The bottom line: In our latest test, Wheelzy offered $173 more for a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer that doesn’t run than CarBuyerUSA’s “up to” figure would leave you after its title fee. For a 2018 Tesla Model 3, only CarBuyerUSA gave a figure online, while Wheelzy asked us to speak to its team.
When Wheelzy prices a car online, it gives one figure, and its tow driver checks the car against your answers before paying you at pickup. CarBuyerUSA’s online figure is an “up to” price: it sets what it pays after an inspection, at your home or at a site the car may be towed to.
Wheelzy is the buyer for a junk or non-running car you want gone without an inspection appointment first. Of the two, only CarBuyerUSA says it buys a car with a loan on it and pays off the lender.
For a newer car that runs, get other offers too: in the same test, Carvana offered $14,200 for the Tesla before any pickup fee, more than CarBuyerUSA’s top figure. You can also sell it yourself in a private sale.
Whatever the car, get quotes from three or four buyers before you accept one.
Would another buyer pay more than Wheelzy or CarBuyerUSA?Fill in one form, see Wheelzy’s offer next to other buyers’, and hold them all up against CarBuyerUSA’s.
Key Takeaways
- What our tests found: Wheelzy offered $362 for a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer that doesn’t run and CarBuyerUSA up to $388, or up to $189 after its fee; for a 2018 Tesla Model 3, CarBuyerUSA’s figure was up to $13,761, and Wheelzy gave none online.
- What they buy: Both buy damaged and non-running cars, so get a quote from each and take the higher figure once CarBuyerUSA’s inspection sets its price.
- Still owe money on it: CarBuyerUSA pays you what’s left over the loan only after your lender releases the title, up to four weeks later at some banks, so don’t count on that money at the sale.
- Without a title: Your state decides how you replace a lost title and whether a junk car can change hands without one, so check your state’s rule before you accept either offer.
- How long the offer lasts: Wheelzy’s offer has no expiry date, while any CarBuyerUSA price expires after 48 hours unless you accept it and sign its purchase agreement, so get CarBuyerUSA’s figure last.
- Watch out for: CarBuyerUSA takes a $199 title fee from its final offer, so $5,000 pays you $4,801, while Wheelzy charges no fees.
- Ratings: BBB grades Wheelzy A- and CarBuyerUSA A+; on Trustpilot, Wheelzy, which invites its sellers to review it, rates 4.7 from 85,842 reviews, and CarBuyerUSA, which invites no one, 1.8 from 41; on Google, Wheelzy rates 4.8 from 28,155 and CarBuyerUSA 4.3 from 1,794.
- What Wheelzy sellers report: Settle any lower figure with Wheelzy’s driver before the car is loaded, since sellers whose car was already on the truck had the hardest time disputing it.
- What CarBuyerUSA sellers report: Ask for CarBuyerUSA’s inspection at your home, or drive the car to its site yourself, since sellers who had it towed there and then turned down the new price had to fetch it themselves.
- How you’re paid: Wheelzy pays by cash or check at pickup, and CarBuyerUSA mostly by bank wire, or by bank check or certified funds, once you agree its price after the inspection.
- How fast you can sell: Wheelzy picks up within 48 hours after you accept, sometimes the same day, and CarBuyerUSA pays when its inspection is finished, which it says can take up to 48 hours if you leave the car at its site.
Compare Instant Offers
Where to Sell Your Car?
Better option when you- Junk car or car that doesn’t runOne price and no fees, though it can drop at pickup over a missing converter; CarBuyerUSA’s title fee reduces what you take home from low-value cars
- Need cash within 24 hoursSame-day pickup and payment; CarBuyerUSA takes 3 to 7 days
- Live in a rural areaWheelzy picks up anywhere in the U.S.; CarBuyerUSA’s 400+ facilities are mostly in cities
- Used car in decent condition worth $5,000+Wheelzy made no offer on the clean-title Tesla in our test; CarBuyerUSA accepts a wider range
- Lost title or title problemsCarBuyerUSA has title processing agents nationwide who handle replacement titles
Neither, if you want to maximize your selling price. Both prioritize convenience over top dollar; try a private sale or compare multiple instant offer buyers.
Wheelzy buys cars in any condition, running or not
- Buys cars without keys
- Buys cars missing parts, engine and transmission in
- Pays cash or check at pickup
- Quote often needs a phone call
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
CarBuyerUSA gives you a quote without asking for your email or phone
- Quote without giving contact info
- Buys cars with frame damage
- Pays storage to release impounded cars
- Agents help with lost titles
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Offer amount 35% 4/5
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Process ease 20% 4/5
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Offer validity 15% 3/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Wheelzy vs. CarBuyerUSA: Detailed Comparison
Wheelzy vs. CarBuyerUSA Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for two vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 258k miles that doesn’t drive and has exterior damage See details below
$362 (set offer)
See both offer screenshots
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and a clean title CarBuyerUSA (only option)
No offer
See both offer screenshots
*CarBuyerUSA’s quote page says “can offer up to” a certain amount. This is a maximum estimate, not a guaranteed price. The final offer comes after inspection and may be lower. A $199 title fee also comes out at closing.
For the Trailblazer, CarBuyerUSA’s “up to $388” looks $26 higher than Wheelzy’s $362 on paper. But after the title fee, the net could drop well below Wheelzy’s $362. Customer reviews on Trustpilot also mention final offers dropping after inspection.
For the Tesla Model 3, Wheelzy didn’t make an offer. They specialize in junk cars, and this clean-title car got no offer from them. CarBuyerUSA was the only option between these two.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
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Offer amount 35% 5/5
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Process ease 20% 5/5
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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 online in 2 minutes
- Suits a car under 10 years old in good condition
- No haggling: its best offer comes upfront
- Pays off your loan when it buys the car
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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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
- 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
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
- Owned by Copart, the salvage auction company
- Buys almost any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Free towing, and it handles the title transfer
- Hands you a check at pickup, or mails it
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
Why does CarBuyerUSA’s quote say “up to” a certain amount?
CarBuyerUSA’s online quote is a maximum estimate based on the basic details you enter. They can only know your car’s exact condition after inspecting it at one of their facilities.
The final offer comes after inspection and may be lower than the initial “up to” amount. Some reviewers on Trustpilot mention a gap between the initial estimate and the final offer.
Does CarBuyerUSA charge any fees?
Yes. CarBuyerUSA takes a $199 title fee from your payment at closing. Towing to the inspection and DMV paperwork are free, but the title fee applies to every sale.
Wheelzy charges no fees at all. No towing fee, no title fee, no hidden costs.
What happens if I decline CarBuyerUSA’s offer after dropping off my car?
If you drove your car to their inspection station and don’t like the final offer, you need to go back and retrieve your car at your own expense.
That means arranging a ride to their facility, which could be costly if you live far away.
With Wheelzy, you never have this problem. They come to your location. If you decline their offer, your car never leaves.
Which company offers more for junk cars, Wheelzy or CarBuyerUSA?
In our test, CarBuyerUSA showed a higher number on screen for the junk Trailblazer (“up to $388” vs. Wheelzy’s $362). But CarBuyerUSA’s amount is not guaranteed, and $199 of it goes to the title fee.
After the title fee, the net could drop well below the $362 Wheelzy quoted. For junk cars worth a few hundred dollars, Wheelzy is likely the better deal.
Can Wheelzy buy newer cars with clean titles?
They specialize in junk, damaged, and high-mileage vehicles.
If your car is newer and in good shape, CarBuyerUSA is one option. But also check other instant offer buyers like Carvana or CarMax, which typically offer more for clean-title vehicles.
Which company has better customer reviews, Wheelzy or CarBuyerUSA?
Wheelzy has 4.7 stars from 85,842 reviews on Trustpilot and 4.8 stars from 28,155 reviews on Google.
Sellers praise the fast process and guaranteed pricing.
CarBuyerUSA has 1.8 stars from 41 reviews on Trustpilot and 4.3 stars from 1,794 reviews on Google.
Some Trustpilot reviewers mention final offers being lower than the initial “up to” estimate.
Can I sell a financed car to Wheelzy or CarBuyerUSA?
Of the two, CarBuyerUSA buys financed cars . Wheelzy needs the lien released before it can buy. CarBuyerUSA pays off the lien itself, then sends you what’s left once your lender releases the title.
With Wheelzy, the offer must be close to or more than your payoff amount. If you owe a lot more than the car is worth, you’d need to pay the difference yourself. CarBuyerUSA also buys cars worth less than the loan and works with your bank to refinance the difference.
Does CarBuyerUSA’s A+ BBB rating reflect the seller experience?
The A+ BBB rating shows CarBuyerUSA is a licensed, legitimate business that responds to complaints. It doesn’t measure customer satisfaction with the selling experience.
Their Trustpilot and Google scores reflect different aspects of the experience. Some sellers on Trustpilot mention a gap between the initial “up to” estimate and the final offer after inspection.
Their Google rating tends to be higher. Both rating sources are worth checking before you decide.
Article Update History
New quotes from both, with ratings from Trustpilot, Google and BBB.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
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