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Peddle

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Wheelzy

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Carbrain

How to Sell?

Autotrader vs. Truecar Review & Comparison 2024

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Best Ways to Sell a Car

Peddle

Peddle logo

Get a legit offer in minutes – provide VIN, mileage and condition

$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it

Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)

Wheelzy

Wheelzy logo

Quick car evaluation without the hassle – sell your car within 30 min

Choose a convenient date and time for free pick-up, as soon as next day

Get cash in hand the same day the Wheelzy agent picks up your car

CarBrain

CarBrain logo

Get an offer within 2 minutes and sell your damaged car within 48 hours

Free vehicle towing and no fees to getting rid of your damaged car

The tow truck driver will arrive with your check (nationwide service)

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 vehicles
  • More than 14 million buyers per month
  • Get fair deals for your second-hand car
  • Efficient customer service

TrueCar Summary

  • Enter VIN to instantly get a car estimate
  • Offer is good for three days
  • TrueCar pays through check
  • Offer comes from one of Certified Dealers

Autotrader vs. TrueCar Comparison


CompanyAutotraderTrueCar
Logo autotrader logo truecar logo
Cars acceptedNew and used carsCars in most types of conditions
Fees$0 for instant cash offer, $49 listing fees$0
Requesting quotesOnline applicationOnline application
Offer validity7 days or an additional 50 miles3 days
Payments offeredCheckDepends on the dealership
PayoutSame daySame day
Car pick-upDrop-offDrop off
Physical locationsParticipating dealers across the USOver 10,000 Certified Dealers
Turnaround timeUp to 48 hours48 to 72 hours
Customer serviceOnline form, phone, and social mediaPhone, email, and social media
Reviews1.94.1

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


CompanyAutotraderTrueCar
Logo autotrader logo truecar logo
Trustpilot1.94.0
Better Business Bureau1.212.89
Consumer Affairs3.24.1

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 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 nationwide
  • Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
  • Free towing within 48 hours after offer
  • Receive payment upon car collection

Our Experience Selling the Car to Peddle

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. 

Recent Peddle offers

ModelYearMileageOffer
Toyota (Camry)2011150,000$2,225
Volvo (S40)200137,000$430
Mercedes-Benz (560)199192,000$1,930
BMW (528)2008126,000$1,140
Kia (Forte)2010145,000$635
Honda (CR-V)201167,000$2,930
Ford (Explorer Sport Trac)2004145,000$1,170
Oldsmobile (Alero)2004162,000$400
Audi (A6)2006106,000$530

Wheelzy

Wheelzy Summary

  • Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
  • Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
  • Free towing of your car from your location
  • Instant 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.

Recent Wheelzy offers

ModelYearMileageConditionOffer
Hyundai (Tucson)2006200,000Doesn’t start$400
Mercury (Sable Sedan)2003150,000Doesn’t start$225
Mercedes-Benz (C)2001150,000Starts$222
Ford (Edge)2010200,000Doesn’t start$1,200
Ford (Flex)2009150,000Starts$1,000
Lexus (RX)2002300,000Doesn’t start$750
Chevrolet (Cobalt Sedan)2007200,000Doesn’t start$200
Toyota (Corolla)2003250,000Drives$555
BMW (528)2008250,000Drives$1,487

CarBrain

CarBrain Summary

  • Call for a free quote – (844) 407-2200
  • Get cash for your car in under 48 hours
  • CarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditions
  • Up to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
Carbrain Points

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. 

Recent CarBrain offers

ModelYearMileageConditionOffer
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport201150,000Collision damage, starts, doesn’t drive$1,270
Jeep Grand201543,000Collision damage, starts, doesn’t drive$8,000
Chevrolet201350,000Collision damage, does not start$1,335
Dodge Charger2011143,448Collision damage, does not start$1,000
Nissan Altima201382,000Collision damage, starts and drives$1,725
Chevrolet Silverado2008250,000Engine damage, starts, doesn’t drive$1,750

Carvana

Carvana Summary

  • Get an online quote within 2 minutes
  • Free pickup wtihin 100 miles of a hub
  • Offer valid for 7 days or 250 more miles
  • Haggle-free process to sell your car


Carvana is a great alternative to both TrueCar and Autotrader. This company is one of the USA’s most reliable used car dealerships and offers an instant online quote.

To get an instant cash offer, you need to enter your car’s VIN or license plate number on their website and answer basic questions about the car and its condition.

One of the best features of Carvana is free pickup. If your car is located within 100 miles of one of their hubs, Carvana will pick up your car for free, but beyond this range, you’ll have to shoulder the pickup cost.

Another great feature is that Carvana’s offer is a no-obligation offer. This means you will have up to seven days or an additional 250 miles, to decide whether you want to accept the offer.

You can sell a car to Carvana if:

  • It has a working odometer.
  • Has no significant damage.
  • It is newer than 1992.
  • It can be safely driven.

CarGurus

CarGurus Summary

  • Receive payment within 3 working days
  • Find out the market value of your car
  • List your car for sale in under 5 minutes
  • Up to $75,000 in protection for your sale

CarGurus is a similar company to TrueCar and Autotrader. It is a well-trusted car-buying and selling company that allows you to choose between two ways to sell a car.

You can either get an instant cash offer and sell 100% online in a few minutes or list the car on their website and sell privately.

To get an instant cash offer:

  1. Enter your VIN or license plate number
  2. Get a cash offer in just two minutes
  3. Schedule pickup time
  4. Get paid within two business days by cash or direct deposit

If you are interested in selling your vehicle to a private buyer, you can list a car for $4.95 on the CarGurus website.

To list a car on CarGurus:

  1. Add your zip code
  2. Provide the car details (make, model, year, mileage)
  3. List special features
  4. Describe the condition and history
  5. Add images
  6. Provide your contact information
  7. Pay listing fee
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Michael Becker

Dollarbreak

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