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:May 31, 2025
Last Updated:Apr 21, 2026
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The bottom line: If you’re choosing between CarGurus and Cars.com, CarGurus is the better choice for a newer truck or SUV. It offered more in our tests whenever it made an offer, and its offers last longer.
Its offers come from local dealers, and you drive the car to the one you pick. Not every car qualifies, though, and older cars and EVs can get turned down.
Cars.com is the better fit if you want to sell privately for more money, or if CarGurus rejects your car. Its dealer offers mean a trip to the dealer.
Neither is the right buyer for a junk car, a salvage title or a car with major damage. Quotes from both cost nothing, so get both before you accept one.
Key Takeaways
How we tested: We had both companies quote the same three clean-title cars in January 2026, and three more cars in 2025.
Trucks and SUVs: CarGurus offered more for both the truck and the SUV, with its biggest lead on a 2022 Ford F-150 XL, $24,500 against $16,450.
When CarGurus says no: Cars.com offered $12,925 for a 2018 Tesla Model 3 that CarGurus made no offer on, and it also lets you list privately for free.
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CarGurus vs Cars.com at a Glance
Category
Best For
Newer trucks and SUVs, paid at a local dealer
Private sales, maximum money
Quote Speed
About 2 minutes
A few minutes
Offer Validity
7 days or 250 miles
3 business days
Private Sales
Not available (ended June 2024)
Free listings you can renew if they expire
Pickup Service
None, you drop the car off at the dealer
Must visit dealer
Payment Method
The dealer pays by check or electronic transfer; each dealer’s payment timeline varies
Check from dealer same day
Cars with Loans
The buying dealer guides you through the payoff
Paid off in the sale; you pay any gap
Quote Reliability
Every figure is an estimate, and the dealer can change it at inspection
Dealers may adjust after inspection
Won’t Buy
May not offer on older cars, branded titles, high mileage, major damage, or cars that don’t run
Salvage titles, flood or major damage, cars under $1,000 or older than 17 years (for instant offers)
Trustpilot Rating
3.3/5 stars (1,191 reviews)
2.1/5 stars (83 reviews)
Google Rating
2.8/5 stars (108 reviews)
4.1/5 stars (19 reviews)
BBB Status
A+ rating
A+ rating
Main Drawback
Some cars get no offers; dealer quotes can change at inspection
Private listings held for review, accounts locked
CarGurus vs. Cars.com Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
2026
2025
Vehicle
Winner
2022 Ford F-150 XL
$24,500
$16,450
CarGurus +$8,050
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE
$25,700
$24,125
CarGurus +$1,575
2018 Tesla Model 3
No offers
$12,925
Cars.com
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and clean title:
2022 Ford F-150 XL
CarGurus: $24,500
Cars.com: $16,450
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE with 61.5k miles and clean title:
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE
CarGurus: $25,700
Cars.com: $24,125
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and clean title:
2018 Tesla Model 3
CarGurus: No offers
Cars.com: $12,925
Vehicle
Winner
2023 Ford F-150
$29,500 to $33,000
$32,695
CarGurus (up to +$305)
2022 Chevrolet Bolt
$14,100 to $15,600
$14,988
CarGurus (up to +$612)
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$11,500 to $16,800
$14,200 to $16,800
Tie (same top offer)
2023 Ford F-150 with 37k miles and clean title:
CarGurus: $29,500 to $33,000
CarGurus dealer offers
Cars.com: $32,695
2022 Chevrolet Bolt with 36k miles and clean title:
CarGurus: $14,100 to $15,600
CarGurus dealer offers
Cars.com: $14,988
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 103k miles:
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
CarGurus: $11,500 to $16,800
Cars.com: $14,200 to $16,800
CarGurus vs. Cars.com: Detailed Comparison
The biggest difference is how long offers last. CarGurus gives you 7 days or 250 additional miles to decide, while Cars.com offers expire in just 3 business days. If you have a busy schedule or need time to think, CarGurus is more flexible.
CarGurus has one selling option: it gathers offers from local dealers, and you drive the car to the one you pick. Not every car or area gets an offer. Each figure is an estimate, not a guaranteed price, and it can change after the dealer inspects your car. Cars.com requires you to visit a dealer in person for their instant offers.
Our 2026 tests showed a clear pattern: CarGurus offered more money when vehicles qualified. The Ford F-150 got $8,050 more through CarGurus, and the Toyota RAV4 Prime got $1,575 more. But CarGurus rejected our Tesla Model 3 entirely while Cars.com offered $12,925.
Both services connect you with dealers who inspect your car. The key differences in how they work:
CarGurus offers: from local dealers, and you drive the car to the one you pick
CarGurus dealer quotes: Estimates only, can change at the dealership
Cars.com: You drive to a participating dealer for in-person inspection
Cars.com has one major advantage: free private listings that reach millions of monthly visitors. Their Caramel partnership handles DMV paperwork and secure payment, free when the title is in your name, there’s no loan and the price is over $1,000, and $95 otherwise. Private sales typically bring 10% to 15% more money than dealer offers, but can take up to 8 weeks to complete.
If you’re looking for more options, check out other online car buyers who may offer competitive prices for your vehicle.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
4.6
Scored against used car buyers only
CategoryScore
Offer amount35%5/5
Process ease20%5/5
Offer validity15%4/5
Pickup / drop-off15%4/5
Payment speed15%4/5
Scores compare companies within one segment, never across. How we score
Want to compare more options? Use our free tool to see who offers the most for your car:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers more money, CarGurus or Cars.com?
In our 2026 tests, CarGurus offered more when vehicles qualified. CarGurus offered $24,500 for a Ford F-150 compared to Cars.com’s $16,450 (a difference of $8,050).
For a Toyota RAV4 Prime, CarGurus offered $25,700 versus Cars.com’s $24,125 (a difference of $1,575).
However, CarGurus rejected our Tesla Model 3 with no offers while Cars.com offered $12,925.
Our 2025 tests showed CarGurus had the potential to offer more, with their top quotes matching or beating Cars.com on trucks and SUVs.
How long do CarGurus and Cars.com offers last?
CarGurus offers are valid for 7 days or 250 additional miles, whichever comes first. Cars.com instant offers expire after just 3 business days.
If you have a busy schedule, CarGurus gives you more than twice as much time to decide.
Which has better reviews, CarGurus or Cars.com?
CarGurus has 3.3 stars on Trustpilot from 1,191 reviews.
Cars.com has 2.1 stars from 83 reviews. Both have A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau.
Sellers’ most common complaint about CarGurus is a dealer offering less at the dealership than the figure shown online.
Recent Cars.com complaints come from private sellers whose listing was held or whose account was locked. Reports of dealers lowering the price after inspection are older.
Do CarGurus or Cars.com change offers at pickup?
Yes, both can. Every CarGurus figure is an estimate, and the dealer can lower it after its inspection or if the market changes.
A Cars.com offer holds only if the dealer’s inspection matches what you entered. Sellers have reported dealers lowering the price after the in-person inspection, though none did in the past year.
Be honest about your car’s condition when getting quotes. The more accurate your description, the less likely your offer will change.
Which is faster, CarGurus or Cars.com?
Like Cars.com’s dealer offers, a CarGurus sale needs a visit to the dealership, and when you’re paid depends on the dealer.
For private sales, Cars.com listings can take up to 8 weeks to find a buyer. CarGurus no longer offers private sales as of June 2024.
How do CarGurus and Cars.com pay you?
Every CarGurus sale ends at the dealership, where the dealer pays by check or electronic transfer. Each dealer’s payment timeline varies.
Cars.com dealer offers pay with a check the same day you complete the inspection. For private sales through their Caramel partnership, payment is held in escrow until the sale completes.
Can I sell a financed car to CarGurus or Cars.com?
Yes, both services accept cars with loans. With CarGurus, the dealer that buys the car guides you through paying off the loan and deals with your lender. If you owe more than the offer and aren’t buying another car there, you need to pay the gap.
With a Cars.com instant offer, the loan is paid off as part of the sale at the dealer. You get the difference if the offer is higher than what you owe, and you pay the gap if it’s lower.
Can I list my car privately on CarGurus?
No, CarGurus ended private party sales in June 2024. They now offer only instant offers from local dealers, in select markets.
If you want to sell your car privately, Cars.com offers free listings that reach millions of car shoppers a month and can be renewed when they’re about to expire.
Does CarGurus always offer home pickup?
No. CarGurus doesn’t offer home pickup for any car. Every CarGurus offer comes from a local dealer, and you take the car to that dealership to sell it, as with Cars.com’s dealer offers.
Are CarGurus and Cars.com legitimate?
Yes, both are legitimate companies. CarGurus has been around since 2006 and is publicly traded on Nasdaq.
Cars.com has been operating since 1998. Both have A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau.
Article Update History
Updated
New quotes from both, ratings from Trustpilot and Google, and BBB status confirmed.
