Best Place To Sell Your Car
Where Is The Best Place To Sell Your Car?
The best place to sell your car online for good value is Cars.com based on our research. We also recommend looking at Carvana, Peddle, CarMax, Copart, CarGurus, Vroom, AutoNation, and Facebook Marketplace when considering selling a used vehicle.
Best Car Selling Sites
Our team compared a variety of popular car-selling sites on the market and found those in the table below to be the best. All of these options provide their services for free and some even offer instant quotes. Below are our top picks and their overall ratings:
| Company | Our Rating | Our Award |
|---|---|---|
| Cars.com | 4.5 | Best Option Selection |
| Carvana | 4.4 | Most Seamless Process |
| Peddle | 4.4 | Best for Older Vehicles |
| CarMax | 4.3 | Best Value |
| Copart | 4.3 | Best for Quick Payments |
| CarGurus | 4.3 | Best Platform |
| Vroom | 4.2 | Simple Process |
| AutoNation | 4 | Best All-in-One Option |
| Facebook Marketplace | Not rated |
* When rating car-selling companies we consider many factors including industry standing, platform, cost, support, and customer satisfaction.
9 Best Places To Sell A Car Online
Let’s take a closer look at each of our top picks.
1. Cars.com
Details: Instant offer online, sell to Cars.com partner dealer or on private marketplace
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A+ with accreditation
Instant offer value: $$
Cars.com is our top choice if you have a well-maintained vehicle from 2000 or after. You can sell your car directly to Cars.com with its instant offer tool or list it for sale on the Cars.com online marketplace. The only restriction on direct offers is that the car can’t be older than the model year 2000.
In our experience, the Cars.com platform is quick and easy to use. It asks a few simple questions, starting with your license plate number, VIN, or make and model. You’ll need to verify your phone number though (other companies usually only require an email for instant offers). If you’re happy with the quote, you can then visit a participating dealer in your area to get your car inspected and walk away with a check.
Our cost analysis shows Cars.com offers decent values, too. We reached out to see what Cars.com offered for two different vehicles, as well as how those offers compared to the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) trade-in value. Both vehicles had 80,000 miles.
| Vehicle | Cars.com Offer | KBB Trade-In Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab | $14,075 to $16,175 | $14,573 |
| 2015 Toyota Camry | $9,925 to $12,025 | $10,591 |
2. Carvana
Details: Instant offer online, sell or trade in to Carvana
BBB rating: Not rated
Instant offer value: $$$
Carvana is synonymous with selling your car online. You can sell your car from the comfort of your living room to Carvana and even get a new car delivered right to your home. Our team found that Carvana has the easiest process compared to other online car buying companies. We also found it gave higher valuations compared to KBB’s trade-in value for the vehicles we tested.
The downside is that some customers have had issues buying a car from Carvana according to reviews on the BBB. Some say the car descriptions didn’t fully disclose all issues with the vehicles and others had poor experiences with the customer service staff. That said, the majority of customers have a positive experience.
Carvana Used Car Quotes
| Vehicle | Carvana Offer | KBB Trade-In Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab | $18,576 | $14,573 |
| 2015 Toyota Camry | $11,860 | $10,591 |
3. Peddle
Details: Instant offer online, sell to Peddle
BBB rating: A+ with accreditation
Instant offer value: $$
Peddle is the best place to sell your car if it has seen better days. Peddle buys older vehicles and junk cars across the country. At this time, it has purchased over two million vehicles. You can get an instant cash offer on the site in just a few minutes and schedule a pickup in as little as a day. At pickup, the truck driver will take your old car and the signed car title and hand you a check.
Our team got quotes for a few older vehicles from Peddle, some with body damage and one without.
| Vehicle | Condition | Peddle Offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 Chevy Suburban C1500 | 250,000 miles, some body damage | $510 |
| 2003 Honda Accord LX | 250,000 miles, no body damage | $720 |
| 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE | 250,000 miles, some body damage | $615 |
Peddle’s customers rave about their experiences – the company has over 100,000 reviews on Trustpilot, 94 percent of which are four stars and above. Similarly, Peddle has a 4.7-star rating from customers on the BBB. Instant offers from Peddle are good for seven days, so you can shop around a bit before pulling the trigger.
4. CarMax
Details: Instant offer online, sell to or trade in to CarMax (in person)
BBB rating: A+
Instant offer value: $$$
CarMax is another site known for giving good instant offers. In our cost analysis, we found CarMax valuations above KBB’s trade-in value. If you’re concerned about getting top dollar for your car, check out an offer from CarMax.
You can get an instant offer online with your car’s license plate or VIN. The online offer tool is based on recent similar car sales in your area. If you have an older car or a less-popular vehicle, you might need to get an in-person appraisal. Be aware that you’ll need to take your car to a CarMax location to finalize the deal.
5. Copart
Copart focuses on purchasing used cars and junk vehicles. You can use its online quote tool to see how much the company will pay for your junk car to turn it into quick cash. You may be able to get an offer for a newer used vehicle by calling the company, though you’ll likely find higher offers from other car buyers.
Based on our experience, selling a car to Copart is a quick and easy process. The company picks up your vehicle quickly, offers quick turnarounds on payments for your car, and handles all the paperwork for you.
Our team received offers for three older cars. Compared to Peddle, these offers were about $250 less per vehicle.
| Vehicle | Condition | Copart Offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 Chevy Suburban C1500 | 250,000 miles, some body damage | $202.87 |
| 2003 Honda Accord LX | 250,000 miles, no body damage | $488.47 |
| 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE | 250,000 miles, some body damage | $380.66 |
6. CarGurus
Details: Instant offer online, sell to CarGurus or on private marketplace
BBB rating: A+ with accreditation
Instant offer value: $$$
CarGurus is another site that tends to give good offers for used cars. To get started, you can use your license plate or VIN. CarGurus will provide an instant quote on your screen after you’re through as well as an email with the offer. Should you accept, CarGurus will come to pick up your vehicle and send an electronic payment within two days.
CarGurus has fewer customer reviews compared to other companies on our list – under 100 each on the BBB and Trustpilot. These reviews give the company a low average score, but they only account for a small fraction of customers. In our experience, CarGurus agents were helpful during the process.
Finally, if you don’t want to sell to CarGurus, you can use the site’s private marketplace for a $4.95 listing fee.
| Vehicle | CarGurus Offer | KBB Trade-In Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab | $19,500 | $14,573 |
7. Vroom
Details: Instant offer online, sell or trade in to Vroom
BBB rating: F
Instant offer value: $$
Vroom offers instant online valuations along with the ability to sell or trade in your car from your own home. When it comes to convenience, it ticks all the boxes. We also found Vroom gave reasonable offers – about $500 to $1,000 over the KBB trade-in value for the vehicles we checked.
That said, Vroom doesn’t have the best customer reputation overall. It holds an F rating from the BBB and has received nearly 2,500 complaints in the past year. Most complaints are about buying a car through Vroom, not selling, though. Some complaints say the condition of the car didn’t match the listing while others say the process of receiving license plates took a long time.
8. AutoNation
Details: Instant offer online, sell or trade in at an AutoNation dealership (in person)
BBB rating: C-
Instant offer value: $$
AutoNation is another good option for selling your car – if you live near one of its locations. The company provides instant offers online, but you need to finalize the deal at one of its 300 locations across the country.
Like many other car buying companies on our list, AutoNation provided offers above the KBB trade-in value in our analysis. However, AutoNation’s online offers are subject to an in-person inspection, so they can change if the online tool doesn’t cover the full condition of your car.
| Vehicle | CarGurus Offer | KBB Trade-In Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab | $19,500 | $14,573 |
9. Facebook Marketplace
Details: Private party sale marketplace
Last up on our list of best places to sell your car is Facebook Marketplace. You can sell pretty much anything in your local area on Facebook, including cars. We like this option over Craigslist because the buyers are not anonymous. You can click on their profile and at least see their basic information. You have to have a Facebook profile to both buy and sell, so it’s a little easier to avoid scams from fake prospective buyers.
Facebook Marketplace can be a good option if you don’t mind taking the time to sift through potential buyers and meet different people for test drives. The advantage of using Facebook Marketplace is that you can get the best price for your vehicle. Other companies on our list are middlemen that resell your car for a profit. In contrast, you’ll sell directly to the end-user on Facebook, so you’ll likely make more money.
Best Ways To Sell Your Car
When considering the best place to sell your car for the most value, you need to know what options are available. The best ways to sell your vehicle include online dealers, local dealerships, and private sales. In the sections below we will break down each choice.
Selling To Online Dealers
Online car dealers like Carvana and Cars.com often offer the quickest quotes on your vehicle. All they need is some basic information about your vehicle and they’ll give you an instant cash offer. Not only this, but the companies usually offer pickup services for free and give you money up front without you needing to leave your property.
The main drawback is that once you get an offer from an online dealer it is final and there is no room for negotiation. Sale values also tend to be lower than going selling a car privately. Even so, if you want a simple and easy used car selling experience an online dealer is best for you.
Sell To Local Dealerships
Dealership sales and trade-ins are often popular choices when selling a used car. The price you sell your vehicle at is negotiable and if you trade in you can put money towards buying a new car. You’ll also be working with a personal sales agent that will help you walk through the process.
However, the selling process at a dealership can be high-pressure and is often time-consuming, sometimes taking hours at a time. So if you don’t have the time or energy to deal with salespeople, this option may not be best for you.
Doing A Private Sale
Private sales involve you selling a used car to another private party that is not a dealer. Because of this, you’ll have more flexibility over the terms of the sale and will offer a more personal experience with an individual buyer. This option also offers the most room to get the best value for your vehicle.
Selling to a private party also comes with potential issues. Since you are trying to broker deals between different people, the process can become more time-consuming than going to a dealership. This type of sale also requires you to fill out more paperwork that would otherwise be handled by a dealer. So, this way to sell a car is best for those willing to put in the work to get the best offer for their car.
Should You Sell Your Car Online?
Online car-buying companies all have a few things in common. First, they are convenient and easy to use. You can get an offer in just a few clicks and finish the whole transaction from your home in some cases. The downside is that these online offers are usually non-negotiable and they leave room for the company to make money reselling your car.
Selling on an online marketplace requires much more work – see our guide on how to sell a car for all the details. However, you can usually command the best price for your vehicle in a private sale.
Before you decide which way to go, we recommend using a couple of different car valuation tools to get your car’s market value. You can use KBB, Edmunds.com, or Carfax, for example. These tools will give you private sale and trade-in value ranges. Then, you can compare online offers and see if it’s worth selling your car privately instead.
Best Place To Sell My Car: Conclusion
We’ve outlined the best places to sell a car online and found Cars.com to be the best site overall. However, there are many ways to sell a car, and you won’t find the same exact offer in more than one place. Whichever company you choose, determine your car’s value and compare a couple of offers before you decide.
Best Place To Sell A Used Car: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions related to the best places to sell your used car:
Where can I sell my car for the most money?
Selling your car privately on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist will get you the most money. But if you don’t want to deal with strangers, we recommend checking out Carvana and CarMax for the best offers.
What is the best site to sell a used car?
Our top pick for selling a used car is Cars.com. You can get an instant offer online and complete the sale at a local dealership near you, or you can sell your car on the site’s private sale platform.
Which is better: CarMax or Carvana?
Our team rates Carvana slightly higher than CarMax because Carvana’s process is entirely remote. You can get an instant offer online and sell or trade in your car from your home. CarMax provides online offers but you need to finalize the deal in person.
Can You Negotiate With CarMax?
CarMax provides no-haggle offers. In other words, you can’t negotiate the price. While that’s a positive for some buyers, it’s a downside for others. At least you know CarMax won’t lowball your car.
How We Rate Car Selling Platforms
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of online platforms to sell your car. While there are multiple qualities that make a car selling site successful, our review team focuses on those we’ve determined are the most important for consumers:
- Industry Reputation: We evaluate each platform’s reputation to ensure it’s a reliable place to sell your car. Companies that have been in business for several years and have a strong rating from the BBB score well in this category.
- Platform: Our team rates each online platform based on how easy it is to use and its available features. Those that provide instant offers and several sales options are more likely to meet customers’ needs.
- Cost: We performed a secret shopper analysis to see how each provider’s offering prices compared to competitors’. Any additional fees companies charge to sell your car also factor into this rating.
- Transaction Support: The level of support offered by a car selling platform can make the process much smoother for customers. From free pickup services to sending an in-person inspector to you, companies that offer greater transaction support receive higher scores in this category.
- Customer Experience: Our team takes a comprehensive look at customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to get a sense of each provider’s customer experience.
