Today it?s as easy as it has ever been to buy a vehicle for less than a grand?and equally dangerous to your financial health. The internet has allowed more sellers than ever to pass on tons of crap cars to unsuspecting buyers, and you don?t want to be their next sucker. So where should you go to get a good used car for $1000 or less" Let’s start at the nadir and work our way from there to Cheap Car Heaven.
Impound Lots: Most cars that are crusher fodder and worth more in parts than whole wind up at impound lots. Abandoned vehicles make up the vast majority of the rolling relics sold by local wrecker services and tow yards. However, there are a few drug-seized vehicles that are of the Better Call Saul variety, along with cars impounded for drunken-driving offenses. You can expect most to be as rough as a worn-out mop. So why go to an impound lot" Because it’s a great place to buy a parts car without the Craigslist price premium or hassle. For parts cars, this is the right place to go. But for ones that actually run, keep looking.
Junkyards: Some junkyards also are licensed to sell running cars. Millions of vehicles are sold by the big salvage auto-auction companies such as Copart and Insurance Auto Auctions. A small percentage will be older cars that still run but are deemed totaled due to the cost of replacement parts. Often, the car will only have cosmetic issues from minor accidents, such as a dented door or a bashed-in bumper.
So you need to...