Back to GuidesWhen the time comes to buy a used car, there are a lot of things to consider and many factors that will go into your decision. Making sure that your new-to-you vehicle has all the features you want and is in the best possible shape will help ensure that it lasts you for many years.
The used car buying process can be difficult and frustrating, though, especially with so many different online car marketplaces and the scams that come with them. That is why it is so important to know what the best-used car websites are and what they have to offer.
There are all kinds of car-buying websites available and not all of them will be ideal for your particular needs. Depending on what you are looking for and what your level of car knowledge is, you may need certain search functions or processes to make sure you are purchasing the right used vehicle.
If you are averse to a dealership, online car shopping can be a great way to get access to a wide range of cars without the hassle of dealing with a salesperson or the need to haggle. Knowing what the best-used car sites are will help you choose wisely and get you the perfect car for your driving needs.
Best Sites to Buy a Car:
Carmax.com
Autotrader.com
Carvana.com
eBay.com
TrueCar.com
Craigslist.org
Hemmings.com
KBB.com
Cars.com
CarGurus.com
Autolist.com
A Detailed Look at Each:
Many people are apprehensive about purchasing a car because they don’t know what issues it might have. This is why it is so important to get a CARFAX report or other vehicle history report on any car you are thinking of purchasing. However, Carmax.com only sells certified pre-owned vehicles that have been inspected and are in top-notch shape. By working with them for your used car purchase, you can be certain that you are not buying a car you will have problems with right away.
One of the things that makes Carmax.com special is the limited warranty it offers on vehicles purchased through the site. It also has a strict what-you-see-is-what-you-get policy when it comes to sticker prices. If you are intimidated by the haggling process or simply want a straightforward purchase, it is going to be one of your best choices.
Since 1997, Autotrader has been one of the largest used car marketplaces for private sellers. It has over three million listings on the site so you have a wide variety of cars to choose from and are sure to find something that will suit your needs and check all the boxes for your search. The search tools allow you to look for cars that are within your location and also help you filter things like the make, model, engine type, and other parameters.
Since Autotrader has been around for so long, it has refined its search capabilities to allow you to look for cars with features like warranties and car insurance. It also has a car loans section that can help you get the financing you need from a lender for your car purchase. If you need complete services from your vehicle marketplace, it could be a great option.
For many people, the idea of purchasing a car online can be anxiety-inducing. Without being able to physically see and touch the vehicle, most car buyers will be apprehensive about making the purchase. Carvana helps alleviate some of these fears by doing a 150-point inspection on all the vehicles that are listed on the site. If you have been on the fence about buying from a private party online, Carvana is a good way to get some confidence in your purchase.
Carvana has also been fairly revolutionary in the online car shopping process with its car vending machine program. This program allows you to test drive a vehicle you are thinking about buying. There is also a seven-day money-back guarantee, which can be a big weight off your mind if you are uncertain about online vehicle shopping.
eBay has long been known as the go-to auction site for rare items and collectors have been flocking there for years. However, the eBay Motors division is also a fantastic resource for people looking to buy a used car. While it has plenty of car listings for traditional vehicles and economy cars, it is also a great place to find unique, exotic, and classic cars that you might not be able to find elsewhere.
The eBay Motors car buying site has all the search parameters and tools that you would expect from a used car marketplace including things like make, model, and body style. However, it also has a kit car and non-street-legal section that is full of interesting vehicles and collector cars that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. If you are interested in finding a car that is rare or highly sought after, this is an excellent option for you.
One of the biggest challenges that come with a used car search is understanding the market value and how much you should expect to pay for a specific model. TrueCar.com offers a comparison price for each vehicle so you can see what a reasonable price would be based on the current projections of the market. This is an incredibly useful tool and eliminates the need for research with a third party and also helps keep car prices down overall since sellers know that the fair price will be displayed.
TrueCar works with certified dealers and retailers for its listings, which gives you the assurance that the vehicles are in good shape and have been inspected. Purchasing a car from a private seller can possibly be cheaper but it won’t always be the best choice in the long run. A registered car dealer can offer quality control that a private seller simply can not.
Sometimes, the best way to purchase a car is to do a direct person-to-person sale with the seller. Craigslist is a popular online marketplace for all kinds of items and services but it is especially known as a convenient and easy-to-use car market. With Craigslist, a seller simply posts their vehicle, and car shoppers can arrange to meet up for a test drive or to see the vehicle in person.
While Craigslist can be a great way to get a wide variety of cars in your specific location, it is also a breeding ground for scammers. Be sure to know as much as you can about a specific vehicle and to make sure the seller is legitimate before you make the purchase. Never send any money to a seller before you see the car and, if possible, only pay them in person. Getting a vehicle history report from CARFAX or another reputable vehicle history company is always a good idea when shopping on Craigslist.
Hemmings.com has been the go-to site for vintage and rare car collectors all over the country for years. It not only has a wide selection of unique vehicles and classic cars, but it also has listings for rare car parts. If you are a car enthusiast and want a one-stop shop for all your vintage needs, whether you are buying a classic car or building one, you can do no better than Hemmings.
Hemmings is also unique because the company is passionate about creating a community of classic car lovers around its brand. It has been publishing print magazines and newsletters for years and you can subscribe to them to get fresh listings in a hard format every month or week. For those who are interested in old or exotic vehicles, there is no better place to know what is going on with the market and what interesting cars are coming up for sale.
Most likely, when you think of Kelley Blue Book, you think about price guides. While KBB.com is still the most popular site for knowing how much a certain vehicle is worth as a trade-in or sale, it is also an advanced search engine for used cars. You can also do things like check your loan eligibility, get vehicle history reports, and figure out what the monthly payment for a specific car will be. Having these tools at your disposal in one place can be incredibly convenient and will help you find the perfect car for your situation.
You can also find comprehensive reviews from customers who have owned a particular model year of a car. The key to finding a great deal on a used car is to make sure you know as much about it as you can. With so many resources from Kelley Blue Book, you can be as informed as possible about a car before you decide to buy it.
When searching for a new car that has been previously owned, one of the major pitfalls is the fact that you may have to deal with private sellers. This can open you up to all kinds of deception and scams and you won’t get a very high level of quality control when it comes to your pre-owned vehicle. Cars.com works with certified local dealers, which means that you can be sure the cars you are looking at are in the best possible shape and that the listings for them are honest.
One of the great things about using Cars.com to shop for your next car is the fact that it has a team of auto experts on staff. They regularly publish buying guides, car reviews, and editorials you can read to help you navigate the car buying experience and be as informed as possible. This kind of information is crucial and will allow you to find the perfect used car, truck, or SUV.
Shopping for a used car can be exhausting, especially if you want to do as much research as you can and know what you are getting yourself into. Looking through reviews, getting vehicle history reports, and going on test drives can all be incredibly time-consuming and not everyone has enough hours in the day to do it all. CarGurus.com helps take some of this responsibility off your shoulders by assigning a number rating to every car. This rating is based on the experience of previous owners, reliability ratings, and other important factors.
The CarGurus.com site is packed with search tools with all the necessary parameters like mileage, body style, model year, and more. There are also resources for loans such as financing and a calculator to help you figure out what your budget is and what you can and can’t afford in a used car. Having this information at your fingertips cuts down on the amount of independent research you have to do while still ensuring that you have all the available information before you make a decision.
CarGurus also happens to be the parent company of Autolist. So getting the best results when searching for a used car heavily depends on how wide you cast your net. Autolist.com is an aggregator and search engine that combines multiple car listing sources in one convenient search tool. As a result, it's one of the best ways to search for a used car and bring in choices from many different places. It's made even more convenient by using AutoList's mobile app on either iOS or Android platforms, which is consistently rated as one of the best used car buying apps on the market.
Using the Autolist app, you can get instant price-drop alerts and even help with financing and lending companies and plans in one comprehensive place. That makes searching for a car easy and allows you to stay organized and on top of any price changes. The advanced search, knowledgeable car reviews, and in-depth car research make Autolist an excellent resource.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a used car and making the right choice can be a difficult and time-consuming process but it doesn’t have to be. By knowing the best-used car websites and utilizing some of their features and search tools, you can streamline the process and ensure that you get the best deal on your new pre-owned vehicle. Taking the time to find the right site with the right resources will save you many hours of research and a lot of money in the long run. That way, you can drive off happy knowing that you have made the best choice and have purchased a car that will give you many years of good service and trouble-free driving.
