Break Loose
What To Do With An Old Car
So you have an iron clunker sitting in the garage and you don't know what to do with it? Well, here are a few ideas I can think of. I have known some folks who did at least one of these ideas.
Restore the Car If it's old enough it's either a "classic" or an "antique" and might be worth some money to a collector if you can restore it using parts from the same model and year. "Original" parts make the restored vehicle more valuable. It can be difficult to get the right parts. Do some market research to see if you can sell an old vehicle that uses more recent replacements.
Donate It to Charity The Internal Revenue Service allows you to deduct up to $500 from your taxes for a car you donate to charity. They have to sell it at auction (or by some means) in order for you to get the tax deduction. Whether you take a tax deduction or not, though, if you help a reputable charity you are doing some good.
Fix the Car What is the difference between "restoring" and "fixing" a car? With a restoration you have to be careful about what you use for parts, paint, upholstery, etc. People who restore cars include collectors and speculators who want to sell their antiques. To create the most value in a restored car you want everything to be authentic. When you're just "fixing" a car you're creating a spare vehicle for your family, or you provide someone with a means of transportation until they can afford to buy a better car. Keeping an older car in good repair is also good for the environment because old vehicles can leak toxic fluids.
Sell It for Parts If you don't need the car and you can sell it to a salvage yard you'll get a little money for it. You could also sell parts off the vehicle yourself if you know there is a demand for them but you'll free up space in your garage or yard by selling the entire vehicle as junk.
Sell it to A Friend Maybe you know someone who needs a vehicle and they can fix it up. Why leave that rusting old heap on your property if you can get some money for it and help someone else get some transportation?
Pimp That Ride This goes a step beyond simplying repairing the vehicle and putting it into serviceable condition. When you pimp your ride you upgrade everything you can: the paint job, the upholstery, the electronics, even the engine. By rebuilding your vehicle and upgrading it you extend the lifespan, create new value, and you can create the ride you want to enjoy owning.
Turn it into Art I am not an artist but some people will take old junky, cars and turn them into magnificennt works of art. You can sell the art, enjoy it for yourself, or donate it to your community. Old Car Art can liven up the urban landscape while eliminating an eyesore.
No matter what your circumstances, if you find yourself in possession of an old car there are quite a few things you can do with it. I would not say I was "stuck" with an old car just because I didn't want it. I would find a way to get some value out of it. Maybe that means selling it. Maybe that means putting some money and muscle into it. Either way, you don't have to settle for hanging on to an old eyesore.