A Complete TRED Review

Last Updated: July 9, 2021 |
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If you’ve ever had to buy or sell a car, you know what a headache the process can be. As a buyer, you have to sort through dozens of options, argue with dealership salespeople, go on test drives, and try to negotiate financing. As a seller, you have to try to attract buyers, figure out the right price for your car, and handle the complex paperwork involved with getting rid of a car.

But thanks to a new company called TRED, buying and selling cars can be a lot quicker, easier, and cheaper than it used to be. Read on to learn more about this company and discover a complete TRED review.

What Is TRED?

These days, nearly every part of our lives has moved online, and buying and selling cars is no different. Why should we go to a dealership, haggle over prices, and wind up getting cheated out of a lot of money by wily salespeople? Why can’t we handle the sale ourselves, negotiate our own prices, and find a buyer or seller who has exactly what we need? 

TRED is a marketplace that makes these online car sales not only possible, but simple. You can easily list your car for sale or shop the inventory of cars on the website for your next perfect ride. You can even handle the legal paperwork associated with a car sale, including transferring the title, registering the car, and so on.

How Does It Work?

There are two main types of transactions you can do through TRED: purchases and sales. If you plan to sell a car, you’ll need to provide details about the car and undergo an inspection. Once the buyer pays you and you handle the title transfer, you’ll hand over the keys to the buyer and enjoy your profits. 

Buying a car through TRED is a hassle-free version of the car purchasing you’ve done before. You’ll search inventory for a car that works for you, set up test drives, and ask questions. You can pay with cash or set up financing through TRED before you pick up your car or get it delivered to you.

Is It Legitimate?

When buying anything online, it’s important to ask whether the company handling the sale is legitimate. This is especially crucial when you’re dealing with a sale as large and important as a car transaction. So you may wonder whether TRED is legitimate and safe to trust with your car sale.

TRED is a legitimate company and even has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, we have to note that the company doesn’t have fantastic customer ratings on either the BBB site or on Trustpilot. The most common customer complaint has to do with their fees, which we’ll discuss more in a moment.

Pros of TRED

One of the biggest advantages of working with TRED is how much money they can save you. On average, a transaction through TRED will cost you about 30 percent less than it would at a traditional dealership. The company even provides you a monthly vehicle value report that can help you to set an appropriate price when selling your car.

TRED can also help to protect you from fraud, whether you’re buying or selling. They review each customer and ensure that you only get connected with legitimate, trusted buyers and sellers. They can also make the complex paperwork that goes along with a car sale easier to handle.

Cons of TRED

Of course, no company is perfect, and TRED has its faults, too. One of the biggest things TRED customers complain about is the company’s limited reach. TRED is only available in thirteen cities at the moment, and if you live outside those areas, you won’t be able to access any of the advantages or features we’ve discussed.

The other major complaint customers tend to have is the fees TRED charges – in particular, the restocking fee. While we’ll dive into all the TRED fees more in a moment, the restocking fee comes into play if you decide you want to delete your TRED listing. The company will charge you a fee of up to $99 to deactivate your listing, which customers complain is a steep price to pay for nothing at all. 

How to Buy a Car on TRED

If you plan to buy a car on TRED, the first thing you’ll need to do is download their app and set up your account. You’ll have to upload a picture of your driver’s license and another photo of yourself to verify your identity when you sign up for an account. From there, you’ll be able to start your search for the perfect car.

TRED’s listing system allows you to filter available vehicles by a variety of factors. You can narrow down your search by list price, monthly payment estimates, mileage, and even whether there are photos of the car. Once you’ve found your perfect car, you can decide whether you want to pay cash, handle financing on your own, or finance your purchase directly through TRED.

How to Sell Your Car on TRED

When you sell a car on TRED, you may need to go through a somewhat more rigorous verification process before your listing goes live. After you set up your account, you’ll need to provide a variety of details about your car, including your title and several pictures. Then, you’ll need to take your car to a TRED location so they can inspect it, test-drive it, and ensure that you aren’t hiding any problems with it.

Once your car is approved, TRED will help you decide on the right price to list it and find legitimate buyers. They’ll upload your car’s information to other popular car sales websites and help you handle all the paperwork that your state requires. They can even help you to work with your bank to pay off any car loan you may have and help you get paid in cash or whatever method works best for you. 

TRED Fees 

As we’ve mentioned, there are several fees associated with using TRED, especially when you’re selling a car. First of all, you’ll pay a monthly listing fee that will range between $4 and $19, depending on the price of your car. You can also choose to upgrade your listing and add more pictures of your car, but you’ll pay between $4 and $19 for this service as well.

Once your vehicle actually sells, you’ll pay a fee of either $99 or 0.99 percent of the sale price, whichever is higher. And then we get to the major sticking point: the restocking fees. If, at any point, you decide to deactivate your TRED listing before a sale is complete, you’ll have to pay a restocking fee of between $4 and $99, depending on the price of your car.

TRED Locations

One of the major downsides of working with TRED is that, depending on where you live, you may not be able to work with them at all. Currently, the service is only available in thirteen cities across the country, and then they’re only available in a handful of cities. While the company is based in Seattle, they’ve spread to Florida, Texas, and even California.

TRED is available in the following locations:

If you live in or near one of these locations, you can experience TRED for yourself  

TRED Safety Tips 

If you plan to buy or sell a car through TRED, there are some safety tips you should be aware of and follow. You’ll be meeting up with a stranger that you met online, and although TRED has excellent review processes, caution is still prudent. This is especially important if you plan to meet up for a test drive before you close the sale.

If you’re meeting for a test drive or vehicle delivery, always meet at a public location, and tell someone where you’re going and who you’re meeting. If possible, bring a trusted loved one with you as extra protection. And when you get to the meeting point, ask to check the other person’s ID to confirm they are who they say they are.

Overall TRED Review

Overall, if you live in one of the thirteen cities TRED services, it’s a good option for buying or selling a car. Their fees can add up a bit, especially if you’re selling an expensive car or you decide to cancel the sale. But the convenience they bring to the sales process makes them more than worth the money.

Sell Your Car the Easy Way

Buying or selling a car is never an easy task, but with TRED, you can avoid the hassle and expense of a dealership. You’ll have to go through a verification process and get any cars you’re selling inspected by a TRED professional. You should also expect some fees as part of the transaction, but overall, you’ll save money, and a lot of headaches by working through TRED.

If you’d like to get a more in-depth TRED review, check out the rest of our site at Defensive Driving.org. We provide defensive driving classes in a variety of locations, including California, Colorado, Georgia, and more. Find local schools near you and start driving safer today!