Last Updated 2 years ago
Selling your car nowadays is faster than ever!
Do you remember those days when you had to put a dollar sign on your car’s rear windshield and put your phone number on it?
Once you received calls from potential buyers, you had to arrange a time for them to see the car. Here is when you had to be prepared and dust off your selling skills to convince others that your car is the best car ever! Finally, you needed to agree on the best way to receive the money in a safe way. And fingers crossed the buyer doesn’t come back to you if there is an issue with the car. Ugh!
Luckily, technology has made it faster and easier than ever to sell your car. There are currently companies on the web that issue instant offers based on the condition of your vehicle. Some of them even pick up your car directly from your house!
The experts at Quartz have released their 2024 list of the best websites to sell your car. We tried them and reviewed how easy their selling process is and how much they offer for a car. For context, we used the information of the same car on all the websites: my 2017 Volkswagen Jetta Sport Turbo 1.8 Liter with 59,610 miles. According to the Kelly Blue Book, its resale value is $10,457 as of the publishing date of this article.
From the lowest offer to the highest, here are the top 5 Sites To Sell Your Car Fast For Top Dollar in 2024 According to Experts:
TrueCar
How much we were offered: $7,154
This automotive digital retailing website has been in business for almost 19 years – Quite a long time on the market. Additionally, the non-profit organization Better Business Review (BBB) ranks TrueCar.com with A+, the highest ranking based on how the company is likely to interact with its customers.
Different companies use TrueCar to offer car-buying options to their clients such as Sam’s Club, Geico, and U.S. News.
I was surprised when I entered the details of my VW Jetta and it spat out a mere $7,157. Much lower than I was expecting!
However, the process of selling a car with them is very straightforward. To start, you need your car’s license plates or the VIN number, and the current mileage. Then the platform will ask you some standard questions about the additional features of your car and its current condition.
Finally, it will show you a cash offer. The offer is valid only for 3 days and you’ll need to drop off your car at a certified dealership to be inspected.
CarGurus
How much we were offered: $10,727
CarGurus is a car research company and shopping website. In other words, it’s a marketplace for cars. This is another company that has been in business for a long time: 18 years. The BBB rates Car Gurus Inc. with an A+.
This is why I like to compare different sites! Checking Car Gurus after TrueCar could put another $3,600 in my pocket.
Similar to True Car, on the CarGurus website, you will be asked to provide general information about the condition of your car.
With this information, they will share it with their network of dealerships close to your area. Then, Car Gurus will show you their recommender dealer offer which will be valid for 7 days. Then the dealership will contact you to continue the selling process. So, at the end of the day, it’s ut to the dealership to determine the final price.
Carmax
How much we were offered: $11,000
The used vehicle retailer Carmax has been in the business since 1993. The company has locations in 41 states except for Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Now we’re creeping up even higher with the base valuation! Based on the condition of my Jetta, Carmax estimated I would receive $11,000 for my ride.
To sell your car on Carmax’s website is a similar process to the other platforms. But one advantage is the instant buying offer is issued by Carmax – No middlemen.
You need to schedule an inspection and take your car to the closest Carmax location. They will confirm the conditions of the car and pay you right away.
We Buy Any Car
How much we were offered: $11,040
The company was founded in 2006 in the United Kingdom, and now they offer their services in the U.S. rated by Better Business Bureau with A+, and they only buy cars.
The selling process on their website was super easy, they only asked me for the make, model, and year of my car, nothing else. And with these 3 pieces of information, they gave me an instant offer valid for 4 days.
We found this company has the fastest process out of the bunch to evaluate your car and get it sold quickly.
After receiving your offer, you’ll have to book an appointment with that local car buying center, where they’ll inspect your vehicle and test drive it. Finally, you’ll complete the paperwork there and your car will be sold.
Algo
How much we were offered: $12,100 ($11,975 after the $125 administration fee)
Similar to WeBuyAnyCar, Algo only buys cars. This company started 3 years ago but is managed by Auto Lenders, a group of dealerships in the U.S. in the business since 1990.
The selling process is similar to other websites, you’ll get asked about the general conditions of your car and they’ll show you an estimated value. This amount can change after they verify the conditions of your car with their Virtual Appraisers. After the inspection, they will present you with a guaranteed offer.
I found it strange that my offer from Algo was only valid for a day. However, if I’d accepted it, they would have picked up my car for me, making them one of the most convenient options on this list.
It is important to keep in mind that there is a $125 administration fee once they agree to buy your car. Also, there is a $25 payoff processing fee if you’re still financing or leasing your car.
Carvana
How much we were offered: $12,200
If you live in a big city, chances are that have seen a big glass tower with cars inside and at the top the sign “Carvana”.
Carvana is an online used car retailer founded in 2012 that allows customers to buy and sell a car from home. Indeed this company is famous for its “vending machines for cars”.
As with other websites, to get an instant offer from Carvana you need either the VIN or the license plates of your car and the mileage. Afterward, you will be asked questions about the general status of your car. At the end, you will be prompted with an instant offer for your vehicle valid for 7 days only.
Carvana is who I ended up selling my 2017 VW Jetta with, because of these 3 main reasons:
- They offered the highest estimate
- Carvana’s office was extremely close to where I live
- Unbeknownst to me, it only took me 12 minutes to drop off the car, have the inspection, and complete the sale. The funds were directly deposited into my bank account the next day!
Conclusion
Here are all the offers I received from each website for your review.
| Company | Offer Validity Period | Received Offer | Compared to KBB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueCar | 3 | $7,157 | -32% |
| Car Gurus | 7 | $10,727 | -2% |
| Carmax | 7 | $11,000 | 1% |
| We Buy Any Car | 4 | $11,040 | 6% |
| Algo | 1 | $11,975 | 16% |
| Carvana | 7 | $12,200 | 17% |
Take into account that each offer will depend on the status of your car. While selling your car to another person will likely get you more money for your vehicle, selling your car online to any of the companies listed here will save you a lot of time and effort to get some bucks back into your pocket.
Selling your car on any of these platforms should take you less than a week, so here is an article that will help you decide what car to buy next.