---
title: How It Works - Sell Your Car in a Few Easy Steps
description: Step-by-step guide to selling your car through Driveo — from the online form to receiving payment and a free ride.
canonical: https://www.driveo.com/how-it-works/
url: https://www.driveo.com/how-it-works/
last_updated: 2026-03-21
---

# How It Works

> Selling your car to Driveo is a four-step process: fill out the online form, receive a competitive quote, visit your local drop-off location to complete the sale, and enjoy a free ride home.

## Step 1: Tell Us About Your Car

Fill out a short online form at https://www.driveo.com/sell-my-car with basic questions about your car and its condition. You can include photos and the VIN, but neither is required to receive a quote.

## Step 2: Get Your Quote

Driveo appraises your car based on the information provided and sends you a quote by email and text. Common cars may receive AI-generated quotes; many are reviewed by human appraisers for accuracy, especially when extra details, issues, or non-mainstream vehicles are involved. Manual review usually takes about an hour. The goal is accuracy — if the car is as described, the quote holds.

Your quote includes three numbers for full transparency:
- **Trade-in value:** What most dealers would offer on a trade-in deal
- **Private sale value:** What you could realistically get selling on your own
- **Driveo offer:** Falls between the two, based on current market demand for your vehicle

Most quotes use a dual-tier system: full price for approximately the first 10 days, then a slight adjustment (typically around 3%) for the remaining period — total validity is about 30 days. Once you've got your quote, just schedule an appointment for a day and time that works for you.

## Step 3: Cruise In, Cash Out

Schedule an appointment at your local drop-off location within the validity window. The inspection takes about 30 minutes. During your appointment:

- An appraiser verifies the information you provided with a brief inspection and possibly a test drive
- The quote may be adjusted: up for features you forgot to mention, or down for discrepancies
- If you accept the final offer, Driveo handles all paperwork and issues same-day payment
- If you're not ready to sell, no pressure — take your time

## Step 4: Free Ride

After selling your car, a complimentary local ride is typically provided, such as an Uber or Lyft, to anywhere you need to go.

## Our Pricing Advantage

Driveo quotes are transparent, competitive, and based on real market research — not just book values.

### What Does the Quote Look Like?

Unlike traditional quotes, Driveo also considers trade-in value and private party sale price when evaluating your car. The quote shows you how much your car is worth in a standard trade-in and the amount you could get selling it yourself. Driveo's number falls in between, giving you the power to choose and make the right decision.

### Real Numbers, Honest Offers

Driveo believes a truly accurate appraisal cannot be automated. Before making an offer, real market research is conducted — checking book values, auction data, and comparing your car to similar vehicles listed for sale to provide an offer that is real, honest, and competitive.

### Why Driveo Can Pay More

Used cars go on a long journey before reaching their new owners. You get a low offer at trade-in due to several parties wanting to profit: the trade-in dealer, the wholesale dealer, the auction house, transport companies, and the used car dealer. Driveo cuts out all the middlemen by buying directly from you, so you get more cash for your ride.

## What to Bring

- All keys and remotes to the car
- Service records, if available
- Current registration and title, if available
- Driver's license or valid ID
- If car is not paid off: your lender's payoff information

## Tips for Your Visit

- Remove all personal items from the car — don't forget parking permits, decals, and garage openers
- No smog test needed — Driveo handles it
- No need to wash or detail the car
- Car not paid off? Have the payoff information ready. Driveo sends payment to your lender and gives you the difference. Any negative equity or remaining financial obligations should be paid at the time of sale in order to send a full payoff to the lender.
- All legal owners must be present — contact Driveo if you are not sure whether all owners are necessary