Selling A Prestige Car On Carwow or Motorway-What You Need To Know
We’re often asked, “Is Motorway or Carwow a good place to sell a prestige car?” Well, the answer lies in how the site works. Let’s keep this simple and start by using a checklist to save you time.
- Are you comfortable dealing with the sale yourself-we dont mean calling around dealers to get a price but the actual handover of the car, the paperwork, the payment and paying off your finance?
- Are you happy for your car’s details to be sent to any dealer they deem fit and for your name and address to be shared when they win your car?
- Are you comfortable negotiating the final price when the dealer collects the car?
If the answer is yes to all those questions, then you’ll probably be okay with how Motorway or Carwow sell your car; read no further.
But if thats not the experience you thought you were signing up for-you’re not alone.
see these reviews on trustpilot
Let Us Guess What You Want.
Big marketing companies have car buyers figured out. There’s no doubt they know what floats your boat.
” I just want the highest price”
35 years in the motortrade and this is still what everyone says is the single most important thing
Of course you do—that’s completely understandable. Everyone wants the best deal possible. But being quoted the highest price and receiving it? Well, those are two entirely different things.
And that’s precisely where Carwow and Motorway’s marketing departments work their magic.
Motorway’s Marketing
Their entire pitch is built around the promise of “extra money in your pocket.” Just look at Motorway’s advertising campaign—it doesn’t just suggest you’ll get more; it nudges you to start planning what to do with all that extra cash—a dream holiday? A luxury bedroom makeover?
These adverts are carefully crafted to tug at your emotions, linking the sale of your car to a happy place or experience—as if offloading your motor through their platform will automatically lead to a better life.
Look at Motorway’s homepage, where they proudly showcase their “More Money Stories“—reinforcing the idea that sellers are walking away with piles of cash.
Carwow Marketing
Is more focused on helping you buy another car as they also have a new car broker part of the business- so their claim is “ordinary people got £1000 than PX quotes” When you dive deeper, that’s from a survey of just 114 people which casts doubt on the following figure “Join over 10 Million people who weve helped find or sell a car.”
Other than that, they focus a lot on Matt Watson’s sheer likeability, who comes across as the Motortrades version of Martin Lewis.
Now, let’s be fair—plenty of people have had a smooth and successful sale through Motorway and Carwow. There’s no denying that. But what about those who haven’t? Do the 1-3 star reviewers count? Are their experiences just inconvenient outliers, or do they paint a different picture?
It’s time to examine the experiences of sellers who didn’t receive the fairy-tale ending these platforms love to advertise.
How Many People Feel Let Down by Carwow & Motorway?
When does a review become a problem? Anything below 4 out of 5 stars is a red flag for any company that values its reputation. Carwow has 5,242 poor reviews by that standard—roughly 8% of all feedback (source: Trustpilot).
Motorway reviews have a slightly higher percentage, showing 7283 poor reviews, roughly 10% of all feedback ( source Trustpilot)
So, what’s causing the frustration? We analysed 300 negative reviews ( or ChatGPT did), revealing a very different reality from the glossy marketing promises.
Top 5 Complaints About Carwow
⚫ Overinflated Valuations – The initial price looks great… until actual offers come in much lower, leading to wasted time and frustration.
⚫ Price Chipping at Collection – The “final price” isn’t final. Buyers often knock off hundreds or even thousands at the last minute, citing minor or pre-disclosed issues.
⚫ Poor Communication & Delays – Sellers frequently chase updates, experience slow responses, and find support lacking when problems arise.
⚫ Lack of Control Over Buyers – Unlike a dealership sale, you don’t choose who buys your car, sometimes leading to aggressive negotiations or buyers who don’t follow through.
⚫ Misleading Selling Process – The promise of a hassle-free experience? Many find hidden fees, unexpected effort, and a process that’s far from seamless.
Carwow’s Typical Response
⬛ “We’re sorry your experience didn’t meet expectations.”
⬛ “The valuation is an estimate.” (Translation: Not our problem.)
⬛ “Auction prices depend on dealer bids.” (Even if they come in much lower.)
⬛ “Please contact support.” (Which, according to reviews, rarely leads anywhere.)
⬛ *Corporate sign-off from ‘Eduardo’, ‘Jers’, or ‘Carolina’ from the Customer Experience Team.
Top 5 Complaints About Motorway
⚫ Delayed or Failed Collections – Pickups get postponed repeatedly, sometimes for weeks, leaving sellers stuck in limbo.
⚫ Price Reductions at Collection – The “agreed” price isn’t guaranteed—dealers often renegotiate at the last minute, citing minor faults or vague issues.
⚫ Poor Communication & Support – Slow responses, lack of updates, and frustrating back-and-forths leave sellers feeling abandoned.
⚫ Overinflated Valuations – Much like Carwow, Motorway’s high initial valuations often don’t hold up, leading to lower-than-expected offers or no bids.
⚫ Complicated & Bureaucratic Process – Excessive document requests, app issues, and drawn-out verification cause headaches—especially in complex ownership cases.
Motorway’s Typical Response
⬛ “We’re sorry your experience didn’t meet expectations.”
⬛ “We’re looking into this and will respond shortly.” (Translation: We hope you forget about it.)
⬛ “Please contact support.” (Many reviews suggest this leads nowhere.)
⬛ “Provide more info via Trustpilot.” (Often seen as just another hoop to jump through.)
⬛ *Corporate sign-off from ‘Han’ or ‘Tyler’ from the Escalations Team.
So, What’s the Pattern?
Both platforms follow a predictable formula:
✅ Dangle high valuations to attract sellers.
✅ Shift the blame when things go wrong.
✅ Respond with scripted corporate jargon.
And here’s the thing—this isn’t some well-kept secret. It’s all there for anyone willing to look.
But let’s be honest—that’s not how most people operate, is it?
It’s the same reason we fall for hidden airline baggage fees, get lured in by ‘too-good-to-be-true’ car rentals, or overpay for toilet paper: supermarket pricing per sheet, roll, or wipe is deliberately confusing.
The uneasy truth is that the public chase the highest number and ignores other factors.
Is there a Better Deal?
If you’ve read this far, you might be thinking:
“This guy’s just trying to justify a lower price.”
And that’s precisely what big marketing machines want you to believe—that anything other than “more money” just sounds like “less money.”
But here’s the reality: a better deal isn’t just about numbers—it’s about peace of mind, security, and a process that doesn’t leave you second-guessing.
There’s no room for games when a company’s first price is its final price. And that makes it challenging for someone with higher values (see what we did there?) to compete against inflated online estimates designed to lure you in.
The only real “marketing” we can offer?
👉 0% of our customers have left us a negative review.
And given that it’s far easier to leave a bad review than a good one, we think that speaks for itself.
We Always Honour Our Quotes—Get Yours Below.