How to Negotiate a Salvage Car Price Like a Pro!

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One of the best ways to get your dream car is by obtaining it as a salvage vehicle and fixing it for cheap. All this sounds pretty good on paper but in reality, things are far more challenging.

Namely, because people often want too much money for these cars and you need to know how to negotiate in order to get the lowest salvage car price possible. But you shouldn’t worry too much because that’s why we are here. We will share a bunch of tips that you can follow when looking for a salvage car for sale. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What Is A Salvage Title Car?

Now before we dive into salvage car prices and how to negotiate them, let’s first learn more about salvage title cars in general. There are many beginners who are not experts when it comes to these vehicles and need a good intro.

For those who don’t know, the vehicle’s title is the legal document of ownership. This document basically connects the owner with the car. The owner can be an individual, a financial institution, or a company. This is very important to know.

Secondly, depending on the condition of the vehicle, there can be different types of titles. There are clean title vehicles with a clean history. There are salvage title cars, junk title cars, lemon titles, and so on.

When it comes to salvage cars, it is worth noting that these cars are vehicles that were involved in some sort of accident. Whether this is a crash, natural disaster, or mechanical damage. Salvage title means that these cars are not road legal.

They have to be repaired and then fixed. Once these cars are fixed, they will receive a rebuilt title and can be registered legally.

This is something that not many people know and they look for the low salvage car prices and think that they can just drive the car without fixing it at all.

Pros & Cons Of Salvage Cars

Here we come to the important aspect, which are the pros and cons of salvage cars. It is very good to know what are the positives and negatives of such a trade. Understanding these aspects will make you make a better decision.

Pros of Salvage Cars

1. Lower Purchase Price

One of the biggest pros of salvage cars is definitely the lower purchase price. Salvage cars are often sold for a fraction of the price when compared to clean title vehicles.

This low price for salvage cars makes them a really good deal for people who are more conscious of where they invest their money. If you have the skill to repair it by yourself, you will make a solid profit at the end of the day.

2. Unique Finds

Salvage auctions are an excellent place to find some unique cars. But when it comes to private sellers like in our case, salvage cars are often vintage models.

These are usually cars 20 years old or even older, cars that were sitting in the backyard collecting dust. There are some hidden gems in almost any neighborhood across the country.

3. Solid Project Potential

Salvage cars have some solid project potential. These are cars that can get rebuilt and if you want to get yourself a project, they are a great way to do so.

And most importantly, these cars are an excellent way to learn about cars. You can even become a mechanic and open a shop once you get the skill.

4. Great As Parts Vehicles

These cars can also be a great way for parts. If you have some builds that are missing some parts, going for a salvage car is the way to go. You can harvest some parts and fix the cars that you can sell later on for a profit.

Cons of Salvage Cars

1. Hidden Damage: The low price for salvage cars might seem attractive but these models can also have some hidden damage.

If you are inexperienced, you might fall for these cars. These cars can often be “doctored up”. Some of the issues can be fixed for cheap to make the car more presentable. While bigger issues will hide underneath.

2. Problem With Insurance: Another big downside with these salvage cars is the insurance.

Insurance companies do not particularly want to work with such vehicles and even if they work with you, you will be charged a premium because of the high risk.

3. Poor Resale Value: Resale value can be poor when it comes to salvage cars. The low price salvage cars might be a very attractive option because of their cheap price but they are also sold for less money compared to a clean title vehicle.

So, even if you fix it, in many cases, you will not be able to make a ton of profit. Unless it is some really expensive car.

How To Negotiate a Salvage Car Price Like a Pro – Our Top Tips!

Since we familiarize ourselves with salvage cars and know the pros and cons. Now it is time to learn how to negotiate like a pro. You need to be a very good negotiator if you want to be profitable at the end of the day. So, let’s share our tips and learn more about the mastery of negotiation!

Get a Sense of Used Car Prices
Rule number one – know your numbers before you attend a salvage cars sale or visit an auto auction website, and start negotiating the price of a used car. Having an idea of the current market trend will not only help you negotiate with more conviction, but even the seller/dealer will give you a price that’s more reasonable.

For this purpose, you can open AutoBidMaster and learn how much these cars are selling for. This platform has thousands of models ready for sale and learning the pricing is the way to go.

Start Negotiating Even Before You Visit
Most people who aren’t too comfortable at negotiating face to face, do a great job over the phone. If you aren’t very good at negotiating prices then one of the ways to get a better deal is to start the negotiation process over the first phone call.

You can call the owner and ask him what is the lowest price that he can give you. Many people who sell these cars tend to sell them for a higher price and then after negotiating, they will reduce it for a few hundred bucks in some cases.

Let Them Know You Are Not in a Hurry
Make sure you establish yourself as someone who would buy only if they got a good deal. Let the seller/dealer know that you are not in a hurry. Give them your number and ask them to call you when they find a car that suits your requirement and is well within your budget.

This is often a great psychological approach because you tell the seller that you are not in a hurry and he wants to sell the car right now. So, it is most likely that he will call you and propose a lower price if he cannot sell the car for the price he requires.

Get an Edge with a Full Inspection
An inspection not only helps you determine if a used car is worth buying, but it also helps you negotiate better, in case the car has any minor issues that need repair. For example, if during the inspection you find out that the air conditioner is not working properly, you may ask the seller to get it fixed or lower the price.

Finding problems on cars is an excellent way to bring down the cost. Track every imperfection and point that out to the seller. He will subtract some serious amount of cash if there are some serious problems with the car.

Be Prepared to Walk Away
Never let the dealer know that you are in love with a used car you just test drove, and that you wouldn’t mind paying a few extra bucks for it. No matter how much you like a particular car, don’t budge if you think the asking price is not reasonable.

Walking away will save you a ton of nerves in the long run. When it comes to salvage cars, you need to be profitable at the end of the day. As a rebuilder, your task is to bring down the price and make the most out of it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to price salvage vehicles?

Finding a low price salvage car that is a good deal can be a challenge. This is the case because the owners usually want too much. They overvalue their product in order to make the most money and if you buy this car for that amount, you will lose money at the end of the day.

This is why you need to be assertive and learn the market prices. Learn how much money you can get that vehicle in salvage condition. A good way for this is to open up AutoBidMaster and follow the auctions. Learn how much these cars are selling for in order to make the best decision.

Also, when you go to see the car in person, you can find some imperfections and bring down the price a bit. Good negotiators will use everything they see to their advantage. So, don’t be afraid to haggle, at the end of the day, there are many other deals that are waiting for you.

How to price a salvage title car?

How to determine a salvage price is very easy. The first thing you have to do is perform market research, you need to learn how these cars are valued on the used market. Look specifically for salvage title vehicles and not clean titles.

This is the case because clean title vehicles are often 20% more expensive compared to salvage title cars and that’s why you need to be aware of this. Visiting online auction places such as AutoBidMaster is another great way for you to familiarize yourself with the prices and learn how much certain cars sell for.

Once you are prepared and know how much you can expect to pay for this specific vehicle, you can start looking for deals. There are plenty of people who sell these cars. 

How to negotiate a good price?

Negotiating a price is one of the skills that many people lack. Car prices are often blown up by the seller. But there are ways that you can try to bring them down.

The first thing is not to be too interested in a particular project. Take a look at the car and make sure that the seller is informed about your interest. Leave him your number and if he likes your price, he will call you. People often want to sell fast and if they can’t find a client, they will contact you.

Another thing that you can try to bring down the price is to find imperfections. Inspect the car tediously and try to bring down the price. Tell the owner what needs to be fixed and deduct this from the price.

Car problems are some of the best arguments that you can put out in these negotiations. If the seller does not want to bring down the price, your best bet would be to walk away and find a different deal, there are plenty of sellers out there and at the end of the day, you have to be profitable when it comes to these project cars.

Last Few Words

Besides the above mentioned tips, one of the ways to save money when buying a salvage car is to shop online at AutoBidMaster, a premier online vehicle auction site. If you need help, our executives at AutoBidMaster can help you search available vehicles, place your bids, and deliver your vehicle straight to your doorstep. To get in touch, fill out the contact form and our team will be happy to assist you with all purchase, salvage, and other related questions. You can also call us at +1 (503) 298-4300