12 Options to Sell Your Car Online

Selling your car online — to buyers such as Vroom, Carvana, CarMax or a dozen other rivals that have sprung up — has emerged as a viable option for drivers interested in selling their car outright or valuing it as a trade-in.

With an internet connection and a few details about your vehicle, you could be fielding offers within minutes. Many online car-buying sites will even come to your home to pick up the car and hand you a check on the spot.

How to get offers online to sell your car

• Enter the car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number or license plate number. Confirm the make, model, mileage, color and operating condition.

• Answer detailed questions about the car’s condition and history. Has it been in an accident or flood? Does it have aftermarket modifications? Does it have scratches or dents?

• Decide whether you are trading or simply selling. Most online car buyers also sell cars directly to consumers and say their trade-in price does not differ from their purchase price.

• Disclose current loans or leases. Many, but not all, online car buying companies will buy a vehicle that you are still making payments on, and some will buy out a lease if the manufacturer allows it. Use an auto lease buyout calculator to see if the offer is fair. But if you owe more than the offer you receive, you must provide funds to make up the difference.

• Provide photos of the vehicle or have a virtual meeting with a company representative. Some buyers may not ask for this step until you have accepted an initial offer.

Sell your car online

Other options for finding out what your car is worth:

• Shift buys (and sells) cars online. It will both pick up and deliver. If you live in a Shift hub city, you can bring your car for an evaluation and receive a $300 bonus. Shift buys cars with loans and may make offers on leased vehicles. Offers are good for 7 days. On purchased vehicles, Shift offers free returns for 7 days. Shift can arrange financing as well. Watch for the Shift Service Fee added to the purchase price; it's often more than $1,000.

• AutoNation buys cars through its extensive chain of new-car franchises but will make an offer online. You must deliver your vehicle to the store. Its new-car relationships with major manufacturers may allow it to buy out a leased car without penalties. Offers are good for 7 days and 500 miles.

• Kelley Blue Book arranges instant cash offers through its network of partner dealers. Information is sent to nearby dealers for bids. Unlike Kelley Blue Book's widely known estimates of values, Instant Cash Offers are an offer to purchase. Dealers are free to adjust value if vehicles do not meet descriptions. Offers are good for 7 days, and you must take the vehicle to the purchasing dealer.

• EquityHackr buys cars leased through Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, INFINITI, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. It consider bank leases on a case-by-case basis. Offers are good for 5 days and 250 miles. Pickup is available.

• Driveway buys cars online; it also sells both new and used cars online. Pickup and delivery are available. Its purchase offers are good for 7 days. On vehicles it sells, Driveway offers free return or exchange for 7 days or 400 miles, minus shipping fees.

What to expect if you decide to sell

• Most companies say their offer is good for seven days, but some want a response within 24 hours. You can always re-enter the car’s information and get a new offer.

• The company will arrange to view the vehicle to inspect its condition. You may be asked to send photos or have a video call. Or a company representative may wait and inspect the vehicle at the pickup or drop-off time. If the vehicle’s condition is worse than you described, the company could change its offer.

• A representative will email or call to arrange a time to either pick up the vehicle at your home or have you drop it off at a pickup point.

• In most cases, fees are minimal. Some companies may charge an administrative fee, deducted from the offer price. The seller may also be charged if they back out of the signed sale agreement.

• While each company handles title and registration paperwork in its own way, expect to upload copies of your registration, title and driver’s license to get the ball rolling. Sales contracts, odometer statements and power of attorney may arrive for electronic signature or through overnight mail.

• Remove the license plates and clear the car of any personal items. Leave only the items that came with the car when you bought it, such as the car manual, keys and car mats.

• Most companies will hand you a payment when they take the vehicle, typically via a check or a bank draft, which can take several days to clear. Some offer payment via direct deposit or even cash.

What to do after you sell your car online

• Cancel your extended warranty, if you have one.

• Cancel any GAP insurance.

• Remove the car from your insurance. Once the car is picked up or dropped off, the online car company’s insurance is responsible for it.

• Report the sale to your state’s registry of motor vehicles.

If your online offers don't meet your needs

Bear in mind that online retailers' offers may not always reflect what your car is worth; it's what these particular buyers are willing to pay at that moment. Their algorithms are willing to pay the most for cars that are easily resold and financed.

If you get an offer of $500 for a car you believe is worth $5,000, it's that retailer's way of telling you it does not want or need your car. This may happen more frequently with older cars, high mileage cars, cars with mechanical issues or salvage title cars. There are buyers for those cars, but they may not be, say, Carvana.