Published: March 20, 2025
Last Updated: July 11, 2025
The bottom line: Cars.com is worth using for most sellers due to its free listings and broad audience of approximately 27 million monthly visitors.
The platform provides two clear options: create a free private listing with no expiration date or use their Instant Offer program for a quick dealer sale.
While the Instant Offer gives you convenience, dealer inspections often result in price adjustments, so private listings typically bring better returns.
Cars.com’s partnership with Caramel to handle DMV paperwork and secure payments (with no seller fees for vehicles over $1,000) makes it even more valuable.
Just be prepared to screen some spam messages and deal with occasional technical issues, particularly with photo uploads.
For immediate offers, Carvana or CarGurus typically provide more competitive valuations than Cars.com Instant Offers. However, Cars.com remains a strong platform for private vehicle sales.
What We Like
- Free private listings with no expiration date
- 27 million monthly visitors see your car
- No obligation to buy another vehicle when selling
- Online quotes are generated within minutes
- Caramel partnership handles DMV paperwork at no cost to sellers
- Detailed valuation tools help you price competitively
What You Should Know
- Dealers frequently adjust offers downward during inspection
- Private listings attract scammers and spam messages
- Photo upload system often fails, especially on the app
- Instant offers valid for only 3 business days
- Mobile app is less reliable than desktop website
- Lengthy listing moderation sometimes delays going live
How Cars.com Works?
1. Choose How to Sell
Cars.com provides two selling paths: the “Instant Offer” program or a private listing. With Instant Offer, you receive a guaranteed purchase offer from local dealerships in their network.
This is faster (often completed in 3-5 days) but typically brings 10-15% less money than private sales.
With a private listing, you create an ad on Cars.com, set your own asking price, and communicate directly with potential buyers. This takes longer (typically 2-4 weeks) but usually nets you more money.
2. Getting an Instant Offer
You’ll enter basic details about your car on their website to get an instant offer. You’ll need to provide the make, model, year, mileage, and information about its condition. You’ll also need to upload photos of your car.
The offer you receive is valid for exactly 3 business days. During this time, you need to schedule an appointment at a participating dealer for an inspection.
The dealer will check that your car matches the description you provided online. Cars.com partners with approximately 20,000 certified dealers for these purchases.
Many sellers find that dealers adjust prices after the inspection compared to the online quote. Dealers often point to condition issues or market factors to explain the difference.
If you agree to the final price, you’ll receive a check from the dealer that same day with no obligation to buy another vehicle.
| No | Steps |
|---|---|
| Step1 | Enter year, make, model |
| Step2 | Select correct model |
| Step3 | Enter ZIP code |
| Step4 | Enter contact details |
| Step5 | Select ownership |
| Step6 | Select wheels and tires |
| Step7 | Select mechanical condition |
| Step8 | Enter mileage |
| Step9 | Select exterior damage |
| Step10 | Select exterior parts |
| Step11 | Select lights and glass condition |
| Step12 | Select interior condition |
| Step13 | Select water and fire damage |
| Step14 | Enter comments (optional) |
| Step15 | Get Offer |
Click to see a step-by-step quote process with screenshots
Step1: Enter year, make, model
Step2: Select correct model
Step3: Enter ZIP code
Step4: Enter contact details
Step5: Select ownership
Step6: Select wheels and tires
Step7: Select mechanical condition
Step8: Enter mileage
Step9: Select exterior damage
Step10: Select exterior parts
Step11: Select lights and glass condition
Step12: Select interior condition
Step13: Select water and fire damage
Step14: Enter comments (optional)
Step15: Get Offer
Note: Cars.com’s Instant Offer program only works for vehicles valued at $1,000 or more. They explicitly state that vehicles worth less than $1,000 are not eligible for the service.
Other restrictions include vehicles older than 17 model years, salvage titles, and vehicles with significant mechanical or electrical damage.
3. Creating a Private Listing
Creating a private listing on Cars.com is free, with no hidden fees or commissions. Your listing remains active until your car sells, with no time-based expiration.
You’ll need to create a detailed listing with photos (the site allows up to 30 images) and enter specific information about your vehicle’s features, condition, and price.
Some users report technical issues with the photo upload system. Many sellers experience upload failures, especially when using the mobile app.
The desktop website generally functions better for creating listings, though some users still face upload problems.
Cars.com has partnered with Caramel, a transaction management service that handles DMV paperwork, secures payment, and manages title transfers for private sales.
This optional service adds an extra layer of security, and importantly, there are no fees for sellers if your vehicle is worth over $1,000.
Buyers pay the Caramel service fee, which means sellers can benefit from the secure transaction service at no cost. The Caramel integration helps address common concerns with private sales: paperwork complexity and payment security.
4. Communicating with Buyers
Once your listing is live, you’ll get messages from interested buyers through Cars.com’s messaging system. Be prepared to screen these messages carefully. You’ll likely receive some suspicious contacts along with genuine buyers.
Even with privacy settings turned on, some sellers find their contact information visible to potential buyers. This can lead to unwanted calls or messages outside the Cars.com system.
How Much Can You Get?
2023 Ford F-150 with 37k mileage and clean title: $28,925 offer
2022 Chevrolet Bolt with 36k mileage and clean title: $15,475 offer
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 103k mileage: $11,550 offer
What Other Sellers Say?
| Platform | Cars.com Rating | Main Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 2.9 out of 5 stars | Dealerships significantly lowering instant offer amounts from the initial online quotes,poor customer service. |
| Better Business Bureau | A+ | Cars.com misleads with pricing that doesn’t include dealer fees, has technical issues where deleted vehicles reappear as still for sale, makes it difficult to publish private listings despite multiple attempts |
| Mixed | Frustrating issues including listings that never go live despite confirmation, suspicious requests for title documentation, account access problems, listings that receive views but no inquiries, and a general suspicion that the platform intentionally makes it difficult for private sellers to successfully list their vehicles in order to favor dealerships. |
Reddit Reviews
Trustpilot Reviews
BBB Reviews
Strengths
Cars.com connects you with many potential buyers through its large audience of 27 million monthly visitors. Its platform is well-established in the automotive marketplace, which increases your chances of finding serious buyers.
Its completely free private listing service with no expiration date is a significant advantage over competitors like AutoTrader ($9-49).
The Caramel partnership provides a secure, streamlined way to handle the most challenging aspects of private sales—DMV paperwork, title transfer, and secure payment.
There are no Caramel fees for sellers of vehicles worth over $1,000, as the buyer pays these. This service lets you offload all the administrative headaches while still getting a higher private sale price.
The instant offer feature provides a quick baseline value within minutes that helps you understand your car’s wholesale worth.
Cars.com partners with nearly 20,000 dealerships nationwide to generate these offers, allowing you to sell your car within 24-48 hours when needed.
Areas for Improvement
Cars.com could improve by extending its 3-day window for instant offers. This short timeframe makes scheduling difficult for busy people who can’t easily visit dealerships during business hours.
Most competitors offer 7-day validity periods, giving sellers more flexibility.
The listing approval process needs to be faster and more transparent. Many sellers report delays of several days or even weeks before their listings go live due to Cars.com’s fraud prevention screening.
Better communication during this process would help sellers plan accordingly.
Their mobile app requires significant upgrades, particularly the photo upload functionality.
Sellers frequently report crashes during the upload process and error messages that force them to switch to the desktop site to complete their listings. This technical issue is among the most common complaints from sellers.
The messaging system needs better spam filtering to help legitimate buyers stand out among numerous scam messages.
Adding a verification step for buyer profiles would significantly reduce the suspicious contacts sellers must sort through, making the platform more user-friendly.
Who Should Use Cars.com?
Cars.com is best suited for specific types of sellers:
For private listings:
- Sellers who want their car advertised on a dedicated automotive site with 27 million monthly shoppers
- People who appreciate completely free listings with no expiration date
- Sellers who can effectively screen messages to filter out scammers
- Those who want to set their own price using Cars.com’s valuation tools
- Sellers looking for help with DMV paperwork and secure payment through Caramel
For instant offers:
- Sellers who need to complete the transaction within 24-48 hours
- Those with vehicles worth at least $1,000
- People who can visit a local dealership during business hours within 3 days
- Sellers who prioritize convenience over maximum price
- Those with cars newer than 17 model years without salvage titles
Market Comparison & Alternatives
| Platform | Key Features & Considerations | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Cars.com |
|
Sellers prioritizing maximum profit and willing to invest time and effort. |
| Carvana |
|
Sellers prioritizing speed and convenience, and comfortable with potential pickup fees. |
| CarGurus |
|
Sellers seeking a balance of options and comfortable navigating potential dealer offer discrepancies. |
Best for Newer Cars
Instant offer in 2 minutes
Free pickup as soon as today
Get paid on the spot
Best for Many Offers
Compare offers in one place
Option to sell 100% online
Check or direct deposit
Best for Convenience
Offer is good for 1 day
Free pickup on your schedule
Virtual inspection
Alternatives: 5 Sites Like Cars.com
Cars.com FAQ
How long does it take to sell a car on Cars.com?
Private sales usually take 2-4 weeks from listing to completing the sale. Instant offers can be done in 3-5 days if you accept the dealer’s price after inspection.
Are Cars.com instant offers reliable?
The online quotes are initial estimates based on the information you provide. Cars.com uses Accu-Trade technology to generate these offers from their nearly 20,000 certified dealers network.
The final price is determined after a dealer inspects your car in person. Many sellers find the final offer is adjusted from the online quote, even when the vehicle is in good condition.
According to user experiences, these dealer offers through Cars.com are similar to trade-in values—typically 10-15% lower than what you might get through a private sale.
This reflects wholesale rather than retail pricing, as dealers need to make a profit when reselling your car. The upside is you can receive payment the same day as your inspection if you accept the offer.
How does Cars.com protect against scams?
They try to filter suspicious messages, but many still get through. Never share financial information or accept unusual payment methods like wire transfers or gift cards. Meet buyers in public and be wary of anyone who won’t see the car.
Can I negotiate the dealer’s offer?
Yes, but results vary by dealer. Some sellers get better offers by showing quotes from competitors like CarMax or Carvana.
What happens if the dealer finds problems with my car?
If the dealer’s inspection reveals issues you didn’t disclose or they assess the condition differently than you did, they will almost certainly reduce their offer.
Their inspection process checks mechanical condition, exterior and interior condition, tire tread depth, and electronic features.
You have three options: accept the reduced price, attempt to negotiate (though success varies widely by dealer), or walk away completely.
There’s absolutely no obligation to sell, and you retain full ownership until you sign the title transfer documents.
Is the mobile app good for selling cars?
The mobile app has problems, especially with uploading photos. For a better experience when creating your listing, use the regular website on a computer.
How do I get the best price for my car?
Take clear photos from multiple angles, provide detailed information about your car’s history and condition, respond quickly to serious inquiries, and be prepared to meet multiple potential buyers. Having service records and a clean history report helps too.
What paperwork do I need to sell my car?
You’ll need your vehicle title, maintenance records, and recent photos. A vehicle history report helps build buyer confidence. Make sure your registration is current, too.
Can I cancel my listing if I sell elsewhere?
Yes, you can cancel your Cars.com listing at any time through your account dashboard. Since the listing is completely free, there are no refund concerns.
Many sellers list their vehicles on multiple platforms simultaneously (Cars.com, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) to maximize exposure.
If your car sells through another channel, simply log in to your Cars.com account and remove the listing to prevent continued inquiries.
How does Cars.com compare to selling directly to a dealer?
Cars.com’s instant offers come from their dealer network, so they’re similar to direct dealer offers. The private listing option almost always brings more money if you can wait a few weeks.
What do people complain about most with Cars.com?
The biggest complaints are price reductions during dealer inspections, spam messages when selling privately, and problems uploading photos, especially on the mobile app.
Do I need to buy a vehicle history report?
Cars.com does not automatically include free AutoCheck or Carfax reports with private seller listings.
While buyers viewing your listing may have access to vehicle history information through Cars.com’s platform, you, as a seller, cannot add these reports to your listing for free.
If you want to increase buyer confidence, you’ll need to purchase a vehicle history report separately from AutoCheck or Carfax (typically $25-40) and mention in your description that you have this available.
Some buyers will request a history report before viewing the car, so having one ready can speed up the selling process and help justify your asking price if the report shows a clean history.
How long do I have to use an instant offer?
Instant offers are strictly valid for 3 business days (not calendar days). This is a non-negotiable timeframe explicitly stated in Cars.com’s terms.
Within those 3 business days, you must schedule and complete the dealer inspection verification.
This tight window creates significant challenges for working professionals and those with busy schedules, as most dealerships only conduct inspections during standard business hours (typically 9am-5pm Monday through Friday).
If you miss this window, you’ll need to restart the entire process and request a new offer.
Can I list my car on multiple websites at once?
Yes, and most successful sellers do precisely that. Listing on Cars.com, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist gives you the best chance of finding a suitable buyer quickly.
What if I disagree with the dealer’s inspection?
You can reject their revised offer, try another dealer, or switch to private selling. You’re never obligated to accept a reduced offer.
