Where to sell my car? The 9 best sites to sell a used car online

With the rise of websites to sell cars in recent years, you may be wondering where’s the best place to sell a used car. There are now many options for selling your car online in Canada – you can sell a car through marketplaces, online dealers or bidding sites. Learn more about your options to get the best offer or easiest experience.

What are the best sites to sell my car?

If you’re trying to decide what are the best websites to sell a car in Canada, check out our top picks below:

1. Clutch

One of the most popular car-selling websites in Canada is Clutch, an online dealer. It gives instant offers for eligible vehicles and you’ll get quick online payments.

• How to sell a car online: Open the Clutch page and click “Sell or trade”. Fill in your VIN and a few quick details about your car. Wait for Clutch to make you an offer (if you meet eligibility criteria). Agree to your offer and arrange for payment and car pick-up or delivery.
• Serviced provinces: Ontario and Nova Scotia.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want a hassle-free way to sell a used car

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Pros	Cons
Very quick application No need to negotiate with multiple buyers Quick quotes Accepts cars that still have a loan Lenient requirements for the car (2000 or newer, no limit for mileage)	Ontario and Nova Scotia only You don’t get multiple offers

2. Canada Drives

Another popular car-selling website is Canada Drives, an online dealer. It lets you sell your used car online in Canada with quick offers and online payments for eligible cars.

• How to sell a car online: Open the Canada Drives page and click “Sell/trade”. Fill in an application with your vehicle details and wait for Canada Drives to make you an offer (if you meet eligibility criteria). Agree to your offer and arrange for payment and car pick-up.
• Serviced provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want a quick sale for a newer vehicle with a reputable online car dealer.

Pros	Cons
Very quick application No need to negotiate with multiple buyers Quick quotes and fair offers Accepts cars that still have a loan	Car must be 2013 or newer with 160,000km or less Additional eligibility criteria Only available in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan You don’t get multiple offers

3. Craigslist

Craigslist is a popular anonymous online marketplace available across Canada where you can sell your car.

• How to sell a car online: Open the Craigslist main page and create a post. Specify details about your car and your contact information. Post your ad and wait for buyers to respond. Get paid in cash, by e-Transfer or with cryptocurrency.
• Serviced provinces: All provinces and territories.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want to sell private sale vehicles online using a simple and user-friendly car-selling website that’s easy to access.

Pros	Cons
Available across Canada Easy to post your car Pay only $5 to highlight your ad	Time-consuming Need to deal with non-serious buyers Potential for scams Need to share contact information

4. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is another car-selling website that lets you sell your used car online in Canada to verified buyers as long as you have a Facebook profile.

• How to sell a car online: Open Marketplace and input your Facebook login details. Click “Sell” and select “Vehicle for sale”. Specify vehicle details, price and description. Submit your ad and wait for buyers to respond. Get paid in cash or by e-Transfer.
• Serviced provinces: All provinces and territories.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who have a Facebook account and want to sell vehicles to verified buyers.

Pros	Cons
Easier to verify buyers Fairly simple to use the site Messages get sent through Facebook	Need a Facebook account Can be a lot of competition Takes more time and effort

5. AutoTrader

AutoTrader is an online automotive marketplace. Sell your car by posting an ad on AutoTrader’s platform for free. You can also pay a fee to get more visibility.

• How it works: Open the AutoTrader page and input car details, photos and contact information. Select a payment plan to create a priority listing or post for free. Click “post ad” and wait for buyers to contact you. Get paid with cash or e-Transfer. AutoTrader also gives you the option to sell to a dealer near you through its platform.
• Serviced provinces: All provinces and territories.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want to list their vehicle with a trusted car broker in Canada, on a site specifically designed for selling cars.

Pros	Cons
Posting process is easy to navigate High-traffic site Free listings are available More money when selling to a private buyer	Priority listings come with high fees Limited exposure with free listings Takes time and effort if you’re selling privately

6. Kijiji Autos

Kijiji could easily be the first car-selling website for many Canadians when they think, “Where can I sell my car?” Kijiji Autos is a branch off of the main Kijiji marketplace site that is specifically designed for people to buy and sell their used cars online.

• How to sell a car online: Create a Kijiji listing by first providing some basic information for the vehicle you want to sell: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, model and trim. Kijiji Autos will then automatically fill in your listing with vehicle details pulled from its database. Buyers than contact you if they’re interested in your car.
• Serviced provinces: All provinces and territories in Canada.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want a free, easy listing process where you don’t have to fill in all of your vehicle’s details yourself.

Pros	Cons
Optional Kijiji Autos app Marketplace site with a solid reputation in Canada Listings are free to post Potentially make more money selling to a private buyer	Listing space can be competitive Takes more time and effort to sell

7. Carity

Carity is a new car-selling website. It lets you sell your used car online in Canada by listing your vehicle and getting multiple bids from interested buyers.

• How to sell a car online: Visit the Carity website and click “Sell” to get started selling your car. Input vehicle details and post your car. Get offers from dealerships in your area and pick the one that looks the best. Arrange for car pick-up and online payment.
• Serviced provinces: Ontario only, but there are plans to expand to other provinces in the future.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want to get a good price for their vehicle without having to leave the house.

Pros	Cons
Easy to list your vehicle Car pick-up and online payment Multiple bidders Accepts cars that still have a loan	Only available in Ontario Dealership sales only Car must have 200,000km or less

8. Autozen

Autozen is another new car-selling website in Canada that lets you sell your car online in Canada and choose from multiple bids.

• How to sell a car online: Get a free car valuation on the website. If you like the price, list your car with Autozen and the company will come out to inspect it. Buyers compete for your car if it passes inspection. Accept an offer and arrange pick-up and payment.
• Serviced provinces: Ontario (Greater Toronto Area), BC (Greater Vancouver Area), Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary).
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who have a car 2010 or newer and want to choose from multiple bids.

Pros	Cons
Instant car valuation Car pick-up and online payment Multiple bids Accepts cars that still have a loan	Only available in Ontario (Greater Toronto Area), BC (Greater Vancouver Area), Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary) Dealer sales only

9. MintList

Launched in 2020, MintList is an online car-selling website that lets you list your car for free and have over 100 verified buyers bid for it.

• How to sell a car online: Sign up with your phone number, do a self-inspection on your car, answer some questions from MintList and then receive bids.
• Serviced provinces: Currently available in BC and Alberta
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who want to get multiple bids

Pros	Cons
Choose the best offer Large network of buyers Fast process	No private sales Offers are valid for 24 hours only BC and Alberta only

Where should I sell a car online?

Where to sell a car online depends on what benefits you’re looking for. Selling your used car in an online marketplace like AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji will take more time and effort as you post your ad, schedule test drives and deal with all kinds of buyers, but in the end, you may get the best price for your car. Selling your used car directly to an online dealer or through a bidding site is much faster and easier, but you may not get the best price.

The age of your car matters too. If your car is older than 2013, you’ll need to find a private buyer at a marketplace, because dealerships typically do not accept cars older than that.

What paperwork do I need to sell my used car to a dealership?

You’ll usually need to supply the following documents or information to sell a used car to a dealership.

• Government-issued ID. Bring two pieces of government-issued ID such as your passport or driver’s licence to prove your identity.
• Vehicle registration. Provide an original copy of your registration which lists you as the owner of the vehicle.
• Vehicle identification number. Provide your VIN to validate your vehicle description and owner information.

The dealer will also need you to sign transfer forms depending on your province. And although not required, you may also want to provide maintenance records for oil changes, air filters and other repairs to show you’ve taken care of your car.

Step-by-step guide to selling your car online in Canada

Tips to sell a car and get the best offer

Follow these tips when selling your used car to get the best price:

• Get your paperwork together. Make sure you have your ownership along with any receipts or records of services you’ve had carried out. Depending on the province you are selling in, you may be required to provide the buyer with the car’s history report.
• Give it a good clean. Get rid of any garbage or personal items, vacuum the interior and wash your car. Most buyers are very particular about the car they’re looking at, so you’ll want to make sure even hidden areas are cleaned, like your door sills, trunk and underneath the hood. Let your car air out on a nice day to get rid of any smells, and if you’re a smoker, stop smoking in your car a few weeks before the sale.
• Consider having it detailed. A great way to ensure your car is sparkling come test-drive time is to take it to a professional detailer.
• Check the fluid levels and tire pressure. Flat tires and low fluid levels show potential buyers you don’t properly maintain your car and can be a deterrent for those looking to buy it.
• Write a compelling ad. You’ll get more views and interest in your car if you write an ad on car selling websites that stands out from the crowd. It’s important to be thorough too. Include information on the vehicle’s history and any additional or missing features.
• List your car in several places. Post your car on private marketplaces and with bidding sites, and compare offers from online and in-person car dealers.
• Post high-quality photos. Take pictures in the daytime and make sure your car is clean before you try to sell it.
• Establish yourself as a trusted seller. Use a verified platform and provide maintenance records to show you’ve taken care of your car.
• Avoid taking the first offer. Just because you get an offer doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Take your time and put the work in to get the best deal you can.
• Pay for a sponsored ad. Spend a bit extra to promote your ad so that your car is featured on the first page of an online marketplace.

Dos and don’ts of a good car advertisement

The golden rule of a good car advertisement is to be clear, transparent and concise. Your overall aim is to present an accurate advertisement of the car so that prospective buyers know exactly what they’re getting into.

Withholding information, such as a car’s mileage or mechanical problems, will just make them click off your advertisement or prevent them from trusting you as a seller.

3 tips for taking photos of your car

The most important photos you need to take of your car are the three-quarters shots: One of the front three-quarters of your car and one of the back three-quarters. In addition, buyers will also want to see pictures of the interior front and rear seats, engine bay and both the front and back of the car.

Follow these tips to get the best shots:

• Get as much of your car in the frame as you can. Make sure the car is within the frame of the photo and centred for full shots of the exterior.
• Make sure you can clearly see the car in each photo. Pixelated photos or those from far away won’t give potential buyers a clear picture of what to expect.
• Check the lighting. Avoid taking photos at night unless it’s a photo which you feel showcases the car in a great way. Early mornings and late afternoons can be great times to take photographs and you can easily use your phone’s camera editing tools to touch-up the image.

How to handle a test-drive

Once you have an interested buyer, they’ll want to test-drive the car to see how it handles. Some might even ask to drive it to a mechanic and get it inspected during this time. What do you do?

Get a copy of their driver’s license and other contact details before agreeing to the test-drive. You can also ask to hold on to their vehicle’s keys in return for taking yours. And consider going on the test drive with them to ensure they don’t drive away with the car.

Most insurance companies will cover your car while someone else is driving it, but you still might want to contact your insurer just in case to find out exactly how you’re covered.

What are some of the other best places to sell my car?

In-person car dealers

Bring your car to a dealership in your local area to sell it in person or trade it in.

• How it works: Visit a local dealership and gauge their interest in buying your car. Get an offer and negotiate to get the best price you can. Submit the appropriate paperwork and get paid in cash or by e-Transfer.
• Serviced provinces: All provinces have in-person dealerships you can sell your car to. Do your homework to find a dealer with a good reputation.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who would rather do business in person or have a preferred dealership they want to work with.

Pros	Cons
In-person contact Quick sales and they handle the paperwork Many local dealerships	More difficult to get the best price You may get lowballed Can involve more work

Auction houses

Sell your car to an auction house for a set price and they will sell it off to the highest bidder.

• How it works: Contact your local auction house to see if they accept used cars. Get an offer and negotiate to get the best price you can. Submit the appropriate paperwork and get paid in cash or by e-Transfer.
• Serviced provinces: Most provinces will have auction sites in big cities.
• Who it’s best for: Best for people who would rather do business in person or have a car they want to sell “as is” or for parts.

Pros	Cons
Multiple bids in some cases Potential for higher return Accepts “as is” vehicles	Car may not sell You’ll usually need to pay commissions Can be a stressful process

Closing the deal

Once you’ve got an interested buyer, you’ve both agreed on the price and the sale is complete, sign over the title and contact your local provincial service centre to let them know you sold the vehicle. This prevents you from being responsible for anything related to the car that occurs after the sale.

Be on the lookout for scams from buyers who seem too good to be true, such as those offering more than the asking price or those contacting you via email telling you they wish to buy the car from overseas.

Frequently asked questions about how to sell my car

• How do I get the most value when I sell my car?

  You can get the most value on your car by sourcing multiple offers and by listing your vehicle on as many sites as possible. The more exposure you get, the more interest you'll have in your car. From there, it's up to you to decide what price you're willing to accept.

• How do I sell my car fast?

  The fastest way to sell your car will be through an online dealer or bidding site. Provide them with your VIN and location and get an offer within minutes. You can sell your car in as little as one business day.

• What is the best website to sell my car privately?

  AutoTrader, Kijiji Autos and Facebook Marketplace are some of the most popular websites in Canada to sell a car privately.

• How much can I sell my car for?

  You can figure out the value of your car by visiting sites like Canadian Black Book, Edmunds, CarGurus, CARFAX or AutoTrader. Read our article to learn more about how much your car is worth.

• Can I sell my car with a loan on it?

  You may be able to sell a car with a loan on it if your loan is worth less than the price of the car. It may be easiest to sell your car with a loan on it if you're working with an online or in-person dealer. It will usually be more difficult with a private sale.

• Is it easy to sell your used car online in Canada?

  Yes! It's very easy to sell your used car online in Canada. All you need to do is fill out some vehicle details and submit a listing to an online marketplace or request a quote from an online dealer or bidding site to get started.