Where Should You Sell Your Car 2023?

The content is for informational purposes only. Conduct your own research and seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor. Terms.

Which is Better for Selling the Car?

Where Should You Sell Your Car 2023? Between We Buy Any Car and CarMax, We Buy Any Car is the better option. True to its name, it accepts cars in any condition. This means that even if your vehicle is not working, you can still sell it to them.

The company is also transparent and forthcoming in how its online valuation tool works, which provides an informational value of vehicles, not an actual offer. As for receiving payments, We Buy Any Car provides a better option by paying in checks.

 

 

We Buy Any Car Summary

• Instant offers within minutes
• Buys almost any vehicle
• No fees if you have no finance on the vehicle
• A+ BBB platform rating

 

 

CarMax Summary

• Instant online offer in under 2 minutes
• An online offer is valid for up to 7 days
• 2 options for selling – online or in-store
• Get paid within 30 minutes on the spot

We Buy Any Car vs. CarMax Comparison

Compare to Other Car Buying Websites

Peddle

 

 

Get your free offer instantly via the online form or call on (855) 925 4302

$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it

Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)

Wheezy

 

 

Quick car evaluation without the hassle – sell your car within 30 min

Choose a convenient date and time for free pick-up, as soon as the next day

Get cash in hand the same day the Wheelzy agent picks up your car

CarBrain

 

 

Get an offer within 2 minutes and sell your damaged car within 24 hours

Free vehicle towing and no fees to getting rid of your damaged car

The tow truck driver will arrive with your check (nationwide service)

Cars Accepted

We Buy Any Car purchases cars in any condition. You can even sell cars to them even if it’s not working anymore. In case your car isn’t listed on their online valuation tool, you can contact them by email to get your car’s free valuation.

Additionally, you can sell vehicles to We Buy Any Car under the following conditions:

• On behalf of a family member or friend
• On behalf of a deceased relative
• On behalf of a company
• Cars with outstanding finance
• Cars with customized aftermarket parts

In contrast, CarMax has several exceptions when it comes to selling cars to them. While they purchase cars in most conditions, note that they don’t accept vehicles with flood and frame damages and salvage history.

Fees

We Buy Any Car and CarMax charges zero fees when you sell your car to them.

Requesting Quotes

We Buy Any Car has a free online valuation tool. According to their website, the value you’ll get here is not equivalent to an offer, as the price may still change after inspection. It only provides information about your car’s current value based on relevant market data.

To use the valuation tool, just go to the We Buy Any Car website and click on the Sell Your Car option. It will load a page where you can choose your vehicle year, make, and model.

Suppose your car’s information is not listed on the valuation tool. In that case, you can send an email to webcustomquote@webuyanycarusa.com and provide additional details on it.

You can include the following in addition to the year, make, and model:

• VIN
• Mileage
• Condition
• Your location

Their representative will reply to you within 24 hours for your online valuation.

CarMax, on the other hand, provides instant cash offers. Using an online form on their website, you can provide the details and the condition of your car. With that information, CarMax will generate an instant offer.

Offer Validity

We Buy Any Car doesn’t equate their online valuation to offers. With that in mind, you still need to bring your car to one of their stores to get an actual offer after inspection.

However, their website doesn’t provide any information on how long store offers are good for.

In contrast, CarMax says on its website that instant offers are good for 7 days. You can set up an appointment at a nearby store to claim it.

Payments Offered

Both CarMax and We Buy Any Car pay in cash, although CarMax also has a trade-in option. You can credit your car’s value to purchase your next car at the CarMax store.

Payout

We Buy Any Car pays in check which they hand out after finalizing the sale at the store. CarMax also pays the same day you bring your car to them. But instead of checks, they pay in bank drafts, which you need to deposit into your bank account.

Car Pick-up

Both CarMax and We Buy Any Car require sellers to bring their cars to a nearby location for selling. Unfortunately, these companies don’t offer free pickup services.

Physical Locations

We Buy Any Car has 150 stores in the US, which you can locate using their online Branch Locator tool. CarMax, meanwhile, has around 235 stores in the US. It also has an online branch locator, so you can visit the ones near you.

Turnaround Time

For both companies, you can sell your car within 48 hours. The process already includes getting an instant quote or online valuation, driving to a nearby branch, getting your car inspected, and finalizing the sale.

Since both companies hand out payments before you leave the store, you don’t need to worry about waiting long to get your money.

To maximize your time at the store, make sure to set up an appointment first. Then, bring all necessary documents, including your proof of identification and ownership. It’s also worth it to bring all keys and the manual if you have those.

Customer Service

We Buy Any Car currently has no centralized customer service channels for general inquiries. Quite preferably, you can use the Branch Locator tool to find a store near you. Then, you can contact that store by email or phone number listed in the Branch Locator.

CarMax also lets you find the contact details of their stores using the branch locator. However, you can reach out to their centralized customer service through the following:

• Phone: (913) 384-6697
• Online form
• Chat icon on the website homepage

Reviews

We Buy Any Car received an impressive 4.9 rating at Trustpilot from over 30,000 customer reviews. At the BBB or Better Business Bureau, the company also received an average of 4.92 ratings.

Many of the reviews are about customers appreciating the quick service at the local branches. Customers seemed to like the honesty and transparency of We Buy Any Car agents at the local stores.

Meanwhile, CarMax received a rather low rating at Trustpilot and the BBB, with 1.7 and 1.14, respectively. Similarly, customers liked that they were able to sell their cars fast with CarMax.

However, there are some customers quite unhappy with the differences between the instant offer they received online and the actual money they received for their vehicles.

We Buy Any Car & CarMax Alternatives

Peddle

 

 

Peddle Summary

• Sell used, damaged, or junk cars nationwide
• Get an instant quote at (855) 925 4302
• Free towing within 48 hours after the offer
• Receive payment upon car collection

Peddle is another company to check out if you’re looking to sell your car hassle-free. Unlike We Buy Any Car and CarMax, Peddle advertises free pickup, so you don’t need to bring your car anywhere. And if you want to sell your old, non-working, vehicle, you don’t have to pay for a tow service to get it done.

Unlike We Buy Any Car and CarMax, Peddle works with local tow services to pick up vehicles from their customers. Their local partners also provide the payment through cash or check after inspecting your car. 

And since you don’t have to pay anything for them to tow your car away, it’s also a good option to dispose of junk cars.  

Wheezy

 

 

Wheelzy Summary

• Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
• Get an offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
• Free towing of your car from your location
• Instant payment via cash or check

Wheelzy is one of the alternatives to CarMax and We Buy Any Car. But unlike CarMax and We Buy Any Car, Wheelzy also offers a pickup option. After getting an instant offer online, you can schedule a time for them to pick up your car, without you needing to drop it at one of their stores.

Additionally, you can use the Wheelzy website to list your vehicle and sell it to private buyers.

CarBrain

 

 

CarBrain Summary

• Get an online offer within 2 minutes
• Get cash for your car in under 48 hours
• CarBrain buys cars under over 7 conditions
• Up to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer

Similar to We Buy Any Car, CarBrain is an online platform where you can sell your vehicle, regardless of its condition. Just fill out an online form providing details about your car. Once you get an instant offer, you can arrange for pick-up and inspection. 

Like CarMax, CarBrain doesn’t charge any fees when they come to inspect and tow your car. And before leaving with your vehicle, CarBrain will pay you by check. If you happen not to be around when they pick up your car, you can also request to have the payment mailed.