrain, eBay Motors, and Facebook Marketplace were included in the article based on their service type and relevance to fire-damaged vehicles but were not part of the quote comparison test.
Peddle gave instant online quotes on all 5 vehicles. Wheelzy required a phone call for all 5 vehicles after we selected “Some Damage” for fire in their form. CashForCars submitted all 5 to a buyer contact rather than generating an instant quote, showing a “Thank you, a car buyer will be contacting you” message for each.
We did not accept any offers. Your results may differ based on your location, the extent of fire damage, your car’s specific condition, and which buyers are active in your area at the time you submit.
was the only buyer to give instant quotes on all 5 fire-damaged vehicles we tested, with offers ranging from $360 to $400.
routed all 5 fire-damaged vehicles to a required phone call instead of an instant online quote.
also required a phone call for every fire-damaged car we submitted, despite having around 200 locations backed by Copart.
lets you counter their first offer, which can matter more when fewer buyers are willing to take on a fire-damaged vehicle.
