Thinking of Selling That Old Banger? Ask Yourself These Questions First

One of the most frequently asked questions among our customers is that of why scrap when you can sell? At any one time, thousands of car owners across the UK are looking into the various ways and means by which they can get the very best price for their old cars. Some try to sell them, some scrap and others just leave them to gather rust on the drive, but in any and all cases there is indeed value to be found in all cars of all ages and in any kind of condition.

Of course, the appeal of selling for a better price than scrapping is clear, but it’s worth remembering there’s more to it than that theoretical payout alone. So if the time has come to try pawning off that old banger on someone else, be sure to ask yourself the following questions first:

1 – Do You Honestly Think It’s Safe to Drive?

First of all, do you know for a fact that the car is still safe to use, or are you a) making assumptions or b) playing the ‘ignorance is bliss’ card? Opinions vary quite significantly, but the way we see it at least there’s something quite wrong about selling on a car that cannot be guaranteed as safe to drive. Admittedly, you’re not a mechanic, but chances are you’ll have a good idea about your car’s condition.

2 – Would You Let Your Loved Ones Keep Driving It?

Here’s a good test to mull over before selling on your old car – would you be quite happy to let your kids or loved ones go on driving it? Or, is it more likely that you’d feel better if they stayed the hell away from it? The simple fact of the matter is that if you don’t believe the car to be good enough for your family, it’s really not a good idea to try and pass it onto another.

3 – What If It Causes an Accident?

Of course, all of the above builds to the very same point which is that of contemplating the likelihood of the old car you’re selling causing an accident. There will always be those who insist it’s a case of tough luck as the moment the car is sold on, it becomes the responsibility of the new owner and the new owner alone. All well and good, but there’s also a legal argument to bear in mind that if the buyer feels something was kept from their attention, it could be the seller that’s held liable.

4 – How Much Do You Honestly Think You’ll Get For It?

Last but not least, in a monetary sense just how much do you actually think you’re going to get for the car? These days, folk just aren’t as keen to buy clapped out old bangers when there are so many quality used cars on the market. It’s perfectly possible you’ll get a lower price than you would by scrapping it, so why bother?