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Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Although CarGurus and Vroom have several similarities, you’ll find that CarGurus is the better option for selling cars. The company features two payment options, check or bank transfer. Payments are also processed sooner, within 1 to 3 business days.Â
Their customer service team is also available in three channels: chat, phone, and email. With these options, you can have someone address your concerns immediately.Â
CarGurus Summary
- Receive payment within 3 working days
- Find out the market value of your car
- List your car for sale in under 5 minutes
- Up to $75,000 in protection for your sale
Vroom Summary
- The application process is online and takes a few minutes to submit
- Get a fixed quote for your used vehicle in about 30 minutes
- The quick and straightforward selling process
- Free pick-up from your driveway
CarGurus vs. Vroom Comparison
| CarGurus | Vroom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars accepted | Any cars, subject to restriction | Drivable condition |
| Fees | $0 for instant offers, $4.95 for listing fees | 0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application | Online application |
| Offer validity | 7 days or an additional 250 miles | 7 days or an additional 250 miles |
| Payments offered | Cash | Cash or trade-in value |
| Payout | Bank transfer, check | Mailed check |
| Car pick-up | Free pickup | Free pickup |
| Physical locations | None | Only in Texas |
| Turnaround time | Up to three business days | Up to 72 hours |
| Customer service | Chat, phone, email | Phone, email |
| Reviews | 2.4 | 1.3 |
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via 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)
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
Vroom buys cars that are in drivable conditions as long as these are not leased. Meanwhile, CarGurus can only purchase vehicles after considering their age, any aftermarket customizations, and other factors.Â
If you’re planning to sell on CarGurus, it’s best to check if your vehicle is eligible by initiating an instant offer using the VIN. The website shows a prompt if the VIN is ineligible for instant offers. Â
Fees
CarGurus and Vroom don’t charge any fees when you sell your car to them. Their free services include getting an instant cash offer online, connecting with the support team, and getting your vehicle picked up for selling.Â
Requesting Quotes
Both CarGurus and Vroom provide instant offers through their websites. At CarGurus, you can request an instant offer by providing your car’s
- VIN or License Plate Number
- Condition
- History
You’ll also need to provide an email address, so CarGurus can send the instant offer there.Â
Meanwhile, at Vroom, sellers can request quotes by entering the following information on an online form.Â
- Make, model, year
- VIN
- Mileage
- Condition
- Extra features
You’ll also need to upload photos of your photo ID and registration as proof of identity and ownership.Â
Offer Validity
Both CarGurus and Vroom have an offer validity of 7 days or 250 additional miles.Â
Payments Offered
You’ll get cash through a mailed check or bank transfer when you sell your vehicle to CarGurus. Similarly, Vroom also pays in mailed checks, although you can opt for a car trade-in.
Payout
After picking up your car, CarGurus sends out payments within 1 to 3 business days. For bank transfers, the amount normally reflects on the seller’s account within this period. Meanwhile, CarGurus mails checks on the day they pick up the vehicle.
Vroom also mails checks as payments, and they do so within 2 to 3 business days from the day they pick up the vehicle. Since the company uses overnight mail to send out payments, you’ll receive your check the next day.Â
Car Pick-up
Both companies offer free pick-up options to their customers. With CarGurus, you can schedule the pick-up if you’re accepting the offer. Once they arrive, you can present them with your documents to finalize the sale.Â
Meanwhile, Vroom might need you to provide documents before scheduling the pick-up. It’s because the company works with 3rd party tow services to pick up vehicles from sellers.Â
Requesting you to provide your documents ahead of the pick-up, such as the title and your photo ID, allows Vroom to protect your privacy. Â
Physical Locations
CarGurus currently doesn’t have a physical location to sell your car to. In contrast, you can bring your vehicle to Vroom instead of having it picked up. Note that this option is available only in Texas. Â
Turnaround Time
From requesting an offer online to receiving payment for your car, both companies can complete the selling process within 72 hours.Â
Customer Service
You can contact CarGurus customer service through any of the following:
- Chat
- Email: user_support@cargurus.com
- Phone: 877-492-4737
Note that the customer service hotline is only available every Monday to Friday, between 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time.
Vroom’s customer service is available through the following channels:
- Email: support@vroom.com
- Phone: 855-534-1300
Reviews
At Trustpilot. CarGurus received a 2.4 rating while Vroom has 1.3. Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau gave CarGurus an A+ accreditation rating while Vroom received an F. As for customer ratings, the two received a 1.54 and a 1.12 rating, respectively.
| CarGurus | Vroom | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| BBB | 1.54 | 1.12 |
| Consumer Affairs | 3.7 | 3.1 |
CarGurus received compliments from customers who were able to claim instant offers without any hidden charges. Others also liked that they could reach customer service through several options.Â
On the other hand, CarGurus received some complaints from customers using the platform to sell their cars to private sellers.Â
To clarify, CarGurus offers its website as a used-car marketplace for people looking to connect with individual buyers. The private sellers will need to pay listing fees, which, according to some customer reviews, are incorrect charges on their accounts.Â
Vroom’s customers did not mince words when they complained about buying their cars from the company. Also, some people are claiming that selling to Vroom was not as seamless as advertised.Â
Despite these issues, other customers were happy with the offers they received for their cars, and that they were able to sell their old cars with minimal hassle.  Â
CarGurus & Vroom Alternatives
Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Sell used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
Besides CarGurus and Vroom, Peddle also lets you request quotes and schedule a free pickup.
Additionally, Peddle buys vehicles in various conditions. If you’re looking to sell an extra car you rarely use, or just want to get rid of an old clunker without paying for a tow service, make sure to check out Peddle.
Besides the free pick-up service, you won’t need to worry about how Peddle disposes of old vehicles. The company initially operated as a junk removal service and has been in the industry for many years.Â
Considering how it works, it’s no surprise that Peddle has received a 4.7 rating at Trustpilot and an A+ accreditation rating from the Better Business Bureau.Â
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
Similar to CarGurus and Vroom, you can get an instant offer online and schedule for them to pick up your car.Â
You can sell any car to Wheelzy, even those that are wrecked or damaged. Depending on its condition, they will send one of their representatives to pick up your car or a tow service to take it away. But before that, they’ll hand you your check payment.Â
Wheelzy has an impressive 4.8 rating at Trustpilot, making it easily one of the best alternatives to CarGurus and Vroom.
CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
- Get an online offer within 2 minutes
- Get cash for your car in under 48 hours
- CarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditions
- Up to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
CarBrain is a platform that allows you to easily and quickly sell your damaged vehicle. They work with a nationwide network of partners to pick up your car and pay you within 24-48 hours of accepting their offer.
The company also aims to recycle and reuse the parts of the vehicles they purchase. They are a legitimate and safe platform with good customer reviews and ratings.
