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Tell us about your car. The year, make, model, and what kind of shape it’s in.
Our car buyers will crunch the numbers and shoot you an offer that’ll make you smile. No pressure, just a fair price.
We’ll come to you, handle the paperwork, and hand you the cash. It’s fast, it's simple, and we'll even tow it away for free.
The American passion for cars is well known. It’s been on display front and center for since 2016, with car sales hitting record numbers for two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. And it makes sense, as cars help us reach our destinations, they often look great, and they provide a good bit of fun. That’s no different for people in Des Moines, with plenty of open road to open it up and let your car stretch its legs.
With all that driving, however, comes wear and tear on your car. Eventually that wear and tear adds up, and the thought of selling starts coming to mind. Where are you going to go to get cash for cars in Des Moines? Many people would consider a trade in at a dealership. At first glance, this seems like a good idea: you bring your old car in and leave with a new one. But dealers take your car and sell it for far more than you sold it for, meaning you aren’t getting the most money you can for your car.
Some would turn to things like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace in Des Moines. However, you end up spending a lot of time waiting for people to respond to your ad and dealing with nonserious buyers. Not to mention all the scammers and spam you’ll come across.
And tons of other people have cars that they think may not be worth anything, and end up calling the junk yard in Des Moines to dump your car. But there is one place to sell a car that promises a far easier, quicker, and better experience for cars of all types, including getting cash for junk cars in Des Moines.
That place is SellMax. We pay cash for cars in Des Moines, working diligently to make the car selling process as straightforward as possible. We even purchase clunkers for cash, so be certain we can buy your car. With SellMax, there’s no reason for Des Moines to deal with inconvenient dealers, scammers, or junk yards again.
Let’s see how it works. We buy cars in Des Moines, and it all starts with a phone call to SellMax at (800) 225-7500. We gather information from you about your car that helps us come up with a quote. We base that quote on previous Des Moines sale data, getting you the best deal that we can. Rest assured, we promise not to throw hidden fees at you or change the quote last minute. Just quick cash for cars in Des Moines.
So you’ve got your quote. What’s next? We set up a time and place to come take a look at your car. We’ll accommodate your schedule to meet you at a time that works for you, in just about any location you choose in Des Moines. Once that’s set, we send out a Car Whiz to meet you. The Car Whiz brings the tow truck and some paperwork for you. As long as the car checks out, once you’re done with the paper work, you’re done! We’ll hand over a check and you can wave bye bye to your car. Another car sale made easy by using SellMax.
Sean Pour has spent nearly 20 years in the cash for junk cars business. As co-founder, he’s built pricing algorithms and helped thousands of people sell junk cars in Des Moines.
I'm Sean Pour, co-founder of SellMax. Based on our recent data in Des Moines, IA as of October, local offers are easing compared with last month as used parts demand softens and resale supply stays high. The market is trending down, so pricing has tightened a bit, though the average payout citywide is holding near 588 on completed buys.
On the ground we are seeing a steady flow of Nissans, especially the Sentra and the Rogue. Compact cars usually land between 348 and 567, while trucks and SUVs often come in from 800 to 1250. That means a Sentra with moderate wear tends to sit in the compact band, and a Rogue in average condition often pushes into the higher range. Typical offers today reflect that mix and the broader supply picture.
When it comes to service, pickups happen fast. The median pickup time is about 1 hour 7 minutes, and 91 percent of vehicles are collected within 24 hours. Why people sell lines up with what we inspect on arrival. Missing catalytic converter accounts for 46 percent, engine problems 27 percent, collision or body damage 13 percent, failed inspection 8 percent, and transmission failure 6 percent. You can count on us to keep an eye on changing prices.
Absolutely, we do. We serve Des Moines and nearby areas including West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Clive, Pleasant Hill, Johnston, Waukee, Norwalk, Bondurant, Grimes, and lots more close by.
Ready to part ways with your junk car in Des Moines? You will need a few simple pieces of paperwork. Make sure you have a valid title, a government-issued photo ID, and the vehicle registration in hand.
If you have misplaced your title, do not worry. You can replace it at any Iowa DOT location or online with Form 411033 and a small fee. For cars without titles, showing proof of ownership or getting a bonded title with Form 411033 and a surety bond might be possible. Easy peasy, right?
When you decide to recycle your car, you’re handing it off to a licensed buyer who knows the ropes of giving old rides a new purpose. Here in Des Moines, we pay close attention to what really counts: parts and scrap metal. We stick to Iowa's environmental guidelines to make sure every vehicle is treated the right way. This year alone, we’ve recycled over 698 tons of metal, safely drained more than 7,083 gallons of fluids, and salvaged around 4,590 usable parts from cars in Des Moines. It’s a great way to reduce waste and keep valuable parts in the loop.
Selling my Toyota Matrix was stress-free with SellMax. Their team arrived promptly at my home, gave a fair cash offer, and took care of all the paperwork in no time.
| Vehicle | ZIP CODE | OFFER DATE | OFFER PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Bmw ALPINA B7 | 50311 | 10-09-2025 | $788 |
| 1991 Suzuki Swift | 50334 | 10-09-2025 | $460 |
| 2018 Bmw ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe | 50393 | 10-08-2025 | $486 |
| 2017 Ford Mustang | 50368 | 10-08-2025 | $638 |
| 1989 Ford Mustang | 50305 | 10-07-2025 | $752 |
| 1998 Honda Prelude | 50363 | 10-06-2025 | $938 |
| 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander | 50364 | 10-05-2025 | $902 |
| 1986 Maserati 228 | 50980 | 10-04-2025 | $478 |
| 2005 Noble M14 | 50308 | 10-04-2025 | $988 |
| 1963 Aston-martin DB5 | 50380 | 10-04-2025 | $974 |
| 2015 Bmw 5 Series | 50314 | 10-03-2025 | $413 |
| 1957 Porsche 356 | 50362 | 10-02-2025 | $638 |
| 1997 Jeep Wrangler | 50392 | 10-01-2025 | $400 |
| 2010 Jeep Patriot | 50396 | 09-27-2025 | $735 |
| 2014 Audi S5 | 50347 | 09-26-2025 | $503 |
