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What Happens to Your Car After You Sell It for Parts - South Africa Guide

Overview: selling a car for parts in South Africa

When you sell a car for parts, the vehicle leaves your ownership and is dismantled, inspected and repurposed across several downstream channels: usable parts are resold, salvageable components are rebuilt or graded, materials are recycled, and irreparable scrap is processed for metal recovery. This article explains the typical post-sale lifecycle, why dismantlers and salvage buyers offer the prices they do, and practical examples specific to South African cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Selling for parts can be a responsible, often faster alternative to costly repairs - particularly for accident-written-off, flood-damaged, fire-damaged or non-running vehicles. Sellers benefit from recovery of value without arranging towing or complicated resale logistics.

When to sell for parts versus attempt repair

Deciding whether to sell for parts or repair depends on three main factors: estimated repair cost, remaining vehicle market value, and time/effort required. Owners of older models, heavily damaged cars, or vehicles with structural/frame issues often find selling for parts a more practical route.

Repair cost vs value retained

Scenario	Typical repair cost (estimate)	Likely retained market value
Minor cosmetic & mechanical (local shop)	R3,000-R12,000	70-90% of pre-damage value
Major mechanical or collision repair	R20,000-R120,000+	30-60% of pre-damage value
Frame damage / flood / fire	Often uneconomical	Often written off; better for parts

Damage types vs typical offer impact

Damage type	Effect on parts offer
Cosmetic dents/bumper damage	Minor reduction; many parts still valuable
Engine/transmission failure	Significant impact - mechanical cores may be used for rebuilds
Flood or fire damage	Major impact; electricals and interiors often unusable, metals recyclable
Totalled/written-off	Often sold to dismantlers or auction houses for parts

If you want to explore selling a non-running vehicle specifically, our guide on Sell Non-Running Car explains practical steps for valuation and required photos. For a high-level view of how the purchase and collection process works, see our About / How it works page.

How the process works when you sell your car for parts

A typical buyer (dismantler, salvage yard, or specialist purchaser) follows these steps: initial online valuation, inspection or photo assessment, agreement, collection and paperwork, then dismantling, testing and resale of components. Many services operating nationwide in South Africa offer free towing and help with deregistration to reduce seller effort and risk.

Step-by-step timeline

Valuation: Buyers price offers based on usable components, scrap metal value, and demand for the model and parts in local markets (e.g., Gauteng demand differs from the Western Cape).
Inspection & acceptance: Some buyers inspect on-site; others accept photo-based offers and schedule collection.
Collection: Vehicles are towed to dismantlers, auctions, or processing yards - many operators include free towing nationwide.
Post-collection processing: Vehicles are stripped; reusable parts are cleaned, tested and graded, then listed to repair shops, retail salvage stores or online marketplaces.
Recycling/export: Components unsuitable for local reuse may be exported or their materials recycled domestically.

Legal & paperwork considerations in South Africa

Selling a vehicle for parts still requires clear ownership transfer and compliance with deregistration rules. If your vehicle is financed, the finance agreement usually needs to be settled or transferred; buyers will request settlement proof or coordinate with the finance house. Keep records of the sale, the bill of sale, and any deregistration confirmation.

Common legal steps

Provide proof of ownership and identity documentation.
Notify the registrar and obtain deregistration documents where applicable; many buyers assist with this step.
If police reports are required (e.g., theft or collision), keep copies for the buyer and your records.
If the vehicle is under finance, ensure the lender is paid or consents to the sale; buyers often work directly with lenders.

Tips to maximise the offer when selling for parts

Provide clear photos of key components: engine bay, interior, dashboards, VIN/chassis plates, wheels and obvious damage.
Separate valuable components if safe and legal to do so (batteries and wheel assemblies), and declare any removed items honestly.
Be transparent about flood or fire exposure - undisclosed issues can void offers after inspection.
Compare 2-3 buyers: dismantlers, salvage yards and specialist buyers each target different parts markets.
Use reputable buyers who provide written offers and assist with paperwork and collection to reduce transaction risk.

What happens after collection: downstream channels explained

Once your car is collected, it typically follows one or more of these pathways:

Parts resale: Functional parts (starter motors, alternators, body panels, glass, seats) are cleaned, tested and sold to repair shops or private buyers.
Remanufacture/rebuild: Major cores (engines, transmissions) may be rebuilt and re-enter the market as reconditioned units.
Scrap and recycling: Metals and non-repairable materials are processed by recyclers; material value is recovered and reprocessed locally or exported.
Export of parts: High-demand components for certain models may be exported to regional markets, affecting local offer rates.

For further reading on selling damaged vehicles and a look at service options that handle valuation, collection and paperwork, consult our Sell Damaged Cars page and the company homepage for nationwide coverage details.

Practical South African examples

Example 1 - Johannesburg: A 2008 sedan with engine failure and cosmetic damage may be worth more to dismantlers for its transmission and panels given Gauteng's high parts demand. Example 2 - Coastal flood exposure in Cape Town often reduces offers for electrical components but increases value from scrap and salvage yards focused on metal recovery. These regional differences affect offers, so disclosing condition and location helps buyers provide accurate valuations.

What Happens to Your Car After You Sell It for Parts - A South Africa Guide

Parts, Recycling & Exports

Paperwork Matters

Regional Market Impact

Overview: selling a car for parts in South Africa

When to sell for parts versus attempt repair

Repair cost vs value retained

Damage types vs typical offer impact

How the process works when you sell your car for parts

Step-by-step timeline

Legal & paperwork considerations in South Africa

Common legal steps

Tips to maximise the offer when selling for parts

What happens after collection: downstream channels explained

Practical South African examples

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the online valuation process work?

How does the online valuation process work?

What documents do I need and will you handle deregistration?

What documents do I need and will you handle deregistration?

Do you buy non-running, accident-written-off or salvage vehicles?

Do you buy non-running, accident-written-off or salvage vehicles?

Do you provide free towing and where do you collect vehicles?

Do you provide free towing and where do you collect vehicles?

How quickly will I receive payment and can you handle fleet sales?

How quickly will I receive payment and can you handle fleet sales?

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