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Sell a hybrid or plug-in hybrid with battery trouble
A hybrid battery rarely fails all at once. Fuel economy slips, the engine runs more, then a warning comes on and the quote arrives. We buy hybrids and plug-ins at any of those stages, running or not.
- Prius, Camry, RAV4 and Highlander hybrids, Volt, Outlander PHEV and more
- Failed hybrid battery, inverter, engine or transmission
- Free flatbed pickup, paid at pickup
Hybrids we hear about most
Toyota and Lexus hybrids make up most of the calls, with plug-ins catching up.
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Signs the hybrid battery is going
- A Check Hybrid System message, or the red warning triangle on a Toyota
- The engine runs almost all the time and rarely shuts off at stops
- The battery gauge swings from full to empty and back within minutes
- Fuel economy has dropped noticeably for no obvious reason
- The battery cooling fan, often near the back seat, runs loud and often
- The car won't go into Ready
Some of these can also come from a clogged battery cooling fan, a bad 12-volt battery or an inverter problem, so it's worth a diagnosis before you decide. If the result is a new hybrid battery on an older car, that's when selling usually wins.
How a hybrid differs from an EV when you sell
A regular hybrid has a much smaller battery than an EV. Older Toyotas use nickel-metal hydride packs, while newer hybrids and almost every plug-in use lithium-ion. A hybrid also has an engine and transmission, so we look at the whole drivetrain, not just the battery. A Prius with a failed pack but a healthy engine is worth more than one with both worn out.
For older Priuses, reconditioned battery packs exist and can make sense if the rest of the car is solid. If it isn't, or you're done with the car, we'll buy it.
Plug-in hybrids
Plug-ins like the Chevrolet Volt, Prius Prime, RAV4 Prime and Outlander PHEV carry bigger lithium-ion packs and can drive on electricity alone for a while before the engine starts. That means more can go wrong, but more is also worth something. A plug-in with a failed charger or a battery fault can often still run as a regular hybrid, which helps its value.
Crashed plug-ins are handled like any damaged EV: on a flatbed, with the battery checked before anyone powers it up. Our damaged EV page covers how that works, and the scrap EV page covers hybrids at the very end of their life.
Questions about selling a hybrid
Is a Prius with a dead hybrid battery worth anything?
Yes. The engine, transmission, inverter and body all have value, and so do the good modules in a failing pack. We price it on the whole car.
Can I keep driving a hybrid with a bad battery?
Some keep running on the engine with poor fuel economy, and some won't go into Ready at all. If a hybrid warning is on, have it checked before long drives.
Do you buy hybrids that still run fine?
Yes, though a running hybrid in good shape will usually fetch more in a private sale. We'll tell you if that's the case.
Do you take plug-ins with a failed charger?
Yes. A Volt or Outlander PHEV that won't charge from the wall is a common call. Tell us whether it still runs on gas.
Keep reading
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.