The bottom line: Carvana comes out ahead of TrueCar for a newer car in good condition, and offered more for most of the cars we tested. It buys the car itself, picks it up or takes it at a drop-off, and can finish the sale in a few days.
TrueCar is the better fit if you want several local dealers to bid on your car. Expect to visit dealerships, and expect the final offer to differ from the online estimate.
Neither buys junk cars, salvage titles or cars that don’t run. Compare offers from several services with Sell Car Advisor before you decide.
Key Takeaways
- What our tests found: TrueCar made one offer on our latest three test cars, $5,850 under Carvana’s, and showed only estimates, also lower than Carvana’s offers, for the other two.
- Watch out for: TrueCar no longer buys cars itself, so book the drop-off with its participating dealer as soon as the offer arrives, within 72 hours.
- How fast you can sell: Carvana averages 3 to 10 days, same day in some locations, and TrueCar’s dealer pays by check or bank transfer after inspecting the car.
- What Carvana sellers report: Some sellers were paid exactly Carvana’s quote at the handover, so describe the car’s condition exactly when you ask for the offer.
- Which car goes where: TrueCar’s dealers take cars up to 17 model years old and Carvana prefers cars under 10 in good shape, so quote both for a car under 10.
Compare Instant Offers
Where to Sell Your Car?
Better option when you- Want the highest offerCarvana offered more in 4 of 6 tests, with gaps up to $5,850
- Need to sell quicklySells in about 3 to 10 days on average, sometimes the same day, vs. a drive to a TrueCar dealer, where the offer can change at inspection
- Want to avoid sales pressureNo dealer haggling or in-person negotiations
- Don’t want phone calls from dealersTrueCar shares your info with dealers who may contact you
- Have a newer car under 5 yearsCarvana offered more for newer vehicles in our 2026 tests
- Want to compare multiple local dealersTrueCar connects you with multiple dealers in your area
Neither, for a junk car, salvage title, or car that won’t run. Neither service is built for these vehicles; Carvana’s market is cars under 10 years old in good condition. See junk car buyers.
Carvana buys newer running cars, with pickup in some areas
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
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
-
Offer amount 35% 3/5
-
Process ease 20% 2/5
-
Offer validity 15% 3/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 1/5
-
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.
Carvana vs. TrueCar: Detailed Comparison
| Category |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Newer cars under 10 years in good condition | Comparing offers from multiple local dealers |
| Quote Speed | About 2 minutes online | A few minutes for a TRUECash Offer, but the dealer sets the final price when it inspects the car |
| Offer Validity | 7 days | 3 days (estimate only, dealers set final price) |
| Time to Complete | About 3 to 10 days on average, paid at the appointment | Same day, TrueCar says, if you drop the car at its dealer within 3 days |
| Payment Method | Check at pickup or ACH transfer (2 to 5 days) | Varies by dealer |
| Pickup | Free drop-off, or home pickup in some areas that may cost a fee ($0 to $600 in our test offers) | You drive to dealership |
| Inspection | 15 minutes at pickup | At dealership, varies by location |
| Cars with Loans | Yes, handles payoff directly | Yes, varies by dealer |
| Won’t Buy | Junk and non-running cars; aimed at cars under 10 years old in good condition | Salvage titles, flood damage, major mechanical damage, cars over 17 model years old |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.1/5 (16,239 reviews) | 1.3/5 (1,816 reviews) |
| BBB Status | Not accredited | A+ (accredited) |
| Main Drawback | Pickup not offered everywhere and may cost a fee; hard to reach customer service | Final dealer offer may differ from online estimate |
Carvana vs. TrueCar Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
2026
2025
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and clean title Carvana +$5,850
$14,200
See both offer screenshots
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and clean title Carvana +$2,700
$22,000
See both offer screenshots
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE with 61.5k miles and clean title Carvana +$1,175
$24,600
See both offer screenshots
2023 Ford F-150 with 37k miles and clean title TrueCar +$675
$38,800
See both offer screenshots
2022 Chevrolet Bolt with 36k miles and clean title Carvana +$1,975
$19,200
See both offer screenshots
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 97k miles and clean title TrueCar +$625
$13,600
See both offer screenshots
How each offer can change
- Carvana: its inspection happens at pickup and takes about 15 minutes. If they find issues you didn’t mention, the price might drop.
- TrueCar: its estimates only last 3 days, and dealers aren’t required to honor those numbers anyway. You drive the car to a TrueCar dealer within three days for its inspection, where the offer can drop if the car isn’t as you described, and dealer inspections vary by location.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Its sweet spot is cars over ten years old
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
-
Offer amount 35% 3/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 2/5
- Buys your car even if you don't buy one there
- A firm offer, valid for 7 days, not negotiable
- Handles the loan payoff with your lender
- Pays with a bank draft on the spot
- Home pickup in some areas, and a fee may apply
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 5/5
-
Payment speed 15% 5/5
- Instant offer online, valid for 7 days
- Photo inspection on your phone, no download
- Free pickup from anywhere in the U.S.
- Pays by bank transfer after pickup, or by check
- Buys cars with a loan or lease, in most cases
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
Does Carvana or TrueCar offer more money?
Carvana offered more in 4 of our 6 test vehicles. In 2025, results were mixed with smaller gaps. In 2026, Carvana won all 3 tests with bigger differences.
The largest gap was $5,850 more for a Tesla Model 3. TrueCar came out ahead on 2 vehicles in our 2025 tests, but only by $625 to $675.
How long are Carvana and TrueCar quotes valid?
Carvana quotes are valid for 7 days. TrueCar estimates last only 3 days, but these are only estimates. Dealers set the final price and aren’t required to match the TrueCar number.
Which has better reviews, Carvana or TrueCar?
Carvana has 4.1/5 on Trustpilot (16,239 reviews) while TrueCar has 1.3/5 (1,816 reviews).
The biggest groups of seller complaints about Carvana are late payments, loan payoffs, and offers that came back lower after the 7 days ran out. In the past year, TrueCar’s biggest group of complaints came from car buyers about dealer calls, and older seller reviews describe dealer offers under the online estimate.
Do Carvana and TrueCar change their offers at pickup?
Carvana might lower your offer if they find issues you didn’t mention online, but the inspection only takes about 15 minutes.
TrueCar dealers conduct their own inspections. The final offer depends on which dealer you visit and what they find.
Which is faster, Carvana or TrueCar?
Carvana is much faster. A Carvana sale takes about 3 to 10 days on average and can be done the same day in some areas, with payment at the appointment by check or a bank transfer of 2 to 5 business days. With TrueCar, you deliver the car to its dealer within 3 days of the offer for an inspection, and TrueCar says the
sale can close that day. A lower offer after that inspection means starting again with another buyer.
How do Carvana and TrueCar pay for cars?
Carvana gives you a check at pickup or sends an ACH bank transfer that arrives in 2 to 5 business days. TrueCar payment varies by dealer. Some pay same day, others take longer.
Can Carvana and TrueCar buy cars with loans?
Yes, both handle financed vehicles. Carvana pays off your loan directly and you get the difference if your car is worth more than you owe.
TrueCar dealers can do the same, but the process depends on which dealer you work with.
Article Update History
New quotes from both, ratings from Trustpilot, Google and the BBB, and tabs comparing this year's results with last year's.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Found this useful? Show Sell Car Advisor first when you search on Google.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
