Stripping down your vehicle and selling the parts

If your car is no longer drivable and you are considering selling it for scrap then you may want to consider if it would be possible for you to try and make a bit more money buy stripping it down and selling certain parts.

You may need a little mechanical knowledge or at least a good tutorial to teach you how to safely remove some of the parts but if you can, you can often more than triple the scrap value if not more. Depending on how much time you have and storage space, almost all parts can be sold to make money so if possible, strip off as much as you can. Bumpers, doors and even seats often sell for quite large amounts of money.

There are many ways in which to sell these parts. Some of the social media sites such as Facebook are great for selling cars and car parts but also places like Ebay often give you the best coverage.

Make sure that the vehicle is kept off the road once you have cancelled the tax and insurance, ideally in a garage or a workshop so you have coverage if the weather turns bad.

Is your Sat Nav a good substitute for your map book?

The majority of mid to high end new cars are fitted with a satellite navigation system as standard. These can range from a very basic one to a more sophisticated version that will allow you to enter your vehicle dimensions. Many people rely on their in-car system completely without thinking about having an overall view of their route. This can lead to major difficulties such as if the Sat Nav stops working for some reason or you need to make a detour because of an unexpected road closure.

It is a good idea to carry a map book in the car’s glove box for use in these emergencies as phone and data signals are not always available in all areas of the country so you could find yourself without the means to request help.

The real advantage with Sat Nav systems is when you are visiting a large town or city especially if you are alone in the car and cannot easily look for signage. As many cities have ring roads and one-way systems in place navigating your way to your destination could be difficult. Another advantage is that as you approach your destination you are prompted to follow directions to a car park nearby. The old A to Z street maps that were used would not be so convenient and could not be used when driving.

Should you always use genuine car parts when repairing and servicing your vehicle?

Vehicles can be expensive to run not just in terms of fuel, tax and insurance but also in repairs and servicing.

When it comes to repairing your vehicle, whether it be mechanical or cosmetic, you may have the option as to whether you use genuine or non genuine car parts. If you have a warranty either dealer or manufacturers the first thing you want to do if find out if the repair is covered by it. If it is then you may have to take it to a specific garage to get the repairs done. If it is manufactures warranty the parts will probably have to be genuine. If it is covered by a dealership warranty, they ae more likely to use non genuine parts. If you have an older vehicle not covered by a warranty and take it to a local garage they may give you the option as to what parts you wish to use.

Some people think that genuine parts are always better, but for certain repairs this is not always the case. Often you may find that the saving you will make on using non genuine parts means that you could afford to replace the part again in a few years if required and still have saved money. If you are in doubt, speak to an independent garage that you trust and ask their opinion.

Are you having airbag issues?

Airbags are a common suite in most cars now. They are often fitted in to the steering wheel, the passenger side above the glove box and the side impact areas of the vehicle. Air bags are a crucial part of the safety aspects of the car. It is proven than air beds can save lives and therefore it is vital that they are in working order.  It is not uncommon to see an airbag light flash up on your dashboard. This will often stay light if the car suspects there is a fault with the system. There may not actually be a fault with the airbags, it sometimes comes on if you have disconnected the battery for example. If this is the case, then the airbag light will need resetting.

If you have an airbag light come up on your dashboard then you need to take the vehicle in to a garage to get them to check what the fault is.  Before you do this, you may want to do some simple checks.  Many cars have a plug under the driver’s seat or under the passenger seat for the airbag.  If this plug becomes loose or is not correctly connected, then your airbag light will illuminate.

Check all the plugs to ensure that they are correctly connected and check to see whether the airbag light is still on.  If it is then you will need to take into a garage to have the car put on a diagnostic machine to find out fault codes or to be reset.

How can a video help sell your car?

If you have got to sell your car privately then you need to showcase it in the best possible light to attract interest and to get the most money for it. Selling a car can be a nightmare and often a longer process than you expected. If you want to get the most for your car then you may need to hold out a good few weeks before you can find a genuinely interested buyer.

You need to advertise the car in as many places as possible to allow for a quick sale. Sites such as Gumtree, Auto Trader, Ebay and even on social media sites such as Facebook are all geared up perfectly to allow you to sell your car. These sites are often free or charge a small fee to allow you to advertise your vehicle for sale.

Images are one of the most important things on a car advert, as buyers want to see exactly what it looks like often before even committing to come to view it. Images are great but Video is even better. Filming a short video on your phone or camcorder may just be enough to clinch a sale. Video allows you to show viewers a 360 degree angle of the vehicle and discuss any positive or negative points about the car as you are going round. You can also allow the viewer to hear the car running. This will give them a lot more confidence and often increases conversion rates.

Staying on top of your car services

Having to fork out hundreds of pounds for a car service can be hard to digest, especially as there may not be any signs that it needs doing.  But it is important to understand that a service is vital to maintaining the vehicle and should not be overlooked. When a car is serviced it will often have oil and filter changes along with spark plugs if it’s a petrol car. They will also check over the major components on the car to see if there are any signs of damage or wear and tear which may mean they need to be replaced.  All coolant levels will be checked and topped up if needed.

Regularly servicing your car can make the difference between it running smoothly and fuel efficiently, and the risk of it breaking down and incurring an expensive and unexpected repair. The service intervals for a vehicle vary and will depending on the make, model, age and mileage of the vehicle. The schedule can usually be found in your car manual.

The service can be carried out by an independent garage or a main dealer or you may even be able to do parts of it yourself. If the car is still under warranty you may need to check if it will affect the warranty of you take it to an independent garage.

Should you keep the service history for your car?

Many people do not realise the importance of looking after the documents for your vehicle. Having the service history for your vehicle can make a huge difference when it comes to selling the car, especially if it has been serviced regularly and by a main dealer.

Along with ensuring that you have the service book and that it is stamped every time you have a service done you should also try and keep receipts for other work you may have had done such as new brake pads or discs.

If you have lost the service book for your car then you can often buy a replacement from the main dealer or online but it will then be up to you to track down all the garages that have services the car and ask them to stamp the new book again so you have an up to date service book. If the car was serviced at a main dealer every time then you may be able to obtain a print out from the manufacturer to show when and where it was serviced which you can attach inside the book.

If you have brought a second hand car, you can also contact a garage that you know serviced it and ask for them to stamp a new book so that when you come to sell it you have the information already completed.

Servicing your car on time every time

Many of us look at a car service as something that we can put off as often there are no immediate issues we face if the service is delayed.

Often servicing is delayed due to funds – it can cost between £150 and £500 for most common makes and models of cars depending on the service that needs doing (minor or major). Having your care regularly serviced can be beneficial in a number of ways, it can help with fuel consumption, and keep the engine running as it should and be an opportunity for faults that are developing to be picked up before they become too serious.

If you decide to take your car to a main dealer, you will usually pay quite a bit more for the service. If the car is still under manufactures warranty you may wish to us the main dealer until that has expired. Independent garages will often charge less but you may not get perks such as a free clean and a courtesy car to use for the duration of the service. Using a main dealer may also help the car retain its value when it comes to selling it as cars with full manufacturer’s service history often fetch more money.

Finding offers for non-genuine car parts

Car repairs can be costly and often come at the most inconvenient time. If you take your car to a garage you may be unpleasantly surprised by how much a repair is going to cost you and instantly start thinking of ways in which you can cut the cost.

You may consider sourcing the part yourself to save money. Many people are dubious about doing this as they may not have a very in-depth knowledge of cars and have very little or no mechanical experience. If this is the case, you may struggle to locate the correct part and end up wasting more money.  

If you want to try and source your own parts then you may want to visit a specialist car parts shop or website. Many of these types of website that sell car parts make it very easy for you to locate the correct one. You can usually enter your registration number of the make and model of your vehicle and find a list of parts that are likely to fit your car. If your car has been modified then you may need to check yourself to see if the part is the correct one or entrust the help of a mechanic.

Sometimes buying these parts yourself can save you a small fortune but be sure you have someone ready to fit it as some garages will only fit parts they have supplied.

Why you need to invest time and money in to your car

Buying a car is a big commitment. It may be one of the biggest purchases you make or it may push you to your limits and mean you have very little money left over to spend on maintenance and repairs.

Regardless of if you are spending a few hundred pounds on a car or tens of thousands of pounds, we all want our cars to be reliable and to last us as long as possible. Ideally you also want it to of retained as much of its value as possible should the time come when we need to sell it.

The average cost of a normal family hatchback car in the UK is between ten and twenty thousand pounds. This is a huge sum of money and most people often have to finance the cost as they simply do not have the funds upfront to buy it outright.

Not looking after your car may end up in a nasty shock when you come to sell it and find that it is not worth the value you hoped it would be. Cars do depreciate in value over time and as the mileage creeps up so it is important to try and retain as much of the value as possible. Simple things such as keeping the car clean, inside and out to avoid damaging the paintwork or interior such as carpets, can help retain that value and make it more attractive to a buyer.