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These Are the Best Sites to Sell a Car Online

two people reaching an agreement about a car sale
The Best Sites to Sell a Car - Car and DriverWestend61 - Getty Images


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In the last decade, more people have turned to the internet to shop for cars. If you plan to sell a car, this might be good news. You can use an online platform to sell a used car, reaching thousands of people who are actively shopping.

You will reach the ideal audience when you know which websites to use to sell your car. Whether you're trying to sell a classic car or a used sedan you no longer need for your commute, these are some of the best sites to sell a car online.

Autotrader

Autotrader is one of the classic go-to resources for buying and selling used and new vehicles. One of the biggest benefits of Autotrader is you can reach many potential buyers by listing your vehicle on its site.

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The website has name recognition that many other websites do not. If you want to make sure your car receives excellent exposure, Autotrader is a great place to start.

Another major benefit of using Autotrader to sell your car is buyers can receive a free vehicle history report. For many buyers, this guarantee of the car's history is crucial. Buyers want to be informed, and your vehicle with a clean history can make or break your sale.

Many sellers like Autotrader because the website makes it free to renew listings. While this website is one of the pricier places to list a car initially, you can keep renewing your vehicle's listing for up to one year.

The online car sales listings on Autotrader are also easy to read. You'll be able to post up to 30 photos of your car, so you can showcase your car's best features, sharing details if your car has selling points such as a great stereo or a new engine. Plus, the intuitive interface makes posting photos and completing your listing extremely simple.

eBay Motors

While many people do not consider eBay to be a marketplace for vehicles, eBay Motors can be a useful tool if you want to reach local buyers. eBay makes the process of selling your used car just as simple as listing any other item on the platform.

Plus, it charges no fees for users to create a listing to sell locally. If you are willing to transport your car elsewhere, you can pay a fee to list your vehicle nationally.

One thing you should know about using eBay Motors to sell your car is it offers two options for selling your vehicle. If you choose to hold an auction, buyers will place bids on your car.

Though somebody might win the auction, you risk that person backing out before paying. This means you could find yourself in a situation where somebody no longer wants to purchase the car at the last minute. You might need to relist your vehicle.

On the other hand, you can opt to sell your old car at a fixed price. You choose your price and know exactly how much money you'll collect. If you are selling your car at an especially good deal, you could sell it much faster than on some other platforms.

When you create an auto listing on eBay Motors, you can choose to post up to 24 photos. You'll pay a fee, which varies based on the cost of your vehicle, to submit your listing. You can also offer your buyers a free vehicle history report, which could help you sell your car online more quickly.

Cars.com

You might have heard of Cars.com, which is another large platform for buying and selling vehicles. The website has a reputation for offering easy methods of buying and selling vehicles. It offers a large inventory, and buyers can use search tools to find the perfect car, fast.

One of the major advantages of using this platform is you can invite dealerships to make an instant cash offer on your vehicle as well. You can accept the offer quickly and receive cash for your car with very little effort. You might not get as much money as you would from a private party, but you can save yourself time and effort.

Sellers also like to use Cars.com because it allows them to make listings that can be syndicated on other websites. As a result, your listing will be placed on affiliate sites. You'll be able to reach a wider audience based on the target audience for the vehicle you are selling.

The biggest downside to posting your vehicle on this platform is the inventory is so large you might need to become more competitive to ensure buyers see your listing. This means you must take stellar photos of your car or offer a great deal if your vehicle is not in demand.

CarMax

If you prefer a more traditional selling experience, CarMax might be the best option. CarMax has physical dealerships and can provide a quick offer for your car.

CarMax requires a license plate number or VIN as well as a location to provide an offer. Once you receive the offer, you have a time period during which you can compare offers from dealers and private buyers. When you take your vehicle to the CarMax location, you can finalize the offer, and the dealer will ensure the appraisal was accurate.

While CarMax does offer an online component for selling your car, it's similar to trading in your vehicle at a dealership. You might not get as much money as you would by selling your car to a private party, but the process is extremely convenient. The benefit of this platform is you don't have to worry about advertising your car or meeting with private buyers.

CarGurus

If you want to sell your car fast, CarGurus could be an effective resource. The platform is known for its search algorithm, which helps buyers find cars quickly. The platform also helps you price your vehicle so it might sell more quickly.

Using the online pricing tool is simple. CarGurus requires you to provide information such as the vehicle's VIN and mileage. You'll submit details about the vehicle's condition and receive an estimate right away.

This platform also makes it easy for dealerships to make instant cash offers on your car online at no cost to you. You do not pay fees until you sell your car. You can also have CarGurus pick up your vehicle so you don't have to take it to a dealership.

In fact, you can take care of all the sales documents on the web, ensuring you have to do very little to get your car to its new owner.

CarGurus might not be the best place to sell your car if you want to maximize profits, but it's a good place to sell a car fast if you're looking for a convenient sale. If you do use CarGurus to sell to a private party, you can ensure the transaction is secure thanks to the platform's helpful tools.

Facebook Marketplace

If you want to reach the largest local audience as quickly as possible, Facebook Marketplace is a good option. This platform helps you sell your car online easily, as it walks you through the process step by step.

Once your listing is complete, you can reach much of your community through the social network website. Facebook Marketplace is a free website for listing vehicles, and it's even simpler if you already have a Facebook account.

One major advantage of using Facebook Marketplace is you can look at the profiles of potential buyers. Looking at profiles can help you eliminate potential scammers and meet only with people who appear to be safe. If you are concerned about meeting a stranger to look at or test-drive the car, this can offer peace of mind.

You can also use Facebook to target a specific population, perhaps through private groups. For example, if you have a Ford Focus you'd like to sell, you can post your used car to a private Facebook group dedicated to Ford vehicles.

Some sellers report problems using Facebook Marketplace. For instance, the ease of browsing for items to buy on Facebook means you could run into people who are just window-shopping. They might set up an appointment to look at the car but fail to show up, wasting your time.

You should also be careful when using Facebook Marketplace because the platform does not offer protection for transactions. You must take care of the financial details on your own, which means you have no protection if a check bounces or a person lies about their information. You must vet your buyers carefully if you use Facebook to sell a car online.

Vroom

Vroom is another way to sell your car if you're concerned about selling a vehicle to someone in-person. With Vroom, you can sell your car to the website and an employee will pick up your car and deliver it to a buyer.

Vroom requires you to fill out basic information about your vehicle before you get an instant cash offer. The offer appears quickly, often within an hour of submitting your vehicle's information.

Unlike some options, such as CarMax, Vroom takes care of everything online. You might not even have to leave your home to sell your car.

Keep in mind that Vroom will not buy every vehicle. If a car is not in good condition or is an old model, you might find yourself without an offer. You can also expect the quote you receive to be more in line with dealership trade-in offers than private party sales. The good news is you can get a direct deposit into your account from a reliable company, so you do not have to worry about dealing with cash or checks.

Bring a Trailer

If you have a rare or classic car, you might opt to sell it on Bring a Trailer. This is a good option if you have a car worth a significant amount of money. You'll also enjoy this platform if you prefer the auction format of selling a car. You can allow car buyers to bid on your vehicle, potentially increasing the cash you'll get for it.

One advantage of using Bring a Trailer is that the website vets the car seller list. This means buyers can trust sellers, which makes them much more likely to follow through with a transaction.