Carwow vs Drive the Deal

June 13, 2026 by Siobhan Doyle

Trying to choose between Carwow and Drive the Deal? We explain the key differences to help you decide which is right for you.

Looking to buy a car online? Carwow and Drive the Deal are two platforms that help users compare offers from dealers and buy vehicles digitally, though they operate slightly differently.

This guide compares the two services, including their buying and selling features and the key differences between them.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

What is Carwow?

Carwow is an online platform that helps you buy, sell, or lease a car in a simpler, more transparent way. Instead of negotiating with individual dealers, you can compare offers from multiple trusted dealers in one place – so they compete to give you their best price on the same car.

Founded in 2010 as a car review website, Carwow now offers a range of services including new and used car listings, instant car valuations, a “Sell My Car” service where dealers bid for your vehicle, and leasing deals if you prefer not to buy outright.

What is Drive the Deal?

Drive the Deal is an online car broker that helps consumers buy brand-new cars at discounted prices from UK main dealers. It works by sourcing quotes for a specific vehicle and connecting you with the dealer offering the most competitive price.

To use the service, you choose the make, model and specification of the car you want on the website. Drive the Deal then searches its network of UK main dealers to find the lowest available quote.

How is Drive the Deal different from Carwow?

Drive the Deal and Carwow both help you compare offers from main dealers and buy new cars online, but they work in different ways.

Carwow is a digital marketplace where you configure the exact car you want and receive competing offers from multiple franchised dealers. You can compare these offers by price and location before choosing one and completing the purchase or finance directly with the dealer.

Drive the Deal, by contrast, acts as an online broker. It offers pre-negotiated discounted prices on new cars, rather than a bidding process. Once you place an order request, it connects you with a UK main dealer to finalise the sale and arrange delivery or paperwork.

Both services are free for buyers and aim to reduce the need for traditional showroom negotiation.

	Carwow	Drive the Deal
New cars	Yes	Yes
Used cars	Yes	No
Car leasing	Yes	Yes
Car selling	Yes	No
Fees for selling*	It’s completely free to sell your car. The service is free for buyers, as it is paid for via commission from the supplying dealer. However, you will incur a fee of £395 if you decide to cancel your order once it’s passed to a dealer.	The service is free for buyers. However, you will incur a fee of £395 if you decide to cancel your order once it’s passed to a dealer.
Fees for leasing*	We have a £295 arrangement fee if you lease a car through Carwow Leasey.	Drive the Deal doesn’t charge a fee to arrange your lease. However, processing or documentation fees may be determined by the leasing broker/funder.

Other alternatives

There are several websites available for selling a car. For example, Motorway allows users to sell their car to a network of over 8,000 verified dealers. WeBuyAnyCar provides an online valuation, after which sellers book an appointment at a local branch for an inspection and receive a final offer.

*The fees are correct as of 26 May 2026 and can be subject to change. The fees for selling comparison does not include any fees related to leasing and finance.