Brisbane QLD 0424 712 131
AK Cash for Cars
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Offers up to $19,999 · Free towing

Rows of end-of-life cars in a wrecking yard, some with bonnets open for parts

Engine and gearbox trouble

Sell a Car with Engine Problems in Brisbane

Up to $19,999

Blown engine or dead gearbox. Free towing. Paid on pickup.

Mechanic's quote too high? A new engine or gearbox can cost more than the whole car is worth. Instead of paying for the repair, sell the car to us as it is. We price the rest of the car, tow it from your driveway or the workshop, and pay you at pickup.

  • Trusted & Licensed
  • 10 Years’ Experience
  • Free Towing
  • Free Paperwork

Instant Cash Offer & Free Pickup

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Available 24/70424 712 131

Real pickups

Recent cars we've bought

White Holden Commodore wagon parked on a residential street

Holden Commodore wagon

Paid$900

Damaged silver Toyota Avalon strapped onto a tow truck for collection

Toyota Avalon

Paid$600

Mud-covered dark Nissan Navara with a rear canopy

Nissan Navara

Paid$2,600

White Toyota Prado 4WD with a bull bar, snorkel and roof rack

Toyota Prado

Paid$6,500

White Fiat Ducato van with a smashed windscreen and damaged front bumper

Fiat Ducato van

Paid$1,500

White Ford Mondeo wagon parked beside a loaded tow truck

Ford Mondeo wagon

Paid$700

See every car we’ve bought recently

How it works

Sell your car in three clear steps

Start with the vehicle details. We confirm the offer, access and collection arrangement directly with you.

  1. Step 1

    Tell us about the car

    Send the year, make, model, condition and pickup suburb through the form, or call us. Photos help but are optional.

  2. Step 2

    Get an individual offer

    We review the details and contact you with an offer. Nothing is booked until you accept it.

  3. Step 3

    Free pickup, paid on the spot

    We confirm a pickup time that suits you, tow the vehicle at no cost and complete the agreed payment at collection.

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What our sellers say

Average rating 4.8 out of 5

Rang three buyers and this mob gave the best offer straight up. Even added $100 for the new tyres on my old ute. On time, cash in hand, gone in 20 minutes.

Couldn't be bothered with Marketplace time-wasters. They came the next day, got the flatbed down my narrow laneway, and paid well for a BMW that wouldn't even start.

Uni student, worried about getting ripped off. Fair quote over the phone, stuck to it on the day, and they even dropped me at the train station. Top blokes.

Fair price and friendly driver, but he was about 40 minutes late. He did ring ahead though. Old Subaru gone and cash in hand straight away. Would use again.

My old Mazda was dead in the garage for months. They quoted me over the phone, turned up on time, and paid exactly what they said. So easy.

Vehicles & conditions

Vehicles We Buy in Any Condition

We buy everyday cars, work vehicles and specialty vehicles in running, damaged, non-running and end-of-life condition. Each vehicle and pickup is assessed individually before an offer is confirmed.

Vehicle types we buy

Conditions we consider

Dismantled car shells and recovered doors stacked on racks for reuse and recycling

Better for the Environment

An old car left on the street or in the yard slowly leaks oil and coolant and rusts away. When you sell it to us, it is reused or recycled.

  • Fluids handled safelyOil, fuel, coolant and battery acid are drained and disposed of by licensed facilities, never washed into soil or stormwater drains.
  • Parts reused, metal recycledWorking parts go back into service as used spares, and the steel and aluminium are recycled into new products instead of going to landfill.
  • Done by the rulesEvery vehicle is handled under state waste and environmental laws, with the paperwork done properly.

When the repair costs more than the car

Engine and gearbox failures are the most common reason a car that still looks fine ends up for sale. A cooked head gasket, a snapped timing belt, a seized motor or a slipping automatic can leave you with a quote for several thousand dollars on a car worth less than that.

The good news is that the rest of the car still has value: the body, the interior, the suspension, the wheels and every other part a recycler or rebuilder can use. We price all of that, so you get money for the car instead of a repair bill.

If your car is already at a mechanic, you don't need to get it home first. Pay for any diagnosis, tell us which workshop it's at, and we collect it from there. We confirm the pickup time with the workshop, so the hand-over is quick.

  • Blown engines and head gaskets
  • Failed automatic and CVT gearboxes
  • Timing chain and belt failures
  • Collected from home or the workshop

Faults we buy

  • Blown engines
  • Blown head gaskets
  • Overheating engines
  • Seized engines
  • Snapped timing belts
  • Stretched timing chains
  • Failed automatic gearboxes
  • CVT failures
  • Slipping clutches
  • Engine knocks and oil burning
  • Cars that won't start

Getting a fair offer for a broken-down car

Engine trouble FAQ

Engine and gearbox questions

Selling a car that's broken down, overheating or won't drive.

Will you buy a car with a blown engine?

Yes. A blown engine is one of the most common faults on the cars we buy. The offer is based on the rest of the car, so the body, interior and other parts still count.

Is it worth replacing the engine before selling?

Rarely. A replacement engine plus labour often costs more than it adds to the car's value. Unless you plan to keep the car for years, selling it as it is is usually the better deal.

Can you collect my car from a mechanic?

Yes. Settle any diagnosis or storage fees with the workshop, tell us its address and contact, and we arrange pickup directly with them.

My car has a head gasket problem but still drives. Do you buy it?

Yes. A car that still runs usually gets a better offer than one that doesn't, but please don't drive it far, because overheating can quickly make the damage worse.

Do you buy cars with gearbox or CVT problems?

Yes. Failed automatics and CVTs are expensive to repair, and they're a common reason people sell. Tell us the symptoms, like slipping, shuddering or no drive.

What if I don't know what's wrong with it?

That's fine. Describe what happens when you try to start or drive it, and we'll make an offer from that and the photos. No mechanic's report is needed.

Talk to a real person · 24/70424 712 131

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Ready to sell your broken-down car?

Tell us the year, make, model, condition and pickup suburb. We’ll review the details, contact you directly with an offer and arrange collection if you choose to accept. More ways to contact us

  • No hidden fees
  • Free towing
  • Paid on pickup