LetYouKnow vs. TrueCar: What's the Difference?
After years owning and operating new car dealerships, I saw many buyers arrive with a TrueCar offer in hand. It helped give them market context and a credible starting point. LetYouKnow changes a different part of the process. Instead of starting with a dealer offer, the buyer submits the price they want to pay for a brand new car. That is the key difference. TrueCar begins with the dealer's offer. LetYouKnow begins with the buyer's Bid.
What is the difference between LetYouKnow and TrueCar?
TrueCar starts with a dealer offer. LetYouKnow starts with your Bid. TrueCar is a digital automotive marketplace. It connects shoppers with TrueCar Certified Dealers, provides market price context, inventory and research and shows upfront dealer offers. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, participating dealers provide individualized offers to TrueCar shoppers that are lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. TrueCar itself does not sell the car. The dealer is the seller. The service is free to shoppers because TrueCar is paid by its dealers and in some cases by manufacturers or third party partners. It can be helpful for shoppers who do not want to walk into a dealership with no information. LetYouKnow works differently. Instead of choosing from a dealer offer, you submit your own Bid for the price you want to pay on a brand new car. If your Bid meets a participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted at your price. If not, there is no charge and you can adjust your Bid amount and/or new car options and bid again. All dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately to reach your out-the-door total. The main difference is simple. TrueCar starts with a dealer offer. LetYouKnow starts with your Bid.
Who starts the price, you or the dealer?
TrueCar starts with the dealer's offer. LetYouKnow starts with your Bid. With TrueCar, a shopper reviews an offer from a TrueCar Certified Dealer. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. TrueCar's service requirements also say dealers must honor pricing information communicated to a customer for qualifying vehicles. That gives the shopper a dealer-provided number to compare before deciding whether to move forward. With LetYouKnow, you choose the brand new car you want Bid your own price. That Bid includes all dealer and platform fees. Government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately. LetYouKnow's patented technology instantly determines whether the Bid is accepted. If it is not accepted, there is no charge and you can adjust your Bid amount and/or new car options and try again. The difference is simple. TrueCar gives you a dealer-provided offer to consider. LetYouKnow lets you submit your own Bid and get an instant result.
What about contact details and follow-up?
With TrueCar, asking for an offer or dealer connection may lead to contact from multiple TrueCar Certified Dealers. TrueCar's dealer requirements say a trained dealer representative should respond to each customer inquiry by phone and email within 24 hours. They also say dealers must honor a customer's request to stop future communication. With LetYouKnow, buyer information is not shared with the matched dealership until the Bid is accepted and the new car is reserved. Until then, buyers and matched dealerships remain anonymous. Buyers can submit a Bid, adjust it or try again without receiving dealership sales calls or emails. After acceptance, the matched dealership receives the buyer's information only to arrange the finalize the transaction.
How does each one handle fees and the out-the-door price?
A price is only useful if the final itemized total matches what the buyer expected. With TrueCar, dealer requirements direct TrueCar Certified Dealers to disclose documentation fees, mandatory non-government fees and prices for commonly installed dealer accessories. TrueCar's dealer requirements also say dealers must honor pricing information communicated to a customer for qualifying vehicles. TrueCar says its Price Estimate includes the destination fee and regional advertising fee. Other costs such as tax, title, licensing, documentation fees, dealer-installed accessories and other permitted charges are not included in the Price Estimate, so shoppers should confirm the full itemized out-the-door total with the dealer. With LetYouKnow, all dealer and platform fees are already included in your Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately to reach the out-the-door total. The difference is where the fees sit. With TrueCar, some fees are disclosed with the dealer's pricing information while other costs are confirmed with the dealer before purchase. With LetYouKnow, dealer and platform fees are already built into the Bid you submit. With either service, review the final itemized total before completing the purchase.
What does each one cost you to use?
TrueCar is free for shoppers to use. TrueCar says it ordinarily receives fees from Certified Dealers and in some cases from automobile manufacturers or third party service providers. TrueCar's dealer requirements also say dealers may not pass any portion of a fee owed to TrueCar on to the customer. With LetYouKnow, the buyer enters payment information when submitting a Bid but pays nothing unless it is accepted. If accepted, the buyer pays the $799 nonrefundable service and reservation fee on the LetYouKnow platform and settles the remaining balance with the dealership. The $799 fee is already included in the accepted Bid price along with all dealer and platform fees and is not added on top. Instead, it serves as a prepayment toward your bid. Once the Bid is accepted, the price is locked in and the vehicle is reserved with the matched dealer for up to 10 calendar days. The fee demonstrates serious buyer intent, supports the anonymous bidding process and helps provide access to prices that may not otherwise be available. If the Bid is not accepted, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
Is TrueCar or LetYouKnow cheaper?
There is no fixed answer because each service reaches price differently. With TrueCar, the buyer reviews a dealer-provided offer. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. TrueCar's dealer requirements also direct dealers to disclose documentation fees, mandatory non-government fees and commonly installed accessory prices. For best results with LetYouKnow, find the lowest price on a new car that you can find or have been quoted, then use LetYouKnow to bid a lower price. All dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately. Whether the Bid is accepted depends on the Bid amount, the selected brand new car, participating inventory and the participating dealership's confidential threshold. TrueCar may be useful when you want a dealer-provided offer to compare. LetYouKnow is useful to bid lower than the lowest price you can find, if your bid isn't accepted, there is no charge and you can adjust your bid and try again. The best comparison is the final itemized total for the car you want.
Which one is right for you?
TrueCar may suit you if you want market price context, vehicle research, inventory from a broad dealer network and dealer-provided offers you can compare before moving forward. It may also be useful if you access car buying through a partner or affinity program. TrueCar says it powers auto buying programs for more than 250 leading brands, including Sam's Club, Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express.
LetYouKnow may suit you if you want to start with your own Bid instead of a dealer offer. You choose the brand new car you want, submit the price you want to pay and get an instant result. Buyers and matched dealerships remain anonymous until the Bid is accepted and the new car is reserved. All dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately. If the Bid is not accepted, there is no charge and you can adjust your Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
After years owning and operating new car dealerships, I see the difference in practical terms. TrueCar helps buyers compare a dealer-provided offer. LetYouKnow lets buyers submit their own Bid on a brand new car with all dealer and platform fees included. For shoppers who want to lead with their price instead of starting from a dealer's offer, that is the distinction.
Sources
- What TrueCar is, and what it costs the buyer. TrueCar describes itself as an automotive digital marketplace that connects car buyers with a nationwide network of Certified Dealers and provides tools, research, market context and pricing transparency. TrueCar also says it powers auto buying programs for more than 250 leading brands, including Sam's Club, Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express. TrueCar's FAQ says it does not charge users to use its service and ordinarily receives fees from Certified Dealers and in some cases from automobile manufacturers or third party service providers. TrueCar states that it does not broker, sell or lease motor vehicles (TrueCar FAQ, https://www.truecar.com/faq/; TrueCar Public Relations, https://www.truecar.com/public-relations/; both accessed 15 June 2026).
- TrueCar fee disclosure and dealer standards. TrueCar's Auto Information Service Requirements cover dealer pricing disclosures, documentation fees, mandatory non-government fees, commonly installed accessory prices, honoring communicated pricing and the rule against passing TrueCar fees to the customer. TrueCar's FAQ explains what is included and excluded in its Price Estimate. TrueCar's March 17, 2026 press release describes updated program standards for individualized offers below the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. (TrueCar Auto Information Service Requirements, https://www.truecar.com/legal/autoinformationservicerequirements_0D05.html; TrueCar FAQ, https://www.truecar.com/faq/; TrueCar press release, March 17, 2026, https://www.truecar.com/public-relations/press-releases/2026-03-17-TrueCar-Introduces-Dealer-Program-Standards-Designed-to-Increase-Sales-and-Protect-Dealer-Margins/ all accessed 15 June 2026).
- TrueCar online deal and contact handling. TrueCar's Deals Experience describes online tools for valuing a trade-in, customizing payments, reviewing protection and insurance products, scheduling a test drive or dealership appointment and getting a deal code to complete the purchase at the dealer. TrueCar's Privacy Notice explains that shoppers may share contact information with dealers and references a text-masking service for texts (TrueCar Deals Experience, https://www.truecar.com/customizedeal/; TrueCar Privacy Notice, effective January 28, 2026, https://www.truecar.com/privacy/ both accessed 15 June 2026).
- LetYouKnow platform facts. LetYouKnow lets buyers submit a Bid for the price they want to pay on a brand new car. All dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately. If the Bid meets a participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted. If not, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again. The participating dealership never receives less than its confidential threshold. When the Bid is accepted, the matched dealership is revealed and the new car is reserved for 10 calendar days. Buyer information is shared with the matched dealership only after acceptance. Buyers and matched dealerships remain anonymous until then.
- Who starts the price - TrueCar starts with a dealer-provided offer. TrueCar Certified Dealers provide upfront individualized offers supported by TrueCar's market price context. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. LetYouKnow starts with the buyer's Bid. The buyer submits one Bid for the price they want to pay on a brand new car. If the Bid meets a participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted at the buyer's price. If not, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again. In both models, the transaction moves forward only when the buyer and dealer terms align.
- Fees and the out-the-door price - TrueCar's dealer requirements direct TrueCar Certified Dealers to disclose documentation fees, dealer fees and commonly installed accessory prices and to honor pricing information communicated to a customer for qualifying vehicles. TrueCar says its Price Estimate includes the destination fee and regional advertising fee but excludes dealer-installed accessories, tax, title, licensing, documentation fees, other government charges, dealer-locate fees and other charges allowed by law. With LetYouKnow, all dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately to reach the out-the-door total.
- What it costs you to use - TrueCar is free for buyers to use. TrueCar says it is compensated by Certified Dealers and in some cases by manufacturers or third party providers. TrueCar's rules also say dealers may not pass any portion of a fee owed to TrueCar on to the customer. With LetYouKnow, the buyer enters payment information when submitting a Bid. If your Bid is accepted, the $799 nonrefundable service and reservation fee serves as a prepayment. It is included in your accepted Bid price and is not added on top. If the Bid is not accepted, there is no charge.
- Privacy and contact - TrueCar shares shopper contact information with multiple TrueCar Certified Dealers when a shopper requests an offer or dealer connection so those dealers can respond. TrueCar references a text masking service for texts and its dealer requirements say dealers must honor requests to stop future communication. With LetYouKnow, buyers and matched dealerships remain anonymous until the Bid is accepted and the new car is reserved. Buyer information is shared with the matched dealership only after acceptance to finalize the transaction.
- Completing the purchase - With TrueCar, the purchase is completed with the participating dealer. TrueCar's Deals Experience brings more steps online, including trade-in value, payment customization, appointment or test drive scheduling and a deal code to complete the purchase at the dealer. With LetYouKnow, when the Bid is accepted, the matched dealership is revealed and the new car is reserved for 10 calendar days. The buyer then completes the purchase directly with that dealership and can pick up the car or use Ship to Me when available. If Ship to Me is selected, shipping is shown at checkout and included in the Bid.
- Who each may suit - TrueCar may suit buyers who want market price context, vehicle research, inventory from a broad dealer network, dealer-provided offers to compare and access through partner or affinity programs. TrueCar says it powers auto buying programs for more than 250 leading brands, including Sam's Club, Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express. LetYouKnow may suit buyers who want to submit their own Bid, get an instant result, stay anonymous until the Bid is accepted and use a Bid with all dealer and platform fees included. If the Bid is not accepted, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
Frequently asked questions
TrueCar starts with a dealer offer. LetYouKnow starts with your Bid. TrueCar is a digital automotive marketplace. It connects shoppers with TrueCar Certified Dealers who provide upfront offers supported by TrueCar's market price context. The dealer remains the seller. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are individualized and lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. LetYouKnow works differently. You bid your price for your selected brand new car. If the Bid meets a participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted at your price. If not, there is no charge and you can adjust your Bid amount and/or new car options and bid again. On LetYouKnow, all dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately to reach your out-the-door total. The main difference is simple. TrueCar gives you a dealer-provided offer to consider. LetYouKnow lets you submit your own Bid and get an instant result.
The lower price depends on the dealer offer, the accepted Bid and the final itemized total for the exact car you want. With TrueCar, the buyer reviews a dealer-provided offer. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. TrueCar's dealer requirements also direct dealers to disclose fees and commonly installed accessory prices. With LetYouKnow, the buyer submits a Bid for the price they want to pay on a brand new car. All dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately. If the Bid meets the participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted. If not, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
TrueCar is free for shoppers to use. TrueCar says it is compensated by Certified Dealers and in some cases by manufacturers or third party providers. TrueCar's dealer requirements say dealers may not pass any portion of a TrueCar fee to the customer. LetYouKnow works differently. With LetYouKnow, the buyer enters payment information when submitting a Bid but pays nothing unless it is accepted. If accepted, the buyer pays the $799 nonrefundable service and reservation fee on the LetYouKnow platform and settles the remaining balance with the dealership. The $799 fee is already included in the accepted Bid price along with all dealer and platform fees and is not added on top. Instead, it serves as a prepayment toward your bid. Once the Bid is accepted, the price is locked in and the vehicle is reserved with the matched dealer for up to 10 calendar days. The fee demonstrates serious buyer intent, supports the anonymous bidding process and helps provide access to prices that may not otherwise be available. If the Bid is not accepted, there is no charge and the buyer can adjust their Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
Not by itself. TrueCar's dealer requirements direct TrueCar Certified Dealers to disclose documentation fees, dealer fees and commonly installed accessory prices and to honor pricing information communicated for qualifying vehicles. TrueCar says its Price Estimate includes the destination fee and regional advertising fee. Tax, title, registration, licensing, documentation fees and other permitted charges are handled with the dealer, so shoppers should confirm the final itemized out-the-door total before completing the purchase. With LetYouKnow, all dealer and platform fees are included in the Bid. Only applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing are added separately to reach the out-the-door total. With either service, review the final itemized total before completing the purchase.
With both services, the purchase is completed with a dealer, but some steps can happen online. With TrueCar, the Deals Experience lets shoppers value a trade-in, customize payments, schedule an appointment and take a deal code to the dealer. The purchase is completed with the participating dealer. With LetYouKnow, if the Bid is accepted, the matched dealership is revealed and the new car is reserved. The buyer then completes the purchase directly with that dealership, including paperwork, financing and title. The buyer can pick up the car or use Ship to Me when available. If Ship to Me is selected, shipping is shown at checkout and included in the Bid. The difference is when dealership involvement begins. With TrueCar, dealership contact can start before the purchase is completed. With LetYouKnow, the matched dealership is revealed only after the Bid is accepted and the new car is reserved.
Yes. When a shopper requests an offer or dealer connection, TrueCar shares contact information with multiple TrueCar Certified Dealers so they can respond. TrueCar references a text masking service for texts and its dealer requirements say dealers must honor requests to stop future communication. LetYouKnow handles contact differently. Buyers and matched dealerships remain anonymous until the Bid is accepted and the new car is reserved, meaning, no sales calls or emails. Buyer information is shared with the matched dealership only after acceptance to finalize the transaction.
Upfront offer
A dealer-provided price shown through a marketplace such as TrueCar before you visit the dealership. Under TrueCar's updated 2026 dealer program standards, those offers are individualized and lower than the dealer's lowest publicly advertised price. The dealer remains the seller and completes the transaction.
Bid Your Own Price
A price you submit on LetYouKnow for a brand new car, with all dealer and platform fees included in the Bid. If the Bid meets a participating dealership's confidential threshold, the Bid is accepted at your price. If not, there is no charge and you can adjust your Bid amount and/or new car options and try again.
Confidential dealer threshold
A price a participating dealership privately sets for an eligible brand new car on LetYouKnow. Buyers do not see the threshold and LetYouKnow does not reveal it. If a Bid meets the threshold, the Bid is accepted at the buyer's price. The participating dealership never receives less than its own confidential threshold.
Out-the-door (OTD) price
The full amount due to complete the vehicle purchase before financing is applied. It typically includes the vehicle price, dealer fees, selected add-ons and applicable government fees such as tax, title, registration and licensing. On LetYouKnow, the Bid already includes the brand new car and all dealer and platform fees. Only applicable government fees are added separately to reach the out-the-door total. Any optional add-ons the buyer chooses later are disclosed separately.
Upfront pricing marketplace
A platform such as TrueCar that connects shoppers with TrueCar Certified Dealers and provides market price context, inventory and dealer-provided offers. The platform itself does not sell the car. The licensed dealer is the seller.
