Places To Buy Used Cars Online
An analysis by Santander Consumer USA identified nearly 100 online research and shopping resources available to the nearly 40 million consumers that shop for used cars in a typical year. The best used car sites were named by 28 sources that listed choices for those most helpful to car shoppers.
places to buy used cars online
Few shoppers look at even a half-dozen of the best used car websites, based on a recent survey, which showed that online shoppers visit an average of about four websites before buying their used vehicle, and that third-party websites typically were the first and last online shopping destinations.
eBay MotorsThe well-known auction website functions more like an online classified ad listing for cars and trucks. The eBay search engine provides detailed criteria such as make, model, pricing, location, delivery options and more, as well as a Market Price Analysis that shows how asking prices compare to other prices for vehicles sold on the site. Unlike the previous website, eBay Motors provides seller ratings that may help shoppers decide whether or not to make a particular purchase. (+)
Edmunds.com* Edmunds offers a nationwide database that empowers customers to search a vast inventory of new, used and certified preowned vehicles in their area. The site provides comprehensive used-vehicle search capability and vehicle rankings; reports new-car pricing; identifies highly-rated used cars; flags great, good and fair prices, and offers affordability and loan calculators. Edmunds also provides True Market Value and True Cost to Own on used and new cars, respectively. While a bit overwhelming, the website is worth exploring for the wealth of information it can provide to serious shoppers. (+)
CarMax*Shoppers can find CarMax-certified used vehicles online that are available through 225 stores nationwide. Shop by vehicle price, category, brand, model year, popularity and lifestyle (commuter, eco-friendly, family and outdoor), for example. Although the website could be easier to navigate, shoppers should be able to find car-buying tips and an easy-to-use car payment calculator. (+)
Our lists of the 16 best used car websites based on a survey of online sources and 13 that get proven search results based on our own research should make it a little easier to identify those third-party websites which may be the best used car sites in your search for another vehicle.
Overall, Autotrader.com is a top pick for anyone looking to buy or sell a car online. Wondering if Autotrader is a trustworthy option for buying or selling cars? Find out in our comprehensive Autotrader review.
CarGurus is a popular online marketplace for buying and selling new and used cars. The site uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze pricing data and provide users with a fair market value for each car listed.
Cars.com is a comprehensive online marketplace for buying and selling new and used cars. The site has over 4 million listings and offers advanced search filters, vehicle history reports, and pricing information to help users find the right car for their needs.
Carfax also deals in used cars, offering vehicle searches through make, model, body type, and price. You can also choose if you want a vehicle with no accidents or damages, is owned by one person and has a service history with Carfax.
is a unique website that allows users to buy cars online and have them delivered to their doorstep. The site has a wide selection of cars and offers a range of financing options to help users purchase their desired vehicle. Carvana.com also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, making it a low-risk option for car buyers.
Edmunds started out as a vehicle appraisal booklet company but developed into an online marketplace for buying and selling used cars. The site offers new and used cars, information about the buying process, as well as links to dealerships and lenders.
This may be the ultimate site for buying and selling uncommon works of art or marvelous, used sports cars. The portal is overflowing with devotee traffic, plus Bring-A-Trailer screens all cars on its site prior to posting them.
Hemmings is so popular among classic car enthusiasts that a single listing can reach millions of potential buyers. Listings are published online as well as in print with Hemmings Motor News. The best part is that the buyer knows what the buyer wants and they love cars. They also understand how classic car transport works.
Autolist.com is a website that helps buyers find used cars from both dealerships and private sellers. Their advanced search options allow buyers to filter by make, model, year, and location, while their price comparison tool shows the average price for similar vehicles. Autolist.com also offers a variety of resources for car buyers, including reviews and ratings of vehicles and a mobile app for easy access on the go.
Using an online used car website allows you to browse a large selection of vehicles from the comfort of your own home, compare prices and features, and potentially find better deals than at a traditional dealership.
Would you like to buy or sell a vehicle at online car auctions in the United States? If so, you're not alone as nearly every step of the new, used, and salvage car buying and selling experience can be completed online. Shopping for a used car online is a great alternative to visiting a car dealer in person, especially with...
In 2022, however, there may not be many "cheap" cars to speak of. As of this writing, we're facing a shortage of used cars, which has caused their market value to spike to record highs. This makes choosing the right used-car retailer even more critical, as a mistake has never been costlier. You may also need to expand your search further to find a car online or at a brick-and-mortar car dealer.
Remember that you may find used cars for sale that are under recall and not yet repaired: It's not illegal for sellers to offer such cars. Check the vehicle identification number (VIN) at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recall site so you'll know whether you're about to buy a car that you'll then need to take in for the free recall repair.
Buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) car is a convenient way to find a used car, SUV or truck in excellent condition. CPO vehicles, which are sold from dealerships of the same brand, go through extensive inspections and are reconditioned with factory parts. They also come with the best warranties. General Motors, for example, offers a one-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on all of its CPO cars. Our certified program comparison tool can help you see the differences in coverage. But just because they come with warranties doesn't mean they are exactly like new cars. Read "Certified Pre-Owned Cars: A Reality Check" to see what expectations you should have for a CPO car.
The coverage and convenience of a CPO car come at a price. CPO cars are typically the most expensive used-car option. Edmunds data indicates that consumers will pay on average a 6% to 8% premium for a 3-year-old CPO vehicle. One alternative might be to find a car from a private seller that is new enough to still be under warranty.
The remaining used-car inventory falls under this category. These cars don't typically get the same attention that a CPO car would receive but are still given a reasonable inspection. Any major issues are usually fixed before the car is put up for sale. Since dealerships accept trade-ins on a daily basis, you'll have an easy time finding these used cars at a dealer. Most dealership websites should include a link to a free Carfax or AutoCheck report, so make sure to take advantage of that and learn about the vehicle's history.
Some independent used-car lots may specialize in a certain type of car, which can make your selection process easier if you have that type in mind. For example, one place might focus on European luxury makes, while another might specialize in classic cars.
CarMax is technically an independent used-car dealer. But with upwards of 200 stores nationwide, it is the largest used-car seller in the country. You'll find a wide array of late-model cars in a variety of body styles.
If you have a trade-in, CarMax will make you a fixed offer on that, too. All CarMax vehicles come with a 90-day, 4,000-mile limited warranty (whichever comes first). The company also offers a 30 day money-back guarantee just in case you change your mind about the vehicle you choose. There are many cars to choose from, and they can be researched online. While there are a few exceptions, generally speaking, if you find a car you like at another branch, you can arrange to have it shipped to a location near you (sometimes for an additional fee).
Shopping for a car in the private-party market offers a varied selection and a potential opportunity to get the best price, though you sacrifice the convenience of seeing many cars side by side, as you do at dealer lots. Negotiating with a private-party seller is usually much easier than negotiating with a salesperson at a dealership since most car owners haven't received formal sales training. There are many ways to find private-party vehicles. Some of the more popular places to go on the web are Autotrader, Craigslist, CarGurus and eBay Motors.
There may be good used-car candidates on these sites, but you'll have to sift through a number of listings to find one. This is where you'll likely find the lowest prices, but the condition levels of the cars can vary wildly. Many of the car photos you'll see are just plain bad. Some listings have no photos at all. Information on the cars tends to be limited, and you may have to contact the seller to get a VIN, which is what you need to run a vehicle history report. It's not uncommon to encounter cars that have salvage titles, meaning they've likely been in a serious accident. You'll sometimes run across unlicensed car salespeople pretending to be everyday owners. And then there are ads placed by scammers for cars that don't actually exist. 041b061a72