Short answer: CarBrain is an online buyer of damaged, wrecked and non-running cars, based in Miami Lakes, Florida. The Better Business Bureau grades it A, and Trustpilot shows 4.8 out of 5 from 7,788 reviews. It gives you seven days to accept an offer, tows without charge and pays by check. It requires a title in the seller's name.
Disclosure: the cash offer form on U-Pull-It.com is run by Wheelzy, which competes with CarBrain, and we may be paid when a reader sells a car through it. CarBrain did not pay for or review this article. We have not sold a car to CarBrain ourselves, so everything here comes from public sources.
Last checked: September 29, 2026. Company facts and process are from carbrain.com and its FAQ. Ratings are from bbb.org and trustpilot.com.
What do the ratings say?
| Source | Rating | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau | A | Accredited since December 2017. 19 complaints in the last three years, 7 of them closed in the last 12 months |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 out of 5 | 7,788 reviews. 89% five-star, 2% one-star |
| CarBrain's own site | A+ and 9.6 out of 10 | Reported by CarBrain. The A+ does not match the grade we saw at the bureau |
The gap between A and A+ is small, and grades change. It is still a reason to read the rating at the source, which takes a minute.
What the praise has in common: a named buyer stays in touch through the sale, the offer arrives quickly, and the driver hands over a check. What the complaints have in common: a lower amount offered at pickup, often over a part such as the catalytic converter, and delays in scheduling the tow.
How does CarBrain make an offer?
You enter the car's details on the site, with photos if you have them. For most cars the offer appears on screen. For others a buyer calls you with a figure and sends it by email. CarBrain says it weighs the location, the value of the car before the damage, the extent of the damage, demand for the model and its parts, the mileage and the age.
| Question | What CarBrain says |
|---|---|
| How long is an offer good for? | Seven days |
| How fast is pickup? | On average 24 to 48 hours after you accept |
| How are you paid? | By check at pickup, or by mail if you choose |
| Is towing free? | Yes. Storage or repair bills from before the sale stay with you |
| Where does it buy? | 48 states, which it also describes as the continental United States |
| Do you need a title? | Yes, in the seller's name |
| What about missing parts? | Most cars with no engine or no transmission are refused. A missing bumper or radio is accepted |
CarBrain does not tow with its own trucks everywhere. Its FAQ says that offers and pickups are made by the company or by members of its network of service providers. That is why the pickup experience differs from one town to the next.
Can the offer change at pickup?
CarBrain's page on how the sale works says an accepted offer will not be subject to change. The same page asks for accurate information, and the FAQ says the price reflects the current condition of the car.
Read those together. The promise covers the car you described. If the driver finds a car that differs from the form, expect a discussion. The complaints on the rating sites are mostly about that moment.
You can protect yourself. Answer every question the way the driver will see the car. Say plainly whether the catalytic converter is there, and look up catalytic converter values to see how much it moves the price. Upload photos of all four sides, the interior and the damage. Keep the email that confirms the offer.
CarBrain says you do not release the car until you are paid. If the amount offered on your driveway is lower than the email, you can refuse, and the car is still yours.
CarBrain's own one-minute advertisement, published June 2020. It is the company's video, not an independent review.
What paperwork do you need?
CarBrain's FAQ is firm about the title. It requires a valid, signed title from the registered owner and says it cannot buy a vehicle without one. If that rules you out, read about selling a car without a title before you try another buyer.
For some cars the company asks for a photo or scan of the signed title and of your driver's license once you accept. The driver collects the original title, the keys and the car. If a lender holds the title, CarBrain says it can help with the release.
