Used and Salvage Cars

Everybody knows that the value of a vehicle depreciates almost instantly—as soon as it is driven out of the car lot. The more miles that you put on a vehicle, the less it is worth. This is because mechanical problems are more likely to occur as the mileage increases. When it comes to selling a vehicle, then, you should be aware that you will not be able to sell the vehicle for the same price that you bought it for.

For example, suppose that you purchased a pre-owned1998 Audi A4 in 2008 for $4,500. When you purchased the vehicle, it was already ten years old. When you purchased it, the vehicle had 100k miles on it; the interior was in mint condition and there were no mechanical problems with the vehicle. It is now 2013.

The vehicle is now 15 years old; it has 110k miles on it. The interior is no longer in mint condition. The two front seats have tears in them, and the sunroof and driver’s window no longer open. Since you purchased the vehicle, you had to replace the starter and battery and have gotten new shocks and a few tires replaced. You decide that you’ve put enough time and money into the vehicle, and you are thinking “I’m ready to sell my car.”

Because the vehicle is not in the same condition as it was when you first purchased it, it is unlikely that you will be able to sell it for the same price that you purchased it for. So, if you bought the vehicle for $4,500, you could perhaps now sell it for $3,000 if you’re lucky enough. If, however, your vehicle has more serious mechanical problems such as an engine or transmission problem, you will be lucky if you receive any more than a few hundred dollars for your vehicle. When a vehicle has serious mechanical problems such as these, the vehicle is deemed as a salvage car. That is, the vehicle is not worth selling as a used vehicle because the damages exceed the cost of the vehicle. It is not worth fixing the vehicle. What you would do in this situation is contact a Sell My Car company or a junk car removal company. The operator will ask you a few questions about the vehicle such as the year, make, and model as well as the body condition, mileage, and mechanical problems. Based on these answers, the operator will retrieve an accurate quote for your vehicle, and if you like the quote then you can schedule a convenient pick up.