The bottom line: Autotrader gets you more than TrueCar for a clean-title car, if you can wait for a buyer. Even after Autotrader’s fees, private buyers pay closer to market value than dealers. Its Private Seller Exchange also takes most of the scam risk out of selling to a stranger.
TrueCar makes sense if you’re buying a new car from a dealer and want to trade in at the same time. It’s free, but the real offer comes from a dealer after an in-person inspection.
Neither works for a junk car, a salvage title or a car that won’t start.
Compare offers with Sell Car Advisor before you decide.
Key Takeaways
- Watch out for: Autotrader’s 0.99% sale fee and $9, $29 or $49 ad take $306 to $346 from a $30,000 sale, while TrueCar charges you nothing.
- How fast you can sell: TrueCar has you deliver the car to its dealer within three days of the offer, and Autotrader’s private sales take two to three weeks on average.
- What Autotrader sellers report: Some Autotrader sellers say a private sale brought well above a dealer’s cash offer.
- Which car goes where: Both want a sound car that runs, and TrueCar takes none valued under $1,000, so a cheap runner goes on Autotrader.
Compare Instant Offers
Where to Sell Your Car?
- Want maximum sale pricePrivate buyers pay closer to market value than dealers
- Worried about scams and fraudVerified buyers, secure chat, and protected payments
- Prefer private communicationAll communication through secure chat, phone stays private
- Trading in while buying a new carDealers may offer better trade-in values when you’re buying from them
- Just want a rough value estimateFree estimate in 2 minutes with no commitment
- Want to avoid upfront feesCompletely free to use vs Autotrader’s $9 to $49 listing fee
Either, if you still owe money on the car. Both can work with your lender to handle the payoff.
Neither, for a salvage title, pre-1989, or junk car. Autotrader won’t accept these; try junk car buyers instead.
Autotrader's exchange takes the buyer's payment and does the title paperwork
- Buyer pays through PSX, not cash
- Free AutoCheck report on every ad
- Ad shows on Autotrader and KBB.com
- Title paperwork and payoff handled
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Buyer reach 25% 4/5
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Safety features 25% 5/5
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Listing cost 20% 2/5
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Time to sell 15% 3/5
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Ease of listing 15% 3/5
With TrueCar you get an instant offer and drop off at a local location
- Get ballpark value in 2 minutes
- Price tools show recent comps
- Walk away with a check in hand
- Offer is good for three days
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Offer amount 35% 3/5
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Process ease 20% 2/5
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Offer validity 15% 3/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 1/5
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Payment speed 15% 3/5
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Autotrader vs. TrueCar: Detailed Comparison
Note: On Autotrader, a fraud team monitors for suspicious activity on the platform, and you get help with title transfer paperwork to avoid legal mistakes.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
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Offer amount 35% 5/5
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Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Get a real offer in 2 minutes, with no listing
- No haggling: its best offer comes upfront
- Suits a car under 10 years old in good condition
- Pays off your loan when it buys the car
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- An offer in seconds, with no listing to write
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
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Buyer reach 25% 5/5
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Safety features 25% 3/5
-
Listing cost 20% 5/5
-
Time to sell 15% 4/5
-
Ease of listing 15% 5/5
- Free to list, with no fee on a local sale paid in person
- Sell directly to buyers near you
- Post to a local buy and sell group at the same time
- Buyers see your profile and seller ratings
- You handle the payment and paperwork yourself
To see what different buyers offer for your car, get quotes from several at once:
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform offers more money for cars?
Autotrader typically results in higher sale prices because you’re selling to private buyers who pay closer to market value. TrueCar connects you with dealers who buy at wholesale prices and need room for profit.
Older seller reviews on Trustpilot describe dealer offers through TrueCar that came in under the online estimate. Even after Autotrader’s fees, a private sale can leave you with more than a dealer’s offer.
How long does each process take?
Autotrader takes days to weeks, while TrueCar can be quicker. With Autotrader, you wait for the right buyer to find your listing and complete the sale.
With TrueCar, you take the car to its dealer for an inspection, and TrueCar says the sale can happen the same day. TrueCar estimates are only valid for 3 days, so you need to act quickly once you get one.
Which has better customer reviews?
TrueCar has 1.3 stars on Trustpilot from 1,816 reviews.
Autotrader has 3.7 stars from 1,562 reviews.
TrueCar has an A+ rating with the BBB, while Autotrader is not BBB accredited. In its replies to complaints, TrueCar says its offers are subject to the dealer’s inspection, so the final number can change at the dealership.
Autotrader reviews describe scam messages despite its buyer checks, and support that couldn’t stop them.
Can I sell a financed car through Autotrader or TrueCar?
Yes, both can handle cars with loans. Autotrader works directly with your lender and can send the payoff amount from the sale proceeds.
TrueCar dealers typically handle loan payoffs as part of the trade-in process.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to cover the difference. Learn more in our guide on how to sell a financed car.
How much does Autotrader cost compared to TrueCar?
TrueCar is completely free. Autotrader charges a listing fee of $9, $29 or $49, depending on your asking price, plus a transaction fee of 0.99% when it sells (minimum $99).
For a $15,000 car, expect to pay up to $49 upfront plus about $149 when it sells, so up to about $198 in fees.
What cars does Autotrader not accept?
Autotrader’s Private Seller Exchange won’t accept cars made before 1989, vehicles with salvage or branded titles, RVs, motorcycles, or police cars.
They have separate platforms for classic cars, RVs, and motorcycles.
TrueCar has its own limits: no salvage titles, motorcycles, RVs, police cars, or cars more than 17 model years old.
How does TrueCar contact work?
Once you submit your info to TrueCar, it goes to dealers in their network. Dealers will reach out to schedule appointments and discuss your vehicle.
Autotrader keeps your phone number private through their secure chat system. All buyer communication goes through the platform.
Is TrueCar or Autotrader better for older cars?
Autotrader is the better fit for a very old car, since TrueCar won’t take one more than 17 model years old. Autotrader’s Private Seller Exchange takes cars made from 1989 on, and Autotrader sends older cars to its separate Classics site.
For cars from the 90s and newer, Autotrader usually gets better results because private buyers are more willing to pay fair prices for older vehicles with good maintenance records.
Article Update History
Autotrader's and TrueCar's procedures, ratings on Trustpilot and BBB status checked.
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