Can I trade in a financed car with a blown engine?

Asked by: Sigurd Jacobson  |  Last update: December 30, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (15 votes)

Dealerships will allow you to trade-in your car with its blown engine. They specialize in vehicles that are roadworthy and ready to be sold. An engineless car isn't their first choice, so they are likely to give you an extremely low offer.

What can you do with a financed car with a blown engine?

You can arrange to surrender the collateral (the car with the blown engine) to the bank. The little or nothing that they get from salvage value should then be deducted from the remaining balance owed, which you can expect them to sue you for. If the applicable contract?

How to trade in a car with a blown engine?

Some dealerships will accept a vehicle with a blown engine as a trade-in towards the purchase of a newer vehicle. However, dealerships specialize in cars that they can put on the lot for sale as quickly as possible.

Can you trade in a financed car with a bad engine?

Yes, you can trade in a car with a blown engine and negative equity, but there are important factors to consider: Value of the Car: A car with a blown engine will have a significantly reduced trade-in value. Dealers may offer you much less than you expect, especially since the car may need costly repairs.

Is my car worth anything with a blown engine?

Regardless of the damage, blown engine cars still have a salvage value. Although junk car prices are higher for functioning vehicles, you can still expect to make some money by selling your mechanically damaged car as-is.

How to Trade in a Car you Owe Money on or is NOT Paid Off (Former Dealer Explains)

39 related questions found

Will dealerships take a car with a blown engine?

Dealerships will allow you to trade-in your car with its blown engine. They specialize in vehicles that are roadworthy and ready to be sold. An engineless car isn't their first choice, so they are likely to give you an extremely low offer.

Is it worth fixing a car with a blown engine?

Blown Engines

Your engine is a network of connected parts and systems. When an engine faces severe damage, it can quickly spread from one component to the next. Repairing your engine at this stage is often not an option. Instead, you will need to explore your replacement options—for your engine or your vehicle.

What happens if your car blows up and you still owe money on it?

Here's the bad news: if you have a loan or lease out on a totaled car, you're still responsible for paying off the remaining balance. Usually, the insurer pays the lender or leaseholder first and gives you the rest of the settlement money if there's any leftover.

Will CarMax buy a car with a blown engine?

The short answer to this question is yes, they do. CarMax buys cars in all types of shape. They buy cars with transmission trouble, engine trouble, blown head gaskets, bad clutches and more. CarMax will buy almost any vehicle.

Will gap insurance cover a blown engine?

GAP insurance does not apply in the event of engine failure, mechanical malfunctions, owner death, or in cases where extended warranty coverage conflicts.

Will a dealership take a trade in that needs repairs?

Many individuals trade in previously owned automobiles specifically due to the problems. Your dealership will need to do an evaluation of your vehicle to provide you an exact trade-in value, but the basic rule of thumb is almost any kind of dealership will trade in any type of automobile as long as it is driveable.

What to do if your car is broken and you still owe money?

Your total-loss insurance payout will be for your car's ACV only. If you owe more money on your loan than your insurance settlement, you are still responsible for paying the difference. Most insurers offer "gap" coverage, which pays the difference between your car's AVC and your loan balance.

Will someone buy a car with a blown engine?

Sell a car with a broken engine for an instant offer, and you will get less than what it's worth. That's because local junkyards and car dealerships need to make a profit. Not all dealerships will even consider buying a car with a blown engine.

How can I get out of a car loan with a blown engine?

You can fix the car. If you don't want to do that, you can trade in or sell the car. You would then add the difference to the new car balance for the new car you buy. If you don't want to do that, do a voluntary repo and turn the car back to the bank.

Can I trade in my damaged financed car?

Yes, you can trade in a financed car, but the balance of your loan doesn't just disappear when you do so — it still has to be paid off. In most cases, the loan balance should be covered by the trade-in value of the vehicle, but that will depend on a variety of factors, including condition and age.

What to do if your engine dies and you still owe money?

If you owe more on your loan than your car's value, you will have to pay the difference yourself. You can use your savings or ask your lender to roll over your debt into a new car loan.

What happens if you finance a car and the engine blows?

You need to work out the loan so that you can sell or salvage the car. When the lender sees that there is no value to the car they may be willing to reduce the amount that you owe so that you can get rid of the car.

How much is my car worth with a blown engine?

You can typically expect the trade-in value of a car with a bad engine to drop at least $4,000 from what it would be worth with a running engine. That's how much a new engine could cost you on average.

Will a dealership take a trade in with a bad engine?

Your dealership will need to do an evaluation of your car to offer you an accurate trade-in value, but the general rule of thumb is almost any kind of car dealership will trade-in any kind of vehicle as long as it is driveable. If they can't fix it and sell it on their lot, chances are they know another lot that will.

What is the best thing to do with a car with a blown engine?

Trade Your Car

While a car with a blown engine might now be worth much to you – or anybody else for that matter – most car dealerships will accept it in a trade. With this, you can trade in your car to help pay for a new one. The car dealership will then take your car and either sell it or use it for pieces.

How do you get rid of a car you still owe money on?

Sell the Car

One way to get out of a car loan is to sell the vehicle privately. If you're not upside down on the loan, meaning the car is more valuable than what you currently owe on it, you can use the proceeds of the sale to pay off the current loan in full.

Can you trade in a blown up car?

In most cases, you can trade in your existing car for a new one, even if the vehicle has extensive mechanical problems. Dealers will often take cars that they cannot sell to a scrapyard or a junkyard and sell the vehicle as a junk car for parts.

Does a blown engine mean the car is totaled?

Engine or Transmission Damage

The engine and transmission are some of the costliest components to replace on a vehicle, which can result in a totaled designation.

Can I sell a car with a blown engine?

The short answer is 'YES'. You can sell a car with a blown engine.

How long does it take for a dealership to replace an engine?

The time it takes for the mechanics to replace your car's engine depends on the model you drive and how old your vehicle is. Most engines can be exchanged in 5-10 hours under normal conditions, but the task might take longer if there are special requirements.