Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Suppose your choice comes down to CARFAX and Wheelzy, which seem to be the preferable options. You’ll have a better chance of selling your vehicle to Wheelzy since it accepts cars in any condition.
Besides online applications, you can also call them by phone to request a quote. Their offer has no validity period, giving you more time to think about selling your vehicle. Lastly, Wheelzy offers a free pick-up service, letting you skip driving to the dealership.
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
CARFAX vs. Wheelzy Comparison
| CARFAX | Wheelzy | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars accepted | In good condition | Any cars including used, wrecked, and junk cars |
| Fees | 0 | 0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application | Online application or by calling (855) 294-0940 |
| Offer validity | 3 days | As long as possible for Wheelzy |
| Payments offered | Cash | Cash |
| Payout | Check, direct deposit | Check or cash |
| Car pick-up | Drop off | Free pick-up |
| Physical locations | Partner dealerships in the US | None |
| Turnaround time | Up to 72 hours | Up to 48 hours |
| Customer service | Online form | Social media accounts, phone |
| Reviews | 2 | 4.7 |
Cars Accepted
In general, CARFAX accepts cars that are at least in good condition. They also consider any cosmetic flaws and mechanical flaws when they deem your car valid for instant offers.
To confirm if you can still sell your vehicle to the company, you can request an instant offer using your car’s VIN. Even if you receive an instant offer, note that you’re not obligated to sell your vehicle to CARFAX.
On the other hand, Wheelzy accepts vehicles regardless of their conditions. From good to used cars to old to wrecked and junk cars, you can request a quote from Wheelzy. It even buys company cars and those with outdated registration.
Additionally, you can sell your vehicle to Wheelzy even if it has missing parts. Just make sure that the engine and transmission are still in your vehicle. As for the year models, Wheelzy accepts those from 1981 and newer.
Fees
What’s great about selling to either CARFAX or Wheelzy is that you don’t need to pay for anything. You can request an instant offer through their websites for free. Wheelzy even lets you request them to pick up your car without you needing to pay towing fees.
Requesting Quotes
Requesting quotes at CARFAX and Wheelzy is possible through their websites. With CARFAX, you’ll need to provide any of the following:
- Year, make, and model
- VIN
- License plate number
The website, then, opens up a webpage where you can provide further details about your vehicle. There are drop-down options that let you describe your car’s condition, trim, and options.
To receive the instant offer, you’ll need to provide your contact details, too.
With Wheelzy, you can request a quote through a simple online form on their website. You’ll only need to enter your vehicle’s make, year, and model, and your phone number and zip code.
After clicking the Get Offer button, Wheelzy will contact you by phone for the instant offer. Besides the online form, you can also get an instant offer by calling their sales team at (855) 294-0940.
Offer Validity
Offers from CARFAX are valid for 3 days only. If unclaimed, you’ll need to go through the online process again to request a quote. Keep in mind that by requesting a quote again, the instant offer amount may change from the one you had before.
Wheelzy, on the other hand, didn’t specify any offer validity. According to their website, you can accept the instant offer and choose when to claim it anytime in the future.
In case you haven’t accepted the offer yet, Wheelzy is also willing to keep it for as long as it can. That means you have plenty of time to decide whether to sell your car to them.
Payments Offered
Both CARFAX AND Wheelzy only pay in cash and don’t offer any trade-in. For the payment option, CARFAX offers check or direct deposit payments, while Wheelzy offers check or cash payments.
Payout
CARFAX processes payments and sends them out within 1 to 3 business days of completing the car sale at their dealership. If you opt for direct deposit, you can receive the payment to your account, depending on your bank’s posting schedule.
As for check payments, CARFAX mails them out within the same period. However, this can take longer than 3 days, as it depends on the postal service.
On the contrary, Wheelzy ensures quick payment schedules. The company pays out in cash or check before their partner tow service partner takes the vehicle away.
Car Pick-up
Only Wheelzy offers customers the option to have their cars picked up from their location. Typically, you can get this set up after accepting their instant offers.
You can also conveniently contact their customer support team if you’re having issues with the pickup time.
Physical Locations
CARFAX has partner dealerships in the country where you can bring your car for selling. You can use their store locator on their website once you’re ready to claim the instant offer.
Wheelzy, on the other hand, has no physical locations you can bring your car to once you’re ready to sell. Pick-up is the only option they offer, that’s why you can contact them for any issues on your pickup schedule.
Turnaround Time
Selling to Wheelzy takes about 48 hours, while CARFAX takes up to 72 hours. Both companies offer an online application that only takes minutes. However, getting your car to either of them usually takes most of the turnaround time.
Customer Service
CARFAX customer service is available through an online form on their website. After contacting them through this form, CARFAX will reply to you via email. So, make sure to check your inbox and spam folders.
Additionally, you can contact them on their Twitter or Facebook pages. Their team typically replies within 24 hours on these channels.
Similarly, the Wheelzy customer service team is available through their social media pages. You can also call them at (855) 294-0940.
Reviews
CARFAX received an average of 2.0 rating from customers at Trustpilot, while Wheelzy received a 4.7. Meanwhile, customers at the Better Business Bureau or BBB gave CARFAX an average of 1.06 and Wheelzy an average of 3.05.
| CARFAX | Wheelzy | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 2 | 4.7 |
| BBB | 1.06 | 3.05 |
| Consumer Affairs | 2.8 | N/A |
Between the two, Wheelzy came out as the preferable company for most customers on these review platforms. Some of the notable reviews about it are the quick process of selling vehicles. Also, customers appreciate that Wheelzy paid what they promised.
As for the negative reviews, few of Wheelzy’s customers felt they should have received higher quotes for their cars.
Despite the ratings, CARFAX customers praised the company’s ability to offer them great prices for their cars. In contrast, many felt that the company could send payments faster, instead of waiting for up to 3 days.