Cash for Vandalized Cars

A passenger vehicle that has been purposely vandalized is called a vandalized vehicle. Vandalism can include anything from a keyed door or broken side mirror to shattered windows, slashed tires, dented body panels, broken taillights, or graffiti covering the frame. In Arizona, intentional damage can also include cut wiring, missing wheels left on blocks, or interior damage like ripped seats or broken dashboards. No matter the damage level, you do not have to keep a car that reminds you of a frustrating time in your life.

If you would like to get rid of a vandalized vehicle, Sell Us Your Car will purchase your vandalized vehicle regardless of the amount of damage, whether you have minor scratches or scrapes on your vehicle due to vandalism or a vehicle with extensive amounts of damage due to vandalism. We will provide you with a cash offer and handle the entire transaction for you. There are no need for repairs; there are no need for cleaning; just a simple transaction to sell the vehicle, provide you with free towing of your vehicle, and pay you on the same day you sign your paperwork to sell your car.

Many people assume that selling a vehicle due to body damage or vandalism marks will be difficult; however, selling a vehicle with body damage or vandalism marks is much easier than most people think. While individuals that purchase vehicles privately will typically walk away from a vehicle that has visible body damage, there are several other types of buyers interested in purchasing the vehicle. Cash for cars companies such as Sell Us Your Car routinely buy vehicles that have body damage and vandalism.

Scrapyards also buy vehicles, but they will only pay scrap value based on the weight of the vehicle and not the actual value of the vehicle. Most dealerships typically will not buy vehicles that have been damaged unless the cost to repair the vehicle is minimal. Selling a car with vandalism damage through a private channel poses challenges.

Buyers can see the damage and automatically assume there are additional issues and either make you a low offer or simply walk away from the deal. A better option would be to sell your car to a company that specializes in purchasing damaged vehicles and pays you cash at a fair price without the need for negotiations or dealing with private party buyers that might think there are hidden problems.

Determining Your Vandalized Car Value

There are many factors that will help establish the value of the vehicle with varying levels of vandalism damage. Just like with any other used vehicle, the year, make, model, and mileage establish the base value. Determining the deduction for the extent and type of vandalism damage can be broken down into 2 categories, minor damage (i.e. single keyed door panel) and major damage (i.e. broken windshield, slashed interior, broken electronics, etc.).

We also factor in the re-usable parts from your vehicle regardless of if the body of the vehicle was damaged or not (i.e. engine, transmission, etc.), which would allow us to offer you a higher price for the vehicle than you would receive from a scrap yard for only its scrap weight.

Options for Getting Cash for Vandalized Cars in Arizona

Contact Sell Us Your Car for a no-obligation cash offer. We evaluate vandalized vehicles based on their actual value in used parts and will provide you with a clear offer based on our evaluation with no negotiations and no pressure. You will also know exactly how much your vehicle is worth before we come to your property.

Cash-for-cars services offered by companies such as Sell Us Your Car are the easiest way to sell your car. We provide an instant price quote, arrange free tows, and you receive a cash payment for the sale once we pick up your vehicle. Pick-a-parts offer a similar service and purchase damaged cars for parts and will typically pay a fair price for them.

Private sales can also be made, but these will require repairs be made to the vehicle in order to make it saleable, taking the time to create a seller profile, deal with lowball offers, and find buyers who actually show up to finalize the sale. Most dealerships will not sell cars in these conditions. We believe we offer the most balance of speed and fairness with the convenience of not having to deal with repairs.

Should You Repair Auto Vandalism Damage Before Selling?

In most cases, the cost of repairing the damage from auto vandalism will not yield a return by the time the car is sold unless it is extremely minor or easily repairable. The body work and paint associated with repairs can be very expensive, and it is unlikely that you will recover the cost at the time of sale. For example, repainting a door panel that has been keyed can cost a few hundred dollars, while the cost to repair a dent in a fender may be much higher.

Cash-for-cars services like their current condition and you will not have to pay for repairs and can sell your car without any additional expenses. If you do not intend to keep your car for an extended period of time, we recommend that you sell the car in its current condition and save the money you would have spent on repairs.

Will Insurance Total a Car Damaged by Vandalism?

Insurance companies may total a car when the estimated cost to repair a car exceeds a certain percentage of the value of the car before sustaining the damage. The percentage of value varies depending on the individual insurance provider and the state, and the total percentage of the value before sustaining damage will typically be between 70-100%. Generally speaking, in Arizona, if you have comprehensive insurance, then you will typically have coverage for intentional damage claims (subject to your deductible).

The insurance company will consider a “total loss” when the estimate of repair for the vehicle exceeds its stated amount. In other words, once the vehicle is considered to be a total loss, the insurance company will provide you with a settlement of the actual cash value of the vehicle (less any deductible) and will take possession of the vehicle. If you choose to keep your vehicle after an insurance claim is paid for the total loss, you will receive a “salvage title” on that vehicle.

Selling a Car with Broken Windows or Broken Glass

Selling a car with broken windows is very possible, especially if you are able to sell it to a person or business that deals with damaged vehicles. When a car has broken windows, it is open to the elements (weather, animals and rodents), and can incur further damage/however, to avoid additional issues, it is always best to sell a damaged vehicle as quickly as possible, rather than to leave it exposed.

If you are working directly with a private party to sell your car and if the cost of replacing the windows is an obstacle, then the cost of window replacement can add several hundred dollars to each window. Cash for cars companies such as Sell Us Your Car evaluate the entire vehicle (considering both working mechanical parts and broken glass) to calculate a fair offer.

Should I Sell a Car with Keyed Paint Damage?

Keyed paint is one of the most common types of vandalism and will not stop you from selling your vehicle. While the damage from a keyed vehicle can alter the original look and feel of the car, it does not affect how the vehicle operates or drives. Private buyers will attempt to use this type of damage as a negotiation tool, or an excuse, to lower the purchase price.

Cash for cars transactions eliminates this type of situation entirely. At Sell Us Your Car, we will focus on the mechanical condition and usable parts of your vehicle when extending an offer, rather than on the cosmetic conditions. Therefore, you will receive a fair offer without painting/touching up your vehicle prior to selling it.

Do Cash for Cars Buyers Pick Up Cars Hit by Vandalism?

Yes. Cash for Cars companies like Sell Us Your Car will pick up vehicles from any location in Arizona, including your own. As such, you will not have to drive a vehicle with broken windows or dented fenders through the streets of Arizona. We offer a free pickup by your scheduling and our driver will arrive at your chosen date to provide you with a cash payment after verifying the vehicle is the same as the description you provided to us.

This will help you eliminate the hassle and worry regarding moving and/or driving a damaged vehicle. We will handle all paperwork for you and remove the vehicle for you, and all you will have to do is to accept the offer and determine when you would like to arrange pickup.