The bottom line: Buyers offer about 46% less for a car that won’t start than for a comparable car that drives. If repairs cost more than that gap, online car buyers are the most realistic way to sell it.
Peddle, Wheelzy, CarBrain and CashForCars buy non-running cars as they are. They typically offer more than a scrap yard would, though less than the same car would bring running.
What you gain is convenience. They handle the pickup at a time you book, so you spend nothing on towing or on repairs that don’t make financial sense.
Don’t expect miracles on price. A car that needs $3,000 in engine work isn’t suddenly worth $2,000 to these buyers. But if you want it gone and need some cash, this is your easiest path forward.
What would buyers pay for your car if it doesn’t run?Fill in one form, saying it doesn’t start or drive, and see which buyers make an offer for the car as it is.
Key Takeaways
- All buyersCompare quotes: Each buyer sets its own deadline on a quote, so get all four before you accept one.
- All buyersAt pickup: Describe the car exactly as it is, because a buyer can lower its offer at pickup if the car doesn’t match.
Highest offer: CashForCars offered the most for our non-running Trailblazer, $375, though all four offers came within $30.
Very old cars: Peddle buys cars of any age, so try it first for a car made before 1981, which Wheelzy won’t buy.
Slower quotes: Wheelzy sometimes asks for a phone call before it quotes a non-running car, so allow extra time.
Negotiating: CarBrain’s quote form let us counter its first offer, which helps when few buyers want a car that won’t run.
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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
What Makes a Car “Non-Running”?
Your car is considered non-running if it can’t move under its own power or start at all. A car that broke down but might be worth fixing, or one with mechanical problems that still drives, is a different sale.
This happens for lots of reasons. Maybe your engine seized up, the transmission gave out, or you’ve got serious electrical problems.
Sometimes it’s something simple like a dead battery, but more often it’s a bigger issue that would cost thousands to fix.
If your mechanic quotes $6,238 to $6,764 for a new transmission, RepairPal‘s national average, on a car buyers would offer less than that for running, it’s probably not worth fixing.
The question isn’t whether the car can be fixed, but whether fixing it pays.
Why Is Selling Often Better Than Repairing?
If repair costs are more than 50% of your car’s current value, selling as-is usually makes more sense. For example, a $2,500 engine repair on a car worth $4,000 is money you won’t get back when you sell.
If you’re not sure what the repair costs, get a free repair estimate from RepairPal to compare the numbers before you decide.
Beyond the math, keeping a non-running car costs you in other ways:
- Insurance payments (even if you’re not driving it)
- Registration fees, if you keep it registered
- Storage space in your driveway or garage
Non-running cars don’t get better with time. Parts corrode, fluids leak, and problems multiply. When buyers quoted the same car again a year or more later, the typical change in the offer was -$160, and they offered less for 71% of those cars, in our own quote data.
What asking again later cost 109 cars 10 years and older, each quoted twice by the same buyer · Time between the two offersShow the numbers
Gap between offers Typical change in the offer Offers 1 to 3 months $0 40 3 to 6 months -$20 21 6 to 12 months -$135 17 More than a year -$160 31 
How Much Can You Get for a Non-Running Car?
Over the last twelve months, half of all offers on cars 10 years and older, in any condition, fell between $355 and $1,105, and several factors decide where yours lands in that band. Against a comparable car that drives, matched on age and mileage, buyers offer about 46% less for a car that won’t start, and about 29% less for one that starts but can’t be driven, from cars of every age quoted by several buyers, not from non-runners alone.
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 Increases Your Car’s Value:
- Newer model years (2015 and up typically get more)
- Makes that hold their value, like Toyota or Honda
- Trucks and SUVs (they’re heavier and have valuable parts)
- Intact valuable components (catalytic converter, airbags, electronics); buyers offer about 57% less for a car missing its catalytic converter than for the same car with it
What Decreases Value:
- Missing parts or previous damage
- Very high mileage (over 200,000 miles)
- Flood damage or fire damage
- Rare models with no parts demand
Body type moves the offer too. Among cars 10 years and older in any condition, the typical offer on a pickup truck is $855 and on a minivan or van $495, and buyers typically offer $735 for a Corolla or Civic 15 to 17 years old.
Typical junk car offer by body type 10,170 offers, cars 10 years and olderShow the numbers
Body type Typical offer Offers Pickup truck $855 1,035 SUV / crossover $665 3,437 Car (sedan, coupe, hatch) $505 5,115 Minivan / van $495 583
These companies offer more than scrap yards because they consider parts value, not just metal weight. A scrap yard might offer $150 for the metal, while these services might offer $500 for the same car.
Ask more than one of them. Cars that don’t start got an offer from only one buyer 12% of the time, against 5% for cars that drive, in our own quote data. For a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Altima, that model’s guide shows what online buyers offered for ones that won’t start.
Cars that got only one offer 1,069 cars 10 years and older, each put to up to three buyersShow the numbers
Condition Share with one offer Offers Starts and drives 5% 737 All cars 7% 1,069 Body damage 7% 135 Does not start 12% 213 Sitting at a mechanic 12% 77 Catalytic converter missing 17% 42 Loan outstanding 24% 38
The 4 Best Places to Sell Your Non-Running Car
Here are four buyers to start with. For the full ranking, see 6 Best Sites to Sell a Non Running Car.
#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 specializes in older cars and vehicles that other buyers won’t touch. It buys cars that won’t start, have salvage titles, are missing parts, or have been sitting for years.
How It Works:
- Fill out their online form with your car details
- Get an instant quote (takes about 2 minutes)
- Schedule free pickup, which typically comes within 24 to 48 hours
- Get paid at pickup, usually by company check, or cash if the tow company offers it
What Sets Them Apart:
- No minimum age requirement for vehicles
- It quotes cars with no title, and in some states takes other proof of ownership
- Up to seven days to accept the offer
- Available in all 50 states
Best For: Really old cars (15+ years), vehicles without titles, or cars that have been sitting for years.
What to Know: Offers can change at pickup if the driver finds damage that wasn’t described upfront. Being accurate about your car’s condition helps avoid a lower price when they arrive.
When we tested with a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that wouldn’t drive, Peddle offered $355.
#2 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 focuses on fast, transparent transactions for junk and damaged cars. It has built a network of local buyers across the country that it uses to match your car with the best offer in your area.
How It Works:
- Get an online quote, or for some cars a call from its team first
- Accept the offer and schedule pickup
- It comes to you at the pickup time you book
- Get paid at pickup by cash or check, depending on the tow company
What Sets Them Apart:
- Same-day quotes, and pickup within 48 hours, sometimes the same day
- They handle the DMV paperwork for you
- Your offer can drop at pickup if a part like the catalytic converter is missing or replaced, and you can say no
- Strong customer service reputation
Best For: People who want the fastest possible transaction and are willing to accept a lower price for speed and convenience.
What to Know: Wheelzy doesn’t buy vehicles made before 1981. If your car is a 1980 model or older, start with Peddle instead. The “instant” online quote sometimes requires a follow-up phone call before it’s finalized.
When we tested with a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that wouldn’t drive, Wheelzy offered $362.
#3 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 problem cars since 2007, and its own count is close to a million offers made. It buys wrecked, broken, and high-mileage cars that dealerships reject.
How It Works:
- Enter your car info online for an instant quote
- Get a guaranteed offer good for 7 days
- Schedule free pickup, which typically comes within 24 to 48 hours
- Get paid before the tow truck drives away
What Sets Them Apart:
- No pushy sales tactics or pressure to accept right away
- Free towing across the 48 contiguous states
- Its quote form let us counter the first offer, worth using if you think your car is worth more
- No fees or hidden charges at any point
Best For: Newer non-running cars (2000 and up) or vehicles with valuable intact components. It buys cars with salvage titles and accident history.
What to Know: Its offers tend to run a bit lower than some competitors’. Shopping around before accepting is a smart move.
When we tested with a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that wouldn’t drive, CarBrain offered $345.
#4 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 is owned by Copart, one of the country’s largest auto auction companies. It buys cars in any condition and can reach you through a network of nearly 200 locations nationwide.
How It Works:
- Get a quote online or by calling (877) 748-6945
- Review your offer (good for a limited time, and open to change until you’re paid)
- Schedule free pickup at a time that works for you
- Sign the paperwork and get paid at pickup
What Sets Them Apart:
- Pickup within 24 hours in most cases, sometimes the same day
- Also buys boats, motorcycles, and RVs
- It handles all the paperwork for title transfer
Best For: Sellers who want flexible scheduling and the backing of a large national operation. Suitable for unusual situations like partial vehicles or cars with complex ownership issues.
When we tested with a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that wouldn’t drive, CashForCars offered $375, the highest of the four.
How to Get Rid of a Car That Doesn’t Run
Step 1: Gather what you have. You don’t need everything on this list, but having these ready speeds things up:
- Title (every state requires one to sell; nine exempt only the oldest vehicles) and, if you have it, your registration
- Driver’s license
- Keys, if you still have them (no keys is fine, the car gets flatbedded either way)
Step 2: Get your quote and be specific about why it won’t run. Don’t just say “it doesn’t start.” Tell them exactly what’s wrong: blown engine, bad transmission, dead electrical system, or that it’s been sitting for three years with no idea what’s wrong.
The more detail you give upfront, the less likely the driver is to lower your price when they arrive. Also mention any other damage: missing catalytic converter, body damage, missing parts. These all affect the offer.
Step 3: Check that the tow truck can actually reach your car. This is the step most people forget. If your car is in a garage, behind another vehicle, on soft ground, or in a tight spot, let the company know before pickup day.
A flatbed tow truck needs reasonable clearance to load the car safely. If access is tricky, mention it when you schedule. Some companies can send a different type of tow truck or coordinate a specific time.
Step 4: Clear out your personal items. Check the glove box, under both seats, the trunk, and any door pockets.
Remove your license plates too. In 46 states they stay with you, to transfer or return to the DMV yourself; in Alaska, California, Hawaii and Minnesota they stay on the car, and in Oregon they stay unless you take them off.
Step 5: Be there for pickup. The driver will compare the car to what you described. If everything matches, you sign a couple of papers and get paid before the truck leaves.
If the car is in worse shape than described, the driver may adjust the offer on the spot. You’re never forced to accept. You can walk away if the new number doesn’t work for you.
Alternative Options
Local Scrap Yards: Usually offer $150 to $400 based purely on metal weight. You’ll need to tow the car there yourself, but you get cash immediately.
Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist: Might get you more money if your car has valuable parts or restoration potential. This requires dealing with individual buyers and comes with more hassle and safety considerations.
Donating for Tax Benefits: Only makes sense if you itemize deductions and the car sells for more than $500. Most non-running cars don’t meet this threshold.
The selling vs. donating guide has the full breakdown.
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
FAQ
Do I need a title to sell my non-running car?
Peddle will sometimes buy without one, and so may Wheelzy, depending on where the car is; CarBrain and CashForCars generally require a title. Those that do offer less than for a comparable car with a clean title in hand.
Can I sell a car that’s been in an accident?
Accident damage usually doesn’t disqualify your car. Once age and mileage are matched, an accident history on its own made almost no difference to the best offer in our data, a change of +1%, while body damage lowered it by about 13% against a comparable car without it.
Do I have to be present when they pick up the car?
Yes, someone 18 or older who can sign paperwork needs to be there. This can be you or someone you trust, but they’ll need your ID and any necessary documents.
What happens to my car after I sell it?
Most get stripped for usable parts, then the metal gets recycled. Some cars in better condition might get rebuilt and resold.
Is it better to part out my car myself?
Only if you have mechanical skills, tools, storage space, and lots of time. Most people make more money per hour at their regular job than they would parting out a car themselves.
Are there any hidden fees I should know about?
Legitimate buyers make money by offering you less than what they’ll get for parts and scrap, not by charging you.
If someone asks for upfront fees, that’s a warning sign. Our guide on selling without getting scammed covers what to watch out for.
Can you trade in a car that doesn’t run?
Some dealers will, but only against a car you’re buying from them, and they take their own repair estimate off the trade-in value first. Get an online buyer’s cash offer before you go in, so you know what the trade-in credit has to beat.
Article Update History
Offer figures now come from Sell Car Advisor quote data, and title and plate rules from the state paperwork checklist in MyGarage.
Each company's process, pickup timeline and payment checked against current policies; the quotes are from a non-running Chevy Trailblazer.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
What asking again later cost, Junk Car Value Statistics
"109 cars 10 years and older, each quoted twice by the same buyer" Accessed Oct. 16, 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 junk car offer by body type, Junk Car Value Statistics
"10,170 offers, cars 10 years and older" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Cars that got only one offer, Junk Car Value Statistics
"1,069 cars 10 years and older, each put to up to three buyers" Accessed Oct. 16, 2026
Junk Car Value Statistics, Sell Car Advisor
"On this page: 9 figures from 17,628 instant cash offers, and 9 figures from same-day quotes by several buyers" Accessed Oct. 19, 2026
"$6,238 to $6,764, transmission replacement cost" Accessed Sep. 11, 2026
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