WeBuyAnyCar alternatives
Note: We Buy Any Car is not a commercial partner of Motorway. Last updated on 24th November, 2023.
WeBuyAnyCar launched in 2006 as the UK’s first online car-buying service providing instant car valuations and the ability to sell your car within hours. The site introduced a new level of speed and convenience to the process of selling your car. The concept quickly became popular UK-wide. In 2019, the company was bought by the private equity firm TDR Capital.
Whilst it remains a leading instant-buying service in the automotive space, many alternative ways to selling with We Buy Any Car are also available.
Read our car selling guide on alternative options to WeBuyAnyCar:
- How to use WeBuyAnyCar
- Instant online car-buying companies
- How to sell your car privately
- How to sell your car to a dealership
- How to part exchange your car
- How to sell your car on a free listing site
- How to scrap your car
- Is Motorway the same as WeBuyAnyCar?
- Selling your car the Motorway way
How to use WeBuyAnyCar
WeBuyAnyCar.com is not a commercial partner of Motorway.
WeBuyAnyCar was the UK’s first nationwide company for selling any car at a price determined initially by an instant online valuation. Their service offers a very fast, convenient way of selling a car without the need to sell privately to another individual, or through a car dealer.
Since they launched, they have become one of the UK’s most recognisable car-selling brands and, according to their website, have helped over a million customers sell their car.
How it works
Customers first go to webuyanycar.com to enter their car’s mileage and reg. They’ll get a valuation for their car, valid for four days.
They then drive their car to the nearest branch, where a representative will meet them to assess the vehicle. Once this is completed, the customer will receive a final quote to buy their car.
If the final price is agreed, the customer leaves their car behind and payment is made. There are no obligations, and customers are free to drive away at any stage if they’re unhappy with the final offer.
Admin fees and payments
There is no transaction fee if you choose not to sell your car through We Buy Any Car at any point. However, if you do decide to sell your car, then a transaction fee applies at the point of sale. This fee varies and is dictated by the final price you receive for your car.
There are no fees for cars valued below £99.99 (subject to a minimum valuation of £50). A transaction fee of £49.99 applies to cars valued at £100 to £3,999.99. For cars priced at £4,000 or more, the transaction fee is £74.99.
There are also fees if you want to receive your payment faster than the standard processing time of 4 working days. You can opt for ‘next working day’ for the price of £24.75, or £29.75 for a same-day payment service which takes a few hours to receive funds.
Instant online car-buying companies
There are many competitors to WeBuyAnyCar, other companies that will instantly buy your car after an online valuation. Some of these operate at a national level, and there are also local companies that offer a similar experience for car sellers too.
There is lots of variation across these instant car-buyers. Below we’ve broken down the most common benefits offered by some of the best-known companies similar to We Buy Any Car.
Motorway is slightly different to standalone instant car buyers, being an online car buying service with a marketplace model, that sees thousands of individual, verified dealers competing directly to offer their best price for your used car.
| Company | Zero fees | Instant payment | Home pick-up | Dealers compete |
| WeWantAnyCar* | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Money4YourMotors* | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| The Car Buying Group** | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Best Car Buyer** | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Evans Halshaw** | ✓ | |||
| Arnold Clark** | ✓ | |||
| Motorway | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
** A commercial partner of Motorway
How it works
Online car-buying companies offer various customer benefits. The main ones offered by these alternatives to WeBuyAnyCar are fee-free and instant payments, and home collection of your vehicle.
Some of the companies are attached to bricks-and-mortar car dealership franchises, whereas others operate online-only. The online car buying companies attached to bricks-and-mortar premises often require car sellers to drop their car off, rather than providing a home collection service. Depending on where you live, and your daily routine, this can make the process of selling your car less convenient.
While some of these companies prioritise the speed of sale, others are more focused on price, or convenience. There’s some diversity in the offering, but they all start by providing an instant online valuation for your car.
Admin fees and payments
WeWantAnyCar offers no administration charge for cars that sell for less than £100. For vehicles with a purchase price of over £100, the admin charge is £125.
Money4YourMotors charges no fees for cars that sell under £100, and a £125 charge for all other cars sold.
The Car Buying Group offers £50 cash back when you drop your car off at one of their centres.
How to sell your car privately
When it comes to selling your car privately, the biggest challenge is the time it can take. You have to advertise your car in the right channels to find a good market of buyers. It can be a protracted process to handle the viewings, test drives, and sale. Selling your car to a private individual can seem like more hassle than you bargained for, and can require you to publish your contact details.
While data shows this method can get you a competitive price, once you’ve factored in the project management work it takes to get said good price, you may be tempted to use a service or company after all.
How it works
When selling your car privately, the first question you have to ask yourself is whether you’ll sell to somebody you know, or whether you’ll have to find a buyer more proactively.
If you know you can find a private buyer within your personal networks and community, you may be able to set up viewings with next to no hassle. With a good idea of what your car is worth, and access to motivated buyers, it shouldn’t be hard to agree on a price. All that’s left is ensuring secure payment and handling the admin of transferring ownership.
However, if you need to find an unknown private buyer, you’ll have to advertise to a wider market, and probably online. You could advertise on a specialty site online like AutoTrader, use a free advertising or classifieds site such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace (more on these below), or find a good local solution. This might be a newsletter, local paper or even a noticeboard.
When you sell your car privately, you’re responsible for setting the price, and then arranging logistics with your buyers. Unfortunately, you might attract time-wasters, so you’ll have to factor in some screening when you set up viewings and test-drives.
The desirability of your car will make a big difference in how many buyers you have to negotiate with before you secure a good and reliable deal. Then, once again you have to ensure safe and secure payment, and handle the transfer of ownership admin.
Admin fees and payments
If you take out advertising in local newspapers, noticeboards or mailing lists, you may have to pay a fee or charitable donation. These will vary depending on location.
AutoTrader is a trusted marketplace, and it has variable advertising package costs that vary depending on the value of your car.
If your car is worth between £1,000 and £10,000, then to advertise it for two weeks with up to a hundred photos using the Basic package, it’s £36.95. The Premium, six-week advertising package includes a YouTube video and costs £58.95. The Ultimate package offers more media types and a live advertisement until your car sells, and costs £74.95.
How to sell your car to a dealership
Selling your car to a dealership is a safe option for owners with cars in good, saleable condition. It’s a good option for a quick sale, especially when there are reputable dealerships local to you, making it a reliable alternative to WeBuyAnyCar. Read our ultimate guide to selling to a dealership for a detailed analysis.
The offers that come from dealerships have a great many variables, both to do with your particular vehicle (age, mileage, service history, condition) and the dealer’s own business (customer base, location, specialism, stock). This means that the value of your car is partially determined by factors outside of your control, which may be a turn-off for price-conscious sellers.
Typically, selling to a dealership works out to be easy and fairly quick, but not the best way to get a competitive price.
How it works
Selling your car to a dealership is often the first option to come to mind. Depending on where you live, there may be several very well-reputed dealerships close by, and that can seem like a relatively hassle-free option.
Dealerships vary from standalone businesses to bigger franchises. Some are tied to one car brand, such as being VW specialists, whereas others might be independent dealers who buy and sell a variety of stock. Many dealerships will buy almost any car, but when they sell just one brand or range, you may not get as good a price for a car by a different brand. For example, selling your Mercedes to a Land Rover dealership might not get you the best price.
When you sell your car to a dealership, you’re negotiating with a business who will need to make a markup on your car. So, even if you have a value in mind based on the age, mileage, and condition, you might not be able to get a price matching this level. Dealers also base their offer on things outside your control: their stock profile, market, location, and other factors.
You’ll probably have to visit and negotiate with several dealerships in order to nudge a price up into your satisfactory range. That requires a lot of project management and sales skills from you, and you have no guarantee of a good deal at the end.
Although this is a popular alternative to WeBuyAnyCar — in fact, it was perhaps the original method of selling a car since cars were invented — it may not be the most competitive.
Admin fees and payments
There usually aren’t extra fees, but dealers can get a bad reputation for ‘price chipping’: taking chunks off their original offer due to unforeseen repair and reconditioning work that they believe the car needs. Not only does this reduce the money you can get from selling your car this way, but it also reduces trust.
There usually aren’t extra charges and costs beyond the principal transaction.
You will have to leave your car behind at the dealership and arrange transport to get back home.
How to part exchange your car
Trading in your existing car to offset against the price of a new (or, new to you) one is known as a trade-in or part exchange. Many car dealers offer this option so you can get rid of your current car and get your next car within the same transaction, and drive away in your new wheels.
Manufacturer-specific dealerships and garages also often have the option of part exchange, which might be particularly appealing if you’re a make or model loyalist.
While it may feel like a good deal to see the price of your next car come down, part exchange does not typically offer a competitive financial advantage. You’re not in a position to negotiate the discount your car will achieve against the newer one, and you are almost certain to make more from selling your car separately.
In many cases, a dealer offering part exchange will sell your old car at an auction rather than on their forecourt, and they’ll be looking for a good markup. The part exchange offer will not come very close to what you think your car is really worth.
Part exchange is most useful for drivers who want to be out with the old and in with the new quickly, but for a more compelling price for your car, it will pay to seek out other options.
How it works
To part exchange your car, you’ll still need to go through the steps to make your car sale-worthy. Start from the inside out with servicing and cleaning, and gather all key ownership documents including any financing paperwork.
It’s worth getting an independent valuation of your car before visiting a dealership — that way you’ll know whether the price you’re being offered is reasonable. You’ll choose your next car, agree on the part exchange terms and the dealership or garage will handle the transfer of ownership, as they do when you sell them your car outright.
Admin fees and payments
Each dealership handles part exchange very differently, so fees will vary from case to case. If they engage in any ‘price chipping’ (see above, How to sell your car to a Dealership) then you will see the discount you get on your next car decreasing.
Part exchange is often offered at the end of a car’s lease agreement, where cars are purchased on finance. This is different from how it works to part exchange your car as an alternative to selling.
How to sell your car on a free listing site (eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace)
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Here’s the lowdown on selling your car through a free advertising site, rather than a dedicated car-buying service such as We Buy Any Car. This is an extra step sellers may take when selling directly to a private buyer, in order to find the most motivated audience and try to avoid time-wasters. As such, there can be a fair amount of set-up work you need to do to list and advertise your car to the best of its potential.
While you’ll have high negotiation power, you’ll also need to take responsibility for setting up a secure payment method and ensuring the process is legal and following the DVLA’s guidelines.
How it works
When you have logged in to your profile on these sites, you create a digital listing for your car by entering photos, key information and writing a description. It’s up to you to make your listing as attractive and accurate as possible, to draw lots of interest. It may help to share your online listing with co-workers, friends and family and other personal networks you have in case they know any potential buyers.
Admin fees and payments
You can boost your listing on Facebook Marketplace by sponsoring the post. You’ll be able to slide a suggested budget up and down, and see how much reach this price will fetch for your post.
eBay Motors for private sellers charges £19.99 in listing fees for a classified ad, and £14.99 for either an auction style or fixed price ad. There are optional listing upgrades that come at a further cost. When you sell your vehicle on either an auction style or fixed price basis, you additionally pay 1% of the list price (for a minimum of £25 and a maximum of £45).
It’s free to sell your car on Gumtree, but boosting your advert might cost £5-£8 per week. Adverts expire after a certain period so if you don’t sell your car, you’ll have to re-list the ad.
How to scrap your car
Owners of old cars (8 years+), write-offs and other cars that are hard to sell: read on! Or read our ultimate guide to scrapping your car.
Scrapping a car is typically unlikely to make you more than £500. However, this can vary. Additionally, if you know how to safely break down your car into parts and sell them individually, as well as selling the shell, you could fetch much more.
A halfway house is possible: owners can remove and sell the highest value parts, and offer the rest of the car to a scrap merchant. You’ll likely get a similar price for the shell as you would have for the complete car. The expensive parts worth selling separately are the engine, gearbox, airbags, and seats. The biggest marketplace to sell these parts is eBay.
At Motorway, we also work with a partner to provide a scrapping service. If you’re thinking about scrapping your car, enter your reg and mileage on our dedicated scrap my car page to be directed.
How it works
When you scrap your car, you can either find a private company offering this service, or you can find an authorised treatment facility (ATF) who will scrap your vehicle and pay you the scrap value — usually by cheque.
Admin fees and payments
Fees may vary but typically, when you scrap your car, you will be offered one sum that represents the scrap value minus any deductions. You can normally expect £100-£1,000 for your scrapped vehicle, the most common price being around £500. This value tends to be the same whether you’ve already removed and sold the high-value parts or not, so it pays to sell the engine, gearbox, airbags and seats separately.
Is Motorway the same as We Buy Any Car?
No, Motorway offers a very different service from We Buy Any Car.
- Motorway does not buy your car. The sale is between you and the dealer, not you and Motorway.
- With Motorway, you profile your car on your phone, selecting answers to some key questions about the spec and condition. No need to drive to any hubs for an in-person inspection.
- We find your highest offer by allowing the 5,000+ verified car dealers in our network to compete to offer you their best price in our online daily sale. The best offer at the end of the sale gets sent to you, the seller, to approve or reject.
- When you’ve approved your offer, you enjoy free home collection, arranged with your buyer. At this point, the dealer checks over your car. If all is according to your profile, the dealer makes instant payment and drives your car away.
Selling your car the Motorway way
When you sell your car the Motorway way, 5,000+ dealers will compete to give you their best price. You can sell your car to motivated buyers without even leaving the house. It’s completely free for you, and you can get a sale agreed in as little as 24 hours.
We’ll give you all the necessary tips to profile your car while it’s looking its best and likely to fetch a great price. Our smart valuation tech helps you set a reasonable reserve price, so you won’t get any surprises when it comes to the dealers’ bids.
How it works
Selling your car on Motorway is easy, free and achievable from the comfort of your own home!
First, you get a valuation for your vehicle by entering its reg and mileage in the Motorway app or homepage. This estimated sales price is based on mint condition, and when you proceed you can create a more specific profile based on your own car. The Motorway app gives tips for taking photographs to show your car at its very best.
Once you’ve set a reserve price (the lowest amount you would like your car to sell for), your car can enter an online daily sale. We will alert the 5,000+ verified dealers across our nationwide network, who then compete to give you their best price.
When Motorway present you with this price and you approve it, you can then arrange collection directly with the dealership. Collection is free and can be set up for your work or home, depending on what suits you best.
Admin fees and payments
We charge you, the car seller, absolutely nothing. You’ll receive payment in your nominated bank account once the dealer has collected your car. Yes way!
Is it time to sell your car?
Want to learn more about owning, maintaining, and selling your car? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from finding buyers, to negotiating a good price, and completing payment safely.
- Sell your car online
- Selling with car buying websites
- Car valuation – value your car
- Top 10 tips to sell your car
- Can you sell a car without an MOT?
- Companies that buy cars
- Auto Trader alternatives
- Gumtree alternatives
- Safest ways to accept payment when selling a car
- Car selling scams and how to avoid them