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.
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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.
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 want to sell 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.
In exchange for this vetting process, buyers must pay a fee to list a vehicle. In fact, those who use Bring a Trailer are often car enthusiasts who know their stuff. The vehicles are generally well-maintained and geared toward collectors.
Carvana
You might have seen what looks like a large vending machine for cars in your city. Carvana offers an easy way to access vehicles for sale, allowing buyers to test-drive cars for several days. For many buyers, this is an incredibly convenient way to buy a vehicle. The good news is sellers can also benefit from Carvana.
Many people have been using Carvana to sell their vehicles quickly. If you do not want to deal with taking your car to a dealership, Carvana will take care of everything for you. Buyers choose to purchase your vehicle, you get paid, and the car is delivered to the new owner.
The biggest downside to using Carvana to sell your car is familiar: You won't get as much money for your car because you are dealing with a company managing your transaction. You are sacrificing profits to sell your car conveniently.
Hemmings
If you own a collectible car you'd like to sell, Hemmings might be the best option. This website specializes in rare and collectible cars, which means those who frequent the website are very familiar with the vehicles they're looking at.
If you want to sell to fellow car lovers, this platform is ideal. Rather than selling to potential buyers who are looking for the perfect deal, you'll be selling to the people who are looking for the perfect car.
Like some of the other websites on this list, Hemmings gives you the option to auction your car, create a listing for a direct sale, or post a classified ad. The fee for posting on the platform depends on the option you choose.
This website is one of the pricier options for listing a vehicle, but you'll connect with other auto aficionados and potentially make a sale in a niche market.
Craigslist
Craigslist might be less popular than it once was, but the platform is still an effective place to buy or sell a car. One of the best features of Craigslist is you can post a listing in a matter of minutes, complete with photos of your car. The listings are easy to read, and locals can easily check the page throughout the day to get the most updated car listings.
If you want to sell a car with very little stress, Craigslist makes that possible. The platform lets you list the car, but you will ultimately meet the buyer in person to complete the transaction.
This might be appealing if you are a fan of the old-fashioned way of selling a car. For others, this might not be as desirable, especially because many people find it more difficult to vet car buyers with this website.
One downside to using Craigslist is your listing is not going to get the same national pull it would on some other listings. You will mostly reach people in your area, which means it can take longer for your car to sell.
Additionally, the ease of access means Craigslist sellers might experience the same issue they face with Facebook Marketplace: scams and car buyers flaking on meetings.
The good news is selling a car on Craigslist is completely free. You do not have to pay to list your car, which means you can at least create a listing with little risk.
Tips for Using These Websites to Sell a Car
If you want to sell your vehicle online, there are a few things you need to know. While these websites offer a straightforward way to list vehicles online, you can make the process even easier.
Write an Effective Advertisement for Your Car
If you want to sell a car quickly, you must know how to write an effective ad. While nobody wants to read a life story when they're looking for a car to buy, you might find it beneficial to provide background information about the car.
For instance, how many owners has it had? How long have you owned the car, and how well does it run? The buyer wants to know more than the basics.
Additionally, make sure you write the listing with proper grammar and spelling. Avoid writing in all capital letters. Posting a listing with mistakes might turn away some buyers.
Take Many Photos of Your Car
If you want to make sure you get lots of clicks fast, take lots of photos of the car. Shoot the exterior from many angles, and ensure you capture the fine details as well. Show off the trunk, the back seats, the driver's seat, and the engine. Remember to remove your belongings first so the buyer can envision themselves in the car.
Some people choose to hire a professional photographer to take pictures of a car they want to sell. This can be an especially good idea if you are trying to sell a sports car, rare car, or collectible car. Classic car listings often benefit from interesting camera angles and playing with the background colors.
Value Your Car with Helpful Resources
You might have an idea of what you think your vehicle is worth, but you should back up the asking price with factual information.
For example, you can use Car and Driver's car value estimator to find a price range you believe is fair. This will help you ensure the platform you use to list your car also recommends a fair asking price for your car.
Meet With Potential Buyers in a Safe Location
When you sell a car online, you are often still meeting with strangers if you choose to sell to a local private party.
You might even be in the car with a stranger for a test drive. This means you must vet the people you are meeting carefully. Plan to meet buyers in the parking lot of your local police station to protect yourself.
Keep Your Car in Great Shape
When you list your car online, you might find you get a lot of last-minute requests to check out your car.
You never know when somebody will want to pop over and look at the car, so you might have to take extra care to ensure it is always clean from the inside out. Now is the time to go all out with a car wash, making sure you get your wheels and rims clean, too.
Identify the Right Audience for Your Car
The trick to choosing which of these platforms is the right option for selling your car is to determine who is your ideal buyer.
For example, say you are trying to sell a classic Chevrolet Corvette in pristine condition. You would be less likely to list this car on Craigslist when you know the right audience is on a platform that focuses on classic car enthusiasts.
Be Honest about Your Vehicle's Condition
You do not want to catfish potential buyers about the condition of your car. Instead, make sure you are honest about how well the car runs or what kind of work it might need.
Some buyers are open to a car that might need work if they know the car's condition in advance. The same applies to getting an instant cash offer from a dealership, as your offer could decrease based on the actual condition of your vehicle.
Should You Use the Internet to Sell a Car?
If you want to sell a used car, you might be uncertain about whether the web is the best possible place to do it. You might wonder if your vehicle would make a better impression in person than online.
While posting your car online can help you reach a large, and potentially national, audience, you might have qualms about shipping your car a long distance. You might simply feel more comfortable securing a local sale.
There is nothing wrong with selling a vehicle in person, especially if you want to park your car somewhere public with a phone number written across the back window. This is an old-fashioned but effective method. You might be less likely to run into a major scam because you are catering only to a local audience.
Still, the internet has a lot to offer. You can reach a large audience, including local dealerships that might offer you a convenient way to sell your car quickly. Many of these websites also offer a secure way to complete the transaction, which prevents scams, bad checks, and other financial issues associated with auto sales.
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer with more than three years of experience covering personal finance and insurance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including car insurance and property insurance. Her byline has appeared in dozens of online finance publications, like The Balance, Investopedia, Reviews.com, Forbes, and Bankrate.
