Which is Better for Selling the Car?
After looking over what Carvana and TrueCar offer to car sellers, Carvana came out as the better option. Its instant offers have a longer validity period (7 days compared to TrueCar’s 3 days), providing you with more time to consider the offer.
Additionally, you can choose from three payment options, depending on which is most convenient for you. All payments are processed within the same day that the sale is finalized.
And if you’re getting a new vehicle, you can also use the trade-in value to purchase your new car from them. The company offers a free pick-up service, so you won’t need to bring your vehicle anywhere to claim their instant offer.
If you ever prefer to drop off your vehicle, Carvana has 34 locations across the country where you can do just that. With its free pick-up and drop-off locations, you can sell your car faster with Carvana than with TrueCar.
Finally, its customer service is available via chat, email, phone, and social media, giving you more options to get answers before selling your car to them.
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
Carvana vs. TrueCar Comparison
| Company | Carvana | TrueCar |
|---|---|---|
| Logo | 
| 
|
| Cars accepted | 1992 or later models, in running condition | Cars in most types of conditions |
| Fees | $0 | $0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application | Online application |
| Offer validity | 7 days or additional 250 miles | 3 days |
| Payments offered | Cash via ACH, check, or direct debit; or trade-in value | Cash or trade-in value |
| Payout | 1 to 2 days | Same day |
| Car pick-up | Free pick-up or drop off | Drop off |
| Physical locations | 34 Car vending machines across the US | Over 10,000 certified dealers |
| Turnaround time | 1 to 2 days | 48 to 72 hours |
| Customer service | Phone, chat, email, or social media | Phone, email, and social media channels |
| Reviews | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Cars Accepted
Carvana accepts cars that are in running condition and are 1992 or newer models. The company also buys vehicles that have salvaged or rebuilt titles.
Meanwhile, TrueCar will buy your car regardless of its condition. Considering that, you can sell your car to them if it’s damaged, wrecked, or junk.
Fees
Carvana and TrueCar don’t charge fees when you sell your car to them. You can also opt for a free pick-up service when you sell your car to Carvana.
Requesting Quotes
To request a quote from Carvana, go to their Sell My Car page and enter your car’s Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. If you don’t have it, you can enter your license plate number and state registration instead. Then, click the Get My Offer button.
The website will direct you to another page where you can enter more details about your vehicle. These include the mileage, engine, transmission, features, and condition. You’ll also need to provide some information on your car’s history.
After you complete the online form, Carvana will immediately show you their instant offer and a brief explanation of how they arrived at the amount.
Requesting a quote from TrueCar is quite a different process. Although you can get an instant offer online, you’ll need to get your car inspected at one of their certified dealers to know their final offer, which can vary from the initial one.
Offer Validity
Carvana’s offer is valid for 7 days or 250 miles, whichever comes first. TrueCar offers, on the other hand, are only good for 3 days.
Payments Offered
With Carvana, you can get cash for your car or use the trade-in value towards your next vehicle. For cash options, you can get paid through a check, direct deposit, ACH, or direct debit.
TrueCar, on the other hand, doesn’t specify payment options as these depend on the certified dealers that will purchase your car. As a best practice, check with the dealership about their payment options before taking your car to them for inspection.
Payout
After accepting their offer and finalizing the sale, both Carvana and TrueCar will process the payment within the same day. If you’re opting for a trade-in with Carvana, you can also get your new car when they come to pick up your old vehicle.
Car Pick-up
Only Carvana offers a free pick-up service. Since you won’t need to bring your car anywhere, you can also expect that the Carvana agent will have to go through final selling steps before taking your vehicle away.
These include inspecting it to confirm its condition based on your online application, checking the documents, and processing your payment.
Physical Locations
Carvana has 34 car vending machines across the country, which can also serve as a drop-off location to sell your car. Meanwhile, TrueCar works with over 10,000 independent dealers where you can claim instant offers for your car.
Turnaround Time
Selling your car to Carvana can take up to 48 hours only. After all, you can complete their online application and get an instant offer in 2 minutes. Then, you can schedule a pick-up time within the next two days.
Once their agent arrives to pick up the car, you can finish the sale within the next hour. On the other hand, selling to TrueCar can take up to 3 days since you need to take your car in for inspection at a nearby certified dealer.
Their payment processing is also not guaranteed, as that depends on the dealership. If the offer isn’t good enough, you’ll also take time to check other certified dealers.
Customer Service
You can contact Carvana’s customer service through the following:
- 24/7 chat
- Email at customeradvocate@carvana.com
- Call at 1-800-333-4554 between 8 AM to 10 PM EST
- Message on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
TrueCar offers the following channels to contact their support team:
- Phone: 1-888-878-3227
- Email: feedback@truecar.com
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Reviews
| Company | Carvana | TrueCar |
|---|---|---|
| Logo |
|
|
| Trustpilot | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Better Business Bureau | 1.93 | 2.89 |
| Consumer Affairs | 2.9 | 4.1 |
Most of the complaints Carvana received at the Better Business Bureau came from car buyers, pointing out issues with the vehicles they purchased. However, its customers liked that the company has a quick and efficient car-selling process, thus its relatively high average rating at Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.
TrueCar also received impressive ratings at Trustpilot from over 1,700 customer reviews. While many of these positive reviews came from car buyers, some sellers mentioned the seamless process and how their website is user-friendly.