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We personally answer your top questions about selling a damaged car
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when you sell a damaged car? The process is filled with questions, from verifying the buyer's credibility to figuring out a fair price.
We sat down with Rikus Booysen, the sales manager at Sell Your Damaged Car, to get the real story. He's here to unpack the process, offer advice, and share what makes a good sale and what to look out for.
"I get it," Rikus says, "you need to know you're not getting scammed."
His first piece of advice is to do your homework. "Potential sellers can view our Click here to get your FREE, no-obligation quote today and sell your damaged car for cash! We buy damaged cars, and we make it easy. Join the community on Hellopeter and Google reviews, which are written by sellers we've served," he explains. "Sellers are also welcome to visit any of our sites and speak to the branch managers to verify our staff and business".
The real story on car valuations
When it comes to a damaged car, especially one that's a complete write-off, people often have no idea what it's truly worth. Rikus acknowledges this common concern. "We've learned that very few sellers are familiar with salvage vehicle values and often compare our offers to showroom used vehicle values".
So, how does he and his team determine an offer? "Each vehicle is assessed and valued individually based on its own merit," Rikus states.
They use a two-pronged approach: they start with the standard Mead & McGrouther Values. Vehicle dealers use the same ones for pristine cars, then cross-reference that against a decade's worth of historical data from Auction Nation's auctions of salvage vehicles.
"The data gives us a percentage of what the vehicle would typically sell for on average," he explains, "and we use that to determine our offer based on the vehicle's condition, code, and desirability".
And if you're not happy with the first offer? "We are open to negotiation," he says.
From quote to cash: The timeline
The ultimate question for anyone with a damaged car is, "How fast can I get paid?"
According to Rikus, the process can move at lightning speed. "From receiving the initial lead until payment can happen within 24 hours if all parties involved play together," he says.
He walks us through the step-by-step process: "Once an offer is accepted and the required documents are supplied, the sale agreement is sent to the seller. As soon as we get it back with signatures, one of our service providers can collect the vehicle within four hours”.
Once the vehicle arrives at their nearest location, it's checked against the initial images, and the VIN and engine numbers are verified. After a final green light, the payment is processed. "Payments for the same day need to be signed off and handed to the Finance Department by 10:00 in the morning," Rikus explains, "otherwise, they're done the following day as it is a bulk process. Payments are released between 14:00 and 16:00".
Ensuring peace of mind
For many sellers, the biggest fear is remaining liable for the car after the sale. Rikus offers a simple guarantee. "All vehicles we purchase are dealer-stocked as a fixed rule," he states. "No vehicle will be sold on auction if it's not dealer-stocked and in our name". This means full ownership is legally transferred, so you're never held liable.
In the event of a complicated sale, sellers might worry about their details being passed around to different people. Rikus assures us that continuity is a priority. "We've set up our CRM system so that if a sale doesn't succeed and a seller resubmits their details later, the lead is allocated to the same consultant from the initial contact," he explains.
A warning on scams
Rikus is also quick to share what he's learned about spotting a bad sale.
"Signs of a bad sale normally show the same trends," he says. "Sellers are very vague on details and documentation. They are always in an extreme rush to put you under pressure to skip steps and overlook critical information".
Scammers often use fake IDs and papers and even copy legitimate company letterheads. His advice? "Always check the spelling and email addresses on the documents and verify them with the company itself. Don't call the number the person in front of you gives you; rather, Google and do your own research beforehand."
Rikus' top tip
Lastly, we asked Rikus for his number one piece of advice for a friend who's just wrecked their uninsured car. "First thing I'd tell them to do," he says with a smile, "is to ensure their vehicle is towed by a reputable institution, preferably to their house or a facility where they won't incur storage fees”. At Sell Your Damaged Car, we offer free towing on the collection of the car.
He also adds a crucial tip about a common mistake. "DO NOT go and deregister the vehicle at the License Department. Keep your license up to date. By deregistering the vehicle, it automatically becomes a 'Rebuilt,' which affects the value even more". He concludes by saying SYDC can evaluate the car and handle any necessary code changes after they purchase it.
Ready for a simple solution?
Instead of dealing with the stress of selling a damaged car, trust a company with a proven track record. With SYDC, you'll get a fair valuation, a fast process, and the peace of mind that comes from dealing with a legitimate partner.