If you want to sell a used car in Vancouver, there are multiple options to choose from. And while you can sell your car in person the old-fashioned way, this guide focuses on online platforms where you can sell your car quickly and easily. Keep reading to find out which one suits your needs.
We searched for automotive places in Greater Vancouver 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 Vancouver
1. MintList
MintList is an online vehicle marketplace where you can sell your car via auction.
How it works: Head to the MintList website and click “Sell my Car”. You’ll need to sign up for an account and enter details about the year, make, model and mileage of your vehicle. You’ll also need to upload several photos of your vehicle. Your car is then included as part of a weekly online auction where over 100 vetted buyers compete to make the highest offer. You then have 24 hours to decide whether you want to accept the highest offer.
Car eligibility requirements: Unspecified.
Car pick-up from home available: Yes.
Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes.
Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes (depending on the issue).
Turnaround time: Payment within as little as 24 hours after accepting an offer.
Funding methods: Varies by dealer.
What sellers have to say about MintList: MintList has a 5 out of 5 rating from 200+ Google reviews. Car sellers generally praised the platform for its fast sales, fair offers and helpful staff.
2. Canada Drives
Canada Drives is an online dealer that offers a fast and easy online sales process.
How it works: Click the “Sell/Trade” link on the Canada Drives homepage. Enter your VIN or the year, make and model of your vehicle, then select BC as your province. Provide information about the condition of your vehicle to receive an online offer within a couple of minutes. Canada Drives can then pick up your car from your home.
Car eligibility requirements: Your car will need to be a 2013 or newer model, have less than 160,000km on the clock and be safe to drive. Rebuilds and salvages are not accepted.
Car pick-up from home available: Yes.
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 an average score of 4.4 out of 5 from over 3,300 Trustpilot reviews. Sellers praise the platform for making higher offers than regular car dealerships, having a fast and easy sales process and having excellent customer service.
3. Autozen
Autozen is an online bidding site where buyers compete to give you the best offer for your car.
How it works: Head to the Autozen homepage and get a valuation by choosing your province and entering the year, make, model, trim and mileage of your vehicle. You can then arrange a time for an Autozen representative to assess your car and take photos of it before the platform’s network of over 150 pre-qualified buyers bid for your vehicle. You’re then sent the highest offer.
Car eligibility requirements: Your car must be a 2012 or more recent model and have less than 150,000km on the clock. Vehicles with a rebuilt status are not accepted.
Car pick-up from home available: Yes.
Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes.
Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes (depending on the issue).
Turnaround time: 48 hours.
Funding methods: Interac e-Transfer or electronic funds transfer.
What sellers have to say about Autozen: Autozen has an average score of 4.7 out of 5 from over 125 Google reviews. Sellers were typically impressed with the easy sales process, fast transactions and friendly customer service.
4. Cash for Cars
Cash for Cars is a professional car-buying company that aims to make it fast, safe and easy to sell your vehicle.
How it works: Phone Cash for Cars and give information about your vehicle to get an offer. If you’re happy with the offer, you can schedule a time for Cash for Cars to pick up your vehicle.
Car eligibility requirements: Cash for Cars says it accepts any vehicle in any condition. You can sell your car, truck, SUV, van, motorcycle or RV.
Car pick-up from home available: Yes.
Accepts cars with a loan on it: Yes.
Accepts cars with damage or mechanical issues: Yes.
Turnaround time: 48 hours.
Funding methods: Cash, bank draft, certified cheque and wire transfer.
What sellers have to say about Cash for Cars: Cash for Cars has an average score 4.7 out of 5 on Google based on 300+ reviews. Car sellers generally report that Cash for Cars offers a quick and easy sales process and a stress-free selling experience.
5. AutoTrader
AutoTrader is an online marketplace that offers two different ways to sell a car in Vancouver:
Post an ad to list your car for sale.
Use its Instant Cash Offer service to sell your car to a dealer.
How it works: Click the “Post Your Ad Now” link on the AutoTrader homepage to list your car for sale. You’ll need to provide vehicle information and photos, and there are free and paid ads available. You can then negotiate with private buyers who are interested in your car. If you choose the Instant Cash Offer option, you provide key vehicle details to get an online offer, then take it to a participating dealership near you to have the car inspected and complete the sale.
Car eligibility requirements: There are no specific criteria your car must satisfy if you want to post an ad.
Car pick-up from home available: Not typically, but some dealers may offer this service.
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 an average score of 4.7 out of 5 from over 50,000 ratings on Apple’s App Store, and 4.5 out of 5 from over 60,000 ratings on Google Play.
What documents do I need to provide to sell a used car in Vancouver?
If you sell a used car in Vancouver, you’re required to provide the following documents:
Proof of ID. You can prove your identity with your driver’s licence or passport.
Insurance and vehicle registration. Your registration papers should list you as the owner of the vehicle. The document you need is APV250.
Transfer/tax form. You’ll also need to download and complete a Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T).
Optional documents you can prepare include the following:
CARFAX report. This will show the buyer the ownership history of your vehicle and whether it’s ever been involved in an accident.
Inspection report. You may want to get your car checked at an inspection facility near you so buyers know your car satisfies safety standards.
Vehicle maintenance records. Maintain up-to-date records and receipts of car servicing, oil changes and other routine maintenance to show that the car has been looked after.
How to get the best offer when selling a used car in Vancouver
There are plenty of simple things you can do to help secure a better sale price for your used car:
Compare a range of options. The most important thing you can do is shop around for the best deal. If you’re selling to a dealer, compare offers from multiple dealerships. If you’re selling privately, don’t feel that you need to accept the first offer and don’t be afraid to haggle on price.
Go into detail. If you’re listing your car for sale online, make sure to provide detailed information about the vehicle and all its features. This makes it easier for buyers to work out whether it could be the right car for them.
Take high-quality photos. Take the time to include high-quality images that show the interior and exterior of your car in detail. This will help your online listing stand out from the competition.
Keep it clean. Whether you’re taking photos for an online ad or getting your car inspected by a dealership, make sure it’s neat and tidy inside and out.
Research prices. Research the value of your vehicle and what similar models are selling for. This will give you a better idea of the price you can hope to fetch.
Be upfront about any issues. If your car has any damage, be upfront and honest about it. Trying to hide it or “forgetting” to mention it will only harm your future bargaining power with a dealer or private buyer.
Get it serviced regularly. Stay on top of vehicle maintenance and ensure it’s serviced at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. A car that’s been well looked after will always fetch a higher price than one that hasn’t.
Frequently asked questions
There are several options available. You could sell your car in person or online, either to a dealership or a private buyer, or consider trading it in to help cover the cost of a new car. Alternatively, you could also find a scrap car removal service to buy and take away your old car.
It's easy to sell a used car online in Vancouver. There are several online auto dealerships, auction sites and car-buying services where you can quickly and easily sell your vehicle from the comfort of your couch. Alternatively, you can also sell your vehicle in person, either by visiting a dealership or advertising your car for sale to private buyers.
Yes. You must be the owner of a vehicle in order to legally sell it.
Yes, but it can be complicated. If you have an upside-down car loan, you can sell your car to pay off as much of your loan as possible. However, you'll still need to cover the outstanding loan balance and will also no longer have a vehicle. Check out our guide to selling a financed car for more information.
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.
It can be tough to convince a buyer that a financed vehicle will be theirs free and clear if they choose to buy it. Here’s what you should know beforehand to help make the sale a success.
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