In the past, selling a car often involved either placing an ad in the local paper or a sales weekly, such as Exchange & Mart.
This typically meant enduring time-consuming phone calls from buyers attempting to negotiate prices down to unrealistic levels.
Alternatively, you could park your car outside your home with a “For Sale” sign, hoping that a buyer would appear out of nowhere.
Fortunately, the internet has revolutionized this process. Today, there are numerous online platforms available to sell your car, each offering access to a far wider audience than traditional methods ever could.
The most well-known of these platforms is We Buy Any Car, which has been around for many years. However, today there are many excellent alternatives that could offer you a higher price or more convenience—or both.
These online options also allow you to choose your level of involvement in the sale. If you’re willing to take on the challenge, you can engage directly with buyers and manage the entire process yourself.
On the other hand, if you’d rather save time, you can simply enter your car’s details on a website, accept an offer from a car buying service, and have them come to collect the car from your home.
With all these choices available, which websites are the best? That largely depends on your priorities.
Selling Your Car to a Car Buying Service
Car buying services have grown significantly in popularity over recent years. These services offer a simple and convenient way to sell your car, making them ideal for anyone looking to offload their car quickly and easily.
They’re also a great option if you’re not keen on negotiating prices or allowing strangers to visit your home.
While these online services might not net you as much as selling directly to an end buyer either online or in person they offer the peace of mind of a straightforward transaction.
Like trading your car in at a dealership, these services need to make a profit by reselling your car, so the offer you receive might be lower.
However, they provide security and reassurance, ensuring you won’t be dealing with counterfeit money or suspicious individuals showing up at your doorstep.
Selling Your Car via Traditional Ads
If you’re comfortable with the process of negotiating prices, you might get a better deal by selling your car directly to a buyer through classified ad sites like Auto Trader or Gumtree.
However, there are a few important rules you should follow to avoid getting scammed or caught in an unfair deal.
The most critical factor to watch out for is the payment method. Many ad sites act only as intermediaries, bringing buyers and sellers together but leaving the details of the sale up to you.
Be especially cautious when accepting cash payments private sellers have become prime targets for money launderers, as most dealerships stopped accepting cash years ago.
Take a look at our feature on how to avoid being duped with fake money to ensure your transaction goes smoothly.
Now, let’s dive into some of the top websites for selling your car.
Motorway
Motorway is one of the most effective and fastest ways to sell your car to a dealer and has gained significant popularity as an alternative to We Buy Any Car.
To get started, simply enter your car’s registration, mileage, and contact details, and Motorway will gather offers from its network of dealerships.
You’ll then be presented with the best offer, and the dealer will usually come to collect the car from your home. Once the transfer is complete, the money is transferred into your bank account on the same day.
Motorway also works with scrap merchants and recyclers, making it an option for those wishing to sell a car that’s no longer operational.
Whether your car is worth £100 or £100,000, Motorway’s network has you covered. Keep in mind that all offers are subject to an in-person inspection, so the final price may vary depending on the car’s condition.
Carwow
Carwow is known for helping customers buy new cars at discounted prices, but it also offers a platform for selling your current vehicle. Carwow’s process is similar to Motorway, where you enter your car’s details and receive offers from a network of used car dealers.
Once you choose the best offer, the dealer will arrange collection and payment. The final price you receive depends on how accurately you’ve described your car, so honesty is key.
Auto Trader
Once a magazine for used car buyers, Auto Trader has transitioned into an online-only platform that remains one of the most widely used in the UK.
If you’re looking to sell your car, Auto Trader puts your listing in front of a broad audience, as used car managers frequently check the site.
Auto Trader also offers a car-buying service similar to Motorway and Carwow, where you can quickly receive an offer for your car.
For those who prefer the traditional method of listing an ad, Auto Trader offers this option too. You can choose from four fee tiers for listing your car, with additional options to enhance your ad with photos or a video.
Auto Trader also offers helpful advice on preparing your car for sale, ensuring you handle everything from viewing to payment securely.
Exchange My Car
Exchange My Car offers a similar service to Motorway and Carwow. By entering your car’s registration number and mileage, you can quickly receive offers from dealers.
The final price depends on the accuracy of your vehicle’s description. After accepting an offer, the company arranges for the car to be collected from your home, and payment is made through an instant bank transfer.
We Buy Any Car
We Buy Any Car is one of the most recognized online car buying services, mainly due to its extensive TV and radio ads. You start by entering your car’s registration, mileage, and other details, and the site will provide an initial offer.
However, be prepared for the possibility that the final price may be lower once an assessor inspects the car, as they may reduce the value for minor cosmetic issues.
There’s no free car collection service, and you must bring your car to the nearest outlet, which could be a bit farther than expected.
Additionally, the company charges a transaction fee, which can range from £50 to £75, depending on the car’s value.
eBay Motors
eBay Motors operates similarly to the rest of eBay’s marketplace. You list your car with photos and set an auction or ‘Buy It Now’ price. eBay handles the payment, ensuring you get the money before releasing the car.
However, just like other classified ad platforms, you’re responsible for arranging the viewing and collection of the vehicle with the buyer.
There are listing fees and a final value fee, but eBay offers the benefit of a robust feedback system to help you assess potential buyers.
Gumtree
Gumtree is another classified ad platform, but it has the advantage of being free for private sellers. This makes it a popular choice for those selling lower-priced cars.
Gumtree allows you to create an ad, upload photos, and provides a helpful guide to selling your car. All ads come with a basic vehicle history check through HPI, which helps reassure potential buyers.
However, there’s no online payment system, so you’ll have to handle the negotiations and payments directly with the buyer.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has grown in popularity as a platform for selling vehicles, especially for those looking to sell cars at the lower end of the market.
Listings are free, and the site is easy to use. Your ad can be seen by anyone browsing Marketplace, and buyers can filter search results based on vehicle type, mileage, and location.
However, Facebook does not handle payments or negotiations, so you’ll need to manage those directly.
Car Converter/Car TakeBack
These sites specialize in buying cars that are significantly damaged or only suitable for scrap. They provide competitive offers for cars that might not be accepted by other platforms.
Prices are generally higher than what you’d get from a local scrap yard, and the cars are collected from your home, which can be convenient if your car is no longer roadworthy.
What Happened to Cazoo?
Previously a major player in the online car sales market, Cazoo ceased operations as a car dealer in early 2024 and transitioned into an online marketplace, similar to Auto Trader.
In July 2024, Cazoo was acquired by Motors and is now in the process of evolving into a marketplace platform.