It’s never fun having a broken down car. We rely on our cars almost daily, counting on them to take us back and forth to work, to visit family, and to go shopping. When your car breaks down, it’s sometimes hard to know what to do. On top of that, you know you’re likely going to have to spend some money, and you’re not sure if you can afford it. If this sounds like you, here are your options for when you have a broken down car.
Get It Fixed
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The most common option people choose is to get their car fixed. It’s simple – you either drive or have your car towed to a mechanic. This mechanic then looks over the car, and a few days later you get your car back working again. You have to go a few days without your car, and it’s going to cost you some money, but in the end you have a car again. If you’re looking for the simplest solution, this is likely it.
Fix It Yourself
Of course, you don’t have to let someone else fix your car. If you are good with tools – or at least willing to try – you may be able to fix your car on your own at a fraction of the cost. There are plenty of guides online that can help you to diagnose what’s wrong with your car, and then walk you through the steps to fix it on your own. You may need to spend some money on new parts and the required tools, but this will hopefully end up being a lot less money compared to taking it to an auto shop. Keep in mind that in some cases fixing your car poses an injury risk, so take all of the necessary precautions before you begin, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing the job, let someone else handle it.
Try to Sell It
Maybe you’re tired of having to fix up this specific car and now you just want to get rid of it. Selling a car that needs work isn’t always easy, but it’s not impossible. There are plenty of people out there who are looking to buy a car that is broken, so that they can get it at a discount, and then fix it up themselves. You’ll have to adjust your asking price accordingly, and make sure you are upfront about everything that is wrong with the car before you sell it. Also, you’re likely to get more selling it on your own rather than giving it to a dealer, so start posting some ads around town.
Sell It for Parts
Another option is to sell just parts of your car. Maybe the engine in your car no longer works, making a repair impractical and expensive, but the rest of your car is in fine shape. In situations like this you can have the working parts removed from the car and sold individually. This may take a little more work on your part, or you can try to find a place that will remove the parts for you and pay you for them. You likely won’t make a fortune selling your car for parts, but if your car isn’t working anyway, you might as well get what you can for it and maybe pay off some debts.
Donate It
Lastly, you can donate your old car. Donating your car is a good option if you know you won’t get much for it by selling it, for example with totaled cars. Donating it allows you to get a tax right off, help a charity, and in some cases, get a gift in return – like a free night at a select hotel. You can learn more about donating your car here to help you decide.
Don’t Stress About a Broken-Down Car
When your car first breaks down, most of our first reactions is to stress out. How are we going to get around? Will I be able to afford a new repair? Is my car beyond repair, and will I need to get a new one? It’s a lot to think about, and it can be a little overwhelming.
So the next time you’re dealing with a broken down car, try not to stress about it. You have plenty of options available to you, ranging from getting the car back in shape to donating it to getting some cash for it. Just take some time to consider all of your options, and then pick the one that is best for you. Hopefully the list above was able to shed some light on your options, and the entire process will be just a little bit easier for you.
Raj Kumar is a qualified business/finance writer expert in investment, debt, credit cards, Passive income, financial updates. He advises in his blog finance clap.
