
The best places to sell your car online are typically large, well-known marketplaces that connect you directly with a huge audience of private buyers, or dedicated online car buying services that make the process incredibly fast. For the highest potential sale price, selling to a private party on a site like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is usually your best bet. For unmatched speed and convenience, online car buyers like Carvana, CarMax, and Vroom offer instant cash offers and handle all the paperwork.
The right choice depends on your priorities: maximizing profit versus selling quickly. Here’s a quick comparison of the top platforms to help you decide.
| Platform | Typical Sale Price | Speed of Sale | Effort Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace | Highest (Private Sale) | Varies (Days to Weeks) | High (Photos, Listings, Meetings) | Sellers wanting top dollar |
| Craigslist | High (Private Sale) | Varies (Days to Weeks) | High (Photos, Listings, Meetings) | Local, cash-focused sales |
| Carvana | Competitive (Instant Offer) | Very Fast (1-2 Days) | Very Low (Online Offer, Pickup) | Ultimate convenience |
| CarMax | Competitive (In-Person Appraisal) | Fast (Same Day) | Low (In-Person Appraisal) | A quick, in-person guaranteed offer |
| Autotrader | High (Dealer/Private Sale) | Moderate | Medium (Listing Fee, Dealer Inquiries) | Reaching serious car shoppers |
| Cars.com | High (Dealer/Private Sale) | Moderate | Medium (Listing Fee, Dealer Inquiries) | National exposure to buyers |
If you choose the private sale route, your success hinges on preparation. Take high-quality photos in good light, inside and out. Write a detailed, honest description highlighting the car's maintenance history and features. Be prepared to respond to inquiries and schedule test drives safely.
For the online buyers, the process is streamlined. You enter your car's VIN and details on their website, answer questions about its condition, and receive a real offer, usually valid for several days. If you accept, they schedule a pickup where they inspect the car, handle the paperwork, and pay you on the spot.

Honestly, if you just want it gone with zero hassle, go with Carvana or Vroom. I sold my old SUV to Carvana last year. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes online to get the offer. A guy came to my house a few days later, checked the car over for five minutes, and the money was in my bank account that same day. You might not get every last dollar, but you’re paying for the convenience. It’s a trade-off, but for a busy person, it’s worth it.

Don't sleep on Facebook Marketplace. It’s completely free to list your car, and you’re reaching everyone in your area directly. I’ve sold two cars there. The key is good pictures—take a ton of them in the daytime. Be straight-up about any issues in the description. Yeah, you’ll get some flaky messages, but you can usually find a serious buyer within a week or two. You’ll almost always get more money than trading it in to a dealer.

I was nervous about selling my car myself, all the meetings and paperwork. A friend told me about getting an online offer from CarMax as a baseline. I did that, and it was a solid, no-obligation number. Then I listed it on Autotrader for a bit more. A small dealership actually contacted me and offered just above the CarMax price. It was the perfect middle ground—faster than a private sale but better money than the instant buyers. Having that CarMax offer in my back pocket gave me confidence.


