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Should I Sell My Car to KBB?
KBB Summary
Provides an Instant Cash OfferHelps to determine your car’s valueIt’s free to use the KBB valuation toolCheck your car for any recalls
KKB or Kelley Blue Book provides a number of services to help dealerships and individuals in selling and buying cars. It is a California-based company that conducts market research and offers data on vehicle valuation.
Those looking to buy cars can research for the best price through KBB’s services. Their website includes a Compare feature to help buyers decide between different models.
Another popular service KBB offers is the Vehicle History Report. Car buyers can easily check a car’s history to help them determine if they’re buying it for the right price.
Consequently, car sellers can easily justify their valuation by showing this report to their potential buyers.
And speaking of car selling, KBB also allows you to sell your car through their platform. With the reputation this company has in the car industry, it’s one of the places you should consider.
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get a legit offer in minutes – provide VIN, mileage and condition
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
Wheelzy
Quick car evaluation without the hassle – sell your car within 30 min
Choose a convenient date and time for free pick-up, as soon as next day
Get cash in hand the same day the Wheelzy agent picks up your car
CarBrain
Get an offer within 2 minutes and sell your damaged car within 24 hours
Free vehicle towing and no fees to getting rid of your damaged car
The tow truck driver will arrive with your check (nationwide service)
How to Sell Your Car to KBB?
There are two ways for you to sell your car through KBB. The first one is through an Instant Cash Offer. In this option, you’ll need to provide details about your car.
Option 1: Get an Instant Cash Offer from KBB
To start the process, visit the KBB Instant Cash Offer page on their website. Make sure to have the VIN or Vehicle Identification Number ready. Here are some ways to locate the VIN of your car:
Inside your car’s door jamb
Driver’s side dashboard
Vehicle registration
Insurance card
Suppose you still don’t have the VIN and have no means to check it. In that case, you can simply enter the license and state where your car is registered. However, by using the VIN, the Instant Cash Offer can tell you right away if your car qualifies for selling.
After providing either the VIN or license plate, KBB will ask about the car’s style and mileage. Also, you’ll need to confirm the car’s color, features and equipment, and any modifications.
The website also provides the option to upload car photos, so you can get a more accurate offer. There are also some guidelines on how to take photos. If you’re not comfortable doing these, you can proceed to the next steps.
KBB wants you to be as accurate as possible when describing the interior, exterior, and mechanical conditions of your car. Their Instant Cash Offer process even includes an interactive step where you can click a specific part of a car to describe it.
Proceed with a KBB offer
Once you confirm your car’s conditions, KBB will ask for some personal information to proceed with the offer. You can also create an account on the KBB website to track it.
The Instant Cash Offer amount will show once you complete the online steps. It will also show you up to when the offer is good for, usually up to seven days. There is also a list of participating dealers where you can make an appointment to redeem the offer.
Further down the Instant Cash Offer page, you’ll also find a summarized Vehicle History Report. This includes your car’s information, such as VIN, and whether it has registered:
Multiple owners
Accidents
As a non-rental
Drop Your Car Off at the Dealership
Before taking your car to the dealership, make sure to prepare the following:
Offer confirmation, either printed or on your phone
Title or pink slip
Leasing information
Vehicle Registration
Valid ID
Keys, fobs, remotes, and manual
Repair and maintenance records
It’s likely that you’ll close the sale during your appointment. So, make sure to remove all personal belongings in the car and arrange for a ride home.
Option 2: Sell Your Car Online
Another option to sell your car through KBB is to place an ad online. For this, you can get a full Vehicle History Report and post an ad on Autotrader’s website. This platform works with KBB.
How Much Does KBB Pay?
How much KBB pays depends on your car’s specific details. These include features and the condition of your car, like dents and mechanical features.
KBB also considers the local market demand. For example, there’s an increased demand for the type of car you’re selling and the inventory is low. In that case, your car’s value increases as more dealers are willing to buy it.
Other factors that affect cars valuation are historical trends and regional differences. To put these concepts in perspective, some cars tend to hold or increase their value in time.
Meanwhile, buyers from different regions may be willing to purchase specific vehicles. For example, a rural region might have greater demand for trucks than in urban areas, where parking spaces are small.
Additionally, the title condition may also affect your car’s valuation. To be specific, a reconstructed, salvaged, or clouded title may negatively affect your car’s value. If none of these is the case on your car, you don’t have to worry about selling it.
What Types of Cars Does KBB Buy?
Not all cars are eligible to receive an instant cash offer from KBB. In fact, just by entering the VIN alone, you can find out right away if KBB will buy your car or not. But to give you an idea, KBB considers the following when excluding cars for instant offers:
Title issues
Market volatility
Lack of market data
Unresolved recalls
Low value due to condition or age
Car modifications
If the car has been in the auction within the last 45 days
How Long Does the Sell to KBB Offer Last?
The Instant Cash Offer is valid for seven days. If you missed the deadline to accept the offer, you can apply to get the offer again. However, this time, it’s possible to receive a different offer.
How Long Does it Take to Sell Your Car to KBB?
Overall, it can take 48 hours at the earliest to sell your car to KBB. You can receive the instant cash offer in minutes. However, you’ll need to set up an appointment with a partner dealership to redeem the offer.
Once the dealership inspects your car and confirms the valuation, you only have 24 hours to accept the offer. The dealership might recalculate the offer if the car has acquired 50 miles or the condition has changed since the inspection.
Does KBB Inspect Your Car?
KBB does not inspect your car. What it does after providing the Instant Cash Offer is direct you to their participating dealerships.
The dealership, then, will inspect your car, particularly the interior and exterior. They might also take your car for a test drive to know its mechanical condition.
The offer might increase or decrease if the condition doesn’t confirm the information you entered online.
Alternative Places to Sell Your Car
Understandably, you might want to check out alternative places to sell your car to. After all, you’re looking to get the best offer and make the most money out of it. Here are two excellent alternatives to KBB.
Peddle
Peddle Summary
Sell used, damaged or junk car nationwideGet instant quote on (855) 925 4302Free towing within 48 hours after offerReceive payment upon car collection
Since 2012, Peddle is among the platforms that buy cars from private owners. This Austin-based company makes it efficient to sell your car online. Similar to KBB, you can get an instant offer within minutes of providing your car’s information.
However, there are some major differences between Peddle and KBB when you consider their services. To start, KBB is more of a valuation and research company. It helps dealers and private owners determine the current market value of specific cars.
Recent Peddle Offers
ModelYearMileageOfferToyota (Camry)2011150,000$2,225Volvo (S40)200137,000$430Mercedes-Benz (560)199192,000$1,930BMW (528)2008126,000$1,140Kia (Forte)2010145,000$635Honda (CR-V)201167,000$2,930Ford (Explorer Sport Trac)2004145,000$1,170Oldsmobile (Alero)2004162,000$400Audi (A6)2006106,000$530
KBB vs. Peddle
By selling through KBB, you’ll have a better chance of getting the most accurate price. Also, you’re not selling your car directly to KBB. The company works with dealerships that will actually buy your car based on KBB’s offer.
In contrast, Peddle will buy your car and work with their partner businesses to resell it. Depending on the condition, Peddle might also opt to recycle it.
Their instant offers are also applicable to a wide variety of cars, regardless of condition, make, model, and year. This is quite contrary to KBB’s selective Instant Cash Offer scheme.
Finally, another significant difference between the two platforms is the room for negotiation. To elaborate, Peddle offers are non-negotiable, so you’ll only receive the offered amount.
Whereas with KBB, the partnered dealership will need to inspect your car to confirm the details you provided online. Then, the offered amount can go higher or lower, depending on their evaluation report after inspecting your vehicle.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a weekGet offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108Free towing of your car from your locationInstant payment via cash or check
Besides Peddle, you can also sell your car to Wheelzy. Unlike KBB, Wheelzy purchases cars in varying conditions.
Additionally, Wheelzy offers several ways to sell your car with them. The fastest, by far, is through an Instant Offer. You can either do this through their website or by calling their hotline (855) 294-0940.
The process for both methods is pretty much the same. You’ll need to provide some details about your car and Wheelzy will generate the offer based on those.
With KBB and Peddle, you have seven days to accept the offer. Wheelzy, on the other hand, doesn’t have an offer due date. The offer is valid for as long as they can keep it valid.
Suppose you think you can get more than Wheelzy’s offer for your car. In that case, you can also use the platform to post a car listing. Then, Wheelzy will direct the bids to your phone and choose the best for your car.
Recent Wheelzy Offers
ModelYearMileageConditionOfferHyundai (Tucson)2006200,000Doesn’t start$400Mercury (Sable Sedan)2003150,000Doesn’t start$225Mercedes-Benz (C)2001150,000Starts$222Ford (Edge)2010200,000Doesn’t start$1,200Ford (Flex)2009150,000Starts$1,000Lexus (RX)2002300,000Doesn’t start$750Chevrolet (Cobalt Sedan)2007200,000Doesn’t start$200Toyota (Corolla)2003250,000Drives$555BMW (528)2008250,000Drives$1,487
CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
Call for a free quote – (844) 407-2200Get cash for your car in under 48 hoursCarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditionsUp to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
CarBrain is an efficient and convenient option for individuals looking to sell their damaged cars. The process begins by filling out an online form with information about your vehicle.
CarBrain then provides an instant or guaranteed offer, and once accepted, the company arranges for a local partner to come and pick up the car. The amount offered by CarBrain is based on the make, model, age, and condition of the vehicle.
Payment is made within 24 to 48 hours after accepting the offer, either through check or mail. CarBrain’s services are completely free of charge.
Carvana
Carvana Summary
Get an online quote within 2 minutesFree pickup wtihin 100 miles of a hubOffer valid for 7 days or 250 more milesHaggle-free process to sell your car
Carvana is one of the best ways to sell a car for cash. It is a well-trusted company that has been operating since 2012 and has scored a 3.0 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. 54% of all reviewers rate the platform as ‘excellent’, 11% – as ‘great’, and 6% – as ‘average’.
You can get a free cash offer in just a couple of minutes. All you need to do is to enter your car’s VIN or license plate number.
Carvana offers free car tow service from your location if it’s within 100 miles of one of their hubs. If you are located further away, you can either take the car to the Carvana hub or pay extra for pickup.
You can sell your car to Carvana if:
It has no excessive damage.
It is in running condition.
Odometer is working.
It is 1992 or newer.
You haven’t yet paid the loan.
CarGurus
CarGurus Summary
Receive payment within 3 working daysFind out the market value of your carList your car for sale in under 5 minutesUp to $75,000 in protection for your sale
CarGurus is a legitimate platform that allows you to sell your new or used vehicle. It offers two ways to sell your car for cash: you can either list it on their website for $4.95 and sell to a private buyer or sell it to the CarGurus 100% online.
You can get an instant cash offer after you provide the car’s VIN or license plate number and answer questions about the condition.
CarGurus will send you the best offer from their dealer network, and you will be able to schedule the car’s pickup from your location free of charge.
CarGurus will pay you via check or direct deposit within two business days and will take care of all the paperwork.