What we buy

In any condition

Most cars we buy have one big problem that made fixing them a bad deal. Pick the one closest to yours. Each guide says what the problem means for selling the car.

• It won't start or run. No crank, no spark, or a mystery nobody could find. See car doesn't run.
• The engine is done. A thrown rod, a cracked block, or a seized motor. See blown engine.
• The transmission slips or quit. It won't shift, or it won't move in gear. See bad transmission.
• It was wrecked. Front-end damage, a bent frame, or an insurance total you kept. See wrecked or totaled.
• It took on water. A flooded street, a storm surge, or a wet garage. See flood damage.
• It failed inspection. Rust through the frame, or repairs that cost more than the car. See failed inspection.
• It sat for years. Flat tires, a dead battery, and an expired registration. See sitting for years.
• It carries a salvage brand. See salvage title.

Two problems at once is common. A car that sat for years usually has a dead battery and old fuel on top of whatever parked it.

Whole, not in pieces

The car sells whole, the way it sits. Pulling the engine or the catalytic converter to sell on the side first is a lot of work, and the rest of the car is worth less without them. Part it out or sell it whole weighs the two.

If parts are already gone, the car can still sell. Say what's missing when you answer the questions. Missing parts covers which ones matter most.

The paperwork that comes with it

Every car needs a seller who can sign it over. Usually that's a title in your name. When it isn't, these guides cover the common cases:

• Selling with no title, when the title was lost or never transferred
• Car not in your name, for a parent's car, an estate, or a car from a split
• What a junk car is worth, for what moves an offer up or down