CRAutos Alternatives for Selling Your Car
If you want an alternative to CRAutos, Encuentra24 and Facebook Marketplace are free options with large audiences, while PuroCarro, Mercado Libre and MoviAutos give you more photos or a free ad that goes live without a phone call. For most sellers the practical move is not to leave CRAutos but to add one or two of these sites alongside it.
PuroCarro publishes this page and appears in the list. Figures were checked on October 2, 2026.
Why people look beyond CRAutos
CRAutos has operated since 1998 and had about 11,700 vehicles listed on October 2, 2026. It is the reference site, but a few things push sellers to look elsewhere:
- The basic ad waits for a call. The publish page shows no price for the basic listing, but it does not go live until CRAutos phones you to confirm it. Automatic confirmation costs ₡2,260 as of October 2026.
- Visibility is extra. A "Nuevo" badge costs ₡2,825, messages such as "GANGA" or "Venta urgente" ₡5,085, a destacado (highlighted) ad ₡9,605 and super destacado ₡12,430, IVA included.
- Few photos. A standard ad takes 5 photos, or 8 with destacado.
- Limits for dealers. CRAutos says it may cap the number of ads per user and asks agencies to call about special packages; there is no public price list.
- A pending ownership change. In February 2026 Coprocom, Costa Rica's competition authority, disclosed that CRautos S.A. is being sold to Move Tech International. On September 8, 2026, co-founder Javier Fernández told El Financiero that closing was expected in early October and that the company continues operating normally. Nothing has been published about the buyer's plans.
For buyers there is one more point: we did not see a mileage filter in the search form.
The alternatives at a glance
| Site | Basic listing (as of October 2026) | Photos | Better than CRAutos at | Worse than CRAutos at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encuentra24 | Free | Check the site | Free, with a large general audience (company's own figures) | Not cars-only; highlight prices not public |
| Facebook Marketplace | No fee per third-party guides | Check the site | Huge audience, quick posting from a phone | Unstructured ads and scam warnings |
| PuroCarro | Free, 1 active listing | Up to 20 | More photos, price context, no confirmation call | Less history and inventory |
| Mercado Libre | Free for 60 days, one at a time | 14 plus video | Video and photos on every tier | Costa Rica car inventory not verified |
| MoviAutos | Free, no expiry | 5 | Instant free posting | Same 5-photo cap on the free plan |
| AutoMarket CR | Free | Up to 20 | Free with 20 photos | New site with few listings seen |
Encuentra24
A free alternative with a large audience, by its own figures. Listing a vehicle costs nothing according to the site, and prices show in dollars and colones. It is a general classifieds site whose strongest category is real estate, and we could not confirm what its highlighted car ads cost. See PuroCarro vs Encuentra24 or the head-to-head CRAutos vs Encuentra24.
Facebook Marketplace
A huge audience, and you can post from your phone in minutes. In exchange, ads are free-form and harder to compare, and in May 2025 the OIJ (judicial investigation police) warned about fake car ads used to rob buyers. See CRAutos vs Facebook Marketplace.
PuroCarro
A cars-only marketplace with a free plan for one active listing and up to 20 photos, published without waiting for a call. Entering the plate fills in the car's details, and when there are at least 20 similar listings, the ad shows how its price compares with the market. It does not have CRAutos' history or volume, and it does not inspect cars. More in PuroCarro vs CRAutos.
Mercado Libre
According to its help centre, as of October 2026 the free listing lasts 60 days and paid tiers run ₡1,500 to ₡5,000. Every tier includes 14 photos plus video. We could not verify how many cars are listed in Costa Rica, so treat it as an extra channel.
MoviAutos and AutoMarket CR
MoviAutos offers a free ad with no expiry and instant publication, with 5 photos; its MAX plan costs ₡7,500 for 60 days. AutoMarket CR is a new site, free with up to 20 photos, that still shows few listings.
When to stay on CRAutos
CRAutos is still the right choice if you want a large cars-only inventory on a site buyers already know. Its filters for financing and "accepts trade-in" help you reach specific buyers, and its add-ons are cheap next to any commission. If reach is your priority, ₡2,260 for automatic confirmation is usually money well spent.
How to pair CRAutos with another site
- Before you list, check your model's market value in the PuroCarro Bluebook.
- Post on CRAutos with your 5 best photos: front, side, interior, dashboard and engine.
- Post the same car at the same price on a free site that allows more photos, and put the full set there.
- When it sells, remove or mark the ad as sold everywhere on the same day.
To start on PuroCarro, see sell and the plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to list on CRAutos?
The publish page shows no price for the basic ad, but it waits for a confirmation call from CRAutos before going live. As of October 2026, automatic confirmation costs ₡2,260 and highlighted ads ₡9,605 to ₡12,430, IVA included.
How many photos does CRAutos allow?
A standard ad allows 5 photos and a destacado ad 8. To show more, Mercado Libre allows 14 plus video, and PuroCarro and AutoMarket CR up to 20.
Who is buying CRAutos?
CRautos S.A. is being sold to Move Tech International, according to Coprocom and El Financiero. As of September 8, 2026, closing was expected in early October. Nothing more has been published about the buyer or its plans.
What is the best free alternative to CRAutos?
Encuentra24 is a free alternative with a large audience, according to its own figures. If you want more photos and price context on the ad itself, PuroCarro has a free plan with up to 20 photos.
Can I list my car on CRAutos and another site at the same time?
Yes, and it widens your reach. Keep the price and details identical across ads. The exception is a consignment contract, such as Top Cars CR's, which bars other sales channels.
Conclusion
CRAutos still has a large car inventory, about 11,700 vehicles in October 2026, and its fees are low. The reasons to look elsewhere are the confirmation call, the 5-photo cap and the uncertainty of the ownership change. The most practical answer is to list on CRAutos and on one or two free sites at the same time.