Sell My Car With Engine Failure
– Get a Free Quote

Can I Sell My Car With Engine Failure?

Yes, you can ask about selling it in its present condition. You don’t have to buy a replacement engine or pay for repairs before getting in touch. Start with your registration, explain what you know about the fault and tell us where the car is parked.

An engine failure can mean different things. A garage may have found internal damage, or the car may simply have stopped with the cause still unclear. We won’t ask you to diagnose it yourself. Share any findings you already have, and say when something is only suspected.

A Failed Engine Doesn’t Have to Mean Another Repair Bill

A replacement engine can involve more than buying the engine itself. Labour, fitting parts and work needed to put the car back together can make the whole job difficult to justify. A repair estimate helps you compare your options, but you don’t need to commission one just for us.

Perhaps the car has been reliable until now, but you’ve decided to move on. Or it already needed other repairs before the engine stopped. We consider the whole car when discussing an offer, so mention those other problems as well.

Selling a Car With a Blown or Seized Engine

If a mechanic has described a blown engine or seized engine, tell us their wording and anything they found. Explain whether the engine is still fitted, partly stripped down or already removed. Please don’t try to restart it or move it under its own power to show us what happens.

Engine knocking, misfiring or loss of power can have more than one cause. A symptom alone does not prove that the engine needs replacing. If you’re considering selling a car with engine problems before a diagnosis, make that clear so we can talk about what is known.

What to Tell Us About Your Car

Your registration helps identify the vehicle. Add its mileage, the fault as you understand it and the postcode where it is now. Tell us whether a garage has inspected it and if there is a written estimate or report you can share.

Please mention accident damage, gearbox trouble, an expired MOT or anything missing. If repair work has started, tell us which parts are loose and whether they are still with the car. You don’t need to turn this into a technical report; a clear explanation in your own words is enough to start.

Do I Need to Repair It Before Selling?

You can request an engine-failure car quote without putting the car back on the road. Replacing parts simply to make an enquiry may mean spending money you would rather keep. Tell us what has already been done and leave further work to a qualified repairer.

If you are still weighing up repair against sale, compare the full repair cost with what you would be comfortable spending on the car. We can discuss an offer for its current condition, and you can decide whether it suits you. There is no obligation to accept.

Collection for a Non-Running Car

A car with a failed engine may be on your drive, outside your home or waiting at a workshop. Give us that address rather than an address where it used to be kept. Mention flat tyres, missing keys or anything blocking the way to it.

Let us know if the car cannot be moved or has been taken apart. We’ll discuss whether collection can be arranged and what is needed before you agree to go ahead. Don’t attempt to tow it, start it or push it into the road for our benefit.

Ownership and Paperwork

You must be entitled to sell the car. Have your V5C log book and any useful ownership paperwork ready if you have them. If documents are missing, finance remains outstanding or you are enquiring for somebody else, explain that before agreeing a sale.

Tell DVLA when you sell or scrap the vehicle. If the car is being scrapped, it must go to an authorised treatment facility. The paperwork depends on what happens to it, so use the official guidance below and ask us about the next steps.

Engine Problems You Can Tell Us About

Different faults can leave a car unusable. The following examples help you describe the problem; they are not a diagnosis of your car.