Can I trade in a financed car with a blown engine?

Asked by: Carolyne Ebert  |  Last update: June 5, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (45 votes)

Get a Cash Offer for Your Blown Engine Car
If you have a non-running car, you are probably wondering, “Can you trade in a car with a bad engine?” The simple answer is yes, you can. While a used car dealership will allow you to trade in your broken vehicle, you won't be taking home a large check at all.

What happens if my engine blows on a financed car?

“If your engine blows up on a financed car, you're still on the hook for the payment. Unfortunately, your car insurance won't pay for the damages either, as even full-coverage policies won't cover this.

How much can I get for a car with a blown engine?

Without a functioning engine, you can expect to get at least $3,000 less for your car as a sales price than you would get for a functioning vehicle. So if your vehicle is worth $10,000 in good condition, you should expect to get something closer to $4,000 to $7,000 for it.

Will CarMax buy a car with a blown engine?

The short answer to this question is yes, they do. CarMax buys cars in all types of shape. They buy cars with transmission trouble, engine trouble, blown head gaskets, bad clutches and more. CarMax will buy almost any vehicle.

How do you sell a car with engine problems?

How to sell a car that needs work
  1. Be honest. While you may receive less money for a vehicle with mechanical problems, building trust with potential buyers helps smooth out the selling process. ...
  2. Consider trading it in. ...
  3. Sell to hobbyists and mechanics. ...
  4. Sell to a scrapyard.

How to Trade in a Car you Owe Money on or is NOT Paid Off (Former Dealer Explains)

44 related questions found

Does replacing engine affect value car?

Replacing the engine usually increases the car's overall value.

Is it worth putting a new engine in a car?

New engines offer a long-term, reliable solution to your car troubles. On the other hand, used vehicles may come with their own set of engine problems. If your used vehicle replacement encounters engine issues, you could end up paying twice as much in the long run.

Can you trade in a car with blown head gasket?

You can trade in a car with a blown head gasket, seized engine and other mechanical problems through a dealership, sell it to a junk car buyer in your area or choose the easy route and find an online car buyer like DamagedCars. All you need to do is describe your vehicle and get an offer.

Will CarMax buy my car even if it doesn't run?

CarMax does take nonrunning cars, even if they do not prioritize nonrunning vehicles. However, it's possible to get a better quote for your vehicle, as well as free towing and title transfer, with a service such as DamagedCars. We can make an offer for your vehicle in 90 seconds.

Can I sell a car with a blown head gasket?

Answer provided by. Legally, you can sell a car with a blown head gasket—as long as you disclose that information to your potential buyer. However, it will probably be difficult to find a buyer for the vehicle since the head gasket is expensive to repair.

Is it cheaper to rebuild or buy a new engine?

Rebuilding to repair is usually cheaper than buying a new engine, too. You may save up to half of the cost of a new engine by rebuilding. However, sometimes rebuilding is not a good option. In cases where rebuilding will cost as much as a new engine, your mechanic should be upfront about those costs.

Can a blown engine be fixed?

If you do have a blown engine, whether or not it can be fixed depends upon the extensiveness of the damage. If the damage is minimal, and a few parts can be replaced, the problem can be fixed. However, if the damage is great and impossible to repair, you may need a complete engine replacement.

What to do when your car dies and you still owe money on it?

Lemon Laws. Research the auto lemon laws in your state if your new car keeps breaking down while you still owe money to the finance company. You could force the manufacturer to provide you with a replacement vehicle if you meet these criteria.

Will my warranty cover a blown engine?

Generally, no. A typical car insurance policy only covers repairs to your vehicle if they're related to some kind of accident. You likely won't be covered if your engine simply has a mechanical failure or other malfunction.

Can you make payments on a new engine?

Affirm is an easy, buy-now-pay-later service that allows you to finance up to 36 months on our American-made powertrain products such as engines and transmissions. Affirm is a safe and easy way to start building a good credit history with no hidden fees or additional charges.

Is engine damage covered by insurance?

Hence, you can claim for engine repair on insurance if the damage is caused by an accident or comprehensive loss covered by the insurance. However, any engine damage caused by wear and tear or mechanical failure will not be covered as part of an insurance claim.

Is it worth fixing a seized engine?

If the repair requires a quick fix, then go ahead and get that car fixed. When a vehicle has a seized or blown engine, the cost of repair could potentially exceed the vehicle's value. To avoid overspending on repairs, it's important to make the right decision and sell the vehicle AS-IS for the best offer possible.

Does Carvana buy damaged cars?

Does Carvana Buy Wrecked Cars? If your car has been wrecked it's also worth noting that while Carvana does purchase vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, the car must be in running order in order to be sold. In fact, a representative from Carvana will test drive your car at the time of purchase.

Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it?

It is possible to sell a car even if you still owe money on the loan. This merely adds a step to the sales transaction: closing the loan with your lender. Your best course of action will depend on how you plan to sell the car and whether you have positive or negative equity in the vehicle.

Does blown head gasket mean new engine?

No! A blown head gasket is a major problem for any engine, and one that costs quite a bit to fix mechanically. The head gasket is responsible for creating a seal between your engine block (the lower portion that houses the cylinders) and the head (the upper portion that contains the valves).

Can you trade in a car that won't start?

You can definitely trade in a car that isn't running, provided the prospective dealership wants it. In fact, some dealers periodically have "push, pull or drag" sales where they invite customers to bring in run-down vehicles as a way to induce business.

How much does a blown head gasket cost to fix?

How much does it cost to replace a blown head gasket? The cost of head gasket repairs can run into the thousands, meaning it's often easier and cheaper to scrap the vehicle than it is to have it repaired. The average cost of head gasket repair is around $1,000 to $2,000, but this isn't because the parts are expensive.

How expensive is an engine swap?

As a result, expect to spend between $500 and $1,500 in labor costs, in addition to anywhere from $500 for a short block engine to $9,000 for a complete, high-performance engine. Remember that depending on the type of engine chosen, you'll need to pay for additional parts to complete the block as well.

How much does an engine cost to replace?

The cost to replace a car engine is between $3,000 and $5,000 for most cars. It sounds like the quote you were given was right on the money, unfortunately. Very complex engines can cost up to $6,000 to replace. However, most four-cylinder vehicles need about $4,000 to complete an engine replacement.

How much does it cost to put a new engine in a car?

Engines are some of the most expensive car parts to replace. In terms of just labor, you can expect to spend anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000. When including other costs, such as the new engine's price, you may spend between $1,000 and $7,500 for the job.