Which is Better for Selling the Car?
While NADA and KBB offer similar ways to sell your car, KBB is still a better option. Compared to NADA, KBB has its own tool that will evaluate your car and give you an instant quote, a trade-in, or an auction value. In contrast, NADA partners with J.D. Power to provide you with an instant quote.
If you agree with the offer, KBB will connect you with its partner dealership to finalize the sale. You’ll then need to visit the dealership to drop off your car and get paid on the spot or claim your trade-in value and leave the office with a new car. The whole selling process usually takes up to 48 hours.
NADA Summary
- Access buyer and seller resources
- Get accurate car evaluation
- Car values are updated every month
- Trusted by dealers for car evaluation
KBB Summary
- Provides an Instant Cash Offer
- Helps to determine your car’s value
- It’s free to use the KBB valuation tool
- Check your car for any recalls
NADA vs. KBB Comparison
| Company | NADA | KBB |
|---|---|---|
| Logo |
|
|
| Cars accepted | New and used cars in good condition | New and used cars in good condition |
| Fees | $0 | $0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application | Online application |
| Offer validity | N/A | 7 days, or additional 50 miles |
| Payments offered | Check, trade-in | Cash via check, trade-in |
| Payout | Depends on a buyer | Up to 48 hours |
| Car pick-up | Drop off | Drop off |
| Physical locations | Participating dealerships in the US | Participating dealerships in the US |
| Turnaround time | 24 hours | Up to 48 hours |
| Customer service | Email, phone, online form, and social media | Email, phone, online form, and social media |
| Reviews | N/A | 1.3 |
Consider Best Alternatives
Best for Older & Damaged Cars
Buys used, damaged or junk cars
Free tow and no hidden fees
Pays by ACH trasfer or check
Top Pick for Junk Cars
Free, no-obligation cash offers
Offers free paperwork service
Pays on the spot upon pick up
Highly Rated by Customers
Excellent customer service ratings
Honors guaranteed offer for 7 days
Can pick up a car within 48 hours
Great for Low-Mileage Cars
Gives a real offer in 2 minutes
100% hassle-free online process
Free car’s Value Tracker available
Cars Accepted
NADA and KBB don’t buy cars directly from you. They connect you with their partner dealerships, who accept new and used cars only in good condition. The car must be running and shouldn’t have any visual or mechanical damage.
Fees
NADA and KBB don’t charge any fees for requesting a quote and connecting you to their partner dealerships.
Requesting Quotes
Both NADA and KBB give you an instant quote when you submit an online form. NADA partners with J.D. Power to give you a fair value for your car. Meanwhile, KBB has its own tool to evaluate your car.
Regardless of which platform you choose to sell your car through, you’ll need to provide information about your car in your online application. These include your car’s:
- Year
- Make and model
- Current condition
- ZIP code
Offer Validity
NADA doesn’t have an offer validity period. Meanwhile, KBB’s offers are valid for 7 days or additional 50 miles. This means that you have 7 days to consider the offer and make a final decision to sell it at the price offered or not. You shouldn’t drive more than 50 miles to keep KBB’s offer either.
Payments Offered
Since both NADA and KBB connect you with local dealerships, the payments offered vary from dealership to dealership. However, dealerships usually offer payments by check or bank draft. If you choose a trade-in option, the value of your old car will automatically be deducted from the price of a new car.
Payout
In most cases, dealers pay you on the spot. It depends on the payment method whether you’ll be able to get your money on your balance right away or whether it will take some time. In case you’re trading in your old car, the amount will immediately be deducted from the new car’s value.
Car Pick-up
Neither NADA nor KBB offers pick-up services. Since they both connect you with local dealerships to sell your car to, you’ll need to drop your car off at the dealership.
Physical Locations
Both NADA and KBB work with local dealerships. When you accept an instant offer, you’ll need to bring your car in to the nearest dealership to finalize the sale.
Turnaround Time
Overall, selling your car via NADA or KBB takes 24 to 48 hours. This includes completing an online application, getting an instant quote, and dropping off your vehicle at one of their partner dealerships.
Customer Service
Both NADA and KBB allow customers to contact their customer service teams via multiple channels, including email, phone, online forms, and social media.
Here’s how to contact NADA customer service:
- Phone: 1-800-557-6232
- Email: ustomerservice@nada.org
- Online form
- Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Here’s how to contact KBB customer service:
- Phone: 1-800-258-3266
- Email: instantcashoffer@kbb.com
- Online form
- Social media: Facebook and Twitter
Reviews
| Company | NADA | KBB |
|---|---|---|
| Logo |
|
|
| Trustpilot | N/A | 1.2 |
| BBB | N/A | 1 |
NADA doesn’t have any customer reviews on reputable review sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.
Part of the reason for the poor reviews about KBB is that most users complain of receiving spam messages even when they’ve not subscribed to receive alerts. In addition, other users complain of getting inaccurate vehicle values. The company hasn’t addressed the complaints publicly.
However, some customers are happy with the service and applaud the support team for their quick responses to their queries.