Car Won't Start? We'll Buy It Anyway

Yes, you can sell a car that doesn’t run. Get Cash Cars buys non-running cars anywhere in Minnesota, makes a free offer in about 15 minutes, tows the car for free, and pays you on the spot at pickup. It doesn’t matter whether the problem is a dead battery or a seized engine.

You don’t need to diagnose it, jump it or push it anywhere. Just tell us what you know.

Why won’t my car start? Small problem or big problem?

“Won’t start” covers a huge range of issues, and it helps to know roughly where yours falls before you decide whether to fix or sell.

Usually smaller problems

• Dead battery. Common after a Minnesota cold snap or after a car sits for weeks. You’ll hear clicking or nothing at all, and dash lights may be dim.
• Corroded battery terminals or a loose cable.
• Failed starter. A single click when you turn the key, with lights that stay bright.
• Bad ignition switch or key fob battery.

Often bigger problems

• Engine cranks but won’t fire. Could be fuel delivery, ignition or sensors — or something more serious.
• Engine won’t turn over at all even with a good battery, which can point to a seized engine.
• Loud knocking before it quit. Often a sign of internal engine damage. See selling a car with a blown engine.
• It runs, but won’t move. That points to the transmission or drivetrain. See selling a car with transmission problems.

Why Minnesota winters hit parked cars hard

Cold weather is rough on a car that isn’t driven. Batteries lose strength in the cold, and a car that sits through a few frigid weeks may not have enough charge to crank. Moisture in the fuel system, thickened oil and frozen door locks pile on. A car that sat through a whole winter often has more than one small problem by spring: a dead battery, flat-spotted tires, sticky brakes and maybe a mouse nest under the hood.

If it’s just a battery and the rest of the car is in good shape, a new battery may be all you need. If it’s anything bigger — or you don’t know and don’t want to pay to find out — selling as-is is a reasonable choice.

Why repair often doesn’t make sense on a non-running car

Getting a dead car fixed has costs beyond the repair itself. You may pay for a tow to the shop, a diagnostic fee to find out what’s wrong, and then the repair. If the shop opens things up and finds more problems, the estimate grows.

On an older car, those costs can quickly add up to more than the car is worth running. Before you commit, compare:

• What the car would be worth fixed.
• The full cost to get it there, including the tow and diagnosis.
• What we’ll pay for it as-is today.

If the repair eats up most of the difference, selling usually wins. Our guide to whether to fix or sell a car with major problems has a fuller framework.

Cars stuck in garages, driveways and snowbanks

Non-running cars tend to end up in awkward places. That’s normal, and we handle it regularly.

• In the garage: a car that died in the stall and has been sitting with flat tires. We can usually winch it out. Tell us whether it’s nose-in or backed in and how much room there is.
• In the driveway: often the easy case, unless the car is blocked in by other vehicles.
• Frozen in or buried in snow: common after a big Minnesota storm. Clear what you safely can around the tires and the front or rear of the car, and let us know if it’s plowed in on the street.
• In a parking lot or apartment ramp: tell us about low clearance, gate codes and whether we need permission from property management.
• At a repair shop: if your car is sitting at a shop after a bad diagnosis, we can often pick it up there. Let the shop know we’re coming.

How towing works for a car that doesn’t run

The tow is free. Our driver will use a wheel-lift or flatbed depending on the car and where it’s parked. A few things change the setup, so mention them when you call:

• Flat or missing tires.
• No key, or a locked steering wheel.
• A transmission stuck in park.
• Heavy body damage.
• Very tight access.

In the Twin Cities metro, same-day pickup is often available. In Greater Minnesota, it’s usually same-day or next-day depending on location. Call (763) 226-3586 to check timing in your area.

What affects the offer on a non-running car?

• Why it doesn’t run. A dead battery is very different from a seized engine. If you know the cause, tell us. If you don’t, say so.
• Year, make and model, and whether its parts are in demand.
• The rest of the car. A non-running car with a solid body and good interior is worth more than one that’s rusted through.
• Weight and metal prices, if it’s valued mainly as scrap.
• Catalytic converter and whether major parts are still present.
• Title status.

Being honest about the problem helps your offer hold at pickup. If you tell us “it just needs a battery” and the engine turns out to be seized, the number will change.

What to have ready

• The title, signed by every owner listed on it, plus photo ID.
• Keys, if you have them.
• Lender information if there’s a loan.
• Any repair estimates or diagnostic reports — helpful, not required.

Clean out personal items and remove toll transponders. After the sale, report it to Minnesota DVS within 10 days and cancel insurance. More on the basics at how it works.

Sell your non-running car today

From Minnetonka to Mankato, we buy cars that won’t start all over Minnesota. Call (763) 226-3586 7 days a week, 7 AM – 9 PM, or fill out the quote form. If your car is mostly a candidate for scrap, our junk car removal page covers that side too.

Frequently asked questions