What's the Best Way to Sell Your Car? When many of us consider selling a car, we often think first of the traditional methods. In the past, inputting your car's details on a site like Kelley Blue Book for a sale value and heading to a dealership (and hoping they match the KBB price) was the standard way to handle car sales. But with the growth of online sites for buying and selling cars, the traditional methods of selling a car are a thing of the past.
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When you're looking to sell your ride, consider giving CarGurus a try. Founded by the same person as TripAdvisor, this online car marketplace has grown into one of the most popular in the US since its launch in 2006. The site uses advanced analytics to provide buyers with detailed information about a car's value that you can also use to help sell your vehicle. CarGurus is also a valuable resource for all your car-related needs. The Research tab offers valuable tools like Test Drive Reviews, Price Trends, Tips & Advice, and General Information, giving potential buyers a sense of security as they explore your listing on CarGurus.
List privately or get a dealership offer
CarGurus offers two ways to sell your car: Instant Max Cash Offer or private listing. If you live in one of the 22 states (plus Washington DC) where cash offers are available, you'll enter basic information about your car, such as plate or VIN, mileage, condition, and more. CarGurus will then source offers from various dealers and send you the best one; that offer is valid for seven days or an additional 250 miles over what you entered in the questionnaire.
Quicker turnaround with a dealership
If you decide to go with a dealership, you can expect to get paid in just 7 days. You'll also have the advantage of choosing the best offer without having to negotiate with individual buyers. Plus, CarGurus will handle the hassle-free handoff to the dealership, saving you time and effort by coordinating the drop-off and transfer of ownership. If you accept the dealership's offer, you'll need to upload documents proving ownership of the vehicle and schedule a pickup date and time.
Easy to set up your listing
If you prefer to list and sell your car privately, CarGurus charges just $4.95 for the listing. When you sell your car through a private exchange, it can take up to 20 days to find the right buyer and finalize the sale. The service offers pricing guidance, verified buyers, paperwork assistance, and a secure payment method. Conveniently, CarGurus allows you to carry over information from the Instant Max Cash process to the listing section; just click on the area that lets you start where you left off instead of creating a new vehicle entry. All you need to do is set the price and enter a brief description. Unfortunately, there's no option to upload photos here.
Get paid via direct deposit or check
When you sell your car through CarGurus, you have the flexibility to select how you want to receive your payment. You can choose between receiving a check at the time of pickup or opting for a direct deposit, which will be credited to your account on the same day as pickup.
Sellers are mostly happy with the process
User feedback about CarGurus is mixed. On one hand, CarGurus has earned an impressive "A+" accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, with a remarkably low number of complaints in the past year. While some reviewers have left feedback regarding vehicle listings, most buyers have reported a positive experience when shopping through CarGurus. On Trustpilot, the company receives an average rating of 3.9 stars. In general, sellers say that the sale process is quick and honest, though sometimes the UI can be a little "clunky".
A good option, but could have better ratings
CarGurus has some positive aspects. It's nice to have two options for selling cars - dealership instant offer and private listing - and there's no reason why you can't do both if you live where cash offers are available. We also love that CarGurus will come and take your car from your driveway, eliminating the need for a trip to the dealership. However, the reviews show only slightly higher than average approval (though CarGurus has positive feedback overall). For this reason, it earns a slightly lower ranking than our top competitors. We recommend trying out CarGurus but comparing it with our higher-ranked car-selling services first.
Continued from above...
When many of us consider selling a car, we often think first of the traditional methods. In the past, inputting your car's details on a site like Kelley Blue Book for a sale value and heading to a dealership (and hoping they match the KBB price) was the standard way to handle car sales. But with the growth of online sites for buying and selling cars, the traditional methods of selling a car are a thing of the past.
Now there is no waiting with a "for sale" sign on your windshield and waiting for interested buyers to come knocking on your door. Today, most people sell their cars totally online, and it's often a quick and easy process. With the numerous tools available, you can set a competitive asking price and attract potential buyers from all over.
When deciding how to sell your car, you have two main options on car sales websites: accepting a cash offer from a dealership, either online or with a physical location near you, or creating a listing to sell it privately. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Dealership offers can be convenient because they eliminate the need to screen potential buyers, schedule multiple viewings, and verify payment methods. Some online services will even pick up the vehicle from your specified address at no extra cost.
However, this convenience may come at a cost. Not all services that offer cash for cars will accept vehicles in any condition, and you may be able to get more money for your car if you sell it privately. This is because private buyers are often trying to avoid the markup that dealerships put on used cars before selling them to customers. As a result, you may be able to start with a higher asking price when selling privately. Many people choose to do both: shop around for the best cash offer while also creating a private listing to test the market.
Regardless of which method you choose, there are certain documents you'll need to have ready. In most cases, you'll need to provide current and valid registration papers, any available key fobs and manuals, a valid state-issued photo ID, and have any owners named on the title present at the time of sale. The specific requirements may vary depending on the state where you live and the terms of the car-selling service you choose.
With so many sites to help you sell your car online, it can be hard to know where to start. To help you make an informed decision about which one is best for you, consider the following criteria:
To help you simplify selling your car, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular sites available online today. We hope this helps you sell your car quickly and get the most money possible out of your sale. Happy listing!
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