We Buy Cars

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell my car to SearchCar without buying a car from SearchCar?

Yes, and our offer will be the same whether you’re buying from us or not.

Do I have to get my offer online?

No, you’re always welcome to bring your car to a SearchCar store for an in-store appraisal. To get an in-store appraisal, you can either make an appointment or simply stop by whenever it’s convenient for you.

Will you pick up my vehicle from my home?

Yes. In most situations, SearchCar can arrange to pick up your vehicle for an appraisal/Offer to purchase.

What can I expect during my appointment?

• When you arrive, you’ll park in the customer parking lot and come inside to let us know you’re here for an appraisal.
• Our appraisal process is part of our ISO certified system that allows us to make an offer to purchase based on up to the minute values across the United States.
• You’ll participate in your car’s appraisal – so you can point out all the key features and history of your car. You will be asked about the history and maintenance of your car.
• An Offer to Purchase may be contingent on verifying a car’s mechanical condition with a test drive and/or a review of the cosmetic condition of the vehicle.
• If you’re trading in, you can apply any positive equity from your current car to the down payment on your next car that will also save you additional taxes depending on your state of registration.

Do I need an appointment to sell my car?

No appointment is necessary, however, to save you time you can schedule an appointment using the form for scheduling an appraisal/offer to purchase. You can also call your local store.

Do I have to sell my car at the same location that gave me an offer?

You may sell your car at any SearchCar Emporium location with the same written offer for seven days. If your appraisal was completed more than seven days ago, we will re-appraise your car and provide an updated offer.

How do you determine my offer?

• A SearchCar trained appraiser considers current market conditions including auctions and regional selling prices, as well as your car’s specific year, make, model, mileage and vehicle history report. We examine your car’s condition both on the inside and outside for defects that may include reviewing the frame condition and checking for flood damage. We also test drive your car and check to see the brakes, lighting, tire and suspension condition. If repairs are indicated we may adjust our offer to purchase accordingly.

What do I need to sell my car?

Requirements can vary from state to state, but there are the primary items you’ll need no matter where you are:

• Your car’s title or payoff information. All people on the title should be present.
• Current and Valid registration
• Valid state-issued photo ID for all people on the title
• All sets of keys and remotes
• Please note that you don’t need these things to get an offer to purchase your car or leased vehicle, but if you think you plan to sell when you get the offer to purchase, you should come prepared with these items.

How do I get paid for my car?

If we receive a clear title to your vehicle we can process a payment by check from between the same day to 48 business hours.

If there is a lien on the vehicle, we must process the lien release to facilitate payment.

What if I owe more on my car than the amount of your offer?

If your payoff amount is more than the offer to purchase your car, the difference is called "negative equity." In some cases, the negative equity can be included in your financing when you buy a SearchCar Emporium car. If not, we’ll calculate the difference between your pay-off and our offer to you and you can pay SearchCar Emporium directly. If the amount you owe is less than $250, we will accept a personal check. SearchCar Emporium stores accept cashier’s checks, certified checks, certified funds, cash, and debit cards.. Our written offers are good for seven days and 300 miles, giving you time to get any necessary funds to settle your transaction.

Do you buy leased cars?

Yes! In most cases, you can sell your leased car in almost the same way as any other financed car. We’ll appraise the car, then contact the leasing company for a payoff quote and process any equity you might have. Please note that some leasing companies will not allow you to sell the car prior to the expiration of the lease. Also, be aware that your leased car might not be eligible for trade-in tax savings. Check with your leasing company for complete details.

Other restrictions may apply, see dealer for details.