Broken & non-running
Sell a non-runner
Head gasket, gearbox, timing belt, a battery that died over the winter and brakes that have seized since — a car that will not start or roll is the most ordinary thing the yards on the network collect. Enter the registration for a price from the licensed collectors covering your postcode, tell them what the car does and does not do, and the right truck comes to it. Free, anywhere in the UK.
- Winched, not driven
- The collector’s slide-bed truck loads a car that will not start, steer or roll. Seized wheels are routine.
- No keys? Still fine
- Say so when you book. A yard can move a car without keys as long as you can show it is yours.
- A small, visible difference
- A non-runner is priced a little below a driver because loading takes longer. The adjustment is shown on your quote, not sprung on the day.
- Awkward spots handled
- Tight drives, garages, underground car parks, grass. Describe the access when you book and the yard plans for it.
What counts as a non-runner
Anything that cannot be driven onto the truck under its own power: engine failure, gearbox or clutch failure, electrical faults, a flat or missing battery, seized brakes or bearings, flat tyres, no keys, or a car that has not been started in years and you would rather not find out. If it moves but you would not trust it to the end of the street, call it a non-runner and the yard will plan for that.
Tell the collector about access
The one thing that makes a non-runner collection go smoothly is knowing where the car is and what is in the way. Drive, street or garage? Nose in or nose out? A wall, a gate, a slope, a high kerb? Put it in the notes when you book. The yards on the network have pulled cars out of underground car parks, back gardens and fields; it only needs the right truck on the day, and that decision is made from what you tell them.
Fix it, or let it go?
On a car under about eight years old, a single big fault — clutch, turbo, injectors — may still be worth repairing or selling as salvage. On an older car a head gasket or a gearbox costs more than the car is worth and scrap is the sensible end. If you are not sure, get the price first; it is free, and it gives you a real number to put against the garage’s estimate.
Common questions
How much less is a non-runner worth?
A little, not a lot. The value is the metal and the parts, and neither changes because the engine will not fire. The deduction covers the extra time to winch and load, and it appears as its own line on the quote.
What if the engine or gearbox has already been taken out?
The yards still buy it. A car without its engine weighs less and is worth less, and the quote form asks so the price is right before the driver sets off. Say what is missing and the figure adjusts in front of you.
The car is in a garage and the wheels are seized — can it be got out?
Usually. A truck winch will pull a car with locked wheels onto skates or a bed, as long as there is a clear run to the road. Add a photo of the access to your booking if you are unsure and the collector will look before setting off.
Can I sell a car I cannot find the keys for?
Yes. The V5C in your name plus photo ID and proof of address is enough. It may be worth slightly less because the steering lock makes it harder to move.