TrueCar connects shoppers with its Certified Dealers. The Model Black is not a broker: participating dealerships publish their prices up front.
The Model Black is not a licensed motor vehicle dealer or broker and does not act as a broker in any way. Participating dealerships sell and lease every vehicle and complete each purchase directly with you.
TrueCar and The Model Black have one important thing in common: neither is a broker, and with both, the dealership sells you the car. TrueCar (truecar.com) describes itself as a research and communications platform. It connects shoppers with a nationwide network of Certified Dealers for new, used, and certified pre-owned cars, shows the dealer's advertised price on its new-car listings, marked as including dealer fees and add-ons, and does not charge shoppers; it ordinarily receives its fees from those dealers (truecar.com, as of September 2026). The Model Black is a new-car buying platform launching in Arizona. Participating dealerships publish their savings and price up front, every new car is priced as a loan, a lease (monthly, one-pay, or with deposits), and a cash purchase with the taxes and fees for your city, and the dealership completes the purchase directly with you. Which one fits depends on what you are shopping for and how you like to shop.
| TrueCar | The Model Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | A research and communications platform that connects shoppers with its Certified Dealers; its terms say it is not a vehicle seller, dealer, or broker (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | New-car buying platform, not a broker; the dealership publishes the price, The Model Black prices it three ways, and the dealership sells the car to you directly |
| Cars | New, used, and certified pre-owned (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | New cars from participating dealerships |
| Coverage | A nationwide network of Certified Dealers (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | Launching in Arizona. Whether a car can be delivered to you depends on its dealership. |
| Where the price comes from | Each dealer sets and controls its own pricing; new-car listings show the dealer's advertised price, marked as including dealer fees and add-ons (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | Each participating dealership's own published savings, price, and any market adjustment |
| Your numbers | New-car listings show the advertised price, some with a dealer discount to unlock; its search filters price by cash, finance, or lease (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | Finance, lease (monthly, one-pay, multiple security deposits), and cash on every new car, with the taxes and fees for your city, on the vehicle page |
| Negotiation | You may negotiate the purchase price directly with the dealer; TrueCar plays no role in that negotiation (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | None; The Model Black does not negotiate, and the dealership's savings and price are up front |
| What it costs | No charge to shoppers; TrueCar ordinarily receives fees from its Certified Dealers, and in some instances from automobile manufacturers or third-party service providers (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | Creating an account to see pricing is complimentary. A membership covers you and your household at the same address for every purchase during its term and includes an introduction to the participating dealership you choose, so you can complete your purchase directly with them. Pricing for White Level and Black Level, and the full list of what each level includes, are coming soon. |
| Your current car | An instant TRUECash Offer from one of its Certified Dealers, good for three days, with drop-off at a local location (truecar.com, as of September 2026) | An instant estimate from your VIN, or an appraisal from the dealership on your deal, based on the details and photos you send it. Its number is final once it inspects your car, and it holds if your car arrives in the same condition you described. |
Not by its own description. Its terms describe it as solely a research and communications platform, not a vehicle seller, dealer, or broker (truecar.com, as of September 2026). The Model Black is not a licensed motor vehicle dealer or broker either, and does not act as a broker in any way. With either one, the dealership sells or leases the car and signs the contract with you.
Its FAQ says it does not charge shoppers any fees for its services and ordinarily receives fees from its Certified Dealers, and in some instances from automobile manufacturers or third-party service providers (truecar.com, as of September 2026). On The Model Black, creating an account to see pricing is complimentary, and a membership covers you and your household at the same address for every purchase during its term and includes an introduction to the participating dealership you choose, so you can complete your purchase directly with them. Pricing for White Level and Black Level, and the full list of what each level includes, are coming soon.
Its new-car listings show an advertised price marked as including dealer fees and add-ons (truecar.com, as of September 2026). On The Model Black, the vehicle page shows the dealership's published selling price with its savings and any market adjustment, and itemizes taxes, fees, and registration for your city; the dealership confirms the final contract figures.
A dealer in TrueCar's network. TrueCar says its Certified Dealers are contractually obligated to meet certain customer service requirements and complete its Dealer Certification Program (truecar.com, as of September 2026). On The Model Black, each participating dealership publishes its own savings and price and sells or leases the car to you directly.
No. TrueCar's military page says the USAA Car Buying Service is no longer available, and that anyone reviewing an offer received from it before October 1, 2020 should refer to the email TrueCar sent to the address used to register (truecar.com, as of October 2026).
Yes. Nothing stops a shopper from checking a participating dealership's published price on The Model Black and looking at the same model on TrueCar, or using TrueCar for a used car.