If you’re looking to sell your car, you’re probably asking yourself, “Where can I sell my car for the most money?”
Because new and used car inventories are at record lows — according to Carfax — car prices are at record highs.
We put together a list of the best places to sell your car for the most money, including Peddle, where you can get an instant cash offer for your car today >>
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Where to sell your car for the most money: Autotrader
Online marketplace Autotrader reports they have the largest selection of vehicle inventory from dealers and private sellers, with more than 3 million vehicle listings. Autotrader claims more than 14 million buyers use the site per month.
What does that mean for you? Lots of eyes on your vehicle and potentially a higher payout.
Autotrader started in 1992 as a print publication showing ads for cars. Autotrader.com was launched in 1997. The site has an A+ rating from the BBB.
AutoTrader
AutoTrader is an online marketplace to sell your car to private buyers. Enter your license plate number and state, and Autotrader will automatically populate information about your vehicle and provide an estimated market value based on recent sales of similar vehicles.
Once you set your listing price, write a vehicle description, and upload photos, Autotrader will review your listing and (if approved) post it to its online marketplace. Interested buyers (including dealerships) can reach out to you and request information about your car and set up a time to see it/make an offer. You’ll remain anonymous except for your first name and last initial until you decide to make contact.
You can also try Autotrader’s “Instant Cash” option to get an immediate cash offer from participating dealers in your area.
Cost: It costs $49 to list your vehicle on Autotrader for 30 days, with free ad renewals for up to a year if your car doesn't sell.
Reviews: Autotrader has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (not accredited) but only 1.6/5 stars on Trustpilot. Customer reviews complain about numerous scam buyers and difficulty reaching Autotrader’s customer service department.
CarGurus
CarGurus offers two selling options: sell directly to CarGuru’s network of dealers or sell to private buyers. Plug in your car’s VIN or license plate/state and get an instant offer on your car, then wait for dealers to contact you for pickup. You can also create your own listing on the site for $5 and sift through offers from private buyers.
Cost: CarGurus costs $5 to list your car, and then costs $0 to get offers from dealers.
Reviews: CarGurus has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating (accredited) and 2.3/5 stars on Trustpilot, with some complaints about spammy ads and too much fine print.
CarMax
Upload either your VIN or plate/state info, and Carmax will send you an offer for a direct purchase of your car within minutes. You have seven days to accept their offer, after which you’ll schedule a drop-off at one of CarMax’s hundreds of nationwide locations and get paid.
Cost: Carmax is free to get an offer.
Reviews: Carmax has an A+ BBB rating (not accredited), 1.7/5 stars on Trustpilot, with many customers warning that final payout was lower than promised after in-person inspection.
Cars.com
Cars.com is the second-largest classifieds website for cars. To sell a vehicle on this site, plug in your plate/state or VIN, and Cars.com will list your car on its online marketplace. You can also choose to get an instant offer from dealers in your area, though this option is not available in all areas.
Cost: Cars.com is free to list and get an instant offer.
Reviews: Cars.com has an A+ BBB rating (accredited) and 2.8/5 stars on TrustPilot, with several customers complaining about a lack of response to ads.
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Carvana
Carvana is famous for its multi-story car vending machines, but is unique in that you sell your car directly to the company (which then sells it to customers from its vending machine) To sell a car directly to Carvana, go to Carvana.com, input your VIN or plate/state, and you’ll receive an offer in minutes. The company picks up your car at a time that works for you and pays you upon pickup.
Cost: Carvana is free to get an offer.
Reviews: Carvana is not rated on the BBB website and has 2.8/5 stars on Trustpilot, with most complaints coming from buyers.
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Craigslist
Craigslist is a great option if you want to sell a car the “old-fashioned” way (via classified ad). To post your car on Craigslist, go to the “Create a Posting” page, follow the steps to “Post by Owner” in your area, then craft an ad with your car’s information and photos. Inquires from private buyers will come to your email or phone, depending on which option you choose.
Cost: Craigslist charges $5 per listing.
Reviews: Craigslist has an F Better Business Bureau Rating (not accredited) and 1.3/5 stars on Trustpilot, with most customers complaining about individual issues with buyers/sellers and listings being flagged/taken down.
ebay
eBay is synonymous with buying and selling and claims a car or truck is sold “every three minutes” on its Vehicle Seller Center. To list on ebay, pay the selling fee (see below), add details about your vehicle, and set your location. Your listing will be visible on ebay for a number of days — until your listing expires or you accept an offer.
Cost: The basic selling package on ebay is $19 per vehicle, which includes a 7-day auction listing, 12 photos and an AutoCheck profile of your car’s history.
Reviews: ebay has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating (accredited) and 1.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with customers complaining about fees and poor customer service.
Edmunds.com
Visit the Edmunds.com appraisal page and input your VIN or plate/state to get an appraised value for your car based on comparable vehicles. Once you have your appraisal, you can use it to set a price and sell privately, or you can accept a cash offer through CarMax, owner of Edmunds since 2021. You'll have seven days to accept the cash offer, then you drop your car off at the closest CarMax and get a check.
Cost: It’s free to get an appraisal or an offer on Edmunds.com.
Reviews: Edmunds.com has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (accredited) and 3.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot
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Peddle
Plug in your car’s information on Peddle’s “instant offer” page, and you can accept a cash offer within seven days. If you accept, Peddle will pick up your car and pay you on the spot via cash or a check.
Peddle also buys junk cars.
Cost: It’s free to get an instant offer on Peddle.
Reviews: Peddle has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (unaccredited) and 4.7 out 5 stars on Trustpilot
Get an instant offer from Peddle now >>
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Local dealerships
You can always choose to sell your car to a local dealer, but it’s smart to know what your car is worth before you go — Edmunds.com or Kelly Blue Book are good resources.
Also, check reviews for the dealership to see if others in your community are satisfied with their experiences — or better yet, ask friends and family for reliable dealers in your area.
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FAQs
Where can I sell my car for the most money?
According to Kelley Blue Book, selling your car privately will typically yield more money than trading in because you’re doing the legwork to sell the car (which a dealer would handle if they bought from you).
If you plan to sell privately, AutoTrader, CarGurus, Cars.com, and eBay are all reputable options.
Where is the best place to sell a car privately?
If you want to sell a car privately, Autotrader, CarGurus, Cars.com, and eBay are some of the best options. All of them boast an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Who will give me the best price for my car?
A private buyer will likely give you the best price for your car over a dealership or a fast-cash buyer. For example, when I priced a 2017 Honda CR-V on Kelley Blue Book, its average trade-in value was $18,368 vs. $20,044 for a private buyer.
If you are selling your car because you can no longer afford your car payment, check out my advice on how to lower your car payment.
To connect with private buyers, check out Cars.com, Craigslist, eBay, Edmunds.com, and AutoTrader.
What is the fastest way to sell your car?
The fastest way to sell your car for cash is to get an instant cash offer from a reputable online car buyer.
Most either pick up or have you drop off your car. CarMax, CarGurus, Carvana and AutoTrader all make instant cash offers.
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According to Kelley Blue Book, selling your car privately will typically yield more money than trading in because you’re doing the legwork to sell the car rather than a dealer.
If you want to sell a car privately, Autotrader, CarGurus, Cars.com, and eBay are some of the best options. All of them boast an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
A private buyer will likely give you the best price for your car over a dealership or a fast-cash buyer. For example, when I priced a 2017 Honda CR-V on Kelley Blue Book, its average trade-in value was $18,368 vs. $20,044 for a private buyer.
The fastest way to sell your car for cash is to get an instant cash offer from a reputable online car buyer.
