IMPORTANT – On October 9th, 2023, Shift Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFT), a consumer-centric omnichannel retailer for buying and selling used cars, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “the Company”) filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (“Chapter 11”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court (“the Court”) to implement an orderly wind down of its business. The Company’s two locations in Oakland, CA, and Pomona, CA, and the Company’s website have ceased operations.
Best Ways to Sell a Car
Peddle
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
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
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?
There are many similarities to selling your car to both Shift and Driveo. With both car-buying companies, you can sell used and new cars, are charged no fees to use the services and can get a free online price quote for your car.
Overall, Driveo is a better company to sell your car to. First, its offer is valid for 30 days, so you can take your time to collect other offers and make a decision. What’s more, it offers payment by check on the same day you sell it. However,
Shift Summary
- Quick 24 hour payment processing time
- Extra $200 bonus for selling your car
- 2 options for evaluating your car
- Up to 7 days to consider Shift’s offer
Driveo Summary
- Non-obligation quote within an hour
- Quote based on the market value
- Immediate and secure payment
- Excellent customer service
Shift vs. Driveo Comparison
| Shift | Driveo | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars accepted | Used & new cars | Used & new cars |
| Fees | No fees | No fees |
| Requesting quotes | In-person & online application | In-person & online application |
| Offer validity | 7 days | 30 days |
| Payments offered | Secured Automated Clearing House (ACH), or a direct bank transfer | Check |
| Payout | 24 hours after sale | Same day payment |
| Car pick-up | Free pick-up | No car pick-up |
| Physical locations | 183 store locations | Nationwide store locations |
| Turnaround time | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Customer service | Email, phone | Online chat, phone |
| Reviews | 4.4 |
Cars Accepted
Shift accepts used cars that are in drivable condition, as well as cars that are leased. With Shift, you can sell your leased car in nearly the same way as any other financed car. Shift will evaluate your car and require a copy of your lease buyout packet.
Driveo accepts both new and used cars but has some conditions.
Cars that Driveo will not accept include:
- Vehicles 15 years and older
- Commercial vehicles
- Vehicles with odometer issues
- Vehicles with salvaged or branded titles
- Extensively modified vehicles
- Vehicles with floor, fire, or severe existing damage
- Rare sports and high-end luxury vehicles
- Vehicles with a very narrow market
Fees
Neither Shift nor Driveo charge any fees for selling your car.
Requesting Quotes
With both Shift and Driveo, you will receive your free instant quote after submitting an online application form.
Information you will need to include in a Shift application:
- Make and model of your car
- Year of manufacturing
- License plate or Vehicle Identification Number
Information you will need to include in your Driveo application:
- Make and model of your car
- Year of manufacturing
- License plate or Vehicle Identification Number
Offer Validity
Once you receive your offer from Shift, your offer is valid for 7 days. Meanwhile, your price offer is valid for 30 days with Driveo.
Payments Offered
Once your car passes the final inspection with Shift, you will be notified by email, and Shift will request your bank account information to make an ACH transfer. Shift also offers a trade-in option where you can drop off your car at an in-person store location.
Driveo offers you a check on the same day that you make your sale.
Payout
With Shift, once the payment has been initiated the processing time can take up to 3-7 business days, depending on your bank. Meanwhile, with Driveo, you can get your check in hand on the same day that you sell your car. A check will usually take up to 2 business days to clear however, depending on the check, some checks make take longer to clear and show up in your bank account.
Car Pick-up
Shift offers car pick-up services and gives you the option to drop your car off at one of their store locations. You can also receive an evaluation of your car done at your home by a Shift associate. Driveo does not offer any car pick-up services and requires you to drop off your car at a dealership location.
Physical Locations
You can deliver your car to one of Shift’s 183 store locations. Driveo has dealership locations all across the US.
Turnaround Time
Both Shift and Driveo offer a very quick turnaround time to sell your car. It usually takes up to 24 hours to sell your car with both companies.
Customer Service
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Shift customer service by:
- Phone: +1 (855) 744-1445
- Email: sell@shift.com
To reach Driveo’s customer service, you can call them at 619-212-1212 or email them at hello@driveo.com.
Reviews
Shift has a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot and a 3.3-star rating on BBB, while Driveo does not have any reviews on either platform.
Customers have praised Shift for providing excellent customer service, fair prices for those selling their cars, and having a quick turnaround time. Some customers have raised complaints about not being able to contact customer support with questions or complaints, sales being delayed, and not receiving payments on time.
| Shift | Driveo | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | N/A |
| BBB Rating | 3.3 | N/A |
Shift & Driveo 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
Similar to Shift, Peddle offers you an instant quote after you submit an online application form through their website, while Driver provides a quote within an hour. After receiving an offer, you will have 7 days to accept the offer, just like with Shift while with Driveo, you have 30 days. Peddle offers to send a Peddle representative to pick up or tow your car for free.
Like with Driveo, Peddle will hand you a check on the same day of the sale. In comparison to Shift and Driveo, Peddle is a much more trusted car-buying company with a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot, and a 4.7-star rating on BBB.
Recent Peddle Offers
| Model | Year | Mileage | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota (Camry) | 2011 | 150,000 | $2,225 |
| Volvo (S40) | 2001 | 37000 | $430 |
| Mercedes-Benz (560) | 1991 | 92000 | $1,930 |
| BMW (528) | 2008 | 126,000 | $1,140 |
| Kia (Forte) | 2010 | 145,000 | $635 |
| Honda (CR-V) | 2011 | 67000 | $2,930 |
| Ford (Explorer Sport Trac) | 2004 | 145,000 | $1,170 |
| Oldsmobile (Alero) | 2004 | 162,000 | $400 |
| Audi (A6) | 2006 | 106,000 | $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
Similar to Shift, which uses a proprietary algorithm, Wheelzy uses AI to provide an estimated value of your car using the information you submit using the online application form.
Wheelzy accepts cars that are damaged or considered to be junk, while Driveo and Shift accept cars that are used and in drivable condition. Once you accept an offer, a Wheelzy representative will pick up or tow your car for free.
Wheezy has a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot, and a 3-star rating on BBB.
Recent Wheelzy Offers
| Model | Year | Mileage | Condition | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai (Tucson) | 2006 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $400 |
| Mercury (Sable Sedan) | 2003 | 150,000 | Doesn’t start | $225 |
| Mercedes-Benz (C) | 2001 | 150,000 | Starts | $222 |
| Ford (Edge) | 2010 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $1,200 |
| Ford (Flex) | 2009 | 150,000 | Starts | $1,000 |
| Lexus (RX) | 2002 | 300,000 | Doesn’t start | $750 |
| Chevrolet (Cobalt Sedan) | 2007 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $200 |
| Toyota (Corolla) | 2003 | 250,000 | Drives | $555 |
| BMW (528) | 2008 | 250,000 | Drives | $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 is a company specializing in buying used cars, like Shift and Driveo. They have a user-friendly process that begins with an online form where you provide details about your vehicle. Once you submit the form, CarBrain provides an instant offer for your car.
Upon accepting the offer, CarBrain will start the pick-up process through their partner tow services. They will handle the inspection and pay you in check before towing your vehicle away.
What’s great about CarBrain is that their services are completely free and fast, taking only as fast as 48 hours.
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 way to sell your used car as long as it is in running condition and has a working odometer. This company is one of the most reliable used car dealerships in the USA and offers an instant online quote.
To get an offer, you need to enter your car’s VIN or license plate number and state code.
Carvana also provides free pickup if your car is located within 100 miles of their hub, but beyond this range, you’ll have to shoulder the pickup cost.
Their unique selling proposition includes a no-obligation offer, giving you ample time – up to seven days or an additional 250 miles – to decide whether you want to accept the initial offer.
You can sell a car to Carvana if:
- It has a working odometer.
- Has no major 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 another well-trusted car-buying and selling company. It 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:
- Enter your VIN or license plate number
- Get a cash offer in just two minutes
- Schedule pickup time
- 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:
- Add your zip code
- Provide the car details (make, model, year, mileage)
- List special features
- Describe the condition and history
- Add images
- Provide your contact information
- Pay listing fee