5 popular places to sell a car in Edmonton

If you want to sell a used car in Edmonton, you don’t necessarily have to visit a dealership and haggle over a trade-in price. From online dealerships to professional car buying companies, there are plenty of options designed to make it easy to sell a car in Edmonton. Keep reading to find out about popular car selling options and how they work.

• How we selected popular places to sell a car in Edmonton

  We searched for automotive places in Edmonton that have an established, positive online presence and offer an easy car-selling process (i.e. hassle-free and fair pricing). We excluded general marketplaces that take more effort to sell a car, such as Kijiji, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

Popular places to sell a car in Edmonton

1. Canada Drives

Canada Drives is an online auto dealership where you can sell or trade in your vehicle and have it picked up directly from your home.

• How to sell your car: Head to the Canada Drives website, select Alberta as your province, and choose to either provide your VIN or the year, make and model of your vehicle. You’ll get an offer for your car within two minutes, and Canada Drives can then come and collect the vehicle from your home.
• Required documents: Government-issued photo ID and a signed copy of your vehicle registration form.
• Cars they accept: Typically 2013 or newer models with less than 160,000km on the odometer. Rebuilds and salvages are not accepted.
• Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes.
• Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes (depending on the issue).
• Turnaround time: Next business day.
• Funding methods: Electronic funds transfer.
• What sellers have to say about Canada Drives: Canada Drives has earned an average score of 3.6 out of 5 from more than 3,400 Trustpilot reviews. Car sellers generally report that selling a vehicle on this platform is quick and easy, and Canada Drives offers a high level of customer service from start to finish.

2. House of Cars

House of Cars is a Calgary-based used car dealership group with a location in Edmonton that can sell your car on your behalf.

• How it works: As well as trading in your vehicle when you buy a new car, House of Cars allows you to take advantage of its Park & Sell service. To get started, fill out an online form with your contact details and vehicle information, then arrange a time to have your car inspected. House of Cars will then detail your car, market it online and also provide a warranty and financing to the eventual buyer.
• Cars they accept: All cars, except rebuilt cars.
• Accepts cars with a loan on it: Not disclosed.
• Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes.
• Turnaround time: Varies.
• Funding methods: Depends on the dealer.
• What sellers have to say about House of Cars: There are limited reviews of the Park & Sell service. However, to give you an idea of the service you can expect, the most recent Google reviews of the Edmonton House of Cars dealership is 4.4 stars out 5 based on over 700 reviews.

3. AutoTrader

Online marketplace AutoTrader offers two options when you want to sell your car:

• • Post an ad to sell your car to a private buyer.
  • Use the Instant Cash Offer service to sell your car to a dealer.
• How to sell your car: It’s free to list an ad to sell your car to private buyers, but you also have the option of choosing a paid ad for increased visibility. You’ll need to upload details and photos of your vehicle and then negotiate with potential buyers. If you choose the Instant Cash Offer option, you enter your vehicle information online to receive an instant offer. To finalize the sale, take your car to a participating dealership for an inspection.
• Required documents: If selling to a dealer, bring your car’s ownership and loan records as well as proof of ID.
• Cars they accept: All makes and models.
• Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes, if you’re selling to a dealer.
• Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes (depending on the issue).
• Turnaround time: Same-day if selling to a dealer.
• Funding methods: Cheque if selling to a dealer.
• What sellers have to say about AutoTrader: The AutoTrader app has earned an average score of 4.7 out of 5 from over 68,000 ratings on Google Play and an average of 4.7 out of 5 from over 69,000 ratings on Apple’s App Store.

4. Cash for Cars

Cash for Cars Edmonton is a used car buying service that buys a wide range of makes and models, including scrap cars.

• How to sell your car: Get an offer for your vehicle by phoning Cash for Cars or by filling out an online form with your name, contact details and vehicle information. If you’re happy with the offer, you can arrange a time for Cash for Cars to come and tow away your vehicle.
• Required documents: Proof of ID and vehicle registration or bill of sale.
• Cars they accept: Most makes and models. Damaged, salvaged, wrecked and totaled vehicles accepted.
• Accepts cars with a loan on it: Not disclosed.
• Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes.
• Turnaround time: Same day.
• Funding methods: Cash.
• What sellers have to say about Cash for Cars: Cash for Cars Edmonton has an average Google review score of 4.9 out of 5 from over 200 ratings. Car sellers generally praise the company for providing a fast and easy sales process and paying fair prices.

5. Go Auto

Go Auto is an online network of car dealerships where you can trade in your car or sell it for cash.

• How to sell your car: Get a vehicle value estimate by providing your car’s VIN or year, make and model. If you’re happy with the offer you receive, take your car to your nearest Go Auto dealership to have it inspected and receive a firm offer.
• Required documents: Driver’s licence, vehicle registration and maintenance history.
• Cars they accept: All makes and models.
• Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes.
• Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes (depending on the issue).
• Turnaround time: 24 hours.
• Funding methods: Cheque.
• What sellers have to say about Go Auto: Go Auto has earned an average score of over 4 stars out of 5 based on hundreds of Google reviews for its locations in Edmonton. However, it’s worth pointing out that the majority of reviewers are people who have bought rather than sold a car through Go Auto’s dealership network.

Should I sell a used car in Edmonton to a dealer or privately?

Each option has its pros and cons, so it really depends on your needs.

Selling your car to a dealership in Edmonton

The main benefit of selling to a dealership is convenience. If you’re upgrading to a new car, simply take your current vehicle into the dealership and negotiate a trade-in price you can put towards your next set of wheels. Alternatively, sell it for cash. The dealer can take care of all the paperwork for you, and the whole process is quick and easy.

The downside is that you won’t get the best price from a dealer. If maximizing profit is your number-one goal, you’re better off selling privately. You can potentially sell your car for thousands more, and it’s easy to list your car for sale online.

Selling your car privately in Edmonton

Of course, selling privately can also be a big hassle. You’ll need to deal with potential buyers who don’t show up when they’re meant to, and who make lowball offers and haggle on price. You’ll also need to let them have a test drive and negotiate a suitable form of payment to ensure you don’t get scammed.

It all comes down to convenience vs profit. Whichever of these matters most to you will determine whether you should sell your car to a dealer or privately.

What information do you need to sell a car in Edmonton?

To sell a car in Edmonton, you’ll need to fill in a bill of sale, which will have to include information like the vehicle’s VIN number, both your and the buyer’s information, details about the vehicle and cost information. The buyer may also want to inspect the vehicle or do a comprehensive VIN check to verify the vehicle’s history.

Popular general marketplaces to sell a used car privately in Edmonton

In addition to auto-specific websites, you have the option of listing your car for sale on a general marketplace. Here are a couple of popular sites in Edmonton worth considering:

• Kijiji. You can list your vehicle for sale on Kijiji Autos by entering your VIN or providing the make, model, trim and other vehicle details. There’s no cost to post an ad, and you’ll be contacted by private buyers to negotiate the sale of your car.
• Facebook Marketplace. If you have a Facebook profile, it’s easy to list your car for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Open Marketplace, click the “Sell” link and provide your vehicle’s details, price and description. Once you’ve submitted your ad, you can then negotiate with buyers who contact you and get paid in cash or by e-Transfer.

Frequently asked questions

• Where can I sell a damaged car in Edmonton?

  Many car dealerships in Edmonton, including online dealers, accept damaged vehicles. You can also consider selling to a professional car buying company or a scrap car removal service.

• How do I get the best offer when I sell a car in Edmonton?

  There are several simple things you can do to maximize the price you get for your car. The most important step is to compare a range of options to find the best deal, regardless of whether you're selling your car privately or to a dealer. Keeping your car clean, keeping up-to-date maintenance records and providing as much detail as possible about your vehicle's features can also help.

• Can I sell a car in Edmonton with a loan on it?

  Yes, many car dealers and car buying services will buy cars that still have money owing on them. However, selling your car can be much more complicated if you owe more than your vehicle is worth.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio