Why bother selling a non running car at all
There is a Holden Commodore in a thousand Shepparton backyards that has not turned a wheel in five years. Lawn growing up around the rims, possums living in the engine bay, half a fortune in unused parts still sitting on the chassis. The owner thinks it is worth nothing. The reality is that even a rusted out, deregistered shell has measurable value in scrap steel, salvageable parts, catalytic converter content and battery recycling. An auto wrecker takes the lot off your hands, pays you in cash, and clears the space in a single visit.
The other reason to deal with it is legal. Unregistered vehicles on a public road are a council fine. Vehicles abandoned on private property eventually become a property listing problem when you sell. Vehicles that leak fluids onto your driveway are an environmental problem. Wrecking the car properly is the responsible option and you get paid for the privilege.
What auto wreckers look for in a car
Wreckers value cars on three things. The salvageable parts, the metal content, and the demand in the spare parts market. A 2010 Toyota Hilux with a working engine is worth more than a 2010 Ford Falcon with a working engine because Hilux parts move faster on the second hand market. A late model Holden Commodore is worth more than an early model because the parts fit a wider population of cars still on the road.
Condition matters less than people think. Wreckers do not need the car to run. We do not need it to have rego. We do not need the panels to be straight. We do need the chassis to be there and the major components to be present. A complete shell with an engine and a gearbox is always more valuable than a stripped chassis, even if neither will start.
Cars we buy in Shepparton
Unregistered cars, cars that do not start, cars that have been parked for years, insurance write offs, hail damaged vehicles, flood affected vehicles, end of life vehicles, deceased estate vehicles, project cars that never got finished, and the occasional perfectly good car the owner just wants gone. Utes, vans, 4WDs and small trucks all welcome.
What we cannot buy without further conversation is a vehicle that has been written off by insurance and statutory wrote off, because the title status has to be cleared before the vehicle can be moved off a public address. Tell us on the call if your car has been through an insurance write off and we will work through the paperwork.
How vehicles are valued over the phone
On the call we want the make, model, year, body type, fuel type, transmission, and a short description of the condition. Whether it runs, whether it is registered, whether the body is intact. With that we give you an honest cash figure that holds when we arrive provided the description matches the vehicle.
We do not quote sight unseen prices that change on arrival. The price we say on the phone is the price you get on collection. The only thing that adjusts the figure is if the vehicle turns out to be substantially different from the description. Honest information on the call is the simplest way to get a fair price.
Paperwork you need
Photo ID in the name of the registered owner. A signed transfer of ownership notice, which we can provide. The registration papers if the vehicle is still registered, or the previous registration documentation if it has lapsed. If the vehicle is in a deceased estate, we need a copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration and ID for the executor.
If the vehicle is on a finance encumbrance, the finance has to be cleared before the vehicle can be sold. The PPSR check will show whether there is a security interest. If there is, sort that with your finance provider before the pickup. Selling an encumbered vehicle leaves you on the hook for the loan plus any recovery action by the financier.
What happens on pickup day
We arrive at the agreed time with the flatbed. We verify the vehicle matches the description on the call. We check the paperwork is in order. We pay you the agreed cash amount. We load the vehicle onto the flatbed using winch or drive on as the situation requires. We drive away.
The whole process takes about 20 to 30 minutes in most cases. Tighter access, multiple vehicles or extra paperwork can stretch it out. Bring your ID, have the keys if they exist, and have the registration documentation ready. If the car has been sitting and the battery is flat, that is not a problem. We winch it on if needed.
What happens to your car after we take it away
The vehicle is brought back to the SS Towing yard in Shepparton. Useful parts are dismantled for resale through the second hand parts market. Fluids, batteries and tyres are removed and disposed of through licensed waste streams. The shell is sent for steel recycling. Nothing goes to landfill that can be recycled, and nothing leaks into the environment. The Australian Consumer Law and the relevant state environmental regulations both require this kind of responsible end of life handling, and ABN 31 699 275 346 keeps the operation accountable.
The CTP insurance attached to the vehicle, if it was still in force, can be cancelled by you with the insurer to get a pro rata refund. The same applies to comprehensive insurance. We do not handle this for you because it is between you and your insurer, but a quick phone call to them after the pickup is usually worthwhile.
Auto Wreckers Shepparton at a glance
We pay cash on the spot. We come to you anywhere in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kialla, Tatura, Kyabram, Numurkah, Cobram, Echuca and surrounding towns. We have no minimum vehicle requirements. We handle the paperwork. We recycle responsibly under ABN 31 699 275 346. And we do it on the same number that handles every other SS Towing job.
If you have a vehicle taking up space, call Sam with the basics and we will give you a fair number on the spot. The auto wreckers Shepparton page has the full service breakdown and the vehicle storage page covers what to do if you need somewhere safe to hold a car between insurance and sale.