"Sell used car parts" is searched about 390 times a month worldwide, according to Ubersuggest, "where to sell used car parts" about 320, "sell used car parts near me" about 110, "sell used car parts online" about 90 and "sell used engine" about 40. The volume is far smaller than for selling the whole car, and the advertising cost is modest at about 3 to 5 dollars a click, because the people who sell parts are mostly dismantlers who do not search for how. For a private seller, selling parts is a lot of work for an uncertain return, and some parts are restricted. This guide explains what sells, how to list so a buyer can be sure the part fits, how to ship it and what the airbag restrictions mean. It belongs to our guide to selling scrap cars, car parts and used tires online. We quote no prices, because we found no reliable source. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Whether to part out at all
Selling a car whole to a dismantler is simpler, and a dismantler pays for the parts it can resell, as our guide to selling a car for parts explains. Parting out yourself earns more only if you have space, tools, time and a way to test and ship each part, and only if the parts are in demand. A common, recent model is easier to sell parts from than a rare or old one. Many sellers sell the few valuable items, such as the wheels, the battery and the catalytic converter, and then send the rest to scrap.
Step by step to a listing that sells
- Identify the part and the donor car. Record the make, model, year, trim and VIN of the car it came from. Buyers search by these.
- Find the part number. Original equipment numbers, stamped or on a label, let buyers check fitment and find interchangeable parts.
- Test it. An engine that turns over, a window motor that works or a screen with no dead pixels sells for more than an untested one. State what you tested and what you could not.
- Photograph it. All sides, the part number, any damage and the connectors.
- List with fitment details. The cars it fits, the part number, the condition and the donor mileage if known.
- Pack and ship safely. Heavy and fragile parts are the hard part of this trade. We found no source on carrier rules or costs, so ask your carrier and quote shipping before you list.
- Check the platform's rules. Some platforms restrict parts categories.
What is restricted: airbags
Airbags are the clearest example of a part that is no longer simple to sell online. According to the sources we found, eBay stopped allowing standalone airbags, inflators and steering wheel airbag covers to be listed from 24 September 2026, while control units, crash sensors and similar parts without an airbag or inflator are still allowed, and in the United States only for sellers who are already approved. Before the ban, its rules had required the donor vehicle's VIN, undeployed airbags, no recalled units, hazardous goods shipping and certification from the Automotive Recyclers Association.
On the law, an industry blog says more than 30 US states make it a crime to knowingly sell or install counterfeit or non-functional airbags, though we did not verify the count. New York sources conflict: a 2003 court ruling and a legal Q&A describe a ban on selling salvaged airbags, while a 2025 bill would allow certified non-deployed recycled airbags, and we could not confirm whether it became law. One guide says that in many places selling deployed airbags is illegal. The safe approach is not to sell airbags or inflators online, and to check the law and your platform's policy for any other safety part, such as seat belts, brakes and steering parts.
Where to sell
- To a dismantler or salvage yard. The simplest route, sold with the car or as a lot of parts.
- General online marketplaces. Popular, with fees, shipping and rules that vary by platform.
- Specialist parts marketplaces and salvage networks. Built for fitment and part numbers, and often limited to businesses.
- Local classifieds and groups. Good for heavy parts collected in person.
- A trade marketplace. For lots, as below.
Where ScrapTrade fits
ScrapTrade is not a retail parts site, and one gearbox is better sold locally or on a parts platform. It suits sellers with lots: a dismantler with surplus stock, a repair shop with a shelf of removed parts, or a seller with sets of alloy wheels, batteries and catalytic converters that can be described by count and weight. The buyers are verified traders in more than 50 countries, including exporters and recyclers, listing is free with no commission, and you negotiate in real time and agree collection or shipping yourself. When you accept a bid, the buyer's 5 percent deposit is held in escrow. Businesses and individuals can sell after verification. Batteries and precious metals are among its categories, and we could not confirm whether general used parts can be listed or how safety parts such as airbags are treated, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What used parts sell for. We found no reliable source.
- Shipping rules and costs for heavy parts.
- The current law on selling airbags in each country and state.
- Whether ScrapTrade lists general used parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell used car parts online?
Yes, though platforms restrict some categories. Give the part number, fitment and condition.
Can I sell used airbags?
Major platforms now ban standalone airbags and inflators, and some places restrict the sale, so do not list them without checking the law.
What parts are worth selling?
Common, in-demand parts from recent cars, such as wheels, the battery and the catalytic converter. Rare or old parts are harder to sell.
Can I sell car parts on ScrapTrade?
Batteries and metals are categories. Businesses and individuals can sell after verification, and lots suit it better than single parts.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, global, queried November 2026.
- eBay vehicle parts policy and trade-press and seller-blog coverage of the 2026 airbag ban; New York State Senate bills on recycled airbags, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not legal or safety advice. Parts rules differ by platform, state and country. ScrapTrade is a scrap marketplace.