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Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Between Autotrader and TrueCar, TrueCar turns out better for selling your car. It accepts cars in most conditions, including those that are damaged or junk.
All of TrueCar’s services are free, and you can sell your car to over 10,000 certified dealers. Once you’re ready to accept their offers, you can simply drive your vehicle to the certified dealer, and they’ll inspect your car for free.
After TrueCar provides you with their offer, you’re not obligated to accept it. And if you accept it, certified dealers can pay you in other methods besides a check.
What also makes TrueCar the better option for selling cars is customer feedback. The good reviews on Trustpilot and BBB surely reflect how satisfied customers are with their car-selling experiences.
Autotrader Summary
Sell or buy a wide variety of vehiclesMore than 14 million buyers per monthGet fair deals for your second-hand carEfficient customer service
TrueCar Summary
Enter VIN to instantly get a car estimateOffer is good for three daysTrueCar pays through checkOffer comes from one of Certified Dealers
Autotrader vs. TrueCar Comparison
CompanyAutotraderTrueCarLogo
Cars acceptedNew and used carsCars in most types of conditionsFees$0 for instant cash offer, $49 listing fees$0Requesting quotesOnline applicationOnline applicationOffer validity7 days or an additional 50 miles3 daysPayments offeredCheckDepends on the dealershipPayoutSame daySame dayCar pick-upDrop-offDrop offPhysical locationsParticipating dealers across the USOver 10,000 Certified DealersTurnaround timeUp to 48 hours48 to 72 hoursCustomer serviceOnline form, phone, and social mediaPhone, email, and social mediaReviews1.94.1
Cars Accepted
Autotrader buys new and used cars as long as these meet the conditions based on the following factors:
Available market data
Aftermarket customizations
Title issues
Unresolved recalls
TrueCar, on the other hand, purchases vehicles in most conditions. Whether it’s damaged, wrecked, or junk, you can sell your car to them.
Fees
Both Autotrader and TrueCar charge zero fees when you sell your car through their instant cash offer. However, listing your vehicle on Autotrader’s website to sell it to private buyers costs $49.
Requesting Quotes
To sell with Autotrader, you can go to their website and complete an online form. Some of the information you need to provide are the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN, your car’s condition, mileage, and history.
If you don’t have the VIN yet, you can still request a quote by entering your car’s license plate number and state of registration. Then, you can specify its year, make, and model.
Similarly, TrueCar lets you request a quote by completing an online form on their website. It will also ask for the same information about your car, starting the VIN to condition and history.
After completing the online form, the website will show you the offered price. However, it’s crucial to note that this is only an initial value. You still need to bring your car to one of its partner dealerships for inspection and to determine the final offer.
To set your expectations, know that the final offer might be different from the initial offer generated on their website.
Offer Validity
Autotrader instant cash offers are valid for 7 days or an additional 250 miles, whichever comes first. It means you can claim the offer as long as your car doesn’t accumulate more than 250 miles since completing the online application.
In comparison, you can only claim offers from TrueCar-certified dealers within 3 days of receiving them.
Payments Offered
Autotrader payments come in check, which their partner dealership will hand you after finalizing the sale. TrueCar, however, doesn’t specify their payment methods as these depend on the certified dealer where you’re claiming their instant offer at.
As a best practice, once you receive their initial offer, make sure to check with the certified dealers how they intend to pay for your car or whether they offer your preferred payment channels.
Payout
Whether you choose Autotrader or TrueCar, you’ll receive the payment within the same day of completing the sale.
Car Pick-up
Pick-up services are unavailable with Autotrader or TrueCar. To sell your car, you’ll need to drop it off at one of their partner dealerships or certified dealers.
Physical Locations
Autotrader has participating dealerships across the US where you need to take your car to claim their offer. TrueCar also has this option but claims they have over 10,000 certified dealers nationwide.
Turnaround Time
Autotrader takes up to 48 hours when you sell your vehicle to them, while TrueCar takes 48 to 72 hours.
Customer Service
Autotrader’s customer service team is available through the following:
TrueCar’s customer support is open for queries through the following:
Reviews
Between Autotrader and TrueCar, the latter received higher average ratings from its customers on legitimate review sites, like Trustpilot and BBB. Customers liked that they were able to sell their vehicles for better prices at TrueCar.
Additionally, many liked that TrueCar’s process is convenient and that their website is incredibly easy to use. However, some customers felt negative that their instant offers were not the same as the final offers certified dealers made after inspecting their cars.
Autotrader also received praise from their customers for their high offers. However, many of their car sellers are complaining about listing fees, with some of them getting charged for extended periods.
Others also didn’t like that they paid the listing fees but weren’t able to sell their cars on the platform.
Autotrader & TrueCar Alternatives
Peddle
Peddle Summary
Sell used, damaged or junk car nationwideGet instant quote on (855) 925 4302Free towing within 48 hours after offerReceive payment upon car collection
Like TrueCar, Peddle is a car-buying company that accepts vehicles in any condition. But unlike the former, this company allows you to get instant offers in two ways: by online application and by contacting their hotline.
Also, Peddle is among the best alternatives to Autotrader and TrueCar if you’re looking to sell your vehicle with virtually zero hassle. After accepting their instant offer, you only need to schedule for their team to pick up your car.
It takes less than an hour for them to inspect your car, finalize the paperwork, hand you payment, and tow your vehicle away.
CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
Get an online offer within 2 minutesGet cash for your car in under 48 hoursCarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditionsUp to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
If customer reviews mean a lot to you, CarBrain is surely one of the places you should consider. Its impressive average ratings at Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau pretty much speak of how high-quality its services are.
Similar to TrueCar, it’s also one of the places where you can sell your vehicle without worrying about its eligibility. After all, the company specializes in buying damaged vehicles, including the ones that Autotrader might not accept.
Compared to TrueCar and Autotrader, CarBrain guarantees a quick turnaround time and free pick-up service.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a weekGet offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108Free towing of your car from your locationInstant payment via cash or check
Wheelzy joins sites like Autotrader and TrueCar, where you can get instant offers for your vehicle through a straightforward online process. However, you’ll find that Wheelzy stands out in terms of customer feedback, seeing it has 4.7 ratings in Trustpilot.
Also, the platform operates completely online, meaning there’s no physical store you can take your vehicle to sell. It offers free pick-up services and hand payment before leaving with your car.
And while it accepts vehicles in most conditions, like TrueCar, note that you can only sell 1981 or later models to Wheelzy.