You made up your mind. It’s time to call a tow truck because the old car that has been faithfully getting you around town has finally died. It’s a smart move that makes room, solves a problem, and puts money in your pocket. But once the choice is made, the next question is a very good one: “How do I get the most money for it?”
Many people think that once a car is headed for the junkyard, its value is set in stone and there is nothing you can do about it. Some people even make mistakes that cost them money and lower their payout while they look for a better deal.
As the best auto buyer and wrecker in Perth for more than 15 years, WA Auto Parts knows that being open and honest is important for business. We don’t want you to get less than what your car is worth. The basis of our business is a fair deal. That’s why we’ve made this simple, no-nonsense guide to the Do’s and Don’ts of getting your car ready. Following these tips will make the process easy and painless for you, and hopefully help you get the most money possible.
Part 1: The DO’s—Smart Things to Do That Add Value
These are easy and useful steps you can take to make your car more appealing to a wrecker and the sale go smoothly.
DO Keep the Car as Complete as Possible
Without a doubt, this is the best piece of advice we can give you. When we quote, we are quoting the whole vehicle. We’d rather have a whole car with all its parts than one that’s been taken apart. We see it as a whole resource mom, ready for us to take apart piece by piece. If a car is missing parts, it will take us longer to figure out what else is missing, and the car is worth less right away.
DO Make a List of Important Parts
You don’t want to take parts, but you do want to be the best advocate for your car. Take a few minutes to do a “asset audit” before you call us. Take a walk around the outside of your car and write down (in your head, on paper, or on your phone) any parts that are new or almost new.
That’s what you should talk about when you call us for an estimate. You shouldn’t just say, “I have a 2010 Holden Cruze.” You should say, “I have a 2010 Holden Cruze.” The engine is still running great, and I don’t want you to forget about the four almost-new tires. (Three months ago, the battery was changed.)
Ford Falcon Used Car Parts Sydney can help you find Japanese, European, Australian, or Korean car parts. The more you know about them, the easier it is for us to do that, and it often leads to a better deal.
DO Get Rid of Your Stuff
That might not give your quote a dollar value, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to make the whole thing go as smoothly and painlessly as possible. As time goes on, our cars become like second homes in many ways. They have rogue sunglasses, important papers hidden in the glove box, kids’ toys under the seats, house keys, and garage remotes.
Make a final, thorough sweep of every nook and cranny the night before your tow truck is scheduled to arrive. Check the glove box, the center console, all of the door pockets, under each seat or between them, the trunk, and even the place where you keep your spare tire. This stops you from having to deal with the pain of losing something, whether it’s valuable or sentimental. We also like that it makes you look like a professional and organized seller.
Make sure the car can be reached.
Act like you’re the driver of our tow truck. It’s not just showing up and finding that cars are blocking the way and the gate is locked behind a muddy compound on four flats. WA Auto Parts still offers free towing, so the easier you make it for us to get to your car, the faster and easier it will be for all of us.
If you can, make a path around the car. Of course, if the tires are flat and hold air, inflating them to their normal pressures can help a lot. Also, if the car is parked on the road, please make sure there is enough room for our truck to get around. A little planning ahead saves a lot of trouble and makes sure there are no problems or delays on pickup day.
DO Have Your Paperwork Ready
It’s the last piece of the puzzle for professional sellers. Any licensed wrecker in Western Australia will need two things to finish the deal: a. Proof of Ownership (Your Vehicle’s Title or Certificate of Registration) b. Your matching photo ID
When you call (08) 9358 1392, having these papers ready to go will show us that you are a real seller. It lets us be sure that we can close the deal and, most importantly, it lets us process your payment quickly and without any problems.
Part 2: The “Don’ts”—Things You Should Never Do
Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. If you avoid these six common mistakes, you will save time, money, and stress.
Don’t Take Parts Off the Carwuto
This is the most common mistake people make, and it almost always costs them money. It’s easy to see why: “I’ll sell it for $30; the stereo is worth $50; and the old wheels are in great shape. I’ll get at least $200 for those.” Then you should call the tow truck. This plan doesn’t work in real life.
We have to think the worst when we find a car with things missing. We don’t know what else is gone. We can’t test anything else in the car’s electronics without a battery. We should think about how much time and money it would take to do it ourselves. So, when we lower our price for a stripped car, it’s usually more than what you made selling the parts one at a time. You could be losing hundreds of dollars off your quote just to make an extra $50. The best way to sell it is to always sell it as a whole car.
Don’t spend money on repairs
Don’t waste money trying to fix your car before you call us if you know it has a mechanical problem, like an oil leak or a broken sensor. You won’t get anything back on that investment. We are a one-stop shop for used auto parts, and we have a lot of parts and knowledge that help us fix things much faster and cheaper than the average customer can. We won’t raise our offer by $300 for a simple fix. We don’t care about how it runs; we just want some of the big and raw materials.
You don’t have to wash or detail your car.
We like cars that are clean, so don’t waste time or money washing, waxing, or detailing any car that is going to our yard. A shiny car doesn’t make its engine, transmission, or scrap steel worth more. We will clean your car of all pollutants to the highest standards and get it ready for recycling within hours of receiving it at our facility. The beauty of it has nothing to do with how much it is worth to us. Have a great weekend, and don’t spend it with a bucket and sponge.
Don’t forget the converter!
This is an important piece of information if your car still has its original catalytic converter. These are some of the most valuable parts of a car for recycling because they have PMs in them (platinum, palladium, rhodium, etc.). When you ask for the quote, it would be best to say that there is still part of the “cat.” A good valuation depends on its existence, and if we can confirm that it is there, we can give you the best price we can.
Conclusion: Smart Site Preparation for the Best Return
There must be a good reason why that car is leaving, and if you can get every last dollar out of it, it won’t be because you’re lucky. The plan was simple: Offer a good, sellable car, be ready with your homework, and don’t spend a dime on “fixes” or cosmetic changes you think should be made at the last minute.
If you follow these simple Do’s and Don’ts, you’ll be in charge of this process. You have a fair, honest, and profitable deal with a professional company that values your business.
Are you ready to try these tips? WA Auto Parts is one of Australia’s top suppliers and recyclers of used parts. They have been in business for over 15 years. Please call us at (08) 9358 1392 today for a free quote.