If you have a used transmission, there are buyers for it on the secondary market. How much you can get for it, will depend on who you are selling to. For example, selling a transmission privately will get you more money than selling it to a salvage yard. Below I will talk about who buys second-hand transmissions and give you the ins and outs of each option. I will also share my experience with the place who buys used transmissions near me.
Map of Who Buys Used Transmissions Near Me
For “Who Buys Used Transmissions Near Me” or “Where to Sell Used Transmissions Near Me”, see the map below…
There are pros and cons to every choice and you should consider that when you look for a buyer. For example, a scrap metal yard or scrap metal dealers will pay you the least amount, but you can literally drop it off and not answer any questions. If you are selling a transmission on Craigslist, you can get the amount of money you want, but it may take a while to find a buyer and you will have to answer a lot of questions.
All in all, my point is the buyer matters. To take it one step further if you have a heavy duty Spicer transmission, you need to find a buyer for heavy-duty truck parts. Your local automobile salvage yard will have no use for that. They don’t have the buyers. You will get the most money finding the right buyer based on the size and type of the tranny you have.
Who Buys Used Transmissions Near Me
Transmissions sell well on the secondary market. That is because they can be rebuilt and getting a new one can be extremely expensive. Selling a used transmission is about finding the right buyer and pricing it correctly…
Local Junk Yards
This is a great option for a passenger car, van, pickup truck, or SUV. Your local junk yard, will be most interested if you have the transmission for a popular make and model since they have a high demand in the automotive industry. Junk yards deals in the used parts business and they typically buy junk cars and sell them for parts. The place near me will buy a used transmission if they think they can sell it. Some may already have a buyer setup, that they can call.
What you must understand before selling to a junkyard is that they are a business. They are not a direct consumer. That means they will not pay you top dollar for your tranny. Instead expect a low offer because they need to mark it up in order to make a profit. For a standard auto junk yard the transmission needs to be working for them to even consider it.
Specialized Junkyards Can Get You a Higher Profit…
Looking for specific junkers that deal in the vehicle type for the transmission you are trying to sell will get you the most money. For example, if you have a Mack transmission, then look for a Semi truck salvage or more specifically a Mack truck salvage. There are specialized yards for everything you can imagine. From John Deere lawn mower salvages to Caterpillar construction equipment salvages.
If you can find a junk yard that is in the same vehicle class or even vehicle model as the transmission you have, you will get a higher offer. Taking a Jeep transmission to a Jeep salvage makes sense. They have Jeep used parts buyers and will be able to make you a more competitive offer.
Engine Salvages
Some salvages deal in engines. Many that do also deal in transmissions. These are sort of like parts warehouses. They purchase second-hand transmissions and resell them or they rebuild them and resell them with a warranty. The condition will matter and a working tranny will certainly fetch more than one that needs to be rebuilt. The good part about these places is that know engines and transmissions, so if you have something that has value or is rare they will know it.
Scrap Metal Facility
Selling a used transmission for scrap metal can be either your best option or worst option. It can be your best option if the part is truly junk. A scrap metal place doesn’t care about the parts like transmission cores, or torque converters they care about the metal. They will pay you for the scrap transmissions as per the weight. On the other hand, they can be your worst option. If you have a working transmission you should not even consider a scrap yard. They payouts will not be very much!
Online MarketPlaces and Classified Ad Sites
Selling a used transmission privately should always be your first choice if you have one that works. This is the way to get the most money for it. Since you are the seller, you can set your own price and you deal with the customer directly. As a general rule, try and sell your transmission direct to a consumer first, then consider other options.
Here are 3 popular ways to find people who buy used transmissions…
- Ebay Motors – Great to reach a large audience, but have to deal with shipping it to the buyer
- Craigslist Auto Parts – Great to find locals and avoid shipping for the auto parts, but lot of haggling and potential for scammers.
- Facebook Market Place – Reach a huge audience and local buyers
Who Buys Used Transmissions Near Me – Other Options
Other options are out there, but it gets more niche. The below buyers are not always used part buyers but could be in the right situation, You have to have the right part at the right time for these two….
Local Auto Mechanics
Your local auto mechanic may be interested especially if you have a transmission for a common vehicle like a Corolla or a Civic. A lot of popular vehicles use the same transmissions across multiple years and multiple models. That makes these trannys a bit more valuable because they could be used in different vehicles. This is true of a lot of brands like Toyota Honda, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, etc…
Custom Shop or Tuning Shop
Specialized car shops that do tuning may also do engine and tranny swaps. If you have a Subie WRX transmission and you have an STI tuner near you, you may have the perfect buyer. Even a general JDM custom shop might be interested.
Role of a Car Dealer in the Sale of Reconditioned Transmissions
Car dealers often find themselves in a tricky predicament when faced with vehicles sporting bad transmissions that seem almost impossible to sell. Instead of outright rejecting the problematic car part, some innovative dealers have begun salvaging the situation.
They now partner with machine shops to source affordable car parts, addressing blown transmission strange noises that plague these vehicles. By offering cost-effective repairs, they shift gears in the industry, turning otherwise undesirable cars into hidden gems for budget-conscious buyers, proving that even bad transmissions sell with the right approach.
Where To Get The Most Money For a Used Transmission
eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Market Place are honestly the most popular options for a simple reason: They work! Selling on these sites lets you reach a huge audience, which means more eyes on your listing, more competition, and more offers.
The keys to selling a used transmission online are:
- Be clear about the make, model, gearing, etc…
- Taking really good pictures (consider cleaning it first)
- Set a price that is negotiable, but reasonable.
- Writing a good description and include all the specs
- Be specific if it has ever been rebuilt
- Measure it and include the dimensions
- If anything is wrong with it, be honest about it, you will earn the buyer’s trust
- Include any stipulation, like you must pick it up
Direct Buyers Want Transmissions That Work…
I can’t stress this enough….most buyers don’t want junk. You may find a direct buyer who is willing to do a rebuild, but most aren’t. 90% of the time to sell a used transmission it needs to work. If it doesn’t you can consider a place that rebuilds transmissions.
There is also a bit of a pain when you deal with selling used car parts second hand directly to a consumer. Since there are so many scams, people need to trust you and the way that happens is they ask questions and you answer them honestly. They are going to ask does it work? Has it been rebuilt? Why are you selling it? How many miles are on it?
By no means is it going to need to be in tip-top shape for you to sell it second hand. Just know that most buyers can sniff through the BS.
A Note About Liability When Selling Used Transmissions
This is not a requirement, but a suggestion to protect yourself when selling a used transmission. Write a bill of sale out and ask to waive any liability. If something goes wrong with it and there is an accident you can be free and clear. If the part is defective or perhaps you modified it you wouldn’t want that to come back to you in a lawsuit.
Who Buys Used Transmissions Near Me – Wrap Up
There are a bunch of good options to sell a transmission used. Regardless if you have a heavy duty truck tranny or one for a little hatchback, there is a buyer out there. Your most lucrative option is to sell it yourself first. Junkyards are great, but often need to pay less so they can mark it up. Scrap metal plants should only be considered if the tranny is truly junk. This is what I have learned from the place who buys used transmissions near me.
