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Business Profile

Used Car Dealers

AutoTrader.com

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Used Car Dealers.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for AutoTrader.com's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 118 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 43 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/11/2025

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On July 13th, 2024, I was sold a run till sold ad. My ad was removed on June, 2024. I made numerous attempts to have my ad, reinstated. I was only given a 40 day renewal. I spoke to several supervisor, expressed my frustration & was told it was new ************* refused to reinstate my ad, or refund amount paid. This is a **************

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/06/2025

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Paid $50 for Scam Messages Avoid AutoTrader at All Costs Im writing this review as a warning to anyone considering listing their vehicle on AutoTrader.com **save your money**.I paid /$50 to post a vehicle, expecting a reputable platform with legitimate buyer interest. What I got instead was a complete waste of time and money. The experience felt more like a scam than a paid service.Within 24 hours of my listing going live, I received three inquiries. Sounds promising, right? **Wrong.** Two were obvious vehicle history report scams the kind where they send shady links to steal your credit card info. The third contact was just as suspicious: vague, inconsistent, and full of red flags. Not one felt like a real buyer.Frustrated, I contacted AutoTrader's customer service about 12 hours after paying. I asked for a refund, given the platform was clearly failing to deliver. Their response? A **partial refund of /$20**, but only if I agreed to **take the listing down**. So let me get this straight I pay /$50, get hit with scam messages, and then AutoTrader graciously gives me /$20 back to walk away? Thats not customer service thats a polite ripoff.There was **zero value** in the listing. I honestly feel like I **paid AutoTrader to be spammed**. Meanwhile, free platforms offer better visibility and more credible leads.AutoTrader once had a solid reputation, but from my experience, thats long gone. The site now feels like a ghost town full of bots and scams, and their refund policy seems designed to minimize accountability.**Bottom line:** I got no real exposure, no serious leads, and absolutely no return on my /$50 just disappointment and a scam-filled inbox.Ill never use AutoTrader again, and I strongly urge others to look elsewhere. If you're selling a car, do yourself a favor and avoid paying to be disappointed.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/03/2025

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I purchased a vehicle through the autotrader private seller market. I was advised they would have my registration and license plate mailed to me. Their website clearly states the same.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/03/2025

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I placed an ad for a 1991 ****** pickup, classic. I have received nothing but scams posing as buyers . The problem is Auto Trader does absolutely nothing in regards to fraud for consumers. This scammer went as far as to send me a fake cashiers check for ****** which was over the asking price. If I was not intelligent I would have cashed the fake check and fallen for the scam. I called 2 ******** service lines to report fraud. First ******** service line was a fake AI voice. Second ******** service line was a lady from ***** that when confronted lied and claims they can not let a ******** speak to North American agents. Also stated that scams happen all the time and we are not allowed to receive a refund for the scam ads. I am requesting a refund and apology for this nonsense. Passing the buck off to overseas ******** service in order to profit millions off of scam ads.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/28/2025

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I put my number in for one vehicle I was looking at, and have now been spammed everyday by text from various scammers attempting to get me to click on nefarious links.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/22/2025

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      This service blocks me from using a mobile device to login to view messages from potential buyers. **************** was argumentative and very rude and refused a refund requested on the same day as purchase stating "they don't do that".

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/20/2025

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      unknow date - AD ID ******* - paid Autotrader Private Seller Exchange to advertise 2013 Chevrolet Impala 9/22/2023 - Vehicle sold using Autotrader Private Seller Exchange - Vehicle Bill of Sale dated 9/22/2023 sold vehicle. (attached document)9/28/2023 - Title taken to local county county clerk for notoary and sign title for transfer. (attached document)2/28/2024 - When renewing registration to other personal vehicles for ******************************************************************** my name.****** ****** completed Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer at County clerks office. (attached document)2/25/2025 - county clerks office advised still registered in my name.4/10/204 - signed POA and odometer reading at ************* ************* so duplicate title could be applied for as Autotrader had lost the original title.4/22/2025 - Advised by the County ************* via phone call that I needed to come into the ************* to sign paperwork that Autotrader sent to the clerks office. I completed documents for title transfer into Autotrader name at ************* office. I advised County Clerk that power of attorney paperwork already given to Autotrader and the county clerk advised they were aware but for me to come in and complete paperwork to make transaction quicker. (attached document)6/11/2025 - Checked with County ************* to see if title had been sent to Autotrader and was advised it was sent 8/20/2025 - Checked with County ************* and advised the *****************************************

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/15/2025

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I purchased a vehicle through Auto Trader in January 2024. I have never received the title so I cannot get the vehicle registered, or get a plate. When I purchased the vehicle, they (auto trader) sent me a tag to be valid thru March 2024. They told me it would take 3 or 4 mos to get the title. I have reached out to auto Trader many times and each time, somehow, the person that I need to speak to about this matter is off that day. So, they tell me they will escalate this to management and I will get a call back. But, that call never happens. I would really like someone, anyone, at Auto Trader to have some work ethic & do the job they are supposed to do. I have been far too nice about this ************* have had it. If this doesnt get me the result I deserve then, I will move on to Consumer Complaints & the ************************.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/29/2025

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I purchased a 40 day Ad on AutoTrader. (attachment of receipt)Almost immediately I was inundated with scams I received 6 Total requests to see my vehicle.None of these were real however, the web site has no screening protections on their accounts.Basically wasting hours of my valuable time weeding through which customers were real and which were not. Driving to show my vehicle to someone who was not really coming.Second I received an offer for my vehicle from Autotrader, at almost $12,000 less than KBB ******** was a ridiculous offer, and there was no way to respond to this other than to accept, there is no decline, and refuse other offers. Somehow I find it a conflict of interest if a company I am advertising with also wants to purchase my vehicle at a lower price. I sent an email to Autotrader asking not to receive any of these offers from them, and that I found their offer insulting.However that was not the case as they made another offer to me... which frustrated me so much that I cancelled their ad after only 10 days. 30 days short of what I had paid for.I find that their "service" was lacking in any screening process in their contact method, which is basically a public forum, and has no controls.I also find their lack of respect for my time was very insulting.I request a full refund as they only provided me with a terrible experience and wasted my valuable time.If this cannot be resolved here, I intend to seek restitution through the small claims process and seek additional damages, and court costs.Telling me that your refund policy doesn't allow a refund is unacceptable, you should not be able to keep my money if you do not provide the service which you say that you will.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/24/2025

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      This is my second ad placed with Autotrader recently (Ad ID: *********. They have changed their pricing structure for ads. My vehicle is fairly expensive, so they charged me $79 instead of $49. My ad doesn't take up any more space than an ad for a $20,000 car, but they take advantage of people selling higher priced cars. I accepted that, as unfair as it is, but I just realized what an unscrupulous company this really is. When I placed the first ad, I was unfamiliar with the "Private Seller Exchange," which charges sellers a percentage of the vehicle price when someone makes an offer and it is accepted. I wanted no part of this the second time, so I called customer service BEFORE I placed the ad. I explained that I DID NOT want to use the **** but that the text on the confirmation page stated that I was agreeing to the *** terms. The customer service representative ASSURED ME SEVERAL TIMES that I was not committing to selling it this way, and that I would simply have the choice to do it later. This is COMPLETELY FALSE, as I found out today. When I did a search on my vehicle just as if I was a buyer looking for a car like mine, I saw that my vehicle WAS indeed listed under the Private Seller Exchange. There was NO LINK for a buyer to inquire about my car. There was just a link to "Make an Offer" on the **** I have received nothing but scam messages trying to get me to purchase a vehicle history report from a SCAM company, and NO POTENTIAL BUYER CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY concerning my vehicle. I DEMAND A FULL AND IMMEDIATE REFUND FOR MY AD. This company is UNSCRUPULOUS and should be shut down. They don't resemble the Autotrader I used to use on a regular basis many years ago. If I don't receive a full refund, I'm escalating my complaint to the ************************* as well as disputing the charge on my credit card. This company is SCAMMING people, unless you are a dealer listing vehicles. What a SHAME they RUINED it!! Hidden ESCROW fees for buyers too!!

    AutoTrader.com is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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