Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Between Autotrader and TrueCar, TrueCar is better for selling your car. It accepts cars in most conditions, including damaged or junk cars.
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. If you do, certified dealers can pay you using other methods besides a check.
Customer feedback also makes TrueCar the better option for selling cars. The good reviews on Trustpilot and BBB surely reflect how satisfied customers are with their car-selling experiences.
Best for Older & Damaged Cars
Buys used, damaged or junk cars
Free tow and no hidden fees
Pays by ACH trasfer or check
Top Pick for Junk Cars
Free, no-obligation cash offers
Offers free paperwork service
Pays on the spot upon pick up
Highly Rated by Customers
Excellent customer service ratings
Honors guaranteed offer for 7 days
Can pick up a car within 48 hours
Great for Low-Mileage Cars
Gives a real offer in 2 minutes
100% hassle-free online process
Free car’s Value Tracker available
Autotrader vs. TrueCar Comparison
| Company | Autotrader | TrueCar |
|---|---|---|
| Logo | 
| 
|
| Cars accepted | New and used cars | Cars in most types of conditions |
| Fees | $0 for instant cash offer, $49 listing fees | $0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application | Online application |
| Offer validity | 7 days or an additional 50 miles | 3 days |
| Payments offered | Check | Depends on the dealership |
| Payout | Same day | Same day |
| Car pick-up | Drop-off | Drop off |
| Physical locations | Participating dealers across the US | Over 10,000 Certified Dealers |
| Turnaround time | Up to 48 hours | 48 to 72 hours |
| Customer service | Online form, phone, and social media | Phone, email, and social media |
| Reviews | 1.9 | 4.1 |
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
Autotrader and TrueCar do not offer pick-up services. To sell your car, you must 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:
- Email: feedback@truecar.com
- Phone: 1-888-878-3227
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Reviews
| Company | Autotrader | TrueCar |
|---|---|---|
| Logo |
|
|
| Trustpilot | 1.9 | 4.0 |
| Better Business Bureau | 1.21 | 2.89 |
| Consumer Affairs | 3.2 | 4.1 |
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 negatively 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 complained that they paid the listing fees but couldn’t sell their cars on the platform.