Sell Your Car with Cars.com
In 1998, the founders established Cars.com Inc. as a digital automotive marketplace and research platform. The company began as a joint venture between several major newspaper publishers, including Gannett, Tribune Company, and Knight Ridder.
The company’s goal was to make car shoppers a one-stop shop online. As of 2004, the site partnered with Kelley Blue Book and started advertising. In October 2007, Cars.com Inc. announced plans for its biggest marketing campaign ever. Over the past few years, Cars.com has acquired a lot of companies, including DealerRater and Autotrader.
AutoStar Transport Express reviews Cars.com by taking into account user experience, selection of vehicles, customer service, buying and selling process, and market stability.
Cars.com Review: Is Cars.com Legit?
Yes, Cars.com is a legitimate website. The company is a major player in the online car market and operates in numerous countries worldwide.
- More than +5M people have downloaded the Cars.com app with a rating of 4.7/5 on the Play Store from 99.5k votes. Cars.com reviews on the Apple store are also 4.8/5 from 496k votes
- Cars.com lists approximately 500,000 cars for sale.
- Cars.com’s app on iOS and Android allows you to search and compare cars, read reviews, and check prices.
Since 1998, Cars.com has been operating and has strict security measures.
What are the Pros of Cars.com?
The Cars.com platform allows users to search for new and used cars, research car models and prices, and connect with local car dealerships. It may benefit you in the following ways:
- Convenience: Cars.com allows users to search for and compare cars from the comfort of their own homes, rather than having to visit multiple car dealerships in person.
- Wide Selection: Cars.com features a large selection of new and used cars from a variety of manufacturers and dealerships, giving users a wide range of options to choose from.
- Research Tools: Cars.com offers a variety of research tools, such as car reviews and comparisons, to help users make informed decisions about which car is right for them.
- Dealer Ratings and Reviews: Is Cars.com Trustworthy? Cars.com allows users to view ratings and reviews of local dealerships, which can help users find reputable and trustworthy dealerships to do business with.
- Trade-in Value Calculator: Cars.com has a trade-in value calculator that allows users to get an estimate of the value of their current car, which can help them negotiate a better price for their new car.
- Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles: Cars.com We offer Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) cars that we have thoroughly inspected and come with a longer warranty. Buying a CPO vehicle can offer peace of mind and added protection against potential issues.
- Vehicle History Reports: Many of the used cars listed on Cars.com come with a CARFAX report, which provides information about the car’s ownership history, any accidents or damage it has sustained, and any open recalls or other issues. This can help users make more informed decisions about the condition of the car they are considering.
- Price Drop Alerts: Cars.com offers a price drop alert feature that allows users to set up alerts for specific makes and models of cars. When the price of a car drops below a certain threshold, the user will receive an alert, which can help them save money on their car purchase.
- Dealer Inventory: Cars.com displays the inventory of local dealerships, which can be helpful for users who are looking for a specific make and model of car that may not be widely available.
Some Cons of Cars.com
Some potential drawbacks exist when using Cars.com. just like any other online marketplace. These are a few:
Less bargaining power on Cars.com as it is a third-party website for users to negotiate with dealerships. If dealerships have to pay to put their cars on the site, they might not be as willing to give discounts or bargain on the price.
- Risk of Fraud or Scams: There’s the same risk of fraud and scams on Cars.com as anywhere else. Be careful and report any suspicious activity.
- Cars.com rates dealerships, but it doesn’t show everything about their business or customer service.
- Cars.com is a third-party marketplace. This can make it difficult to solve any problems that may arise during the sale. The limited control over the sales process is the reason for this difficulty.
Buying or selling a car on Cars.com might have these potential drawbacks, but these aren’t unique to the website. Users should be aware of these issues before buying or selling.
How does Cars.com work?
Cars.com is an online marketplace for brand-new and used cars. Here’s how it works:
You can contact the seller of a car through the Cars.com website if you have questions or want to schedule a test drive. However, Cars.com doesn’t offer test drives. The buyer and seller usually arrange test drives.
A Cars.com user who wants to buy a car can negotiate a deal with the seller through the website. Keep in mind that the seller doesn’t have to accept your offer. They can counter with a different price or ask for more terms. You can buy a car from Cars.com if the seller and buyer agree on the price.
Having a large down payment lowers your interest rate and payment, but it’s not for everyone. Cars.com lets buyers rate sellers after the sale, which helps other people find trusted sellers.
The Process of Buying on Cars.com
The buying process on Cars.com is as follows:
Step 1: Search for Vehicles
Search on Cars.com for vehicles that meet your specific criteria, like make, model, year, location, and price range. You can narrow your search even further with advanced search options.
Step 2: Compare Vehicles
Use the tool to compare car features and specs, and read reviews from other buyers to learn more about different cars.
Step 3: Contact the Seller
If you like a car that you’ve found, you can contact the seller through the Cars.com website to ask questions or get more information. You can even schedule a test drive.
Step 4: Negotiate and Finalize the Purchase
You can negotiate the price and terms of the sale with the seller once you’ve reached an agreement. Once you finalize the sale, you’ll need to arrange for payment and delivery.
Step 5: Review and Submit
Please review the terms and conditions of the purchase agreement, and submit it to Cars.com for review.
Step 6: Transfer of Ownership
After buying the vehicle, you need to transfer ownership to your name and pay taxes and fees.
How to sell my car on Cars.com?
Buying a car through Cars.com is a simple process that allows you to reach a wide audience of potential buyers. You can either list your vehicle or select “Get an Instant Cash Offer”. Here’s how to list a car on Cars.com for sale:
Step 1: List your Car
To sell your car on the site, you need to create an account, then click “Cars.com Sell My Car.” and follow the instructions. You have to give your car info, like the make, model, year, and condition. You also have to upload photos.
Step 2: Set your Price
Find a realistic price for your car based on its age, condition, and market demand. Use Cars.com’s pricing tools to get a feel for what similar cars are selling for in your area.
Step 3: Review and Submit
Make sure all of your info is accurate and complete, and then submit your listing to Cars.com for review.
Step 4: Wait for Offers
When you list your car on the website, you’ll start getting offers from potential buyers. You can decide whether to accept or reject them.
Step 5: Negotiate
Buyers and sellers can keep negotiating until they agree on a price and terms that are acceptable to both of them.
Step 6: Complete the Sale
Cars.com lets you get the deal done after you agree on the terms. You’ll need to transfer the title and other paperwork to the buyer. You can get information about the steps involved in transferring ownership of a car from Cars.com.
Every website is different, so compare and evaluate them to find the one that suits you best.
Autotrader vs Cars.com
Cars.com is free to list vehicles. Dealers pay commissions to fund the website. On the other hand, Autotrader charges you up to $90, including free ad renewals.
Cars.com The same company owns Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Kelley Blue Book is a popular resource for finding the value of used cars.
Cox Automotive owns AutoTrader and also operates other car websites and businesses.
What is “Get an Instant Cash Offer”?
“Get an Instant Cash Offer” is a feature on the Cars.com website that lets users receive an instant cash offer on their car. It makes it easy to get a fair price for your car. Users just need to give some basic info about their car, like make, model, year, and condition, to get an instant cash offer.
Cars.com will give you an instant cash offer based on this information. It involves assessing the car’s value based on factors like its age, condition, and market demand.
The user can then choose to accept the cash offer or list their car on Cars.com. If they accept the cash offer, they can complete the sale through the website and the website will pay them within 48 hours.
How Fast Can You Sell Your Car With Cars.com? Generally, Cars.com buys second-hand or certified cars and picks them up within 2 to 3 days of accepting an offer.
How much does Cars.com cost?
The listing fee on Cars.com is $4.99 and includes 10 photos of your car. For $35 more, you can include a CARFAX report. However, Cars.com is free for users to browse. However, dealerships and private sellers who list their cars for sale on the site pay fees.
Fees vary by listing type and duration. A person can pay a fee to list their car on a website. Additionally, a dealership can charge a monthly fee to list their cars on the website. Private sellers usually pay lower fees.
Is it worth selling your car on Cars.com?
With Cars.com, you’ll reach a lot of potential buyers easily and conveniently. Users can list their cars for sale and connect with buyers on the website with a lot of tools and resources.
Selling a car there is quite straightforward. Cars.com makes it easy to find a buyer for your car with its many monthly visitors.
In contrast, there are some downsides to selling cars on Cars.com, such as charging dealerships and private sellers fees. These fees might hit the buyer, and charging more could make it difficult to compete with other sellers. Cars.com isn’t for everyone, so it depends on your situation.
Who is Cars.com best for?
Cars.com is a convenient website for people looking to buy cars. It helps users search for and compare different vehicles easily. It has many used and new cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans for sale because it partners with dealers and private sellers.
The website provides lots of information about cars, such as prices, mileage, features, and pictures. It also offers tools to help people make smart choices.
The awesome thing about Cars.com is that you can search for cars based on things like make, model, year, location, and price. It has car reviews, financing info, and a car payment calculator. Helps consumers make informed decisions about buying a car. Consumers love Cars.com’s user-friendly platform that makes finding and comparing cars for sale easy.
Cars.com as a Research Tool
For a quick look at the current market price of any car, Cars.com is a great place. Cars.com’s research platform collects thousands of listings from different dealerships and private sellers throughout the US and Canada. Users can search for and compare cars.
Cars.com also provides tools and resources to help users make informed decisions, including:
- Reviews of Cars: Cars.com offers reviews of different car models written by experts and users. These can give users an idea of the pros and cons of different models.
- Compare car models easily with Cars.com’s comparison tool. Compare features, pricing, and more side-by-side.
- Financing Calculator: Calculate your monthly car payments and explore financing options with the Cars.com financing calculator.
Our Verdict
Is Cars.com a reliable site? Providing a definitive verdict after the Cars.com review is challenging without knowing more about your needs or preferences.
Cars.com is a trusted website with many helpful tools and resources. They have a large variety of new and used cars available for purchase.
Having said that, it’s always a smart idea to do your research and compare different sites. By considering your choices, you can choose wisely and find a car that meets your requirements and is affordable.
