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Sell a crashed or damaged electric car in BC
Front-end hit, side impact, a curb strike under the battery, or a write-off you still own. We buy damaged EVs as they sit, haul them away on a flatbed and pay you at pickup.
- Front, side, rear or underbody damage, airbags out or not
- We ask about the battery first, so the price holds
- Free flatbed tow from anywhere in the Lower Mainland
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Get a price for your EV
Five quick details and we call you back with a number.
Why a damaged EV is hard to sell privately
A buyer on Marketplace can look at a dented fender and guess the cost. With an EV they can't see the part that matters most. Nobody can tell from the curb whether the battery case took a hit, whether coolant got where it shouldn't, or whether the car will throw a high-voltage fault the first time it's charged. So private buyers either walk away or offer a number that assumes the worst.
Body shops have their own problem. EV repairs need trained technicians, the right lifts and sometimes parts that take months to arrive. While the car waits, storage fees add up.
We price the car knowing what the battery, drive units and electronics are worth to the people who rebuild and recycle EVs. That's how we can pay for a car most buyers won't touch.
Damage we buy
- Front-end collisions. Bumper, frunk, headlights, radiator and AC condensers, and the charging hardware some EVs keep up front.
- Side impacts. Doors, pillars and the sill rails the battery pack bolts to.
- Underbody hits. Curbs, road debris and high centre medians can dent the pack case or crack a coolant line.
- Rear-end damage, including cars with a crushed trunk or a bent rear subframe.
- Airbag deployments, which often trigger the car's high-voltage disconnect.
- Hail, vandalism and theft recovery, including cars a shop has already started taking apart.
Why we ask about the battery first
The battery is usually most of what a damaged EV is worth, so a few questions on the call save a surprise at pickup. We'll ask:
- Does the screen wake up, and what charge level does it show?
- Any warning messages, like a high-voltage system fault or reduced power?
- Is there fluid under the middle of the car, or a sharp chemical smell?
- Was the hit low enough to reach the floor of the car?
- Does it roll and steer, or is a wheel locked or folded under?
Answer as best you can. If you don't know, say so and we'll work it out when we see the car.
While it waits for pickup
- Keep it outside, away from the house and other cars, if it can be moved safely.
- Don't plug it in.
- Smoke, hissing or popping from underneath means get clear and call 911.
Repair, claim or sell?
If the crash wasn't your fault, ICBC's Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage pays for repairs. If it was your fault, only Collision coverage pays for your own car, and without it the repair bill is yours. When repairs cost more than the car is worth, ICBC declares a total loss and normally takes the vehicle after paying you out.
That leaves a lot of owners holding a car that's worth more in parts than it would cost to fix. If your claim is still open, talk to your adjuster before you make plans. Our repair, claim or sell guide goes through each situation.
How pickup works for a crashed EV
We bring a flatbed. If the car can power on, the driver puts it in transport or tow mode so the wheels turn freely. If a wheel is locked or the suspension is folded, it goes on with wheel skates and a slow winch. It never gets dragged on its own wheels, since an EV's motor can be damaged that way.
Cars at body shops and tow yards are fine. Tell us where it is and who to talk to. Storage fees there are between you and the yard, so it pays to move quickly.
Questions about selling a damaged EV
Will you buy my EV if the airbags went off?
Yes. Deployed airbags lower the value of a car that could be repaired, but they don't stop us buying it. Many EVs also cut high-voltage power when the airbags fire, so a car that seems dead after a crash may just be shut down for safety.
My EV is at a body shop. Can you pick it up from there?
Yes. Give us the shop name and a contact, and tell the shop we're coming. Any storage fees owing are settled between you and the shop before the car leaves.
Do I need to fix anything before you buy it?
No. Don't spend money on a car you're selling for damage. We buy it as it sits, missing parts and all, as long as you tell us what's missing.
Can you buy it while my ICBC claim is still open?
It's better to wait until the claim is settled or you've talked to your adjuster, because ICBC may still need to inspect the car. Once it's clear the car stays with you, call us.
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Want it gone this week?
Call with the year, model and what happened. We'll ask a few questions about the battery and where it's parked, then give you a number.