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The Difference Between Private Vehicle Sellers & Car Wreckers

Published: September 4, 2023
Last updated: March 24, 2024

Are you planning to sell your car

When it comes to selling your old car in Wellington, you might have two options: a private vehicle seller or a car wrecker. However, both these options have their advantages and disadvantages. So before considering any option mentioned above, having thorough knowledge is imperative.

In this blog, we will explore the difference between the two, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to selling your old car.

Private Vehicle Sellers:

Private vehicle sellers are individuals who sell their cars on their own. The process of becoming a private vehicle seller is fairly simple- all one needs to do is put up an advertisement or listing online or in print media. This option is popular among those who want to get rid of their old vehicles quickly while getting paid at market rates.

Advantages:

1. You Get Paid Market Value Price

One of the biggest advantages of choosing private vehicle sellers over car wreckers is that you’ll likely receive market-value prices for your car. Private buyers typically pay more money for used cars than wrecking yards because they don’t need to resell them in parts.

2. No Need To Worry About Car Removal And Towing

When selling your car privately, there’s no need to worry about removal and towing as the buyer will take care of it themselves. Additionally, with no middlemen involved in the transaction, there won’t be any delays in payment or haggling over prices.

3. Direct Interaction With Buyer

Another advantage of choosing private vehicle sellers over car wreckers in Wellington is that you can directly interact with potential buyers, which would give you more control over timelines and agreements made during transactions.

Disadvantages:

1. Time-consuming Process

Selling your car privately may be time-consuming, as creating detailed descriptions and photos can take some effort. Additionally, keeping records and proof-of-ownership transparent takes time, too, if paperwork maintenance has not been regular throughout ownership.

2. Possibility Of Negotiations

There’s always room for negotiations when dealing with individual buyers, which sometimes could result in trading back and forth.

3. Only Suitable For Cars In Good Condition

If your car is in poor condition, it may not be feasible to go the private route as their lack of expertise could also mean that they will not have a good discernment of whether or not that car has any hidden issues like mechanical malfunctions and end up costing them money in the long-term.

Car Wreckers:

Car wreckers, more popularly known as auto salvage yards, are experts in disassembling cars and reselling their parts at market rates. They offer convenience for those looking to dispose of their old vehicles while minimising wastage. Additionally, if you're lucky enough to find a knowledgeable wrecker with an appetite for diverse models, chances are you’d get paid well too. In case you are searching for a reliable and authentic car wrecker in Wellington, try visiting https://www.streamlineautos.co.nz/car-wreckers-wellington/

Advantages:

1. Get Paid Quickly Without Hassles

One of the biggest advantages of selling your car to a wrecker in Wellington is that you’ll likely get cash in hand very quickly with no haggling over prices. All paperwork can be handled by the buyer, which only provides ease-of-mind during transitions but makes the entire process less stressful and much simpler.

2. Almost Any Car Will Do

Car wreckers accept almost any car regardless of its condition. From rundown jalopies all the way up to relatively new model cars, it does make life easier knowing there’s always somewhere for disposal or removal. However, it might hurt knowing you probably won’t receive market value versus other options available such as selling privately or trading in.

Disadvantages:

1. You Probably Won’t Receive Market Value Prices

Wrecking yards usually buy tons rather than stock analysis! This means they’re only interested in paying for scrap metal value rather than taking into consideration current used-car market costs, which also include accessories etc.

2. No Choice But To Give Up Your Vehicle Ownership Entirely 

When selling to wreckers, owners must relinquish ownership entirely. This means perhaps losing sentimental value, which can be challenging to bear, knowing that a prized car will soon be tinkered with and dismantled as a mere addition to the pile of scrapped metals on their lot.

3. No Control Over Prices

Because wrecking yards buy cars in bulk to piece out for resale, they have the upper hand in dictating prices without any negotiations taking place. This may lead some sellers to be unwilling to accept terms of lower worth than expected due to a lack of other options.

Conclusion:

When it comes down to selling cars, ultimately, personal preference and the condition/quality of your car are probably the most significant factors at play during your decision-making process. While both private sellers and wrecker yards come with their own pros and cons, we hope this blog post has made choosing between them a little easier. When choosing, weigh up what matters most, wastage control convenience versus making more money. So decide wisely and sell your cars accordingly!

Founder, Editor-in-Chief Carmelo Pickel is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Keep Driving, with almost 20 years of experience working in the industry. Before founding Keep Driving, Carmelo held leadership roles for over a decade on top automotive dealership corporations across North America, handling various leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, and Incentives.
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