When it comes to scrapping a car, it’s fairly common knowledge that you’ll likely get more money for breaking it down and selling each part individually. If you have the time, the knowhow and the storage capabilities, then you’re absolutely going to want to go about it part by part. But what parts are going to find you the most pennies in your coffer by the end? Let us guide you through what parts you need to prioritise, and which simply aren’t worth the hassle.
What parts should I sell?
Engine
Without an engine, a car is useless. Even if a car is absolutely perfect in every other way, a broken engine could write it off on its own. Make sure you drain all the fluids first before ladremoving, and check online for your specific model to see what type of figure you could be sitting on. An engine that’s been round the clock a couple of times will obviously not fetch the same as one that’s only done a few thousand miles. Equally, a high performance or rarer engine will hold a lot more value than a more common option.
Even if your engine’s not working any more, it’s still worth getting it out and taking it to your local scrap merchant. Engines are full of metal that a scrap yard is going to be desperate to get their hands on, so it’s well worth taking it down there to see what they can do for you.
Catalytic converter
Probably one of the most well-known high-value parts of a car, the catalytic converter has been known to be a cause for numerous vehicle thefts, or vandalism. Catalytic converters are relatively easy to remove from a car, and are full of precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. These carry a lot of value, hence their tendency to be a target for criminals.
The catalytic converter also forms a key part of the modern car exhaust system as they help to filter toxic fumes and as a result if you have one still in working order, you can expect to get a good price for it. Either way, working or not, the catalytic converter is going to get you a good chunk of cash.
Airbags
If you still have an in-tact airbag system then this could find you a nice little payday. If a car is built with airbags as standard, then it is illegal to have these removed, and faulty airbags are an instant MOT failure. With this in mind replacement airbags are always a hot commodity, and if you’re able to remove a complete system then you could have a nice little earner.
However, be wary. Removing an airbag can be a very dangerous project, particularly if you accidentally trigger the explosive system inside. It’s important that any work carried out on airbags is done with the car’s battery disconnected and by a trained professional.
Stereo
An old favourite of the car thieves, stereos and radios can hold a lot of residual value when your car is running to the end of its working life. There’s no moving parts to a radio, and quite often they can plug and play in a number of different car models. Not only are they fairly simple bits of equipment, they can be quite easy to remove, meaning even someone with minimal technical knowledge can remove them (although all of the above may somewhat be harking back to a slightly bygone era with the vast explosion of modern built-in infotainment systems).
You don’t even need to worry about taking the radio to your local scrappy. Simply remove it, and pop it up on any number of leading auction websites or local selling pages.
Exterior panels
Some of the often overlooked parts that can be claimed from a crashed car are the exterior panels. Just because you’ve had a prang at the front doesn’t mean the entire car is now useless. There’s bumpers (front and back), bonnets, bootlids.. even doors! Most of the time these parts are quite easy to pop on or off (maybe less so when it comes to doors), and due to the frequent nature in which they can be damaged every day, are hugely popular when it comes to the spare part market.
How do I sell car parts?
If you’ve been able to remove some of the most valuable parts from your car, you’re probably now looking at a collection of components that you know hold value, but wondering what to do next. The simplest option is to sell them online on one of the many selling locations. Think eBay, Facebook Marketplace or similar.
You’ll want to ensure that these parts are in the best condition to get the very best price out of them, so before you list them for sale, give them a good cleanup. Have a think about what you’d be looking for if you were searching for a specific part, and don’t list it until it’s in a condition you’d like to buy it. It’s also worth doing some research first. You might have a figure in your head as to what you want to get for each individual part, but a quick look online will show you how much to expect, and where to set your prices at. A lower price will likely find you a quicker sale, but if you price yourself too highly you might find no interest at all.
Easiest way to sell a car for parts
Use a service like Scrap Car Comparison to sell your car for parts in a quick and easy way. You don’t even have to do any of the work yourself! By using our team, we’ll find a buyer who’s prepared to do break the car down into its spare parts for you. We have buyers on hand waiting for cars just like yours across the country, and we’ll always work to ensure you get the very best price possible. Better yet, with a network of buyers across the country, you won’t find a faster sale anywhere, for any car!
