The growing popularity of online car sales comes as no surprise, given the convenience it offers. Buyers can effortlessly browse and compare vehicles in one location, while sellers can trust a reliable third party to facilitate their transactions. CarGurus stands out as a premier marketplace in the U.S. for both new and pre-owned vehicles.
Discover how to sell on CarGurus, the advantages of using the site to sell your car and what previous sellers have to say about their experiences below. If you’re in the market for a car, you can buy on CarGurus as well.
What is CarGurus?
CarGurus is a website for individuals or dealerships to sell new and used cars, trucks, SUVs and more to consumers anywhere in the country. In addition to being an online car marketplace, it also provides reviews, tips and tricks, industry news and a price trend tool.
How does CarGurus Work?
List your car on CarGurus following these steps.
Selling a car with CarGurus
1. Go to cargurus.com and click “Sell” at the top of the homepage.
Be ready with your vehicle’s license plate or VIN number.
2. Enter details about your car.
You’ll be prompted to complete a form requesting the following information:
- Location (zip code)
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Mileage
- Special features
3. Get an estimated return.
Based on the details you provide, you’ll be given an estimated price for selling the car yourself. You can proceed with this price or set your own. If you choose the latter, CarGurus will rank the price for potential buyers (e.g., “Good Deal”).
4. List your car for $4.95.
Once you’re ready, you’ll pay the fee and your vehicle will be added to the site for 30 days. You’ll likely have to enter additional information at this stage as well.
5. Monitor your listing.
Check back to see if you’ve got any interested buyers. If you prefer, you can opt-in for text notifications if a buyer is interested.
6. Arrange payment and shipment with the buyer.
All further details will be arranged between you and the buyer, like payment and when, where and how the vehicle will be transported to its new owner. If you choose professional auto transport, you’ll have to determine who is responsible for covering the costs.
Pros & cons of using CarGurus
Pros:
- User-friendly site that makes it easy to get your car listed
- Access potential buyers all over the country
- Get instant market value for your car
Cons:
- Doesn’t purchase used vehicles directly—must have an interested buyer
- Must pay a $4.95 fee to list a vehicle
CarGurus reviews
Joel
☆☆☆☆☆
“I sold my 2012 Acura TL to CarGurus. They offered more than CarMax or Carvana, and picked my car up at my house as scheduled. The inspector/driver was very good at his job. He was done in about 20 minutes with the paperwork and inspection. I signed the bill of sale on my phone and less than 24 hours later the cash was in my bank account. Very smooth and professional at every step. I am very pleased with the whole process. I received about 1,800 more than what Tesla was offering for my Acura on trade-in.”
Kolby
☆☆
“When I listed my truck last year, it was simple. I listed a car last week; I had to pay. Ok, no big deal, it is just $4.95. But, it doesn’t really seem to be getting many views. I did, yesterday, finally get someone interested, and I was able to reply to him. This morning, I went to check to see if he responded back (because we were discussing meeting TODAY), and I noticed an email that I have to verify with a photo that I’m no scammer. Better do that real quick, I thought, so I can get in touch with this potential seller! I submitted my photo. Then guess what the page says??? It says, we will let you know within 2 business days!!!”
Cheryl
☆☆☆☆☆
“I have bought 3 cars and sold 2 cars here. I most recently used their autopay system (when I sold my car) where CarGurus handled everything concerning the buying process. No concerns about fake cashier’s checks or scams – they take care of checking the title, acting as the go-between with the money, paying off the lien (if there is one), and providing $75,000 worth of coverage (should anything go wrong). It went seamlessly and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. And all of that is included in the $29.95 price to sell your car. That also includes a FedEx prepaid label (if needed, and my buyer was out-of-state) to send the title and bill of sale to the buyer. I’ve bought 2 cars from dealers using CarGurus, one was 400 miles away and the other was 60 miles away. Cars listed on here get great visibility too. I had a hard-to-find car (the one I just sold), and had 3 serious inquiries within an hour of my listing, and one of them ended up being the buyer.”
Frequently asked questions about CarGurus
Is CarGurus legit?
Yes, CarGurus is a reliable, worldwide resource for selling cars.
How much does it cost to list a car on CarGurus?
You can list your car on the site for 30 days for a fee of just $4.95.
Who owns CarGurus?
Langley Steinert is the founder and executive chairman of CarGurus.
Where is CarGurus headquarters?
The CarGurus headquarters is in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
