If you’ve been planning on selling your car, you may be nervous, frustrated, and filled with questions when it gets hit by a hailstorm. How much does hail damage devalue a car? Can you still sell it as-is? Or will you need to have it fixed?
A car that has been damaged by hail can be a difficult sell. Most people are looking for a car in perfect condition, and they aren’t interested in a car with damage — whether it comes from hail, a collision, or anything else.
However, there are still ways to sell a hail damaged car. Keep reading to learn the five best options for selling a car with hail damage.
#1. Private Buyers
Although many are searching for a car in good conditions, many other private buyers have other agendas in mind. Some car enthusiasts are looking for a car to fix up as a project, while others may be interested in the car because it’s a hard-to-find model.
If you’re selling your car privately, it’s important to be honest about the hail damage. You should include photos of the damage in your listing, and you should be prepared to negotiate on the price.
#2. Dealerships
Another option for selling a car with hail damage is to take it to a dealership. Many dealerships are interested in buying cars that have been damaged, because they can either use the parts from the car or they can fix up the car and sell it at a higher price.
#3. Junkyard
If your car is too damaged to sell privately or to a dealership, you can always take it to a junkyard. The junkyard will pay you for the car based on the weight of the metal and the salvageable parts — meaning, they won’t care about the hail damage at all.
This is usually not the best free ebooks option, because you won’t get nearly as much money as you would when selling the car privately or to a dealership. But if your car is totaled and you just want to get rid of it, taking it to the junkyard is a perfectly viable option.
#4. Cash Car Buyers
If you want to get rid of your car quickly, you can always sell it to a “cash car buyer.” These are companies that buy cars in any condition and they will usually give you a fair price for your car — even if it’s damaged.
Just like junkyards, these companies typically won’t pay as much for the car as a private buyer or dealership. However, they may be worth it if you want to sell your car quickly and conveniently.
#5. Selling Your Car for Parts
If your car is too damaged to sell as a whole, you may be able to make some money by selling it for parts. You can list the parts on websites like Craigslist or eBay, or you can take them to a local junkyard or car dealership.
Out of all the options, you’ll probably get the least money out of this one, since you won’t be selling your car as a whole, functioning vehicle. You should only consider this option if the car is totaled or if it isn’t cost effective to repair it to a functioning state.
Conclusion
Car hail damage can be a serious snag in a plan to sell your vehicle. But don’t let it stop you from getting rid of your car — there are still plenty of options available to you.
Just remember to be honest about the damage, take plenty of pictures, and be prepared to negotiate on the price.