Automobiles

CarGurus Review: A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Your Car Hassle-Free

By

Mohit Kamboj

If you’re planning to sell a car in 2023, you’ll likely come across CarGurus as one of the options for listing your vehicle. It’s understandable because the CarGuru app is one of the biggest online platforms for selling cars worldwide. CarGurus is a website that attracts more than 30 million people every month who are interested in buying cars online.

Is selling on CarGurus as good as people say it is? We have gathered information from many CarGurus reviews and our own experience to create a detailed guide about the popular vehicle-selling marketplace.

About CarGurus

CarGurus is a popular website where people can buy and sell cars. It helps connect individuals and car dealers with potential buyers in several countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The car-shopping platform started in 2006 and had over five million different car listings by 2020.

You can easily look through a wide selection of cars on CarGurus with just a few clicks. You can easily compare vehicles using the CarGurus car value and other factors.

CarGurus Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
  • Listing a car on CarGurus is free, and you only pay $99 when the car sells!
  • The CarGurus rating system assists buyers in finding the best deal at a fair price.
  • The CarGurus Instant Market Value tool quickly determines the worth of your pre-owned car in just two minutes. This helps sellers decide on a fair asking price for potential buyers.
  • Experience unmatched peace of mind when you sell your car using the CarGuru app. You can get up to $75,000 in protection to make sure you get paid when your vehicle is shipped.
  • Selling your car is as simple as saying, “Car Guru, sell my car!” You can create a list easily, find buyers quickly, and receive payment within three business days.
  • Some people have mentioned in reviews that it can be difficult to get your car noticed on the Cargurus website unless you pay for promotion.
  • There are many cars for sale on Cargurus. Some customers may find it overwhelming.

How Does CarGurus Work?

CarGurus is a user-friendly website that provides clear information for both buyers and sellers. Both car dealerships and private sellers can list their cars on the site. The site has a calculator called Instant Market Value that helps adjust the prices of the cars listed. You can also sell your car to interested dealers through the site.

When you sell your car on CarGurus, make sure to carefully assess the condition of your vehicle and provide truthful and complete information about its important details. If you are open and honest about your car, it will help you take better pictures and make it easier to sell.

Before the transaction begins, the website’s data algorithms compare listings (including details like condition, mileage, location, and other relevant information) to buyers who are searching for cars on the site.

After that, buyers can ask about a car and make a price offer. CarGurus provides financing options for buyers, but you also have the choice to purchase the car without financing or explore other financing options from private sources. Before finalizing any deal, it is important to have an inspection done. Additionally, when it comes to arranging car transportation, it is typically the responsibility of the seller and buyer to make the necessary arrangements.

What Are the Key Facts About Cargurus?

  • CarGurus’ Instant Market Value tool uses algorithms to determine the value of both used and new cars listed on their website. These algorithms are constantly updated to provide accurate and current valuations.
  • You can get financing for CarGurus vehicles through Capital One and Westlake Financial. You can also look for financing options for buying a private vehicle.
  • There is no cost to purchase or search for cars on CarGurus. When a car is sold on the site, sellers only have to pay $99.
  • CarGurus made over $1 billion in revenue in 2022.
  • According to reviews from people who have sold their cars on CarGurus, paying for ad boosting can help you sell your car faster.
  • When you use CarGurus to sell a car, people who review the site suggest that using better-quality, clear photos will help you sell your car faster.
  • Every CarGurus transaction depends on completing an inspection to make sure the car is in the condition it was listed in.
  • Returns on CarGurus are only allowed if they are specified in the contract between the dealer and the buyer.
  • CarGurus is accessible in the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
  • You need to use private auto transport services unless it’s stated otherwise.

Process of Car Buying on CarGurus

  • CarGurus has nearly 32 million different people who visit their website every month. That means there are a lot of CarGurus used cars available for you to choose from. You can use filters and data analysis to easily find used cars that meet your needs. These cars are available from different sellers in the US, Canada, and some Western European countries.
  • The advanced CarGurus algorithm finds listings that meet your requirements. Before reaching out to a seller, you have the option to look at pictures and information about the cars you are interested in.
  • There are three ways you can buy a car on CarGurus: paying for it in full, using CarGurus’ financing service, or getting financing from a private source. Regardless of the option you select, it is important to secure financing before making an offer and purchasing a car.
  • When you click on “start a secure transaction,” both the buyer and seller will need to fill out forms with important and relevant information. After you complete the forms, a member of the CarGurus team will call you to help transfer the funds from the buyer to the seller. The service will check the funds electronically and put them into the seller’s bank account.
  • You can use the CarGurus delivery service to ship certain cars from a dealership. When you buy a car, you usually need to arrange for it to be transported to you. It’s best to use a reliable provider like Nexus Auto Transport for this.

Process of Car Selling on CarGurus

  • Selling your car through Car Guru is easy. Just say, “Car Guru, sell my car!” To find out the value of your vehicle, simply provide the required details such as the make, model, and condition of your vehicle in the Instant Market Value calculator on the website. The calculator will determine the value of your vehicle based on CarGurus data. It will tell you how much the site’s algorithm thinks your car is worth. To determine the right price for your car, it’s helpful to have a good understanding of its market value.
  • When you sell your car on CarGurus, make sure to carefully assess the condition of both the interior and exterior of your car. Please clean the carpets, inspect all operating systems, and replace any broken lights. When a car dealer buys your car, they will need to inspect it to make sure it’s in the condition you claim it to be. It is important for private buyers to thoroughly inspect a product before completing a purchase. Please arrange a time for the inspection with the potential buyer and make sure your car is prepared for it!
  • Instead of just hoping for the best by typing “sell my car to a dealer,” you can make things easier by listing your used car. This way, both dealerships and private buyers can consider it. Don’t forget to include attractive photographs that showcase your vehicle to the world. You can use the CarGurus Trade-in calculator to trade your car in with dealers.
  • CarGurus Delivery offers dealership-to-customer car shipping for certain vehicles. However, in most CarGurus sales, you will need to arrange your own auto transport. If you need to ship your car across the country or internationally, you can use a reliable car shipping calculator to begin the shipping process.

CarGurus Financing Process

The financing process with CarGurus is easy. CarGurus has teamed up with Westlake Financial and Capital One to offer customers quick loan decisions through the CarGurus app. Simply provide your relevant personal and financial details, along with the desired financing amount. You will then receive a prompt decision through a soft-pull credit check.

Most CarGurus financing reviews mention that participating car dealerships will honor the financing arrangement for thirty days after a decision is made, which is seen as a positive aspect. Many happy CarGurus financing customers believe that the service is the simplest and most effective way to purchase a car nowadays.

You can also get private financing to buy a car from CarGurus, whether it’s from a dealer or a private seller.

CarGurus’ Customer Support

CarGurus customer support has a rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot and 1.5 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau. Many people complain about CarGurus’ customer support team because they don’t communicate well and take a long time to respond. People who have reviewed the platform say it works well and payments are made quickly.

If you want to talk to a CarGurus customer support representative, you can call (800) 227-4478. The customer service center of CarGurus is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Is CarGurus Legit?

CarGurus is a trustworthy and reliable online marketplace for shopping for cars. The typical rating for CarGurus reviews is between 2.5 and 2.7 out of five. The CarGurus app on Google Play has received a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on Google reviews.

Positive reviews highlight the user-friendly nature of CarGurus in comparison to other online car auctions. Many people who write reviews on CarGurus praise the site for using important information, such as a car’s Blue Book value, to determine its Instant Market Value. CarGurus has recently introduced a new app called CarOffer. This app allows users to receive instant cash offers for their used cars.

The majority of negative reviews on CarGurus mention difficulties in getting their car noticed on the site or in communicating with the support staff.