best used car review websites

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The best used car websites in 2023

EVs are selling like hotcakes, and as such, it can feel like it’s a little hard to get your hands on one. Add in the fact that most of the decent EVs cost more than $40,000, and you might find that a used car is more compelling than ever. Shopping used is a great alternative to long waiting lists and inflated prices, and a used EV may even be eligible for tax rebates  if you read the fine print.

AutoTempest

Kelley blue book, cars & bids, car-enthusiast forums.

But where should you look to find one?

The best used car sites offer a user-friendly interface that provides shoppers with comprehensive details about the car they’re looking at, like high-resolution photos showing the interior and the exterior, its service history, plus its standard and optional equipment. Some even use historical data to tell you if you’re looking at a great deal, or if the price isn’t quite fair.

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We’ve put together a list of the classifieds and auction sites you should browse when shopping for your next used car online. Alternatively, if you’re buying new, automakers and dealers are increasingly making the buying process digital .

Further reading

• How to sell your car
• Best cars for teens
• Best used cars under $15,000

These sites are useful, but remember that it’s always wise to check out a used car in person (and, if possible, take it for a thorough test drive) before you hand over a big wad of your hard-earned cash.

The best well-known site

Few sites surpass AutoTrader when it comes to advanced search tools. Like most sites on our list, AutoTrader’s initial search lets you choose the make, model, and price of your desired used cars. It also lets you filter your results based on fuel economy and a host of other parameters. Do you want a car with an intuitive navigation system? How about a sedan with four doors and keyless entry? Tick the options you need and let the results come to you.

The best site for the basics

Simple and straightforward,  CarsDirect is all about the basics. You can search for used cars within a specific area based on body style, price, make, and model. Search results include offerings from both dealers and private owners, with an option to view your desired car’s Carfax report. When you find what you’re after, you can submit an inquiry about it to receive more details from the seller or request special financing if needed. CarsDirect provides links to car dealers’ websites, as well as comprehensive maps with directions to each store’s location.

Most convenient used car site

If you’re looking for the most convenient end-to-end used-car-buying experience, then Carvana is the way to go. Carvana is known for its massive car vending machines and for dropping off cars right to your door, making it perhaps the best choice for those who don’t want to trek long distances to get a new car. In fact, Carvana will deliver cars right to your door, if you live in the U.S. If you sell on Carvana, the process is also incredibly convenient — Carvana will pick up the car you’re trying to sell, straight from your door.

The best site for classic car lovers

Hemmings is a classic car collector’s dream. The site is a blast from the past, reveling in everything from 1960s Chevrolet Impalas to Studebakers from the 1930s to newer classics from the 1980s, while offering tools for locating specific parts and services pertaining to a car you already own. It publishes a daily newsletter, a fascinating blog that’s regularly updated by a team of knowledgeable writers, and several other resources aimed at the classic car owner. It even touts an online store where you can buy die-cast models, books, or wall calendars.

The best site for browsing on the go

Autolist may look similar to other sites here at first glance, but it has a leg up on the competition when it comes to mobile connectivity. Although the Autolist website is attractive and easy to use, it’s the accompanying mobile app for Android and iOS that makes it a standout. The intuitive software allows you to quickly scour the databases of other shopping apps, as well as various dealer websites. It also provides helpful information, such as how long the vehicle has been on sale, how its asking price has fluctuated over time, and what its Carfax report looks like. If you prefer to shop for your next ride on the move, this is the resource for you.

The best site for finding a bargain

If you’re looking for a bargain, CarGurus is your best bet. It ranks ads based on dealer reputation, when applicable, and price. The site goes a step further to educate buyers with information about a vehicle’s market value. That way, you’ll know whether now is the best time to shop or if you need to expand your search area. You can also see how long a vehicle has been listed on the site and how its list price has changed over time. This gives you negotiating power on cars that have been listed for a while, or lets you know when it’s too soon to ask for a price cut.

The best site for cross-site comparisons

If you’ve ever used sites like Kayak or Sky Scanner, AutoTempest will be right up your alley. The site combines search results from eBay Motors, Cars.com, AutoTrader, CarsDirect, and others, casting an all-encompassing net over a smattering of other used car sites on our list. AutoTempest’s homepage also features buying guides, checklists, and advice, as well as tips on negotiating and how to avoid purchasing a lemon, among other topics. The site provides specific guides for a selection of makes and models, along with car reviews and a compilation of frequently asked questions. And, it saves search results for easy access later, while offering suggestions for top-notch shipping services.

The best site for an all-inclusive experience

The Kelley Blue Book is a car buyer’s best friend. It provides accurate estimates of what your car is worth, how much you should pay for a used car, and a deep selection of used and new car listings. You can browse top picks and tips, calculate a monthly car payment, and compare several cars. Expert and consumer reviews are also available, along with options for finding local dealers and checking your credit score. You can browse an assortment of awards pages, too, giving you a way to quickly peruse the best of the best.

The best auction site for enthusiasts

Launched by Doug DeMuro in the summer of 2020, Cars & Bids quickly became the go-to destination for enthusiasts looking to buy or sell a car. If you want a 2018 Corolla, you won’t find it on this platform. If you’re after something a little bit more special, like a low-mileage Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG or a one-year-only BMW L6, the site has you covered. Each auction includes a full gallery of the car (including close-ups and service records when they’re available) and a thorough description that highlights its main features, its ownership history, and its known flaws. Carfax is included as well. Many sellers include videos, too, which takes some of the stress out of buying a car sight unseen.

Although it’s easy to search by make, model, and year using any of the aforementioned sites, there’s no harm in concentrating your search. If you’re looking for something specific, don’t be afraid to check out the online car owner and enthusiast groups associated with what you’re seeking. If using Google, tack on “forums” or “owners club” to whichever vehicle you’re searching for. Whether you’re seeking vintage Porsches or cars from the late AMC brand, there’s a community for almost every vehicle out there — even unloved ones. Browsing the classifieds section on these sites increases your chances of finding what you’re looking for. Plus, most of the listings are from experts who not only know what they are selling but are also invested in not getting a bad name in their respective communities.

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Owning and leasing a vehicle used to be the two primary ways to get behind the wheel. However, that's starting to change with the advent of car subscription services. These plans essentially take leasing to the extreme, covering every aspect of car ownership aside from the cost of fuel. That means you won't have to worry about unexpected expenses related to insurance or maintenance, as your single monthly payment takes care of all those headaches.

If you plan on driving a single vehicle for a long time, owning a car is undoubtedly a more frugal option. After all, there's nothing better for your wallet than having a paid off car. But if you can't be bothered to worry about the stresses of modern car ownership -- or you love checking out a new vehicle every few months -- car subscription plans are a nice alternative.

Whether you do your driving with an off-road vehicle, one of the most impressive EVs on the road, or anything in between, the driving experience can be made all the better by knowing you look good doing so. Keeping your vehicle clean isn’t always the easiest chore, nor is it something everyone likes to do. You can make shorter work of it with a pressure washer, and with warmer weather around the corner we decided to round up the best pressure washers for cars in 2024. The best pressure washers for cars in 2024

Buy the if you want the best pressure washer for cars overall. Buy the if you want the best gas-powered pressure washer for cars. Buy the if you want the best handheld pressure washer for cars. But the if you want the best budget pressure washer for cars.

In-car technology is advancing more quickly than anyone imagined, and it's also easier to upgrade an older car with Bluetooth and other cutting-edge features than it's ever been. Numerous aftermarket companies allow motorists to benefit from useful connectivity and safety features without having to buy a new car. In fact, Bluetooth has become a cheap, easy upgrade on any vehicle regardless of its age or value.

Bluetooth can be used to make phone calls (it channels the conversation through your car's speakers) or to stream music directly from your smartphone, though some of the more basic systems are limited to calls. Either way, it's a feature that significantly reduces distractions and allows the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. That's why most states have laws that require hands-free calling while driving.

Find Your Next Treasure at These Used-Car Websites

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There are two kinds of car buyers. One type loathes the entire car-buying process and avoids it for as long as possible. Given a choice between sitting in a chair at the dentist for a root canal or cruising through a dealership lot, they will pick the root canal every time.

Then there’s the constant shopper who prowls car sales like a serial monogamist on Tinder. Their web browser has more than 40 bookmarked favorites and 27 open auction tabs at any given time. Whether it's the thrill of something new or the joy of haggling, there’s always a different car in the driveway.

For both types of buyer, the best way to find your next car might be online. And to help with that, I compiled a list of our favorite used-car websites. With this information at your fingertips, you can spend less time at car lots than in the dentist's chair. And the salesperson won’t steal your fillings.

Our Favorite Places to Buy Used Cars 

As we mentioned in our guide for the Best Places to Buy Used Motorcycles , online shopping is easier than ever. Many websites provide car values, let you negotiate with the dealer, and apply for a loan. Other sites simplify the transaction process. Some will even deliver a vehicle directly to your house. There are things to watch out for, however, so you don’t get taken for a ride.

Car Dealerships

Car dealerships are the most common way to find vehicles locally, and most of them have a website. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new car dealership or a used-car lot with a mobile-home office. To find a dealer, just enter the dealer’s name. Or you can search for “car dealers near me” with your favorite search engine. From there, it’s just a matter of scrolling through the search results and clicking on any links that interest you.

Dealer websites are also an excellent way to look at cars when you don’t know what you want. Maybe you have a vague idea, like a wagon-type thingy that’s dog friendly. You could search a dealer website for wagons and SUVs, then you can narrow it down, searching for options such as leather or fold-down seats. The results will show vehicles by model, manufacturer, and even categories such as age and mileage. You can also see if a car comes with a warranty, either the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty or a limited warranty offered by the dealer.

The primary advantage of buying from a dealership is also the biggest potential drawback. You are paying for convenience. Need a loan or have a vehicle to trade in? The dealer has you covered. Want a service contract, aftermarket wheels/leather/stereo, or fuzzy dice? The dealer has you covered. Worried about the cost? Don’t worry; the dealer will just add it to your payment.

Car dealers have gotten a bad reputation for being shady and unscrupulous. However, you’re more likely to get taken advantage of by an individual seller. The key is to do your research.

Pros : Convenience, large selection of vehicles, one-stop shopping with easy financing. Many vehicles have warranties, even if just for 30 days. 

Cons: You’ll pay for convenience. Risk of dealing with predatory or unscrupulous sellers.

Third-party websites such as Autotrader are also popular places to shop for cars. These sites also let you shop by vehicle type, manufacturer, and model. They also check a variety of dealerships and individual listings. You can search locally or nationwide by price range and even options and colors.

Autotrader is one of the oldest, most comprehensive sites. It offers a great selection of tools in an easy-to-use format. One of its best features is an advanced search function that makes sorting through its millions of listings much less daunting. Beyond simple make, model, and year, the site offers detailed filters for nearly any search criteria, including gas mileage, exterior and interior colors, transmission type, and technology.

AutoTrader also publishes a number of resources for car buyers and sellers. These include comprehensive how-to guides, financial calculators, current car reviews, research, and news articles. They will also help sell your car, either by placing your own ad or selling to a dealer.

The drawback to AutoTrader is it can be hard to determine the condition of a car from the pictures. There are also no options for financing or shipping. If you’re buying a car halfway across the country, you’re almost buying the car sight unseen. Additionally, you still have to work with the seller, whether a dealer or private party, secure your own financing, and make other arrangements.

Pros : National and local ads, including dealers and private sellers

Cons : Difficult to identify cosmetic and mechanical issues or defects, no financing or shipping options 

If you prefer to avoid human contact and hate negotiating, ask your doctor if Carvana might be right for you. Founded in 2012, the company offers a virtual showroom with detailed photos and 360-degree views of the interior and exterior. They provide close-ups of scratches and imperfections, allowing you to zoom in from any angle. If you purchase the vehicle, you can choose to have it delivered to a local Carvana location or your home or office. You then have seven days to decide if you like it or return it at no cost.

As with Autotrader, you can search for cars by vehicle type and price or payment range in addition to make and model. Each car gets a 150-point inspection, a CARFAX history, and a 100-day limited warranty. Unlike Autotrader, you can also finance your car through Carvana. All pricing and information is presented in an easy-to-read format on its website.

Carvana will also buy your vehicle, even if you don’t buy theirs. It takes less than a minute to get an offer. If you accept, they will pick up your car at your door and take it away. Everything is convenient with no hassle and no pressure.

Of course, you pay a premium for convenience. Carvana’s prices are typically higher than what you might pay at a local dealer. They might also offer less for your trade-in. Ultimately, it’s a trade-off between cost and convenience. 

Pros : Straightforward pricing and delivery, seven-day return policy

Cons : No in-person checks on cosmetics or mechanical parts for issues and defects until after you accept delivery, no financing or shipping options

eBay Motors

The daddy of online vehicle auction sites is eBay Motors. If it has wheels, it’s for sale on eBay. Need parts for a vehicle, want a boat, RV, motorcycle, or ATV? Find it on eBay. The site offers several options for buying and selling anything auto related. The auction format is familiar to people, but you can also purchase items by making an offer or clicking the “buy it now” button. The layout is easy to use, and you can either shop by category or use the search field to find what you’re looking for.

One of the key benefits to eBay is security. Buyers and sellers have reviews so you can read about their previous transactions. Vehicle Purchase Protection is available for up to $100,000. You can order an AutoCheck report with the vehicle’s history. There are various payment options including financing, PayPal, or major credit cards.

If you’re buying outside your local area, you can hire a third party to inspect the vehicle. This inspection can include an appraisal, a review of cosmetic and mechanical conditions, detailed photos, or a video of the vehicle. You can also get estimates for shipping costs or make arrangements to drive it home.

On the eBay Motors site, you can find bargains or get caught up in the fervor of auction bidding. You’ll find people with an unrealistic view of the value of the vehicle they are selling, quoting prices from Barrett-Jackson or Bring A Trailer. At the end of the day, there is a buyer and seller for everything, and eBay Motors is better than most sites at bringing them together.

Pros : Vast selection of vehicles, lending and shipping options, lower prices

Cons : Auctions can turn into bidding wars, values can be inflated or unrealistic

Craigslist started as a local, San Francisco-based free community website. Now it’s a worldwide presence with more than 20 billion page views a month. Somehow, it still looks like a 1990s web bulletin board. You can find garage sales, places to rent, lost and found items, personals, and cars and car parts for sale.

On Craigslist, you can conduct a general search or look for a specific make and model. These searches default to an area within a radius of your location, but you can also search other locations. Ads can be filtered by price, location, and date of posting. You can also filter dealer ads or those from individual sellers.

Craigslist gives you a good point of reference for the type of vehicles in your area and their asking prices. You can even find deals if you’re patient. Lots of people turn to Craigslist if they need money or to sell things before they move. People are generally honest and reasonable, but you can never be too careful.

There are a lot of scammers on Craigslist. The list includes dealers posing as individuals, title jumpers , people selling stolen cars, even thieves and murderers . When meeting with an unknown buyer or seller, let people know where you’re going, bring a friend along, and meet in a public place. Play it safe, and the worst thing you’ll have to worry about is someone who won’t deal with lowballers. 

Pros : Local and in person, lower prices than dealerships

Cons : Scam artists, dealers posing as individuals, people who know what they have

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is the new Craigslist. Most people who used Craigslist migrated to Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell things. In some ways, Facebook Marketplace is better than Craigslist; in other ways, it’s worse. Before you roll your eyes and mutter, “OK, boomer,” hear me out. 

Facebook is local, pulling up ads for items in your immediate area before expanding its radius. The ads are all created by Facebook users, so you have access to their profile. That means you can see who you’re dealing with and as with those six degrees of Kevin Bacon , there’s a chance you know someone who knows the seller.

The downsides to Facebook Marketplace are the same as Craigslist. There are scammers but fewer of them. You may still have title jumpers and dealers who pose as individuals, but there are a lot fewer issues. Also, Facebook makes its money collecting information about you. They track every like and frowny face, every click or site you interact with, and even some you don’t. That’s why once you search for a Mercury Grand Marquis, you suddenly see more Mercury Grand Marquises for sale. Your Facebook feed begins showing Mercury clubs you can join. And you see ads for Mercury cars, car parts, and AARP discounts.

Pros : Same as Craigslist but very local, you know who you are dealing with

Cons : Less likely than Craigslist to end up in someone’s freezer but not by much, car ads show up after searches

Things to Consider When Buying a Used Car

Before looking at any car, research it. Look up its retail, private-party, and wholesale values on sites such as Kelley Blue Book or CARFAX . Do the same for your vehicle, if you plan to trade it in. Know what interest rates are available and the terms you qualify for if you take out a loan. Finally, look at reviews of the dealership or individual if available. Once you have all of the information, you can feel confident about the transaction. Some other things to watch for:

Maintenance Records

In addition to pictures and basic info about the vehicle, many dealerships include links to the vehicle history from Carfax or AutoCheck . This information is helpful to determine how well a vehicle was maintained. It will also show you if the car was in an accident or if the title is branded.

Branded titles include salvage and rebuilt titles. A salvage title indicates if a vehicle was declared a total loss due to damage, an accident, or flood. A rebuilt title indicates the vehicle was totaled and then rebuilt. Finally, a branded title may indicate the car was a lemon buyback or there was a discrepancy with the car’s odometer.

All of these factors affect the car’s value. Low mileage, well-maintained vehicles are worth a premium. Damage, high mileage, and branded titles detract from the value. When determining the value for a specific vehicle, always make sure you include the car’s age, mileage, and condition.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

If the vehicle does not come with a warranty or has a limited dealer warranty, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic. The inspection will cost you money, but it’s worth it to find out if the car has potential issues or needs repairs.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q. Do I have to pay for a used-car site?

A. Used-car sites typically charge sellers who want to post an ad for their car. Pricing can be as low as $25 for a basic ad that will run for a month with the cost increasing for additional photos, words, and other advertising boosts.

Due to the nature of the vehicles they sell, car sites that sell classic cars or cars from certain eras charge more, typically $90 or more. Auction sites will also take a commission fee, which can start at 4.5 percent of the sales price.

Q. What is considered high mileage for a car?

A. Most people drive between 10,000 and 15,000 miles a year. Below that amount, a car is regarded as low mileage. More than 15,000 a year is considered high mileage. To figure out the average, take the car’s total mileage and divide it by its age in years. 

Q. How many miles on a used car is too many?

A. There's no absolute number of miles that is too many for a used car. Consider 200,000 as an upper limit, a threshold where even the sturdiest cars begin to succumb to the years of wear and tear.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

Best Used Car Websites in 2023

If you’re looking to buy a used car, you’ve probably noticed that online dealerships and car-listing services are more plentiful than ever. But which used car website is right for you? Team Clark has explored the process of buying used cars online through several popular websites and compared them to find out. 

In this article, I’ll take a close look at seven of the most popular websites where you can find used cars for sale.

This article was updated in September 2023 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here .

Where To Buy a Used Car Online

If you’re shopping for a new or used car online, you’ll find that there are two types of used car websites: online dealerships and car-listing sites. Online dealerships hold their own inventories, which means you’ll be buying a car directly from the company. Car-listing websites can help you browse the inventory at car lots near your location.

Here, you’ll find a few of the best used car websites, what each one is best for, the service’s app ratings and more. 

You’ll find more detailed information below on each used car website including a description of each site’s car-buying process and how you can start searching for cars available in your area.

Best user experience and research tools on a car-listing service

Autotrader says it aims to be a comprehensive online solution for buying and selling new, certified and used cars. The website features a great selection of vehicles from dealers and private sellers as well as the most complete research and comparison tools. You can list your own car for sale on Autotrader for $49 with free ad renewals .

If you’re looking to buy a car, you can start from the homepage by entering a make, model and your ZIP code. You can also browse the available selection by make or style. As you browse, you’ll see labels like “Good Price” and “Great Price” from the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor , Autotrader’s partner website.

In addition to buying used cars or listing your own car for sale, you can use Autotrader as a research tool to estimate a monthly payment, determine a trade-in value or find the best car for you. Scroll over the “Car Research & Tools” tab at the top of the page to get started. 

After checking out Autotrader myself and comparing it to a few of the other best used car websites, here are a few of the major pros and cons I found . 

For a more detailed overview of Autotrader, check out our full review here .

Best for listing a car online for sale

According to CarGuru’s website , it features more car listings than any other major online marketplace .

You can use CarGurus to shop for new and used cars at several different car lots in your area. You can pre-qualify for a car loan directly on the website and get a price quote through CarGurus. Then you can contact one of the site’s partner dealerships with your quote and set up a time to test drive and/or purchase the vehicle you’ve found. 

Whether you decide to finance through CarGurus or on your own at a credit union (as money expert Clark Howard suggests), you can start shopping from the homepage. Click on “Used Cars” or “New Cars” at the top of the page to begin. From there, you can enter the make, model and year of the car you’re looking for as well as your ZIP code. You can also filter, sort and narrow your search results by car, body style, price, distance, mileage and more. 

You’ll see deal ratings ranging from “Great Deal” to “Overpriced.” You’ll also find research tools on the website to help you determine the value of a car before you buy or sell. If you are looking to sell a used car online, you can list your vehicle on CarGurus for $4.95 for 30 days.

Here are a few of the major pros and cons I found with CarGurus after checking out the website myself. 

For more information on CarGurus including how to buy or sell your car online, check out our full review .

Best for “no-haggle” pricing

CarMax promises to make buying and selling a used car an easy and stress-free process through its “no-haggle” policy. CarMax is an online car dealership that owns its own inventory of used cars . That means if you buy or sell a car through CarMax, you’ll be dealing directly with the company as opposed to seeing listings from nearby dealerships. 

CarMax has more than 200 physical locations across the United States, but most of the buying and selling process takes place online. According to the website , CarMax has around 50,000 used cars to choose from at any given time. You can start searching by make, model or keyword from the homepage. Then you can filter your results. When you find a car you’d like to buy, you can schedule a test drive at the vehicle’s location, purchase it and pick it up at the lot.

If you’re looking to sell, you can take your car to a CarMax location to have it inspected, or you can get a quote online if your vehicle is eligible. If it is, you’ll get an instant cash offer that’s good for seven days. To get started, visit this page and enter some details about the car you’re selling. 

Overall, Team Clark found that you can’t really go wrong with trying out CarMax for selling or buying a used car. Here are a few of the pros and cons our team has found with the website .

For more information on CarMax, read our full review .

Best for mobile shopping via the app

Cars.com has been in business since 1998. The car-listing website connects car shoppers with nearby sellers who offer new, used and certified pre-owned cars. If you’re interested in selling your own car, you can schedule in-person appraisals with up to four dealers through Cars.com. 

If you’re more comfortable using an app than a website, Cars.com may be the best car-listing resource for you . As of September 2023, the Cars.com app had 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 514.7K ratings on The App Store and 4.7 out of 5 stars from 129K ratings on Google Play . That makes it the most popular app I’ve seen in this category. 

If you’re looking to buy a car, you can start searching by make or body style from the homepage. You’ll be able to enter your ZIP code, the type of car you’re looking for, a maximum price range and distance. As you browse available cars, you’ll see labels ranging from “Fair Price” to “Great Deal” on some vehicles. You’ll also be able to see any vehicle’s free CARFAX report. 

After checking out Cars.com myself, here are a few of the major pros and cons I found with the website . 

You can read our full review of Cars.com to learn more.

Best return policy and limited warranty

Similar to CarMax, Carvana offers a no-pressure, no-haggle way to buy and sell cars almost entirely online. The company aims to offer lower prices on well-maintained used vehicles by cutting dealerships out of the car-buying process. This eliminates the overhead cost of most traditional dealerships or even of competitor CarMax. 

To check out the cars that Carvana has available, you can click “Search Cars” from the website’s homepage. From there, you can search for vehicles by make, model or keyword. Then, you can filter and narrow your results further by price, body type, year, mileage, features and more. 

To sell a used car to Carvana, visit this page . Here, you can enter your vehicle’s license plate or VIN and click “Get My Offer.” Then you can enter details about your car including its specific mileage, your ZIP code, the vehicle’s color, features, accident history and more. If the company offers to buy your car, you’ll get an instant cash offer that’s good for seven days. 

If you’re looking to buy or sell a used car, you can’t go wrong taking a look at what Carvana has to offer. Of course, it’s always good to consider the pluses and minuses. Here are the biggest pros and cons that our team found when checking out Carvana ourselves , 

To learn more about how Carvana works, read our full review here .

Best for those looking to use a car-buying program

TrueCar is a new and used car website that lets you see prices at local dealerships and quickly compare vehicles. The company powers more than 250 car-buying programs including those offered by Sam’s Club and American Express . If a business that you’re affiliated with offers free car-buying services, there’s a good chance it’s powered by TrueCar.

If you’re looking to buy a used car, you can start from the homepage by clicking “Shop Used.” From there, you’ll be able to narrow your search results by brand, type or price. You’ll see ratings on available cars ranging from “High Price” to “Excellent Price.” Once you find a car that interests you, I recommend looking for the dealership’s contact information in the Seller’s Notes section to avoid having to enter your personal information on TrueCar’s website. Checking a car’s availability through TrueCar opens the door to spam emails, phone calls and text messages. 

TrueCar also offers True Cash Offers from local dealerships if you’re looking to sell a used car online. You can click “Sell or Trade” to enter information about your vehicle and get a cash estimate. Then you can connect with nearby dealerships about selling or trading your car. 

After checking out TrueCar myself, here are a few of the major pros and cons I found with the website :

You can read our full review of TrueCar to learn more about the car-listing website including how it works and how to utilize its free research tools. 

Best for car delivery and pickup

Although it’s a much smaller company, Driveway is an online car dealership that works a lot like Carvana and CarMax. Driveway keeps a physical inventory of new and used cars that you can browse online and have delivered directly to your door. The company also buys used cars and picks them up at a time and place that works for you.

Driveway’s goal is to provide a customer-friendly experience for buying new and used cars online. Instead of having to visit dealerships in person and haggle over a price, you can see the MSRP and what Driveway will sell it to you for directly on the website. If you do decide to purchase a car from Driveway, you can explore financing options, put down a deposit and have your car delivered. Once the vehicle arrives, you’ll have seven days or 400 miles to return it with no questions asked.

If instead you’re looking to sell a car, you can get a quote from Driveway by clicking on the “Sell/Trade” tab on the website. You’ll need to provide your license plate number, VIN or make and model to get started. After entering some additional information about your car, Driveway will give you an instant price that’s valid for seven days. If you do sell your car to Driveway, you can schedule a pickup time and location that works for you. 

After checking out Driveway myself, here are a few of the major pros and cons that I found ,

For more information on Driveway including how to buy or sell a used car online, be sure to read our full review .

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to purchase or sell a used car online, any of these websites are great for getting a quote. Even if you decide not to buy or sell to a certain company, researching availability and prices is a great way to make sure you’re getting the best deal. 

When it comes to car-listing services, Autotrader is a solid place to start. The website offers an excellent user experience and the research tools are unparalleled. To list your own car for sale, CarGurus may offer one of the cheapest routes. If you plan on browsing local inventory from your phone, the Cars.com app will most likely be the best to download. But if you’re interested in using a car-buying program, you’ll likely find one that’s powered by TrueCar. 

As far as online car dealerships go, check out CarMax for “no-haggle” pricing. While its warranty and return policy are also good, Carvana’s are slightly better. Finally, Driveway is another solid online dealership to check out if you want your car delivered to your home. 

Have you ever bought or sold a used car online? Let us know what website you used and tell us about your experience in our Clark.com Community .

• September 14, 2023: Updated app ratings and screenshots for each company
• September 14, 2023: Autotrader now offers in-house financing through the Autotrader Private Seller Exchange

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• Personal Finance

Best Used Car Websites

See the best sites for cheap cars, classic cars, auctions, and more

Whether you're a first-time buyer looking for your first used car or a classic car enthusiast tracking down that rare vintage model, used car websites make the shopping experience simple with detailed searchable listings, car reviews, buyer guides, and more. Used car sites are also a good resource for owners to find a buyer for their used car.

When deciding which used car website to use, look for high-quality photos, an easy-to-navigate interface, thorough detail on the car, and service history. We reviewed the best used car websites based on reputation, search tools, pricing, buyer resources, and more. Here are our top seven picks.

Best Used Car Websites of 2024

• Best for Cheap Cars: CarGurus
• Best Advanced Search Functions: Autotrader
• Best Basic Option: CarsDirect
• Best for Classic Cars: Hemmings
• Best for Mobile: Autolist
• Best for Comparing Options: AutoTempest
• Best Auction Site: Cars & Bids
• Our Top Picks
• AutoTempest
• Cars & Bids
• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Compare providers, frequently asked questions, methodology, best for cheap cars : cargurus.

By combining an online car marketplace with advanced research tools that accurately assess a vehicle’s true market value, CarGurus is our pick as the best used car site for cheap cars.

Advanced pricing tools

Helpful information on blog

Advertise cars for free

No vetting of sellers

CarGurus was created in 2006 by TripAdvisor co-founder Langley Steinert to help consumers post questions and reviews of cars and local dealers. The company later added a marketplace to its site with a car evaluation tool that makes it our choice as the best site for cheap cars.

What sets CarGuru apart from most other online auto markets is that it gives each car a “deal rating” and sorts the results from the best deal to the most overpriced. Since no one can pay to boost their listings, only dealers that consistently offer the best deals will get the best scores.

CarGurus also uses advanced algorithms that compare every detail of a car to similar cars on the marketplace to assess the market value of any vehicle. Combined with information on how long a car has been listed as well as whether its price has risen or dropped over time, this helps shoppers know if they’re looking at a good deal or if they have room to negotiate.

CarGurus still offers a trove of car reviews and other research tools to help educate and inform car shoppers about the quality of new and used cars. CarGurus also lets owners list their cars through its marketplace for free. A quick comparison tool helps sellers set a realistic price, and the site’s pre-created fields ensure that the most useful information is included in every listing.

Best Advanced Search Functions : Autotrader

Autotrader is one of the best used car sites because it's one of the most recognized car buying and selling online auto marketplaces. Its huge volume of listings and advanced search tool make it a go-to place to buy and sell a car.

Search filters for nearly any option or feature

Over three million listings nationwide

Car research, financing, and insurance tools

Charges to post a listing

Trade-in restrictions based on location

Launched in 1999, Autotrader was one of the first nationwide, online marketplaces for new and used cars and is our choice for one of the best car sites due to its reputation, reach, and abundant research guides. The site hosts over three million vehicle listings and offers detailed car reviews, finance calculators, and more.

One of Autotrader’s best features is its advanced search function which makes sorting through its millions of listings much less daunting. Beyond simple make, model, and year, the site offers detailed filters that let users select nearly any search criteria, including gas mileage, exterior and interior colors, transmission type, technology, and more.

Autotrader also publishes a number of resources for car buyers and sellers. These include comprehensive how-to guides, current car reviews, research and news articles, car payment and financing calculators, and even the ability to apply for a loan and shop for car insurance .

Those who want to sell on Autotrader, however, will have to pay. The site charges $49 per listing which includes up to 30 photos, reports showing how many people have viewed the ad, and simultaneous listings on Kelley Blue Book . After the initial payment, ads can be renewed for free every 30 days for up to a year.

Best Basic Option : CarsDirect

CarsDirect provides car buyers with an easy way to compare listings from local dealerships. Its uncluttered website, simple search engine, and user-friendly car buyer guides make CarsDirect our choice for the best basic used car site.

Find deals from local dealers

Apply directly for no-credit or low-credit loans

Fast and flexible customer service

Dealer listings only (no private sellers)

Car down payment may be needed

Similar to Autotrader which launched the first online car marketplace for private sellers, CarsDirect launched the first website to help dealers sell directly to customers online in 1999. CarsDirect is owned by Internet Brands. It’s our choice for the best basic option because of its simplified search engine and helpful buyer resources.

CarsDirect does more than simply show listings from local dealers, however. It also showcases the best deals in a buyer’s area as well as upcoming seasonal deals and pricing on upcoming models to help car shoppers focus their search.

Although CarsDirect’s search filters aren’t as detailed as Autotrader’s, the site’s clean results page shows everything a buyer needs to know, including the CARFAX report and a “Check Availability” button that takes shoppers directly to the listing on the dealer’s website.

Each listing on CarsDirect features a link to a simple four-step loan application that takes just 60 seconds to complete. CarsDirect then sends the applications to its network of lenders and returns a list of financing options with estimated monthly payments. Shoppers can also click straight through to the dealer’s website and explore financing options with them directly.

CarsDirect also offers a number of resources for car buyers, including reviews, car news, videos, reports, and a trade-in valuation tool. Users can even save their favorite searches and create email alerts based on the exact type of vehicle or deal they’re looking for.

Best for Classic Cars : Hemmings

Hemmings is an online marketplace for classic cars and car parts. Its car enthusiasts’ blog, newsletter, and info about local auctions and car clubs make the website a vintage car lover’s dream and our pick for the best website for buying and selling classic cars.

Blog and newsletters for classic car lovers

Buy and sell classic car parts as well as cars

Account required

Listings only stay up for six months

Fewer listings than ClassicCars.com

Originally created as a small four-page car magazine in 1954, Hemmings has become a leading classic car website featuring over 10,000 searchable car ads. Combined with a car parts marketplace and tons of classic car resources, it tops our list as the best site for classic cars.  

In addition to serving as an online marketplace for classic cars, Hemmings also has a number of resources for true classic car enthusiasts. These include pricing guides, buying tips, virtual dealer and auction showrooms, as well as a blog, newsletter, and multiple magazines for classic car lovers.

Although Hemmings’ main rival, ClassicCars.com, also has more than 10,000 listings, Hemmings boasts a searchable database of classic car parts for sale as well as its own selection of classic car die-cast models, apparel, books, wall calendars, and more. 

Hemmings offers a number of advertising packages depending on the needs of each seller. Users can post a two-week-long auction listing for $99.95. For those selling outright, Hemmings charges $129.95 per ad, which includes a small 35-word ad with one photo for magazine advertisements, and unlimited words with up to 35 photos for online advertisements. All ads that include it run for one month in the Hemmings Motor News magazine and for six months online.

Best for Mobile : Autolist

Autolist is a unique website that collects listings from dozens of used car apps and websites in one place. Its intuitive and easy-to-use app has been downloaded over seven million times and was listed in CNET’s top 10 car apps in 2019, making it the best used car site for mobile users.

Compiles over 5,000,000 listings

Top-rated mobile app

No option to place ads

No financing tools or options

Founded in 2011, Autolist makes it easy for shoppers to browse millions of used car listings compiled from car shopping apps and dealer websites. Both its website and user-friendly app display valuable information on each vehicle, changes in price, and the CARFAX report.

Signing up for a free Autolist account also lets users set up email alerts for vehicles based on specific search criteria. In 2020, CarGurus purchased Autolist which also allowed owners to sell their cars online with an intelligent tool that calculates a fair asking price for their car based on other vehicles in their area.

Best for Comparing Options : AutoTempest

 AutoTempest

Drawing on the databases of most online marketplaces including Craigslist, Autotrader, and CarsDirect, AutoTempest offers the largest online car marketplace, making it our top choice as the best site for comparing used cars.

Compiles listings from the largest number of sites

Smart search pages display targeted buyer guides

Car pricing tool helps shoppers find the best deals

Doesn’t vet listings

No option to purchase cars online

AutoTempest was developed in 2008 as an aggregator of online classifieds for cars. It tops our list as the best for comparing options since it draws results from the largest number of databases, including Craigslist, eBay, Cars.com, TrueCar, Carvana, and more.

Besides the sheer number of sites it accesses, one of the advantages of AutoTempest is that it can automatically filter listings in your area when possible. For instance, if a shopper is in Chicago, the site will only compile postings in the Chicago area. Users can also just select the sites they want to get results from to fine-tune their search. For example, you can limit searches to just TrueCar and CarsDirect if you want.

AutoTempest lets shoppers search by basic search parameters as well as mileage, price, and more. Searches can also be saved and accessed later from either a web browser or AutoTempest’s mobile app.  

AutoTempest also offers a number of useful resources for car shoppers, including car reviews, buyers guides, checklists, tips for negotiating , and more. Car owners can even sell their cars directly to Carvana through a partnership with the company.

Best Auction Site : Cars & Bids

 Cars & Bids

Cars & Bids is an online auction site for cars from the 1980s and newer and is our choice as the best auction site due to its easy listing process, car history reports, and low auction fees.

Low listing and commission fees

Every vehicle includes a history report

Some listings featured by a YouTube celebrity

No listings for cars made before 1980

No financing options available

No buyer and seller tools or resources

Cars & Bids was created in 2020 by automotive reviewer and YouTube celebrity Doug DeMuro to help modern car enthusiasts buy and sell cars quickly and safely. The site is our choice for the best auction site because of its ease of use and focus on protecting both buyers and sellers.

Unlike other auction sites which can take weeks to get a seller’s auction live, Cars & Bids gets cars listed as quickly as possible and works with sellers to figure out the best schedule. The site also offers a simple submission process that lets sellers know quickly whether or not their car will be accepted.

In an effort to protect car buyers, Cars & Bids provides a vehicle history report for every vehicle it auctions free of charge instead of asking the seller to pay for one. As a fun bonus, Doug DeMuro will occasionally choose a listing to review bringing extra eyes and buyers to specific auctions.  

Cars & Bids offers free listings, taking a 4.5% buyer's fee with a minimum of $225 and a maximum of $4,500. The site also offers a detailed description of its buying and selling process as well as FAQs that walk buyers and sellers through every step of the auction process.

There seem to be as many used car sites as there are types of used cars, buyers, and sellers. Nonetheless, a few stand out above the rest. When it comes to price, CarGurus’ unique deal rating helps shoppers find the best value for their money. Autopay is a great choice if you know exactly what you want (or don't want) and need advanced search functions and filters.

For those looking for a simplified shopping experience, CarsDirect lets shoppers compare listings from local dealers without getting overwhelmed, while Autolist offers the best search features and mobile shopping experience.

For classic car enthusiasts, Hemmings offers a bounty of classic car listings, car parts, car shows, and car talk to satisfy the most diehard vintage car fanatics. Those with an eye for unique cars from the 80s to today will love Cars & Bids’ fast and easy car auctions, free listings, and reasonable commission fees.

What Is the Most Popular Used Car Website?

Our choice for one of the best websites, Autotrader, has been around since the early days of online shopping, and it boasts millions of listings. Those looking to buy should find plenty of options, and those trying to sell on Autotrader should be confident that the site will get plenty of traffic.

Do I Have to Pay for a Used Car Site?

Used car sites typically charge sellers who want to post an ad for their car. Our research shows that pricing can be as low as $25 for a basic ad that will run for a month with the cost increasing for additional photos, words, and other advertising boosts.

Due to the nature of the vehicles they sell, car sites that sell classic cars or cars from certain eras charge more, typically around $89 and higher. Auction sites will also take a commission fee which can start at 4.5% of the sales price.

Can I Trust a Used Car Site?

Used car sites that connect shoppers with private sellers can do little to offer a safe shopping experience. What they can do, however, is provide as much information as possible to help buyers make the most informed decision.

As a result, used car sites typically include CARFAX reports, information about how long a car has been on sale, and pricing comparison guides as well as search filters to help shoppers weed out the choices they don’t want. Sites that aggregate listings from many online marketplaces can typically do little to ensure that the listings they display are trustworthy, and buyers must always do their due diligence when shopping for a car.

What Is the Most Accurate Car Value Website?

Kelley Blue Book, which is owned by one of our top choices, Autotrader, has been tracking vehicle values for almost as long as the auto industry has existed.

By inputting details about a car, including make, model, year, condition, mileage, location, and more, Kelley Blue Book can provide a fair market value based on records of previous auto sales.

We looked at over a dozen used car sites for this review and selected sites that either had built a lot of trust through a long history of selling cars or that created safe and personal experiences for shoppers looking for specialty vehicles.

Because buying a used car can be overwhelming, scary, and stressful, we also made sure to choose sites that offered detailed search engines to help shoppers compare the features they most wanted. Sites that offered comprehensive buyer guides and current car reviews topped our list since these resources can help shoppers make informed buying decisions.

Investopedia / Julie Bang

CarGurus. " Leadership Team ."

Autotrader. " Milestones ."

Autotrader. " Autotrader Listings vs. U.S. News Listings ."

CNN Money. " CarsDirect Launches Site ."

CarsDirect. " 60 Second Auto Loan Request ."

Hemmings. " Turn the Page ."

CNET. " The 10 Best Car- Buying Apps ."

Comparably. " Autolist ."

CarGurus. " CarGurus Acquires Car Shopping Platform Autolist ."

AutoTempest. " About Us ."

Cars & Bids. " What's Cars & Bids? "

Kelley Blue Book. " History ."

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The Best Used Car Sites

The 11 best used car sites.

• Cars Direct

Where's the Best Place to Buy a Used Car Online?

No matter what, your first step should always be research. You should determine exactly what's going to fit your needs (or your wants!). Do you have a particular make and model in mind, or are features going to be king regardless of manufacturer? Whether you're all about safety or you feel the need for speed, it's well worth your time to dig into the details of price, reliability and availability, especially when used car inventory is at an all-time low nationwide.

Fortunately, there are many websites that help you do just that - and then make it possible for you to find your perfect new-to-you ride. Some of these platforms even let you buy your car online and have it delivered right to your house. Before you start worrying about the safety of such vehicles, rest assured that most companies selling used cars will include a detailed, independently-verified history report right in the car's listing.

Wednesday, June 12th

2024 Used Car Site Reviews

• "A+" rated by the BBB
• 45,000+ vehicles in inventory at any given time
• 24-hour test drives
• 30-day/1,500 mile money-back guarantee
• Home delivery available within a 60-mile radius of select stores
• Transparent pricing, no haggling necessary
• Excellent, affordable extended warranty protection available

CarMax has been around for over 60 years. With more than 200 stores in 41 states, you've probably seen this used car dealership somewhere near you. If you're looking to buy a used car, starting with the 45,000+ vehicles in CarMax's nationwide inventory is a smart choice.

Very easy-to-use website

The process of using the CarMax site to find your next used car couldn't get any easier. You can start shopping by vehicle type, make, or price range - or type in your preferred make, model or other keywords (like AWD or blind spot detection) right in the search bar. Also, be sure that your preferred CarMax location is in the upper right corner of the page; it'll detect your location automatically, but you can choose a different store if you like. You'll be taken to a list of results that you can filter even further, and arrange the list any way you wish: lowest to highest mileage or price, distance from you, and so forth.

Transfer cars from other CarMax locations

What happens if you see a used car you like, but it's at a CarMax that's hundreds (or thousands) of miles away? No problem. You'll see a transfer fee listed right on the vehicle's details. You'll have to pay that in advance and it's non-refundable, but it's well worth it to get the car that has all of the specs you've been picturing in your new-to-you car. For what it's worth, we've never seen a transfer fee over $500; most are somewhere in the $99-$199 range, depending on the distance between CarMax locations.

Schedule a test drive to reserve a vehicle

When you've spotted a CarMax vehicle you're interested in, we strongly recommend that you schedule a test drive within the next seven days. Why? When you've made a reservation, that car is no longer viewable in detail or test-drivable by anyone else. That offers a big advantage over many of the used car platforms we evaluated, which often explicitly state that there's no guarantee that any given vehicle won't be sold before you get there.

• No-haggle pricing

Why have people used CarMax to buy over nine million pre-owned vehicles? This company has some features that make it stand head and shoulders above your typical used car lot or big-brand dealership. First and foremost, you never have to haggle for a better price here. The amount you see is what you'll pay - and that's true whether or not you trade in a vehicle or use their financing. For those of us who absolutely cringe at the thought of bargaining back and forth with a salesperson, this is a huge perk.

"Love Your Car Guarantee"

Another shopper-friendly aspect of buying a used car through CarMax is their "Love Your Car Guarantee" . That starts with a 24-hour test drive - no guesswork as to whether or not that full-sized SUV is going to fit in your garage or if all of your car seats can fit comfortably, because you can find out before you sign on the dotted line. Even after you buy the vehicle, CarMax gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee, up to 1,500 miles. Do you get the idea that they really want you to be happy with your purchase here?

Used cars are thoroughly inspected

Plus, CarMax goes to great lengths to inspect and choose the cars they sell on their lots. You'll never find a vehicle here with flood damage, frame damage or salvage history. They have a detailed 125-point checklist for every inspection, and anything that doesn't meet their standards is repaired or replaced before being listed for sale. On average, a CarMax vehicle gets 15 hours of attention - replacing parts, fixing bigger dents and scratches, and detailing inside and out - so that you can feel confident in buying any used car they carry.

Fantastic extended warranty coverage available

Beyond that, CarMax offers some of the best extended warranty coverage in the industry. The cost depends on the vehicle price, the length of time/mileage, and the selected deductible, but customers report that it's well worth the investment (and it can be rolled into your financing if you choose). The policy covers anything that isn't specifically excluded; those are usually wear-and-tear items like brakes and windshield wipers, and of course they won't cover anything you've damaged. Your car can be serviced either at a CarMax location or at one of their network of approved partners; you'll save $50 on your deductible when you choose the former.

Not necessarily for every used car buyer

Are there any downsides to buying used cars at CarMax? Maybe, depending on what you're looking for. A fixer-upper? Nope - broken cars don't meet this company's high standards. A great deal that you get with your world-class bargaining skills? That's not going to be possible; as we mentioned, the price is the price, end of story. A private sale? Not here. And, as of the time of this evaluation, there were nine states where CarMax didn't have a presence yet.

Our first choice for buying used cars

But, in our opinion, those are really minor compared with the overall picture. CarMax takes great care of its customers from start to finish, their reputation is excellent (including an "A+" from the Better Business Bureau), and you're likely to drive away with a used car that's in terrific shape and priced fairly. What's not to love about that? For all of these reasons and more, CarMax is the first site we'd recommend for buying used cars. They earn our highest rating.

• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over five million vehicle listings
• All cars rated with respect to value, from "overpriced" to "great deal"
• Use site to research cars, test drive reviews, price trends, buying tips and more

The co-founder of TripAdvisor is the brains behind CarGurus, created in 2006. According to their statistics, this site is the most visited automotive marketplace in the United States. Users really appreciate how this platform rates each vehicle listing on a scale from "overpriced" up to "great deal" , using powerful analytics to analyze inventory and come up with a valuation in real time.

Makes it easy to find cars

Using CarGurus goes two ways: you can shop by body style, or you can enter details like make and model, price range, and/or zip code and search radius. This site goes a little deeper in the body style options. You've got the basic sedan, SUV and truck (with helpful pictures in case you're not sure of the difference), plus coupe, hatchback, convertible, wagon and minivan too.

Detailed, useful filters

Next, use the filters to sort through the choices. Maybe you only want cars available for home delivery, or you prefer listings that are new to the market. Done and done. Other filters include engine, features, and deal ratings, but our favorite is "NHTSA Overall Safety Rating" (because we're careful like that). Once you've got your matching results page, keep in mind that the first few shown will probably be sponsored ads and not necessarily your best matches.

No mystery involved with car sellers

What's nice about looking for used cars through CarGurus is the full disclosure of each vehicle's location. Yes, you can use the CG site to send an inquiry to the dealership or seller, but if you'd rather stay incognito for a little longer, you can just go directly to the place offering the car for sale. Each dealer has reviews you can read on the CarGurus site too, and you can even see the price history on each vehicle you're considering.

Better for car buyers than sellers

CarGurus has accreditation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, with just 13 complaints filed there in the year prior to this evaluation. Customer reviews are a mixed bag, but they divide pretty evenly down the line between buyers and sellers. Almost everyone that uses this site to sell their own cars comes away disappointed, but lots of car buyers say that this service is excellent.

Experiences with car dealers vary

However, we advise you to be aware of a few things. First, as with many referral services like this one, there's no guarantee that the dealer will honor the price quoted on CarGurus or that the vehicle will be available by the time you reach the lot. We found a few reviews that described situations like that. Second, this service doesn't make any promises about the quality of the dealers with whom it partners. Some customers said that they had some shady experiences with dealers falsifying CARFAX reports or not disclosing problems; there's no recourse with CarGurus if that happens.

Decent resource for used car-buying

CarGurus gives you a lot of information you'll need to have a good experience buying a used car. We found plenty of listings in every area we searched, and we really appreciate this service's transparency with where the cars are located. As long as you keep in mind that the rest of your transaction will depend on the reputability of the dealer/seller and not on CarGurus, you should have no problems here.

• Millions of vehicles listed from more than 20,000 dealers
• Very detailed used car listings
• Easy to connect with vehicles' sellers
• Fun tool to help you find the right auto match for your needs

Headquartered in Chicago, Cars was launched in 1998 to connect car shoppers with sellers, primarily dealerships. With over 50,000 cars added to this site daily, it's a great way to find your next used car in a time when pre-owned vehicles can be hard to come by.

Searching is easy

To find your used car match here, you'll click either Make or Body Style to start. Other dropdowns include preferred distance, max price and location, or use the "advanced search" link to get really specific with mileage, deal rating, drivetrain, transmission, and interior/exterior colors. From there, your results are easy to sort by price, mileage and so forth. Plus, you can use the filters to narrow it down even further - in case you've got convenience or entertainment features in mind, or your car needs to have third-row seats.

Use the "matchmaker" if you need help

Totally unsure what you need? Cars has a fun tool they sometimes refer to as "Matchmaker" ; you might have seen humorous commercials showing how people and their vehicles "met" on this platform. You can get there by using the dropdowns under "Shop by what matters most" . Select the overall body style (car, truck, SUV, van) and your max price. Next, you'll use some sliders to indicate what matters to you, from roominess and cargo area to ride comfort and technology. We found our recommended vehicles to be absolutely spot on, and it was super-convenient to be able to click either on model details or local inventory to get the ball rolling.

Excellent info at a glance

We're very enthusiastic about the quality of the listings on Cars. Scrolling through your used car matches, you'll see at a glance exactly where each car is located, the price and mileage, a rating of whether or not it's a good deal (and a dollar amount for how it compares), a link to the free CARFAX report, the rating of the dealership, and quick-access buttons for calling or checking the car's availability. What else could you ask for?

Super attention to detail

When you look at a specific car's listing, all of your questions will probably be answered. From dealer ratings to customer reviews on the make and model itself, you'll be well-equipped to decide if you want to take the next step and contact the dealership. It's every bit as thorough as what you'll find if you see the vehicle's listing on the dealer website, plus you've got Cars' Deal Gauge that shows you how it compares with similar cars for sale. Plus, you can either use the Cars online form to ask about availability, or click the link to see the car right on the seller's website. Cars earns our appreciation for not making people do the guesswork to figure out how to reach the dealership directly.

Car buyers love this site

Cars gets plenty of love reputation-wise. The Better Business Bureau gives this platform a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation, and we were impressed to see just nine complaints registered there in the past three years. More than 80% of Cars users give it a 4- or 5-star rating, and people are especially happy with the way this service helps them compare different makes and models of vehicles and narrow down their options - and then see what's actually available near them.

Top-rated resource for buying used cars

The only reason Cars doesn't earn our first-place ranking is because you're still at the mercy of individual dealerships once you've chosen your car here. Cars doesn't guarantee that you'll have a good experience once you've left their site and moved on to the negotiation process. Still, that's a really minor issue. Cars is an excellent way to save time and hassle when buying used cars, and we give this service one of our highest ratings.

• See vehicles offered by large dealerships, smaller car lots, online-only platforms and private sellers
• Over 3 million vehicle listings

More than 14 million people visit Autotrader every month in their search for a vehicle. This site can be a good way to "cover a lot of ground" quickly, because with a single search you can see hundreds of listings from big dealerships, local used car lots, online-only services (including at least one from our other reviews), as well as private sellers.

Lots of search options if you look carefully

While the main Used Cars page makes it look like you'll need to enter a make a model to get started, look closely and you'll see you can also browse by make, by style, search by budget or use the advanced search options to get specific about the vehicle you want.

Helpful features to filter even more

When you're taken to your initial results page, you can then filter and sort to eliminate anything that's not a good match. We liked the "quick buttons" of suggested filters, like "2019 and older" or "6 cylinder" . Another great tool is the "My Wallet" feature: just enter your approximate credit score range, the percentage of your down payment, your monthly budget and any trade-in details, and your search results will adjust to show the estimated monthly payment on each vehicle.

Information is easy to find

Autotrader does an excellent job of getting you all of the information you need, right from the start. It's great to be able to scroll through the results list and see not just the price but even some cars marked as being a great deal, the name/phone number/distance of the seller, links to the CARFAX report, mileage and more. Some used cars also have an "Accelerate My Deal" option - you can start the process online and save time at the dealership if you're pretty sure you've found the car you intend to purchase. And, whether you use the Autotrader form or you contact the seller directly, it's completely up to you how you want to get the ball rolling and see if the car is still for sale.

Check the KBB value

Within the details of each Autotrader listing, there's even more to help you analyze the vehicle. You'll see a Kelley Blue Book fair market range for your specific zip code (and it's updated every week), any remaining factory warranty coverage, any available photos and sometimes even a video walk-around. The only part that was a little lacking sometimes were the details on the included features, but that could be the sellers' responsibility to enter and not Autotrader's fault.

Watch out for scams

How about reputation? On the one hand, Autotrader is accredited and has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, with very few complaints registered there. That's usually a good sign, but this service gets a lot of negative feedback elsewhere. We found a concerning number of car buyers who said that many cars listed here are fraudulent (like Nigerian prince-type scams). That's not Autotrader's doing, but they could do a better job of preventing those listings from ever being published.

Most listings are from dealerships

Fortunately, though, the vast majority of listings on this site are not private sellers. For example, as we searched for Toyota Highlanders in our area, there were more than 200 results from dealerships and just three that were private sales.

Gives you lots of used cars to consider

Overall, we like using Autotrader because it gives us one-search access to a wide range of used car sellers - not just private listings or just big dealerships, but some lesser-known options too. We recommend caution when considering private sales because of the fraud concerns, but other than that you should be able to use Autotrader to see a satisfying range of used car options.

• In-depth car research
• 50+ years of experience

Edmunds knows cars. You'll have a hard time finding any other site for buying used cars that goes the extra mile (pun intended). For example, their editorial team test drives more than 300 vehicles a year, driving a half-million miles to provide in-depth reviews (even videos). You can put Edmunds' 50+ years of expertise to work for you as you decide which car is best for you.

Straightforward vehicle search

Ready to find your next vehicle? Click on the "Used" tab and then choose how you want to search: by make/model, type, or price. Next, click the button to indicate if you prefer listings of vehicles that are in-store or that can be purchased online for home delivery (or don't click either one if you'd like to see results for both). Once you've entered your zip code you'll see all of the matches near you.

The filters you'd expect

From there, feel free to use the filters button if you've got further preferences. You can choose color, safety features, vehicle history, package options, and more to help narrow down your search. Finally, the "sort by" dropdown is helpful for prioritizing whatever you want to see first: lowest price, lowest mileage, year, date listed, or value.

Not as much detail provided

There's not a ton of information in the basic results list. You'll see price, distance from the zip code you entered, mileage, value assessment, and a photo. But, once you click on a used car that interests you, you'll be able to see more - some of the features and specs, detailed analysis of the price, how long the listing has been on Edmunds and any price changes in that time, and so on. We would have liked to see greater details in the features/specs department, and we were disappointed that prospective car buyers only get a limited vehicle history through AutoCheck unless they pay for a full history report. Many of Edmunds' rivals offer complimentary reports from CARFAX right on their vehicles' listings, so this drops Edmunds in our rankings.

See consumer reviews on dealerships and car makes/models

We like that used car listings on Edmunds incorporate both dealership and vehicle ratings/reviews from customers. We thought it was interesting that those didn't necessarily line up with buyer feedback in other places, but that's not something we'd worry about.

Terrific reputation as a research tool

You won't find too many negative comments about Edmunds. The Better Business Bureau gives this platform an "A+" and accreditation, with only three complaints filed there in the three years prior to this evaluation. Most people say that Edmunds is an excellent option for researching cars prior to purchase: they're informative, detailed, and accurate without being pushy.

Cars listed might not be available

Besides the lack of a free, comprehensive vehicle history report, Edmunds also comes up a little short when it comes to vehicle availability. You'll either have to fill out the online form on the Edmunds site to send in an inquiry, or you'll have to visit the site using the dealer's link waaaaaaaay down at the bottom of the listing. That's not uncommon, but on one vehicle we liked we saw that right in the featured photo, the dealer had attached a "pending sale" banner. Buying a used car can be frustrating, and having to take that many extra steps to then find out it wasn't actually available for purchase? Not our favorite.

Great for research, just okay for car-buying

Edmunds is a world-class resource for learning more about any cars you're considering for your next purchase. No matter where you buy your used car, we recommend you stop here to get the most in-depth information out there. But, should you rely on this service to actually connect you with your car once you've chosen? It's not the worst thing you could do by any means, but other platforms do a better job of giving you up-to-date listings and thorough vehicle histories too.

• Service refers you to local dealerships and online-only sales platforms, no private sales
• Used as the platform for well-established car-buying services like Sam's Club and Navy Federal Credit Union
• Good for doing research on used cars and the buying process

TrueCar got its start in 2005 as an automotive digital marketplace that aims to make it easy, transparent and efficient to buy used cars. While you can use this service directly as a consumer, you'll also find that it's the platform behind many well-known auto-buying programs offered through businesses like Sam's Club, American Express, and Navy Federal Credit Union.

Basic search capabilities

From the main used car page on TrueCar, choose whether you'd like to shop by brand, body type, or price range. Once you've entered your zip code, you'll get a list of results that you can further narrow down by price, mileage, model year and more, and then sort your matches by price, distance from your location, mileage, year, or newest listings.

Many different types of used car sellers

Your listings will include vehicles sold by large dealerships, small car lots, and even internet-only used car services (like the three you'll find in our other reviews). While TrueCar doesn't exactly highlight who the sellers are, you can usually figure it out on your own from the listings - and you can use that to go directly to the dealership or website if you like.

Missing some details

This site isn't as robust as its rivals with respect to the details they offer. For example, while the vehicles are listed according to whether they're a good deal, overpriced, and so on, we didn't find those evaluations to be accurate. For example, on one car we liked, it was just $50 below the average list price and yet was still classified as "great price" . You also get very limited vehicle history here - just a summary of the accidents reported, title, and number of owners, unless you pay for a full report from AutoCheck.

Still a good service for doing research

On the other hand, TrueCar is still a good option if you're doing research before you buy a used car. From reviews and rankings to shopping guides and other articles, you'll find plenty here to help you along.

Not the best reputation

TrueCar has had a pretty sturdy reputation in the past. The company is both "A+" rated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with less than a dozen complaints filed there in the year leading up to this evaluation. But, some of their more recent reviews elsewhere aren't as positive. 75% of people who use TrueCar give it a "great" or "excellent" rating - but do the math and you'll realize that means that a fourth of their users say it's "average" , "poor" , or flat-out "bad" .

Refusal to honor price

We're not sure if it's a factor of the current used car market, but more than a few people complained that the cars they were matched with on TrueCar weren't available anymore by the time they went to the dealer (even within 24 hours of setting up the appointment to go in and buy the vehicles). Other people said that the dealers refused to honor the TrueCar price once they went to the dealership in person. It's concerning to us that many of this service's comments within the last six months use the words "waste of time" or even "scam" .

Just okay for buying used cars

When you're just trying to get an overview of the used cars in your area, TrueCar isn't a horrible place to start - and it's even a decent way to compare multiple sites for buying used cars all at once. But is it the best resource out there? Not really. Plan on having to take a few extra steps beyond what you find on TrueCar before you're able to actually buy your next vehicle.

• Almost 50,000 used cars in stock at any given time
• "A-" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Pick up your car at a Carvana "vending machine" or have it delivered
• 100-day, 4,189-mile warranty
• 7-day money-back guarantee or up to 3 exchanges
• Shipping/delivery fees up to $599

Carvana may be the best-known brand in the 100% online car-buying industry. No salespeople, no commissions, and no pressure. Just shop for your used car online and decide if you want to pick it up at a Carvana "vending machine" location near you or have it delivered right to your doorstep.

No problem finding used cars here

The Carvana site is easy to use. Search for your desired make/model or by keyword to get started; otherwise, use the options to narrow down the choices by payment and price, body style, and so forth. From there, use the "Sort By" option to list your results by price, mileage, vehicle age, or alphabetically by make and model.

150-point inspection and CARFAX history

All Carvana vehicles go through a 150-point inspection, and you can see for yourself exactly how any vehicle measured up. You can see what was replaced or fixed, any cosmetic issues, plus the CARFAX vehicle history.

No guesswork on delivery

We really like how each vehicle listing tells you when you can expect delivery. For example, one vehicle we liked was available for delivery within three business days if we completed the purchasing process in the next three hours. Theoretically, anyway, you could use Carvana if you're in a hurry to get a car and can't wait up to 14 days (or longer) like some of their rivals require. You can also get free delivery within certain areas. Make sure your location is correctly entered on the search page and you'll be able to preview your delivery costs while you browse their used car inventory. Even within a free delivery area, you may still have shipping costs of up to $590, based on the distance between where you live and where the vehicle is currently located.

Place a pre-order hold

Carvana also lets you place a pre-order hold for $100. What's that? All Carvana vehicles go through an inspection process before being made available for purchase; if you see a car that you think you might want to buy once it's listed, the $100 is refundable if you change your mind.

7-day "test own" period

You'll have 7 days to "test own" your Carvana used car. If it doesn't live up to your expectations, you can either return it for a refund or exchange it (up to 3 times) for a different vehicle. Beyond, that, every car has a 100-day/4189-mile limited warranty

Some people really love Carvana

If customer feedback is any indication, you're either going to love or hate Carvana. Out of more than 4,000 ratings, about half give this service a perfect five stars. We're glad to see comments from people who say the experience delivered exactly what was promised, from delivery timeframes to the vehicles' condition. Some clients have used Carvana in both directions (buying and selling used cars) and think it's practically the best thing since sliced bread, so to speak. The Better Business Bureau gives Carvana both accreditation and an "A-" rating as well.

Thousands of complaints

On the other hand, over 1,200 people gave Carvana the lowest possible score of just one star. Frequent complaints revolve around paperwork (such as not getting registration papers until months after the purchase was completed), major delivery delays, and problems with the vehicles that went undetected during Carvana's inspection process. We've heard of some customers spending the better part of a month (or longer) getting a Carvana vehicle delivered, finding significant issues, sending it back for exchange, and then repeating the entire process in the hope of finally getting a decent used car.

Room for improvement

We give Carvana a "just average" rating. While we might have gone lower because of the negative feedback, this service still has a decent number of satisfied customers and comes out ahead of the other "buy from home" platforms we evaluated. The lesser of three evils? It's not going to be the way most people will have a good experience buying used cars, but for some consumers it works.

• Connects you with used car listings at dealerships
• Good for researching brands, reviews, and auto industry news

Web2Carz seeks to "inform, entertain and enable" people searching for their next vehicle. You'll find automotive buying guides, helpful articles about specific car models and much more, as well as a platform for finding used cars for sale. Don't be fooled by the initial appearance of this site - far from outdated, you'll find coverage of daily automotive news and ample info about the most current model years here.

Search capabilities are a little lackluster

You may want to use those research features first, because Web2Carz requires you to enter a make and model to begin your used car search, along with your zip code and preferred maximum distance. On the next page, you can use sliders to indicate your maximum mileage and price, your preferred model years, and (again?) maximum driving distance. There are also buttons for sorting those results by distance, price, year, mileage, CARFAX report and CARFAX 1-owner vehicles. Unfortunately, that's where it stops. You can't specify any must-have features, like a sunroof or lane departure warnings, color, or trim level. That's a disadvantage that puts Web2Carz below most of the resources we reviewed for buying a used car.

Listings are inconsistent

What will happen when you click on a car you like? That varies. Sometimes, Web2Carz will redirect you right to the dealership listing. For others, you may have to do some sleuthing on the listing to see where it's being sold and then reach out directly. (For example, on a 2018 Toyota Highlander, we were able to see a map and the dealership name in the photo listing on the Web2Carz site.) You can submit an availability request through this platform too.

Details... or not?

For cars with a direct link, you'll get all of the information the dealer provides - which is usually pretty detailed. On those used car links that stay on the Web2Carz site and make you request more info, sometimes you'll get next to no details on the car's features and only stock photos for the make, model and trim level. This inconsistency makes for a frustrating shopping experience.

Inquiries go into the void

How about reputation? Not only is Web2Carz accredited and "A+" rated by the Better Business Bureau, there were absolutely no complaints filed there. Given that this service has been in operation for the better part of two decades, that's no small feat. But, most of the reviews we found for Web2Carz were from people who used the site at least two years ago; the small number of comments we found more recently said that no one ever got back to them on the vehicles on which they made an inquiry.

Best for research, not for buying used cars

There's nothing inherently bad about the Web2Carz site, but it's not our favorite resource. You don't get the same type of information with each car listing, making it almost like a game of chance when you click on a car you like. Feel free to use this platform to do your car-buying research, but we suggest looking at our higher-ranked services when you're ready to get down to business.

• Do research or find used cars
• See listings of cars from some dealers and online-only retailers

Cars Direct launched in 1998 and considers itself one of the pioneers in online shopping for used cars. You can use this site just to do research on vehicles you'd like to consider or to locate them for purchase.

Simple search

On the main Used Cars page on the Cars Direct site, you can select a make and model in the dropdown boxes, or click on the links for body style or price range. Just make sure it's got the right zip code in the box next to the green "Search" button.

Lots of listings... on a third-party site

Cool so far, but when we got our results list we were less-than-thrilled to see that very few of them were at dealerships; the vast majority were listings from Carvana (who you'll also find in our reviews). Cars Direct doesn't have a way to specify what kinds of listings you want, so there's no way to set it to hide results from a particular source.

Only paid listings

That's because Cars Direct only shows you listings from dealerships that have paid them for leads. For example, when looking for Toyota Highlanders, we were shown hundreds of Carvana listings and just a handful from dealerships - despite the fact that our research showed dozens on dealership lots within 25 miles of our location.

Not nearly enough information

Besides that, listings here are really bare-bones. CARFAX report? You'll have to pay for it. Photos? Maybe a few, maybe a lot. Any remaining manufacturer's warranty? Anyone's guess. All you'll get from Cars Direct is a form that lets them send your information along to the dealership. You could just as easily go directly to the dealer's website and get much more info yourself.

Car experts nonexistent

Who is Cars Direct, really? Trying to answer that question while looking into this platform's reputation was quite a rabbit hole to go down. There are two parent companies associated with Cars Direct; Internet Brands Inc. and iMatrix. They're both internet marketing companies, but one has a "D-" from the Better Business Bureau and the other has an "A+" and accreditation. You won't find any car experts here. Curiouser and curiouser, indeed.

Site sells your information

We wanted that info because Cars Direct doesn't get a lot of happy feedback from those who've used the site to try and buy a used car. Most of them say you can expect to get an endless stream of phone calls and emails - not just from car brokers and dealerships (which you'd expect, even if you didn't like it) but also from totally unrelated businesses like warehouse clubs, security system providers, pest control companies, and so on. Cars Direct will get you connected, all right - but not necessarily with the good pre-owned vehicle you were searching for.

Not recommended for buying used cars

At the end of the day, Cars Direct is a mediocre resource for buying used cars. No matter what, you're going to end up on a third-party site because this one doesn't facilitate the actual purchase of the vehicle. You also aren't going to find the most comprehensive list of cars near you. Try a higher-ranked service to help you buy a used car.

• Over 25,000 used cars to choose from
• 7-day/400-mile return policy
• Some cars have a 60-day/3,000-mile guarantee
• $500 refundable deposit to secure a vehicle

Driveway is one of the newest buy-from-home used car sellers online today and is a division of Lithia Motors, Inc. Their inventory includes new, used, and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, all with no-haggle pricing.

In-depth filters for searching

When you first land on the Used Cars page, you'll see a random assortment of the more than 25,000 vehicles in Driveway's inventory. You can easily search by make, model or keyword; otherwise, use the filters on the left side of the page to shop by payment type (cash or finance) and any budget parameters you have, plus apply filters to include your preferred body style/color, year and mileage, fuel type and MPG, and so on.

Excellent level of detail

You'll see plenty of information about the car that interests you. You'll usually find a dozen photos or more, a CARFAX report with the vehicle's history, and easy estimates for financing. Shipping costs are clearly displayed on this page too; just make sure that the Driveway site accurately detects your zip code where it says "delivery to" . Your taxes and fees will also only be an estimate until you get to the point of finalizing your purchase.

$500 refundable deposit

To reserve a car you find on Driveway, you'll have to pay a $500 deposit via credit card. The good news is that it will apply towards the purchase price, and it'll be refunded if the order is canceled or if you're approved for a $0 down vehicle loan. Also, be aware that Driveway doesn't guarantee availability of any used car prior to the purchase being finalized. It's possible for multiple people to put down a deposit on the same vehicle, but only one will get the car.

Not all cars come with guarantees

Can you count on your Driveway used car to meet your expectations? Maybe. All cars are inspected prior to being listed for sale, and every vehicle has a 7-day/400-mile return policy. But, they don't all have guarantees beyond that. If your used car has less than 80,000 miles on it at the time of purchase, it may come with a 60-day/3,000-mile guarantee. Check the details in the vehicle listing to see if it qualifies.

Lack of response

It's hard to get a clear picture of Driveway's reputation. They're so new on the market that there's not a ton of feedback. At the time of this evaluation, they had a concerning "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, but that was because they'd been in business for such a short time and failed to respond to 8 complaints. That wouldn't ordinarily be a big deal in our book, but almost all of those complaints said the same thing: "we bought a car through Driveway four months ago and we still don't have the registration" .

Frustrated customers

That doesn't include the buyers who said that the vehicles they got were in much worse condition than promised. This includes customers who bought a car and found issues that only arose after a few weeks or months, but that were related to items that should have been taken care of (like regular servicing). It's definitely a challenge to find people with good things to say about their experience with Driveway.

Better choices for reliable used cars

Driveway has a few advantages over their similarly-structured "buy from home" used car rivals, but it's not enough to earn our recommendation. There's no reason car buyers should be waiting for months post-purchase to get the needed paperwork, and there's no excuse for failing to reply to customer complaints. Driveway doesn't get our absolute lowest ranking - but it's close.

• Promises an accident-free CARFAX vehicle history on every car
• Vehicles are inspected prior to sale
• Non-negotiable pricing
• Non-refundable deposit required to hold a car
• Delivery fees range from $0 to $1,399 and are non-refundable
• 7-day/250-mile return period
• 90-day/6,000-mile limited warranty on all cars
• Not available in Massachusetts, Alaska or Hawaii

Vroom is one of several used car buying services that let you do it all from home. You can find a car, trade yours in, and take delivery of your pre-owned vehicle without ever having to make a trip to a car dealership.

Need to know what you have in mind

Vroom isn't going to be your ideal way to research the used car you want. When using the site, you're expected to have an idea of what you're looking for, shopping by truck/SUV/sedan or by entering a make/model/body type in the search box. Next, use the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down the results by year, price, miles, fuel/efficiency, engine/drivetrain and popular features. Your list of matches can be organized by newest-to-oldest, price (high-low or low-high), and lowest miles.

Non-refundable deposit to place a hold

If you choose to place a hold on a Vroom used car, you'll have to pay a deposit. Bad news - your deposit is non-refundable. They say this is "to cover the costs associated with putting a vehicle on hold" . You can click on the letter "i" in the circle by the price to get a better idea of your anticipated fees. As an example, on a 2014 Toyota Highlander with 110,000+ miles, the car was priced at $22,499 with an estimated delivery price of $699, a $249 deposit, and documentary fees that varied by state ($300.50 in FL/NJ/NY, $350 in AZ, $150 in all others).

Delivery fees are also non-refundable

All Vroom vehicles come with a 7-day/250-mile return period. However, your delivery fees are non-refundable (and that's important to note, given that those fees can be as much as $1,399, depending on the delivery distance). Beyond that, you'll also have a 90-day/6,000-mile limited warranty; unfortunately, Vroom doesn't go into much detail about what's covered and what's not.

How long can you wait?

This is not the service you want to use if you need a car right away. Vroom vehicles are usually delivered within 14 days of when the purchase is completed. We also found more than a few customers who said that their delivery date kept getting pushed further and further out. You might like Vroom if you're buying a hard-to-find make/model and you've got plenty of time and patience, though.

Poor BBB rating

Vroom has the rock-bottom worst reputation of any service we've found for buying used cars. Not only does the Better Business Bureau give them an "F" rating, but the BBB has also gone the extra length to write up a lengthy alert on Vroom's listing. There were nearly 3,000 complaints filed in the year prior to this evaluation alone.

Horrible track record

Many customers report a wonderful sales process that went south as soon as they put down a deposit or finalized their purchase. However, complaints included no ability to get support, registration paperwork never completed (thus rendering the vehicles unable to be driven legally), and so much more. Beyond that, both the BBB alert and shopper comments indicate that Vroom may be selling cars with accidents in their history and falsifying documents to hide that fact. It's ironic, because at the bottom of their site it recommends that customers verify vehicle information before purchasing. How, exactly?

Avoid buying a used car here

There are plenty of reliable ways to get a good-quality used car out there. Vroom is not one of them. We can't recommend strongly enough that you avoid this platform when searching for your next pre-owned vehicle.

Continued from above...

You can see how many owners it's had, any accidents reported, and sometimes the service history detailing oil changes and other routine maintenance. Buying used cars online is a huge time-saver too: you don't have to make a long drive to a dealership hoping they'll have something on the lot that you'll like, and you can avoid a lot of the "pushy salesperson" experience.

Most sites that sell pre-owned vehicles also have tools for determining how much you can afford and prequalifying for financing - which is one less thing you'll have to do in person (assuming you don't take the 100% online route from the get-go).

Which site should you use for buying used cars? There are a lot of similarities among them, and among the highest-rated services you can choose fairly freely without worrying about missing out. But, here are some things to consider about any used car website you're looking at:

• Types of Used Car Sellers. Are you interested in buying from a private seller or a small, lesser-known local car lot? Or are you more comfortable with a big-name dealership? Are you interested in an online-only experience? Some sites for buying used cars give you listings from all four types, while others specialize just in partnerships with dealers.
• Research Tools. Not every platform gives you research tools, but there's no reason you can't use one site to gather information and another to actually find a car. If you're at the earlier stages of the buying process, you should at least start with a site that lets you see reviews and get an idea of the pros and cons of many different makes and models.
• Detailed Information. The best sites give you lots of information - almost to the point of it feeling like overload. We prefer services that offer free, detailed vehicle history reports and are completely transparent about who is selling the car - without having to use a contact form and subject yourself to spammy texts and emails.

TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best online services for buying used cars. We're confident that this information will help you get your next pre-owned set of wheels at a price you'll love!

Used Car Site FAQ

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Cars.com, Edmunds, Carvana, CarMax, and TrueCar offer the best car-buying apps, with user-friendly features like vehicle history reports and instant offers

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar, and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.

Buying a new car can be both exciting and overwhelming. With the number of websites and apps out there, which one offers the user experience and vehicles you want? Which ones also provide an efficient experience when it comes to selling your car? In reality, there might be more than one app that works for you.

We at the Marketwatch Guides team have reviewed the best car buying and selling apps to help you narrow your search. We’ve also reviewed the best websites to sell your car online , and some of our top website picks overlap with the app recommendations you’ll find here.

Key Takeaways :

• Cars.com is the best app for buying and selling a car because it has a large number of listings and offers helpful search tools.
• Some car buying apps aggregate dealer listings, while others sell inventory directly.
• Edmunds, TrueCar and Carfax are good apps for researching vehicles and pricing information in-depth.

Top Car Buying Apps

In the table below, we’ve detailed key information about our picks for the best car buying and selling apps currently available. We’ll compare each app’s capabilities and go into more detail in the following sections.

1. Cars.com

Cars.com is one of the best car buying and selling apps out there. You can look at both new and used cars on the app, while many other apps only show used vehicles. Cars.com shines in the amount and types of filters you can use to find cars, including no accidents, clean title, one owner, entertainment features, convenience systems and more. You can also shop from dealers that offer virtual appointments and contactless delivery.

The car buying app has an expert review team that makes detailed video reviews of new models to help you shop from home. Cars.com also collects owner reviews from millions of drivers. This consumer review score includes comfort, interior design, performance, value for money, exterior styling and reliability.

Cars.com offers a private sale option if you want to find a local buyer for your car. However, you’ll have to do this on the Cars.com website — the app doesn’t have private listing functionality at this time.

App Functionality

Here’s what you can do with the Cars.com app, which is available for both Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS systems:

• Browse millions of new and used cars and use advanced search filters to narrow down your picks
• Look at dealership reviews from customers and get directions to a dealer
• Estimate monthly payments while browsing vehicles
• Get an instant offer on your car to sell or trade it in
• Save favorites and get price drop notifications

Edmunds is a household name when it comes to comparing car values and shopping for new vehicles. The Edmunds app gives you plenty of control when searching for new and used cars in your area, including True Cost to Own ® ratings that show ownership costs over multiple years.

The website Edmunds.com has an instant cash offer tool, but this isn’t available in the app. That said, you can appraise your vehicle model in the app. You’ll see trade-in, private-party and dealer retail market pricing. The process in the app is a bit more manual than the appraisal process online because you can’t input your car’s exact vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate. You’ll need to manually select the trim and features of the car.

One unique thing about the Edmunds car buying app is its augmented reality (AR) tool for visualizing your car in your garage. It’s called Can It Fit and it detects your garage’s dimensions and then puts a 3D image of the car you select in your garage.

You can do the following in the Edmunds car buying app, which is available through Google Play and for iPhones through the Apple app store:

• Browse and filter new and used cars
• Save favorites and research customer reviews, safety ratings, True Cost to Own and more
• Appraise your car with its make, model and condition
• Use the Can It Fit augmented reality car visualization feature
• Compare two cars side by side on features and more

Carvana is one of the only apps with a buying process that’s 100% online. You can browse Carvana’s inventory, view 360-degree images of the interior and exterior, look at Carfax reports for each vehicle and apply for financing within the app. Depending on your location, you can get the new car delivered to your door or pick it up from one of Carvana’s car vending machines. 

You can also use the app to sell your car to Carvana. Just enter basic information about your car and you’ll get an instant offer you can use to sell or trade in your car . Selling your car is contingent on an inspection that a Carvana representative will perform when they come to pick up the vehicle.

Since Carvana delivers cars, you can filter your search results by earliest arrival. In some areas, you could get delivery as soon as the next day. Carvana offers a seven-day money-back guarantee, so you can change your mind if you don’t like the car within a week.

Read more: Carvana review

Here’s what you can do in the app:

• Search and filter Carvana’s used car inventory
• Look at a Carfax report for each vehicle
• Prequalify for an auto loan and get financing within the app
• Get a cash offer to sell or trade in your car
• Track delivery and make loan payments

CarMax is another great app for buying a car. With the CarMax app, you can buy a car online and pick it up in-store or get it delivered if you live within 60 miles of select locations. The car buying app will let you know what options are available in your area. 

When you sign in, the app will ask for your location to show you cars at your nearest store. But you can also shop for cars across the country and get a car shipped to your store. And when you make an appointment to pick up a car, you can let CarMax know you’re on the way in the app.

The CarMax app is focused on car buying, not selling or trading in. So, if you want to sell your car or trade it to get a lower down payment, you’ll need to set up an appointment outside the app or get a cash offer on the website.

Here’s what you can do with the CarMax app:

• Search used vehicles at any CarMax location
• Purchase a car in the app and get it shipped to your house or a nearby CarMax location for a test drive
• Notify CarMax when you’re on your way
• Save favorites and track changes
• Get free vehicle history reports
• Get prequalified for a loan and make financing payments

Read more: Carmax review

TrueCar works with thousands of dealerships across the country to list new and used cars for sale. It’s an online marketplace that lets you shop for cars on dealer lots in your area. The app has many useful features, including payment calculators to estimate auto loan payments or see your buying power based on your credit score and budget. You can also take a quiz to see what type of car would be best for your lifestyle. The TrueCar Price Curve shows prices based on nearby sales, so you know you’re getting a fair price.

Since TrueCar doesn’t own any inventory, you’ll work with a local dealership to finalize the sale. That means you can get financing from an online lender or through the dealer, but not TrueCar. 

One nice thing about the TrueCar app is you can get a cash offer for your car. After verifying details about the trim and condition, you can redeem the offer at a dealer in your area to sell the car or trade it in. 

Read more: Truecar review

With the TrueCar app, you can:

• Shop new and used cars from dealers across the country
• Build and price your ideal new car
• Research vehicle reviews and rankings
• Compare cars side by side
• Take a car finder quiz
• Use buying power and auto loan calculators
• Get a cash offer for your car and make an appointment at a car dealership to sell it or trade it in

Vroom is an online dealership that’s similar to Carvana. The difference is that Vroom doesn’t have any physical locations, so everything is done online. Vroom buys all its vehicles and inspects each one so you don’t have to deal with third parties when purchasing a car through the app. 

Vroom’s car purchase and selling app lets you do anything you can do on Vroom’s website. You can browse inventory, get prequalified, secure a loan from its lending partners, sign paperwork and schedule the car’s delivery. Vroom sells used cars only, though you can get some very lightly used vehicles with under 1,000 miles from the company.

Vroom can pick up or deliver cars anywhere in the country except for Massachusetts, Alaska and Hawaii. Selling or trading a car with Vroom is easy since you can do the whole process in the app.

Here are the in-app features you can take advantage of with the Vroom app:

• Shop from thousands of used vehicles
• Schedule a vehicle delivery
• Get prequalified for a loan without hurting your credit
• Get financing from a lending partner
• Get an offer for selling or trading in your vehicle

Carfax can be an indispensable tool if you’re selling your car privately. The main benefit of using Carfax is you can get an official vehicle history report for your car, which will list the number of owners, previous accidents and major service records. Having a printed Carfax report can help bolster your sale price and give confidence to the buyer.

Besides purchasing Carfax reports, you can also search for used cars in your area with the app. The listings come from over 28,000 dealerships across the country and include free Carfax reports for detailed information. 

Here’s what you can do in the Carfax mobile app:

• Get Carfax vehicle history reports for any VIN or license plate
• Shop used cars across the country
• Filter search results in multiple ways including by vehicle history and Carfax value
• Save searches and contact dealers to buy a car

Types of Car Buying Apps

There are a few different ways to look at car buying apps. Depending on what you want to accomplish, different apps may be better than others. Here are a few factors that differentiate car buying apps:

• New or used: Obviously, if you want to buy a new car you’ll have to shop with apps that sell new vehicles. This would rule out Vroom, CarMax, Carvana and Carfax from our list. 
• Online vs. in-person: Many car buying apps offer home delivery, including Carvana and Vroom. This is something to consider if it’s important to you.
• Direct or third-party app: Out of our list, Vroom, Carvana and CarMax own their vehicle inventories and sell directly to consumers. The other car buying apps aggregate dealership listings and require you to finalize the sale at a local dealer.
• Transaction or research focus: Apps like Edmunds and Carfax are great for researching cars and deciding what you want to buy. Apps like Vroom are focused more on buying and selling transactions. And some apps — like TrueCar — mix research with robust transaction support.

Using a Private Sale App

Besides the apps from actual car dealers and selling companies above, you can also use apps like eBay Motors and Facebook Marketplace to buy or sell a car privately. 

Buying on a Private Sale App

Buying a car from a private seller can help you save a bit of money compared to buying at a dealership, but it takes more work on your part. You’ll have to research the vehicle and meet with the seller. It’s also a good idea to take the car to get inspected before the sale to be sure of the car’s condition. eBay Motors offers secure payments and transaction support, while Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist don’t.

Selling on a Private Sale App

The advantage to selling a car on a private marketplace is that you can ask the full market value for your vehicle and expect to be paid around that amount. In contrast, car dealers and other companies offer below-market value because they need to make money off your vehicle. 

Depending on your car’s value, you could make a few hundred to a few thousand more by selling on Facebook Marketplace or locally on eBay Motors. But using a platform like this takes a lot of work — you have to collect your car’s records and vehicle history report and then sift through multiple people to find the right buyer.

What To Look For in a Car Buying App

The best car buying or selling app for you can depend on many things. We recommend looking at the company’s customer support ratings, vehicle inventory size and financing options to find the best option.

Customer Support

Look for apps that are known for good customer support. Take a little time to research the after-sale process with each company. Find out if the company takes care of all the paperwork or if you need to file something with the department of motor vehicles (DMV) on your own.

Vehicle Inventory

Even the best car buying apps won’t show you every single vehicle for sale everywhere. Different apps work with different dealer networks or even have their own inventory. For example, Carvana has its own inventory of 45,000 vehicles, while Cars.com’s dealer network has over 2 million vehicles. Some people may prefer having more choices with Cars.com, while others might like the one-stop-shop process of Carvana instead.

It’s also important to consider the financing options you have in a car buying or selling app. Typically, companies that own their inventory offer in-house financing or partner with lenders to offer auto loans. On the other hand, apps that just aggregate dealership listings usually don’t offer financing. In this case, you’ll need to get financing through the selling dealer or another lender on your own.

Best Car Selling Apps: Conclusion

We recommend Cars.com as the best car buying and selling app due to its large inventory of new and used cars along with the option to sell or trade your car. Our top picks for the best car buying and selling apps are:

• Carfax 

However, the best option for you depends on your unique needs. Compare multiple car buying apps to find the best one for your situation.

Car Buying Apps: FAQ

Below are frequently asked questions about the best apps for buying or selling a car:

What is the best car buying app overall?

In our extensive research, we ranked Cars.com as the best car buying app for its many buying and selling options along with a large inventory of vehicles. Unlike other car buying and selling applications, you can also purchase new cars. However, their app may not be the best for your situation, so it is best to compare options before picking a platform.

Which is the best app for buying a secondhand car?

Cars.com is the best app for buying a used car because it lists over 2 million vehicles from local dealers across the country. It has plenty of car shopping tools for a great buying experience. You can also get an offer for selling or trading in your car right in the app.

What is the best car pricing app?

The best car pricing app is Edmunds. You can get a detailed appraisal based on your car’s features and condition and see prices for trade-in, private party and dealer retail. You can also look up the True Cost to Own a vehicle, which includes maintenance and repair estimates over multiple years.

Which online car buying site pays the most?

Our team compared cash offers from multiple companies and found CarMax gave the best price. It gave us values that were above the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) trade-in value for multiple vehicles.

What apps do people sell cars on?

You can sell your car on many apps including Cars.com, CarMax, Carvana, Vroom, Edmunds and TrueCar. All of these apps provide cash offers and you can either sell your car to a dealership in the app’s network or to an online retailer like CarMax directly.

Our Methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Industry Standing : Our research team considers ratings from industry experts and years in business when determining this score.
• Platform : Platforms that offer a variety of features, including instant offers and multiple sales options, are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Cost : To compare providers’ average offer prices, our team conducted a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicle types. We also considered the fees companies charge to use their platforms.
• Support : Car selling companies that offer strong transaction support received the highest scores in this category. This includes offerings like free pickup service as well as how quickly you receive your payment.
• Customer Experience : This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot as well as our team’s experience reaching out to each platform.

*Data accurate at time of publication

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

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2024 tesla model 3 killer lease competes with used model 3 prices.

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2024 Tesla Model 3 refresh with $299/month lease.

Tesla continues to offer enticingly cheap leases on the Model 3, creating in effect a low-cost car that even rivals used prices.

The face-lifted 2024 Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel-drive version has been offered since May with a $299 per month lease , not including taxes and fees. “This is their way to effectively get into the cheaper car market,” Pat Ryan, Founder & CEO of CoPilot , an AI-assisted car shopping app, told me. Ryan said the Model 3’s leasing terms are similar to those being offered by the Honda Civic Sport , which has a much lower MSRP but similar monthly lease payments.

The Logic Behind the Low-Cost Lease: The lease is so compelling that it doesn’t seem to make sense on its surface, according to Ryan. “They’re subsidizing this in some way, shape, or form,” he said. Tesla is saying in effect, “‘we’re going to make our lease deal twice as good as our purchase deal but you have to give us our car back. Which could [suggest] that they want it for the Robotaxi,” he said, alluding to the fact that you have to return the car at the end of the lease.

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Don’t forget $4,000 Used EV Tax Credit: If the car qualifies for the used EV tax credit (which in some cases is point of sale like the $7,500 new EV credit) that may be enough to push buyers off the fence since that could potentially bring the price to below $20,000. But keep in mind that the used EV must be from a licensed dealer, the price must be $25,000 or less and must be a model year at least two years before the current calendar year, according to the IRS . For example, in 2024, only EVs from model year 2022 or older would be eligible.

Better to lease? If the Model 3 doesn’t qualify for the tax credit, it might make more sense to lease the redesigned 2024 Model 3 with all of its upgrades. Especially if you’re particular about mileage and age, aka, wear and tear. On Tesla’s website, for example, a 2021 Model 3 Standard Range Plus Rear-Wheel Drive model with under 9,000 miles — considered very low mileage and low wear and tear — generally commands prices of over $28,000. But more typically these low-mileage Model 3s are priced above $30,000. That’s not so cheap. Compare that to a 2024 Model 3 lease at $299/month with $2,999 down for 36 months and 10,000 miles/year. To wit, a leased 2024 Model Y (before taxes and fees) can be about half that of a low-mileage used Model 3 and you don’t have to take a resale depreciation hit if the market goes south.

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