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.
Average
When looking for a hassle-free car-selling experience, Carvana is a well-known name in the industry. As one of the pioneers of online car sales, the company allows you to sell your car from the comfort of your own home.
Car vending machines
Founded in 2012, Carvana is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and has introduced a unique concept of "car vending machines" at 28 locations nationwide. CarFax reports are included in all vehicle listings, so you can be sure that Carvana offers competitive selling tools. Plus, Carvana has relatively lenient requirements for selling them a car. As long as your vehicle is newer than 1992, its odometer is functioning, and they can safely take it for a test drive, it's eligible. This relaxed approach makes it easier to sell your car to Carvana compared to other services.
Sell directly to Carvana
The entire process of selling your car to Carvana is entirely online. You'll start by answering questions about your car, such as entering your plate or VIN. Within a few minutes, you'll receive your Carvana offer. If you're satisfied with the offer, you'll need to upload your ownership documents, select your preferred payment method, and schedule an appointment for the pickup. Carvana can collect your car from any address you choose, meet you halfway, or receive it at one of their physical locations. Like with a few other sites in our review, you'll sell your car directly to Carvana. Listing your car yourself as a private seller isn't an option with this service.
Offers determined from data
Carvana determines the amount of the offer with a range of information. When you provide details about your vehicle, such as options, accident history, and mileage, Carvana combines this information with data from service records, trusted pricing guides, and market analysis. You'll receive the strongest offer it can provide based on its analysis of your vehicle's value and current auto market conditions. You can also choose to use the price of your sold vehicle as a trade-in to buy a different car from Carvana.
Paid by check or direct deposit
When you sell your car to Carvana, you'll receive payment promptly, either when they collect the vehicle from your home or at one of their physical locations. This is a distinct advantage compared to other car-selling services that may require waiting for a bank transfer or check. Carvana will provide payment through either a printed check at the time of pickup or a direct deposit into your checking or savings account via ACH, which typically takes 2-5 business days. The process is streamlined, with just a few quick steps to confirm vehicle details and complete final sale documents, allowing you to receive payment as quickly as possible.
Mixed reviews and some legal concerns
When it comes to reviews of Carvana, opinions are mixed. On sites like Trustpilot, the average rating is 4.3 out of 5 stars, with many customers who've both bought and sold cars through Carvana reporting positive experiences. However, the Better Business Bureau's assessment is starkly different, having dropped from an "A-" rating to an "F" in recent years due to concerns about business practices. Class-action lawsuits are pending in at least three US states over alleged misconduct. Though these issues are mostly related to buying cars rather than selling, it may be worth it to use caution. The few reviews we found that focused on selling cars praise Carvana for fair pricing and a hassle-free process, while others express frustration with slow paperwork, unresponsive customer service, and lowball offers.
Worth it to get an offer
We do have concerns about Carvana's overall customer service, mainly with regards to their car-buying experience. However, there's relatively low risk involved with selling your car to them: you either accept their offer and get paid or you don't. At most, you'll waste some time if they show up for your vehicle and you change your mind. Carvana needs to make significant improvements to their customer service overall (as evident in their numerous negative reviews), pending lawsuits, and "F" BBB rating, but there's no reason why you can't explore what kind of offer they'll give you for your car and then decide what to do next.
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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