The bottom line: If your car has a bad engine, online junk buyers are your best option. Peddle, Wheelzy, CashForCars and CarBrain all buy non-running cars, send a free tow truck to your home, and pay you at pickup.
Dealerships rarely take non-running cars, and private buyers almost never want them.
Buyers offer about 46% less for a car that won’t start than for a comparable car that drives. When two or more buyers quoted the same car on the same day, the best and worst offers were typically $314 apart, and for a quarter of cars at least $823.
Compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before you decide.
What would buyers pay for your car with a bad engine?Fill in one form, with “Not working” as the engine status, and see which buyers make an offer for the car as it is.
Key Takeaways
gives you up to seven days to accept, and covers all 50 states, including rural areas other buyers don’t reach.
offers same-day or next-day pickup in many areas but won’t buy a vehicle older than 1981.
is backed by Copart with around 200 locations, and pays by check at pickup.
pays you before the tow truck drives away, but won’t buy a car missing its engine or transmission entirely.
- Be specific in quote forms: “rod knock, won’t start” gets a more accurate offer than “bad engine.”
- Engine repair costs often match or exceed what the repaired car would sell for, making as-is sales the smarter choice for most sellers.
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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% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
- Buys damaged cars, even ones that can't be driven
- The engine and transmission must still be in
- Free towing, included with every offer
- Picks up within 48 hours, sometimes the same day
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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
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 Online Places to Sell Your Car With a Bad Engine
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
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
Peddle buys cars in any condition, including vehicles that won’t start. Their quote form has specific options for engine problems, so you don’t need to describe your car as being in good condition to get an offer.
Fill out the form online, get an instant quote in about 2 minutes, and accept if you’re happy with it. You have up to seven days to accept, so check other buyers first.
Once you accept, Peddle arranges free towing from your home. The tow driver brings payment at pickup, inspects the car to confirm it matches your description, and loads it onto the truck.
What makes them stand out:
- Covers all 50 states, including rural areas where other buyers may not reach
- Up to seven days to accept the offer
- Buys cars that won’t start, have missing parts, or are simply old
- Can buy without a title in some states for deceased owner or lost title situations
What you should know: Offers can change at pickup if the driver finds issues you didn’t mention, or if a dead battery keeps the dashboard from showing the mileage. Pickup windows are typically 4-hour blocks, not a specific time. Payment is a company check at pickup, with ACH inside three business days.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy buys cars in any condition, running or not
- Buys cars without keys
- Buys cars missing parts, engine and transmission in
- Pays cash or check at pickup
- Quote often needs a phone call
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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% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
Wheelzy is the fastest option if you need your car gone quickly. Many locations offer same-day or next-day pickup, which matters when you can’t wait a couple of days.
Submit your car details online or by phone. You get an instant offer based on your vehicle, though the quote sometimes needs a follow-up phone call before it’s finalized.
Once you accept, Wheelzy coordinates free pickup through independent tow contractors near you. The driver brings payment when the tow truck arrives.
What makes them stand out:
- Picks up within 48 hours, sometimes the same day
- Buys vehicles with blown engines, dead transmissions, and collision damage
- Free towing whether your car runs or not
- Offer checked at pickup, and you can turn down a lower one
What you should know: Wheelzy won’t buy vehicles older than 1981. First offers can be on the low side.
Some BBB complaints mention last-minute price changes at pickup. Payment is check or cash and depends on the tow company.
CashForCars.com
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.com is backed by Copart and runs a network of around 200 locations across the US. They buy cars that won’t start, have bad engines, or look rough, and they can pick yours up as soon as 24 hours after you accept.
Get a quote in about 2 minutes online or by calling (877) 748-6945. A vehicle purchasing agent walks you through the process and answers questions. In our 2026 testing, CashForCars offered $375 for a 2008 Subaru Outback with rear damage and $387 for a 2003 Honda Accord with a salvage title, both competitive with Peddle and Wheelzy.
What makes them stand out:
- Around 200 locations means faster local pickup in most of the country
- Pickup as soon as 24 hours after you accept
- Offers matched or beat Peddle and Wheelzy on damaged cars in our tests
- Quotes hold for a limited time, with no fixed number of days
What you should know: Payment is a check from the tow driver at pickup, and how long it takes to clear varies. On a car with a loan, they will not take it until the lien is paid off and the title is out of the lienholder’s hands.
Getting a specific pickup time can be hard since trucks batch their routes.
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 has been buying damaged and broken-down cars since 2007. Their quote form is built for problem cars, so describing engine damage is straightforward. You get what CarBrain calls a guaranteed offer that already accounts for the bad engine. Some sellers report that offer cut after they accepted, so describe the engine problem exactly on the form.
You get paid before the tow truck drives away. Their quote form also let us counter the first offer, worth using if you think your car is worth more, and there are no fees or hidden charges at any point.
In our 2026 testing, CarBrain offered $350 for a 2003 Honda Accord with a salvage title and $345 for a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer that didn’t drive. Slightly lower than some competitors on the same cars, so compare all four buyers before you accept.
What makes them stand out:
- You get paid before the car leaves your property
- Its quote form let us counter the first offer, worth using if you think it’s too low
- Quotes valid for 7 days with no pressure to accept
- No fees or hidden charges at any point
What you should know: CarBrain won’t buy cars missing their engine or transmission. The title must be in your name.
Offers tend to run a bit lower than some competitors.
How Does the Online Selling Process Work?
The process is the same with all four buyers. From filling out the first quote form to cash in hand takes about two days.
Step 1: Get quotes from multiple buyers. Fill out each company’s online form. It takes 2 to 5 minutes per form.
Describe your engine problem specifically. The best offer was at least double the worst for 39% of cars quoted by two or more buyers on the same day, so check all four before deciding.
Step 2: Accept the highest offer. You have no obligation to accept any quote.
Once you find the best number, accept online or by phone. Peddle and CarBrain give you up to 7 days to accept your offer, and Wheelzy and CashForCars publish no set window.
Step 3: Schedule free pickup. The company arranges a tow truck to come to your home. Most give you a 4-hour pickup window.
Remove your personal belongings and take off your license plates before the driver arrives; in Oregon you may leave them on, and they must stay with the car in Alaska, California, Hawaii and Minnesota.
Step 4: Get paid at pickup. The driver inspects your car to confirm it matches your description and hands you payment before loading the car.
Payment is check or cash depending on the tow company. If the car doesn’t match your description, the driver may adjust the offer before completing the sale.
Your Car Still Has Value (Even With a Dead Engine)
How Much Is a Car With a Blown Engine Worth?
Your car’s value drops with engine failure, but it’s not zero. In our 2026 testing, damaged and non-running cars received offers of $345 to $600 for older vehicles. Newer cars in otherwise good shape are offered far more, even with engine problems.
In matched groups of the same age and mileage, a car that won’t start is offered about 46% less than one that drives, and one that starts but can’t be driven about 29% less, from cars of every age quoted by several buyers. For older high-mileage vehicles the dollar gap is smaller, because the starting point is lower. If yours is a Ford F-150, that truck’s guide shows which online buyer offered the most for ones that don’t drive.
What the condition of a car does to its best offer 1,564 cars of every age quoted by up to three buyers, compared inside matched mileage and age groupsShow the numbers
Condition Change in best offer Offers Catalytic converter missing -57% 389 Does not start -46% 916 Starts but does not drive -29% 686 Sitting at a mechanic -23% 485 Dashboard warning light on -18% 1,434 Broken glass, mirror or light -14% 867 Body damage -13% 867 Loan outstanding -5% 645 Interior damage -3% 867 Accident history 1% 1,434 
What Affects Your Car’s Value With Engine Problems
Make and model: Toyota and Honda are offered more than the typical car 10 years and older in our offer data.
Vehicle age and mileage: Newer vehicles with lower mileage are worth more because more of the car can be reused. A 2020 model with 50,000 miles is worth more to a parts buyer than a 2008 with 200,000 miles.
Overall condition: Clean interior, no rust, good tires, and working electronics all push the offer up. Buyers look at the whole car, not just the engine.
Our offer figures by age start at ten years old. Across every condition, the typical offer is $1,235 for a car 10 to 12 years old, $555 at 15 to 17 and $410 past 20, over every offer since 2021; in the last twelve months alone, half of all offers on cars 10 years and older fell between $355 and $1,105. A car that won’t start lands toward the bottom of its age band, by about the share the condition chart shows.
Typical cash offer by car age 12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older · Age of car when the offer was made (years)Show the numbers
Age (years) Typical offer Offers 10-12 $1,235 2,808 13-14 $720 1,746 15-17 $555 2,735 18-19 $465 1,527 20-24 $410 2,331 25-29 $360 712 30+ $340 453
Why Fixing It First Usually Doesn’t Make Sense
Engine replacement in the US typically costs between $6,000 and $12,000 depending on the vehicle. That’s before you factor in labor and anything else the mechanic finds once the engine is out.
For most sellers, the repaired car won’t be worth enough to cover those costs. Use RepairPal to get a repair estimate for your specific vehicle before making any decisions.
Your Other Options for Selling
Online buyers are the fastest and easiest path for most people with a bad engine. Here’s how all four options compare.
| Selling Option | Timeline | Typical Payout | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online car buyers | 24 to 48 hours | $350 to $5,000 | Fast cash, simple sale |
| Dealership trade-in | Same day | Very low, varies | Buying another car there |
| Private sale | Weeks to months | Highest potential | Patient sellers with time |
| Direct junkyard sale | 1 to 3 days | Scrap value only | Very old or stripped cars |
Can You Trade In a Car With a Blown Engine?
Dealerships will sometimes accept cars with blown engines as trade-ins, but only if you’re buying another vehicle from them. Most dealers aren’t set up for non-running cars and won’t take them at all.
If a dealer does accept your car, they subtract their estimated repair costs from any offer. That value goes toward your new car purchase, not cash in your hand. You’ll almost always get less than an online buyer would offer.
Private Sale
Selling privately is the highest-paying option in theory, but it’s very hard with a bad engine. Most private buyers want a car they can drive home. When you disclose the engine problem, your buyer pool shrinks to mechanics, DIY enthusiasts, and people who want parts.
Expect weeks or months to find a buyer, lots of lowball offers, and buyers who ask for test drives you can’t provide. For most sellers, the work isn’t worth the small potential upside over an online buyer’s offer.
Selling Directly to a Junkyard
You can call junkyards yourself and get quotes based on your car’s scrap weight plus any valuable parts. They buy cars in any condition, but they typically offer scrap value only, which is lower than what online buyers offer.
You also usually pay for towing ($100 to $300) unless the junkyard offers free pickup. Online buyers do this same junkyard shopping for you automatically, so you don’t have to call around yourself.
How to Get the Most Money for Your Car
Get Quotes From All Four Buyers
Each company uses a different formula to calculate offers. In our 2026 testing, Peddle offered $385 for a car where CarBrain came in at $350 and Wheelzy at $351. That’s a $35 difference on one car, but the gap can be much wider on others: the best offer was more than triple the worst for 21% of cars 10 years and older quoted by two or more buyers on the same day, in our own quote data.
The gap between best and worst offer, by car age 998 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same day · Age of car when quoted (years)Show the numbers
Age (years) Typical gap between best and worst offer Offers 10-12 $661 236 13-14 $518 181 15-17 $244 185 18-19 $217 123 20-24 $162 185 25+ $122 88
Spend 20 to 30 minutes getting quotes from all four buyers and pick the highest one.
Be Specific About the Engine Problem
Vague descriptions lead to vague quotes. “Engine makes loud knocking and won’t start” gets a more accurate offer than “bad engine.” The engine problems table in the next section has the exact language to use for each type of problem.
Don’t hide issues to get a better initial quote. The tow driver inspects your car at pickup and may lower the offer if they find undisclosed damage. Being accurate upfront keeps your quoted price intact.
Have Your Title Ready
You need your car’s title to sell it legally in every state; only nine exempt the oldest vehicles. If you can’t find it, apply for a duplicate title through your DMV before getting quotes. Processing runs from the same day in person in some states to two months or more by mail in others, so start early if you need one.
Some companies buy without titles, but buyers offer less for a car with a missing title than for a comparable car with a clean title in hand. The title proves ownership and keeps the sale legally clean for both sides.
Common Engine Problems and How to Describe Them
Use specific language when filling out a quote form. Buyers use your description to calculate an accurate offer. Here’s what to say for the most common engine problems.
| Engine Problem | What to Say in the Quote Form |
|---|---|
| Seized or locked engine | Engine won’t turn over at all, seized from overheating or oil starvation |
| Blown head gasket | Engine overheats constantly, white smoke from exhaust, coolant and oil mixing |
| Cracked engine block | Major coolant leak, engine won’t hold temperature, needs full replacement |
| Rod knock | Loud knocking that gets worse at acceleration, needs rebuild or replacement |
| Timing belt or chain failure | Belt snapped, engine stopped suddenly, possible internal valve damage |
| Major oil leak with engine damage | Severe oil leak, engine ran dry, may have seized from oil starvation |
| Overheating damage | Engine overheated multiple times, warped head, blown gaskets, needs replacement |
| Won’t start, cause unknown | Engine cranks but won’t fire OR doesn’t crank at all |
For more detail on a specific problem, read our guide on selling a car with a blown head gasket.
Should You Fix the Engine Before Selling?
Run the Numbers First
Engine replacement in the US typically costs between $6,000 and $12,000 according to Airtasker data. Even a head gasket alone is $2,572 to $3,386, with parts at the manufacturer’s list price, according to RepairPal, and a timing chain $2,120 to $2,764.
What common repairs cost RepairPal national averages, 21 repairs, dated 2026-09-03Show the numbers
Repair Low estimate High estimate Transmission replacement $6,238 $6,764 Head gasket $2,572 $3,386 Timing chain $2,120 $2,764 Catalytic converter $2,280 $2,480 Clutch $1,630 $2,047 Radiator $1,368 $1,550 Fuel pump $1,344 $1,513 AC compressor $1,081 $1,463 Shock or strut $1,144 $1,348 Muffler $1,138 $1,190 Engine control module $1,122 $1,192 Timing belt $918 $1,338 Water pump $891 $1,135 Alternator $809 $1,088 Starter $565 $796 EGR valve $489 $632 Oxygen sensor $440 $523 Wheel bearing $346 $504 Brake pads $335 $394 Spark plugs $288 $399 Ignition coil $238 $320 
Compare that against what you’d gain. If your car would be worth $10,000 running and you spend $8,000 to fix it, you’ve added $2,000 in value. Selling as-is today for $1,500 and skipping the repair risk is often the smarter financial move.
Is Your Model’s Engine a Known Problem?
Some engines fail in a known way, and a recall, an extended warranty or a class settlement can mean the maker pays for the engine.
| Model | Years | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cruze | 2011 to 2015 | Coolant leaks or a cracked PCV valve, cheap to fix before it overheats |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2010 to 2017 | The 2.4-liter burns oil through worn piston rings |
| Ford Edge | 2015 to 2018 | The 2.0-liter EcoBoost takes in coolant, with no recall to pay for it |
| Ford Escape | 2013 to 2019 | Coolant leaks into the EcoBoost’s cylinders |
| Ford Explorer | 2011 to 2017 | The V6 water pump, inside the engine |
| Honda Accord | 2018 to 2020 | The head gasket on the 1.5 turbo and Hybrid, which Honda now covers |
| Honda CR-V | 2017 to 2019 | The 1.5-liter turbo’s head gasket, which Honda may cover |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2011 to 2014 | Theta II engine bearings; Hyundai may replace it free |
| Kia Optima | 2011 to 2016 | Theta II bearings; Kia may fit an engine or buy the car back |
| Kia Sorento | 2011 to 2018 | Rod bearings or a V6 head gasket; Kia may cover either |
| Kia Soul | 2014 to 2019 | A failed engine Kia may owe you a new one for |
| Toyota Camry | 2007 to 2009 | The 2.4-liter burns oil, and Toyota’s free fix has ended |
Why Most People Shouldn’t Fix It
You pay retail prices for parts and labor, then sell at used car prices. Dealers have wholesale repair costs and guaranteed buyers. You don’t.
The math almost never works in a private seller’s favor.
Fixing one problem often reveals others. That engine replacement might also need a new transmission, catalytic converter, or electrical work once the mechanic gets into it. Sell as-is, take the cash, and let someone else handle the repairs.
| Scenario | Cost to Fix | Value After Repair | Sell As-Is | Net Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Honda Civic | $7,000 | $9,000 | $2,000 | $0 (break even) |
| 2012 Ford Focus | $6,500 | $7,000 | $1,200 | -$700 (lose money) |
| 2018 Toyota Camry | $8,000 | $15,000 | $4,000 | $3,000 (worth considering) |
Even in the best case, like the Toyota Camry example above, you’d still need to find a buyer, negotiate a sale, and hope no other problems come up during the repair process. For most sellers, taking cash today is the better call.
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
FAQ
Is it better to part out my car or sell it whole?
Selling whole is almost always faster and simpler. Parting out a car takes months, requires storage space and mechanical knowledge, and means dealing with dozens of buyers one part at a time.
You might end up with more money eventually, but most sellers prefer a clean cash offer today over a months-long project.
Article Update History
Offer figures now come from Sell Car Advisor quote data, repair costs from RepairPal national averages, and title and plate rules from the state paperwork checklist in MyGarage.
Offer ranges and company details now come from new quotes on damaged and non-running cars.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"What Are the Common Causes of Misfires?" Accessed Mar. 17, 2026.
"How much does engine replacement cost in the US?" Accessed Mar. 17, 2026.
"10 Common Car Engine Problems and What Causes Them" Accessed Mar. 17, 2026.
"8 Common Engine Problems and How to Fix Them" Accessed Mar. 17, 2026.
What the condition of a car does to its best offer, Junk Car Value Statistics
"1,564 cars of every age quoted by up to three buyers, compared inside matched mileage and age groups" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Typical cash offer by car age, Junk Car Value Statistics
"12,312 offers, cars 10 years and older" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
The gap between best and worst offer, by car age, Junk Car Value Statistics
"998 cars 10 years and older, each quoted by two or more buyers on the same day" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Junk Car Value Statistics, Sell Car Advisor
"On this page: 6 figures from 17,628 instant cash offers, and 7 figures from same-day quotes by several buyers" Accessed Oct. 19, 2026
"$2,572 to $3,386, head gasket replacement cost; $2,120 to $2,764, timing chain replacement cost" Accessed Sep. 11, 2026
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