Thursday, April 17th
2025 Car Selling Site Reviews
True Car
- Sell to dealerships through True Car
- Prices are estimated only
- Drop off vehicle at dealership
- Payment determined by dealerships
- "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB
True Car is a long-standing favorite in the car market: it's been around since 2005, initially launched as an online automotive marketplace. The site is a platform where both new and used cars are available for purchase, and it also partners with prominent brands like American Express, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Sam's Club to provide various purchasing services. When selling your vehicle through True Car, you'll receive direct offers from certified dealerships near you, skipping the hassle of working with private buyers.
Sell or trade to True Car
True Car offers one way to sell your car through its platform: the True Cash Offer. To start selling your used vehicle, you'll enter the license plate, VIN, or make/model. You'll then confirm details like color, options, mileage, and ZIP code. As you input this information, the estimate will populate in real time, giving you an idea of what your car might be worth. During the process, you can choose "Sell your car,” "Trade your car,” or "Value your car” depending on your interests.
Estimate valid for 3 days
Once you've entered all the necessary details, you'll see your True Cash Estimate. This estimate breaks down how each detail affected the dollar amount, from mileage to condition. Keep in mind that this offer is just an estimate and is subject to an in-person inspection. The estimate is valid for three days, giving you time to decide whether to sell your car. You can enter your email address to save your progress if you're not ready to sell or want to wait for market fluctuations. Alternatively, click "Get Your True Cash Offer" to connect with local dealerships. You can choose how you'd like to be contacted - via email only or phone and email - and specify whether you'd prefer to receive emails or phone calls.
Get paid by the dealership you choose
Keep in mind that selling your car with True Car is using the platform rather than selling your car directly to the company. True Car connects you with dealerships willing to offer the estimated value of your vehicle. The final sale occurs when you pick an offer and take your car to the dealership for a final inspection and sale. The method of payment will depend on the individual dealership you decide to sell to. In our review, we found that True Car's estimates were often lower than those offered by other services. This is not uncommon when working with dealership offers.
Issues with dealerships honoring prices
True Car has a complicated reputation. The company has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and accreditation, but there have been a decent number of complaints filed in the past year. Many users have expressed disappointment with the service, citing lowball offers and dealerships not honoring promised prices. Dealerships are not obligated to honor the estimated purchase price. However, the frequency of mismatched estimates from the final dealership price left many reviewers and sellers feeling like using True Car was a waste of time or even a scam.
Not useful even for research
While True Car can be used to sell your vehicle, it may not be the best choice. The service is not necessarily untrustworthy or bad, but it could be a waste of time if partner dealerships don't make an offer close to the estimated price. The fact that True Car's estimates can be so far off the mark means this site isn't even ideal for getting an idea of your car's value for research purposes. Before you consider True Car, you may want to try a higher-ranked option first.
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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.
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.
Car Selling Site FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Sales method. Does the site provide a "cash offer” style experience or allow you to list privately? Many sites offer both, but not all of them. Making sure you can sell the way you want at a particular site can help you narrow down your options.
- Tools. Does the platform have helpful tools to get you set up? Does it help you price your car appropriately or interface with Kelley Blue Book? You don't want to be doing a ton of work to set up a listing.
- Payment. This is a big one. How are you going to get paid? Will you walk away with cash in hand, a bank transfer, or a check in the mail? There are lots of methods. Make sure your chosen platform offers payment through a system that works best for you.
- Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings to see what other car enthusiasts say about a particular auto sales site. Look for feedback on how trustworthy the platform is, how it handles customer service, and the overall buying process (including test drives, delivery, and returns).
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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