Carwow or Autotrader?
Where's the best place to sell your car online?
Here, we compare online marketplaces Carwow and Autotrader.
*All data is accurate as of 06/08/2025
What is Carwow?
Carwow was founded in 2010. It started as a reviews site and has since evolved into a buying and selling platform for cars and vans. Carwow currently operates in the UK, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
How is Carwow different to Autotrader?
Autotrader
Autotrader lets you buy, lease or sell used, approved-used and brand-new cars and vans, along with bikes, motorhomes, caravans, trucks, plant and farm machinery.
There are various ways to sell your car to suit your best needs – you can advertise your car on Autotrader, sell your car to a dealer, or part exchange your car.
Carwow
Carwow lets you buy, lease or sell cars. You can also buy new and used vans. You can sell your car on Carwow by putting it on auction to their pool of dealers who will bid on your car. Unlike Autotrader and other automotive marketplaces, you can only sell your car to a dealer, so you can’t sell your car privately to potential buyers.
Finding the best deal
Autotrader and Carwow have various filters that you can use to refine the search results.
On Autotrader, we also provide dealer reviews so that you can make an informed decision and buy with peace of mind.
Autotrader
Autotrader offers used cars from private sales and our trusted dealers. We also have over 60 new car brands for you to choose from.
Carwow
Carwow offers used cars advertised by their network of dealers. They also offer new cars from over 40 car brands.
Valuing your car
Both Carwow and Autotrader provide a free online car valuation to sellers.
Services
If you're looking to sell, Autotrader offers three convenient methods: private sale, part exchange, and selling to our trusted network dealers.
With Carwow, you can only sell your car to their verified dealers dealers through an auction.
Carwow
Carwow focuses solely on buying and leasing cars and vans. You can also sell cars through their website.
Service fee
If you’re looking to sell your car privately, Autotrader offer a range of ad packages. The price depends on how much your car is worth, so you don’t have to pay over the odds to advertise a car that’s only worth a few hundred. Our full price list is available here .
On Carwow, you can’t sell your car privately.
Autotrader
On Autotrader, you can sell your car fast for free to our trusted network of dealers.
Carwow
On Carwow too, you can sell your car for free to their dealers.