If you’re looking to sell your used, damaged, or junk car quickly and easily, there are several online car buying sites that can help you get the job done. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 6 of the best platforms, including Peddle, Wheelzy, CarBrain, Carvana, CarGurus, and CarMax. We’ll cover the unique features of each site, the types of vehicles they purchase, and the pros and cons of using their services. Additionally, we’ll discuss alternative options for selling your car privately and provide tips on how to sell a car with a loan, for parts, or as a junk vehicle.
Key Takeaways:
- Online car-buying sites offer a convenient and hassle-free way to sell your vehicle. They often provide instant quotes and free vehicle pickup.
- Platforms like Peddle and Wheelzy specialize in buying cars in various conditions, including damaged, junk, and non-running vehicles.
- If you’re looking to maximize your profits, selling your car privately on sites like eBay Motors, Autotrader, or Craigslist may be a good option, although it can take longer to find a buyer.
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
6 Online Car Buying Sites
1. Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Sell used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
- Get free online quote – offer valid 7 days
- Instant quote available on (855) 925 4302
- No obligation to accept the offer
Peddle is a car-buying platform with a network of buyers around the country. It buys all types of vehicles, including broken, accident damaged or even junk vehicles.
To get quick cash for your car:
- Complete the online form on the Peddle website or call for the quote – (855) 925-4302
- You’ll get an instant offer for consideration.
- If you’re happy, accept the offer
- Peddle will coordinate with you to arrange a suitable collection time.
- You’ll receive your payment on collection.
Peddle takes pride in being transparent in its services. Its website features the latest vehicles bought with prices and a running total of the number of offers in the last 30 days. This transparency has helped Peddle to gain an excellent rating on Trustpilot and an A+ BBB rating.
2. 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 is a great way to sell a car for parts. The company buys cars in all conditions:
- Accident damaged
- Junk and wrecked
- Non-running or scrap
- Used, old, with excessive mileage
- Water damaged
- With missing parts
To sell a car to Wheelzy, you need to fill out an online form, and provide the car’s year, make and model, mileage and contact information.
Wheelzy offers free towing as soon as the next day and 2 payment options: cash or check.
3. 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 buys damaged cars of any type, in any condition. The company assesses the value of a car and offers to purchase it, often within 48 hours of receiving the car’s details.
CarBrain sees profit when it rebuilds damaged cars or sells its usable parts.
The process of selling a vehicle to CarBrain is straightforward and convenient, with no fees for using the company’s services and payment available by check or mail. CarBrain has received 4.8-star ratings for customer satisfaction on Trustpilot and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
4. 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
You can sell or trade-in your vehicle with Carvana. You can get a firm deal within a few minutes of supplying your vehicle details.
Carvana uses Kelley Blue Book trade-in prices to create competitive offers.
If you accept the offer, Carvana will arrange collection and perform an on-site appraisal. If everything checks out, you’ll get a check.
5. 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 one of the largest online used car marketplaces and a popular way to sell cars for parts.
You can either choose to:
- Sell car privately
- Get an instant cash offer
To sell a car for parts fast, you will need to provide your car’s VIN or license plate number and state code. In less than two minutes, you will get a cash offer.
After you accept it, CarGurus representatives will schedule the car’s pickup, and you will be paid within two business days via check or direct deposit.
6. CarMax
CarMax Summary
- Instant online offer in under 2 minutes
- Online offer is valid for up to 7 days
- 2 options for selling – online or in-store
- Get paid within 30 minutes on the spot
CarMax provides a written offer for your vehicle that is valid for seven days. The company provides a no-obligation, free appraisal at any of its stores. The team will check your vehicle to ensure an accurate offer.
If you’re happy with the offer, you can bring your title, valid registration, keys and pay-off information for your vehicle and collect your payment. All title holders will also need to bring a valid photo ID to confirm the sale.
5 Best Websites to Sell Your Used Car Privately
If you want to get a higher price, you can sell your car privately. Keep in mind, that it may take four to eight weeks to complete the sale. So, if you want quick cash for cars, this may not be the best option.
If you decide to go this route, you will also need to invest time to take photos, answer calls, arrange test drives and organize paperwork to make a sale.
7. eBay Motors
The auction site eBay is a popular choice to get cash for cars. You can offer your vehicle with a “Buy it Now” price or allow it to auction for the best price.
You’ll need to create an appealing listing and take plenty of photographs. Additionally, you need to calculate your seller fees, listing fees and PayPal fees that will apply to your sale.
8. Autotrader
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
Autotrader tends to attract serious buyers and the website can be searched from any area of the country. The rates for a basic ad start at $25. But, you can pay more to upgrade your ad to include a photo and larger print.
9. Cars.com
Cars.com Summary
- Useful resources to help you sell a car
- Excellent place to research the market
- Instant cash offer from a dealer
- Smooth and easy to use interface
Cars.com allows you to create a listing of approximately five sentences to sell your car.
Potential buyers will evaluate your car based on what you disclose in the seller notes. So, be sure to be honest and accurate.
10. 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 allows you to list your vehicle for just $4.95. To list your car, you can enter your VIN and the company will auto fill your basic car details. You can even use the CarGurus pricing tool to check if your price is competitive.
Once you complete your listing, you can use the My Cars for Sale page to:
- Access your listing
- Edit the price
- Edit photos
- Renew your ad
However, CarGurus may need to verify you’re in possession of the vehicle, which may take two business days. So, your listing may not go live immediately.
11. Craigslist
Craigslist Summary
- Posts are anonymous
- Quick and easy listing in a matter of minutes
- Little to no seller fees, most auctions are free
- Sell within your local area
Craigslist is a popular platform that is everywhere. It is free to list a used car for sale, but you do need to be wary of scammers.
How to Sell My Car Online Fast?
While it is easy to create a listing to try to privately sell your car, the best way to sell your car fast is to use an online site. These platforms aim to make it easy to sell your car and get some quick cash.
How to Sell a Car with a Loan?
It is possible to sell your car even if you still have a loan on it. Firstly, you will need to obtain the “payoff amount” from your lender. This is the amount it costs to release ownership to you and sign off on the title.
Your lender may also have specific requirements on how to sell your car. You may need to bring your buyer to a bank office to sign the paperwork. Alternatively, if you’re working with an online lender, you may need to visit a bank partner or financial entity to complete the sale.
It is worth checking the value of your car before you proceed. If your vehicle is not worth more than the payoff amount, you will need to hand over all the money from the sale to the lender and then pay the difference.
For example, if your payoff amount is $8,500 and you can sell your vehicle for $10,000, you’ll get to keep $1,500. However, if you can only sell your vehicle for $8,000, you’ll need to pay your lender the additional $500.
On the other hand, if the value of your car is more than the payoff amount, you can settle the loan and keep the difference.
How to Sell a Car for Parts?
If your vehicle is past its best or severely damaged, you may struggle to sell it as is. In this case, it may be possible to sell your car for parts. There are several ways to accomplish this.
Sell to an Online Platform: The easiest way to sell your car for parts is to use an online platform. For example, Peddle will accept vehicles in any condition. Its network of buyers often buy vehicles for parts or scrap. This may not offer the best possible price, but it is the quickest method.
Sell it to a Salvage Yard: If you have a salvage yard in your local area, you may be able to sell your car there. Salvage yards specialize in selling stripped vehicles and individual parts to buyers. You’ll need to contact salvage yards to see if they are interested in the make and model of your vehicle. The salvage yard is likely to request that you consent to an inspection. If the vehicle is not running, they may send a transporter and mechanic out to your home.
Sell Individual Parts Privately: Finally, you could advertise the individual parts to individual buyers. This tends to be the most lucrative method, but it is also the most time consuming. You will also have to have some basic car mechanical knowledge. You can list viable parts on Craigslist or eBay. Any remaining parts of your car can then be sold for scrap.
How to Sell a Junk Car?
The best option to sell a junk car is Peddle. They will offer cash for cars in any condition. Whether your car is accident damaged, old, or simply non running, you can still obtain a quote from Peddle and sell your car.
As with a used car, you’ll need to complete the online form. Just be sure to be completely honest about the vehicle condition.
You may be pleasantly surprised at how much Peddle is prepared to pay. If you have a vehicle with parts that are in demand in your local area, your quote will be attractive.
People Also Asked
How long does it take to sell a Car?
The time it takes to sell your car depends on your chosen method of sale. If you try to sell your car privately, it can take weeks, while many online platforms take just a few days and offer cash for cars.
Can you sell your car online?
Yes, there are lots of platforms where you can sell your car online. Industry leading company Peddle. They offer free pickup and payment on collection.
How do I find the value of my used car?
Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds are good resources to find the value of a used car. Check our comprehensive guide on how to price your car.