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Shift is an online used car dealership where you can sell your car with ease. Instead of waiting for a potential buyer to purchase your car, Shift will evaluate your car for free and make you a direct offer for it. In addition, you can also have an evaluator from Shift come to your location to inspect the car and pick it up. Shift enables you to get cash for your used car within 3 to 7 days.
Pros
- Quick payment processing time – after Shift has picked up your car, they will make payment to your bank account via direct deposit within 24 hours.
- $200 bonus – Shift will also give you an extra $200 if you agree to sell your car to them during your first evaluation appointment with them.
- 2 options for car evaluation – you can either have Shift evaluate your car from the convenience of your home, or bring your car to one of their hubs.
- No obligation offer – once Shift makes you an offer, you have 7 days to decide whether to accept it. You can reject it if you think it is too low.
Cons
- Shift can reject your car within 48 hours – after taking your car, Shift will do a final inspection, and they can return it to you if your car fails.
- Relatively low offers – you are likely to get between 20% to 50% more if you were to sell your car directly to a buyer instead of to a dealership.
Jump to: Full Review
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via online form or call on (855) 925 4302
$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)
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 Does Shift Car Sales Work?
When it comes to selling your car to Shift, it works in 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Get a Free Car Price Estimate
By filling out Shift’s online application, they’ll analyze the data on similar cars and your local market.Â
You will need to provide the details about your car like its make and model, manufacturing year, and current condition.Â
Within an hour after you’ve submitted an online application, Shift will contact you with an estimated price offer.
Step 2: Book an At-home Evaluation
If you like the estimate, you can schedule an evaluation with a Shift Concierge to determine the final offer based on your car’s condition.
Every car must pass Shift’s 150+ point inspection, or they won’t buy it. But don’t worry, you won’t have to do anything. The Shift professional technicians will review all of the records and ownership info to make sure everything checks.
During the 150+ inspection, Shift will check:
- Stationary road test
- Brakes & wheels
- Under hood checks
- Suspension checks
- Under body checks
- Driving road test
Shift offers a free at-home evaluation if you’re not able to visit one of the Shift inspection locations.
Step 3: Get Paid Fast
As the best place to trade your car, Shift will transfer the money directly to your bank account if you accept their final offer.Â
What’s good, Shift takes care of all the paperwork, so you don’t have to. Plus, they’ll initiate the payment within 24 hours of selling your car.
Sometimes bank deposits take between 3 and 7 business days.
How Much Can You Get for Your Car with Shift?
Pro tip: You can also enter your License Plate or VIN, and Shift will identify your car details automatically.
Who is Shift Best For?
As one of the best online car selling sites, Shift is suitable for individuals who want to sell their cars online and get paid fast.
What Types of Vehicles Does Shift Purchase?
Shift deals in cars such as;Â
- Cars with water damaged
- Non-running cars
- Accident damaged cars
- Used cars
- Junk cars
How Fast Can You Sell Your Car with Shift?
Shift can give you an offer within minutes and initiate payment 24 hours after accepting the offer.
Shift Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Use Shift?
Selling your car through Shift, you’ll be charged an 8% service fee.
Shift Payment Options
The company will initiate the payment within 24 hours of selling your car and transfer the money directly to your bank account if you accept their final offer.Â
Shift Review: Is Shift Legit?
With over 75,000 customers Shift is a legitimate company to sell or buy your vehicle in the safest way possible. Having a rating of 4.3 on Trustpilot and 3.3 on Facebook, buyers liked their door to door car picking process. Others also praised the app as very easy to use.Â
However, a few sellers had issues with Shift customer service claiming they didn’t respond in time. Others also think the company’s personnel never handled them well.
Shift reviews you can find on the web:
What are the Shift Pros & Cons?
Shift Pros
- Free inspection
- Fair price offer for your used car
- At-home evaluation for your car
- Free vehicle estimate
Shift Cons
- Poor customer service quality
- Paperwork may take anywhere from 30 to 60 days; sometimes up to 90 days
How Good Is Shift Support?
Shift has a comprehensive frequently asked questions page, blogs and other articles related to buying and selling of cars. You can also contact Customer Service with any questions, concerns, or complaints by email at Support@Shift.com.Â
Shift Review Verdict: Is it Worth Selling Car with Shift?
Selling your car with Shift is definitely worth it as it avoids the hassle of waiting for a potential buyer to show interest in your car. Instead, Shift will evaluate your car for free and buy it from you directly. This way, you’ll be able to get cash for your used car in no time.
What’s good, Shift offers 2 types of inspection. You can either visit the Shift outlet in your area, or they will come to your driveway to inspect your car. Either way, the process is pretty simple and straightforward for you.
Moreover, Shift has been around for over 10 years, so they know how to make car-buying and car-selling a breeze.
Sites Like Shift
| Sites Like Carmax | Shift | Peddle | Wheezly | eBay Motors |
| Pricing | Service fees of 8% | Peddle has no seller fees | On Wheelzy, you list your car for sale at no charge | Basic package $25Plus package $55Pro package $95 |
Shift vs. Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
Peddle, like Shift, is a great way to sell your car online with free tows and instant offers. Furthermore, Peddle pays in cash – which means you can get your money quickly without waiting for payments from banks.
Unlike Peddle, Shift does a technical inspection while Peddle buys it with no questions asked.
Shift vs. Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
The Wheelzy platform is one of the easiest ways to sell your car. You get a fair offer in just a few minutes after submitting an online application. And if you accept the offer, the Wheelzy agent will pick up your car.
Wheelzy also has better customer ratings, cash payments availability, and AI technology to send offers automatically. What’s more, unlike Shift, Wheelzy comes with no fees.
Shift vs. eBay Motors
eBay Motors Summary
- Sell 20+ types of vehicle and car parts
- Low listing fees starting from just $19
- List a car for sale in under 10 minutes
- 2 selling options – fixed price or auction
eBay Motors is one of two major platforms that eBay offers for buying and selling cars. Like Shift, eBay Motors is dedicated to buying and selling cars.Â
Both platforms also offer a step-by-step set of instructions to guide you through the selling process. While eBay Motors charges transaction fees when your item gets a bid, Shift charges 8% service fees.
Shift vs. CarBrain
CarBrain Summary
- Get an online offer within 2 minutes
- Get cash for your car in under 48 hours
- CarBrain buys cars in over 7 conditions
- Up to 7 days to accept CarBrain’s offer
CarBrain is an innovative car dealership alternative to Shift. Like other alternatives on this list, CarBrain also purchases your car directly. To get an instant quote in a few minutes, all you need to do is to submit an online application.
If you like the deal CarBrain provides, the agent will pick up or tow your car for free within the next 48 hours. Unlike Shift, CarBrain has no service fees.
Other Car Selling Sites Like Shift
Shift FAQ
What is Shift?
The Shift’s mission is to make buying and selling cars fun, fair, and accessible to everyone.
What documents are needed to sell my vehicle?
You need the following 3 documents in order to sell your vehicle to Shift:
- Vehicle’s title
- Current registration
- Legal identification
All the titleholders and registered owners must be present at the appointment, as well as the keys. Besides that, if the car is financed and you don’t have the title, please use a 10-day loan payoff statement.
Can Shift purchase my leased vehicle?
Shift will purchase your leased vehicle. As soon as you find out how much your vehicle is worth with Shift’s estimator, you’ll be able to schedule an evaluation. They’ll ask you to provide your lease information and contact your leasing agent to begin the process.
I can’t find my title. Can Shift still purchase my car?
Shift will still purchase your car if you can’t find your title. If the car currently has a title in California, Shift can apply for a duplicate title (DMV fee is $21) on your behalf. However, if your car is titled outside of California and doesn’t have a lien, you must have your title.
Do I need an appointment to sell my car with Shift?
Shift requires an appointment in advance to ensure they can meet you at the designated time and location.
Is Shift a legit company?
Shift is a legit company that helps individuals sell their cars.
Shift’s pricing algorithm uses thousands of data points to estimate your car’s value. The calculations is based on car details and mileage, buyer demand in your zip code and city, features and packages, and the estimated condition of the car.
