I want to take the guesswork out of selling your car. I analyze market data, decode DMV title laws, and test out online car buyers to give you a straight answer on whether it's worth holding out for a higher price or if you're better off taking the most convenient offer and moving on.
Published:Nov 7, 2025
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2026
✓ Fact Checked:Mar 17, 2026
How is this page verified?
Information on this article is compiled from publicly available data, customer feedback and our internal analysis. All our articles are being constantly updated and fact-checked annually to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
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The bottom line: We collected ratings from Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, Yelp, Sitejabber, and Facebook for the major online car-buying companies.
We calculated overall scores using a weighted average, with each review contributing proportionally to the total number of reviews on each platform.
For example, a platform with 175,000 reviews carries more weight than one with 405 reviews. The formula is:
tops the list at 4.90/5 but works differently from the others. You visit a branch or schedule a mobile appointment instead of having a tow truck pick up your car.
ranks second at 4.89/5 but won’t buy cars missing the engine or transmission, even though they accept most other damaged vehicles.
has the widest rating gap of any company here, from 4.8 on app stores to 1.2 on the BBB, which makes it the hardest company to evaluate from ratings alone.
Four of the seven companies on this list specialize in damaged or non-running cars. Only Carvana is built for newer vehicles under 10 years old in good condition.
is the only company that uses a video inspection instead of an in-person one, but deducts a $125 fee from your payout.
A higher rating doesn’t mean a higher offer for your car. Getting quotes from multiple buyers before deciding is the only way to know who pays the most for your specific vehicle.
Overall Rating: 4.90/5 (weighted average from 69,304 reviews)
This company works best if you want to sell your car in person at a physical branch location. They have over 140 branches nationwide, and most sales take 30 to 45 minutes once you arrive.
Platform
Rating
Number of Reviews
Trustpilot
4.9/5
70,822
BBB
4.89/5
1,261
Yelp
2.8/5
14
Sitejabber
1.3/5
23
Customers praise the quick in-branch process and professional staff. Some complaints mention price drops between the online quote and in-person appraisal.
A mobile service option is available in many areas if you can’t get to a branch.
Overall Rating: 4.89/5 (weighted average from 13,342 reviews)
CarBrain specializes in buying damaged and non-running vehicles that other companies won’t touch. They’ve been doing this since 2007.
Platform
Rating
Number of Reviews
Trustpilot
4.9/5
7,472
BBB
4.85/5
500
Google Reviews
4.9/5
6,243
Yelp
4.5/5
122
Sitejabber
5.0/5
1
Reviewers mention the fast process, with pickup typically happening within 24 to 48 hours of accepting an offer. Payment is usually by check at pickup, though some tow companies carry cash.
Keep in mind they won’t buy cars that are missing the engine or transmission, even if they accept most other types of damage.
Overall Rating: 4.76/5 (weighted average from 362,409 reviews)
Carvana buys newer vehicles typically under 10 years old through their online instant offer system.
Platform
Rating
Number of Reviews
Trustpilot
4/5
13,976
BBB
1.2/5
2,076
Sitejabber
1.2/5
536
iOS App Store
4.8/5
278,000
Google Play
4.8/5
68,000
Note: iOS and Google Play reviews include both car buyers and sellers, not exclusively people who sold cars.
App store reviewers like the convenient selling process. BBB complaints focus on payment delays, lower offers after inspection, and title transfer problems.
The large gap between platforms makes this the most inconsistent company we reviewed.
Overall Rating: 4.60/5 (weighted average from 197,749 reviews)
Peddle buys older cars and vehicles with mechanical problems that traditional dealers reject. Their quote is valid for 7 days, giving you time to check other buyers.
Platform
Rating
Number of Reviews
Trustpilot
4.7/5
188,115
BBB
4.72/5
13,470
Google Reviews
4.5/5
8,880
Yelp
2.7/5
405
Reviews highlight fair pricing and the hassle-free process. Common complaints involve tow truck delays and offer changes at pickup when the car condition differs from the initial description.
Peddle has the highest review volume of any company we researched, with over 197,000 ratings across all platforms.
Overall Rating: 4.55/5 (weighted average from 4,668 reviews)
Algo uses a virtual video inspection so you never have to leave your home during the selling process. They operate in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Platform
Rating
Number of Reviews
Trustpilot
4.2/5
1,910
Google Reviews
4.8/5
2,764
Facebook
4.3/5
82
Customers like the competitive offers and smooth transactions. Some report that the final offer after the video inspection came in lower than the initial online estimate.
Note that Algo deducts a $125 fee from your payout, plus an extra $25 if there’s a loan or lease on the vehicle. They also require you to mail your title before scheduling pickup.
WeBuyAnyCar USA has the highest weighted average on this list at 4.90/5 from over 69,000 reviews. CarBrain is second at 4.89/5 from over 13,000 reviews across Trustpilot, BBB, Google Reviews, Yelp, and Sitejabber.
Keep in mind that a higher rating doesn’t always mean a higher offer for your specific car. Getting quotes from more than one buyer is still the best way to know who will pay the most.
Are online car buyer ratings reliable?
Ratings become more reliable when a company has thousands of reviews across multiple platforms. A company with 100,000+ reviews tells you more than one with just 50 reviews on a single site.
Always read recent reviews from the past 1 to 3 months to see current performance. We use weighted averages to ensure larger review samples have appropriate statistical weight in the overall score.
Why do some companies have good Trustpilot ratings but bad BBB ratings?
Different types of customers use different review platforms. Trustpilot tends to get reviews from satisfied customers who complete quick transactions, while the BBB often hears from people with unresolved complaints.
Carvana shows the biggest gap in this list, with a strong Trustpilot score but only 1.2 on the BBB.
Should I trust a car buyer with only a few reviews?
Companies with fewer than 100 total reviews haven’t established a reliable track record. Small sample sizes can be misleading since a handful of very positive or very negative experiences skew the average.
Stick with companies that have at least 1,000 reviews across major platforms.
Do these companies actually pay what they quote?
Most companies honor their quotes if your vehicle matches the description you provided. Some reviewers report lower offers at pickup, especially when undisclosed damage or missing parts are found during inspection.
Always get the offer in writing and contact the company directly if the driver tries to reduce the price at pickup.
Which car buying service is best for junk cars?
Wheelzy and Peddle both specialize in junk cars and non-running vehicles with free towing and pickup within 24 to 48 hours. CarBrain also handles most damaged cars but won’t buy vehicles missing the engine or transmission.
The Wheelzy vs Peddle comparison breaks down how their offers compare across different car types and conditions.
How much do review counts matter when choosing a car buyer?
Review volume matters a lot. Peddle has over 175,000 Trustpilot reviews alone, while Algo has fewer than 2,000 on the same platform.
Higher review counts mean the rating is more stable and less likely to be skewed by a few extreme experiences. That’s why we use weighted averages rather than treating all platforms equally.
Methodology Note
We collected rating data from Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, Yelp, Sitejabber, and Facebook in 2026.
We calculated weighted average scores using the formula:
Total: 909,622.2 points / 197,749 reviews = 4.60 weighted average
This methodology ensures that platforms with more reviews have proportionally more influence on the final score, making ratings more statistically reliable.
We focused on companies operating nationwide that buy vehicles directly from consumers. The weighted averages shown above were calculated from data collected at a specific point in 2026. Individual platform ratings in the tables reflect current live data via shortcodes. Check recent reviews before selling your vehicle.
Article Update History
Fact-checked
We recalculated every weighted average and verified every review count after updating this article.
ranks second at 4.89/5 but won’t buy cars missing the engine or transmission, even though they accept most other damaged vehicles.
has the widest rating gap of any company here, from 4.8 on app stores to 1.2 on the BBB, which makes it the hardest company to evaluate from ratings alone.
