Many people turn to cars for less than $ 1,000 looking to save a dollar or two. Here’s a quick guide on how to make some cash (which you can use to buy more rusty boxes on wheels, of course)

Simple and simple parts cars.

Step 1. Buy a car. This is practically the most crucial step. If you’re really doing this to make money and not just to salvage that blown-up buick in your driveway, then you need to find a car that people want to buy parts for. eBay is pretty much your friend here and my suggested avenue for selling most parts. In the past, I’ve seen people make money off a variety of cars (my roommate used to finance his shop with separate cars) One in particular was a 1994 Honda Accord. That’s right, no need to buy a 1939 Alfa Romeo ( although that would be great) or something very rare to get good money for the parts.

Finding a car that is fairly ordinary can often be a good thing, but be sure to check eBay for prices on certain parts beforehand and let that be your guide to your purchase. Now when it comes to buying the car, the ones that don’t work will be your best deals and you may even get a gift if you’re lucky. (few people want dead cars in their driveway) Obviously, the less you pay, the more profit you get.

Step 2. Break it up. The key here is research and time management. Everyone wants to pull the engine and transmission, etc., but many times it may not even be worth it. Take a look at eBay or wherever you plan to sell and ask yourself if these pieces sell for my time. Would you really want to pack and ship this? Is anybody really bidding on this shit? All good questions that need answers. Honestly, it tends to be the nickel and dime parts that can actually make some money. Shifters, speedometers, sensors, mirrors, sun visors, etc. These parts take a few seconds to come off, and if they are in good condition, people are usually willing to pay a penny for them, because the only other option for parts like these is usually dealers who charge an arm and a leg.

Step 3. Sell the parts. Once you’ve determined what you want to sell and are done, it’s time to start selling. I like eBay, but swap meetings, forums, and other sources may work better for you. If you’ve done your research, you know where to find the people who see value in the pieces you’ve mined.

Step 4. Discard the rest. Always keep in mind that you can probably get $ 100- $ 300 for the rest of the pile in the junkyard. Usually you’ll want to drive it there yourself and you’ll probably have to pull the tires and gas tank. I would even consider it a good rule of thumb to try not to pay more for the car than you can scrap. This helps you avoid any kind of loss.

And there you have it. Four easy steps to earn quick money and make your neighbors hate you.