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. Our top picks, including CarGurus, Autotrader, and CarsDirect, have useful features to help streamline the car-buying process, like advanced search functions so you can zero-in on the right make and model. Some also allow private sellers to list their vehicles for sale. 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 picks. Best Used Car Websites Best Used Car Websites The Bottom Line Compare Providers Used Car Prices Are Down From Last Year What Is a Used Car Website and How Does It Work? Frequently Asked Questions Methodology Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Advanced pricing tools Helpful information on blog Advertise cars for free Cons No vetting of sellers Overview 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. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Search filters for nearly any option or feature Over three million listings nationwide Car research, financing, and insurance tools Cons Charges to post a listing Trade-in restrictions based on location Overview 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. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Find deals from local dealers Apply directly for no-credit or low-credit loans Fast and flexible customer service Cons Dealer listings only (no private sellers) Car down payment may be needed Overview 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. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Blog and newsletters for classic car lovers Buy and sell classic car parts as well as cars Cons Account required Listings only stay up for six months Fewer listings than ClassicCars.com Overview 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 advertisem*nts, and unlimited words with up to 35 photos for online advertisem*nts. All ads that include it run for one month in the Hemmings Motor News magazine and for six months online. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Compiles over 5,000,000 listings Top-rated mobile app Cons No option to place ads No financing tools or options Overview 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. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Compiles listings from the largest number of sites Smart search pages display targeted buyer guides Car pricing tool helps shoppers find the best deals Cons Doesn’t vet listings No option to purchase cars online Overview 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. Why We Chose It 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. Pros and Cons Pros Low listing and commission fees Every vehicle includes a history report Some listings featured by a YouTube celebrity Cons No listings for cars made before 1980 No financing options available No buyer and seller tools or resources Overview 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. Used car prices are down quite a bit from last year in all major categories, according to data from Cox Automotive. The greatest decreases were seen in EVs, compact cars, midsize cars, and luxury cars. This is in contrast to new car prices, which saw a slight increase from 2023 to 2024. According to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report from Q1 2024, the average new car MSRP was $41,067 in 2023, compared to $41,837 in 2024. A used car website allows you to find and buy a used car. Some allow you to list your own vehicle for sale. And in some cases, like with Hemmings, you can even buy and sell car parts. All used car websites allow you to search by make and model, but some have better search functions than others. You can typically search and filter by price, body style (sedan, SUV, pickup truck, etc.), mileage, year, trim level, color, and other basic features. The best sites let you narrow your search to exactly what you're looking for, getting as precise as interior color, transmission type, cabin/bed size, engine, and extra features. In some cases you can get CarFax reports and expert reviews of specific makes and models. To get an idea of how much a vehicle will cost, you may be able to see estimated payments based on different credit levels. Some sites, like CarGurus and Autotrader, will let you know if you're getting a good deal or not based on other listings of similar makes and models or comparisons to Kelley Blue Book. When you find a car you like, you can submit your information to check its availability. You may be able to request a test drive. Certain used car websites partner with lenders to provide financing, although its worth exploring auto loans on your own to make sure you find the best deal. Depending on the site and the seller you may have to pick up the car, or you may be able to have it delivered. 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. 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. 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. 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. There are a number of websites that offer used car history checks. Some of our recommended used car websites above work with certain vehicle history websites to provide customers with information: CarGurus uses AutoCheck, while Autotrader, CarsDirect, Hemmings, Autolist, AutoTempest, and Cars & Bids all use CARFAX. 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. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. 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?" Cox Automotive. "Wholesale Used-Vehicle Prices Decrease in First Half of June." Experian. "State of the Automotive Finance Market Q1 2024." Kelley Blue Book. "History." Related Terms What Is Comprehensive Insurance and What Does It Cover? Comprehensive insurance is car insurance that covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision. Learn about comprehensive insurance costs. more Subrogation in Insurance: What it Is and Why It's Important Subrogation is the right of an insurer to pursue the party that caused the loss to the insured in an attempt to recover funds paid in the claim. more Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): How It Works, Requirements Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may pay a policyholder's damages after an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or a hit-and-run. more Property Insurance: Definition and How Coverage Works Property insurance provides financial reimbursem*nt to the owner or renter of a structure and its contents in the event of damage or theft. more What Is Tenancy by the Entirety? Requirements and Rights Tenancy by the entirety is a type of shared ownership of property reserved only for married couples. more Workers’ Compensation: What It Is, How It Works, and Who Pays Workers’ compensation pays workers benefits due to a work-related accident or injury. Workers' comp covers medical costs, healthcare, lost wages, job retraining, and disability. moreBest 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
The Bottom Line
Compare Providers
Best Used Car Sites Site Why We Picked It Notable Features CarGurus Best for Cheap Cars Value rating finds the best deals Autotrader Best Advanced Search Functions Most listings plus finance and insurance tools CarsDirect Best Basic Option Useful buyers guides for car shoppers Hemmings Best for Classic Cars Marketplace for classic car parts as well as classic cars Autolist Best for Mobile Mobile-first shopping experience AutoTempest Best for Comparing Options Listings from the largest number of sites Cars & Bids Best Auction Site Quick listings and low fees Used Car Prices Are Down From Last Year
What Is a Used Car Website and How Does It Work?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Most Popular Used Car Website?
Do I Have to Pay for a Used Car Site?
Can I Trust a Used Car Site?
What Is the Most Accurate Car Value Website?
What Is the Best Site to Check a Used Car's History?
Methodology
FAQs
Will used car prices go down 2024? ›
At the end of 2023, the average price of a used car was $28,371, 4.4% less than the average a year earlier⁵. New and used car prices continued to fall in the first quarter of 2024. Industry experts predict that used car prices could decrease by as much as 14% on average by the end of 20246.
What is the best website to find used cars? ›Our Top Picks for Used Car Websites
Cars.com, Carvana, Edmunds, CarMax and TrueCar are our top recommendations for used car websites.
- Motorpoint. Everything about a car should make your life simpler. ...
- Motors. Second to Autotrader, the best used car website, is Motors. ...
- Autotrader. If there's one company that dominates the used car space, it's Autotrader. ...
- CarGurus. Bargain-hunters delight – CarGurus is the place to go! ...
- 8. Facebook Marketplace.
- Our Top Picks.
- CarGurus.
- Autotrader.
- CarsDirect.
- Hemmings.
- Autolist.
- AutoTempest.
- Cars & Bids.
Used car prices have been falling for months, and we expect prices to fall further in the second half of 2024. New car incentives will continue to pull buyers away from used car lots. If you're patient, you may save a few thousand dollars on a used car in just 2-4 month's time.
How long will vehicle prices stay high? ›Car Prices Will Likely Continue To Decrease
“Last month, the average price for a new vehicle was [$47,936] — a [1.4%] dip from last year, according to the latest KBB data. This suggests that new car prices might drop in 2024.” One factor that could lead to price drops is an oversupply of new cars.
Rely on the Kelley Blue Book® Fair Market Range for Used Cars. Our valuation experts have done all the calculations for you to show you what you can expect to pay.
How many miles is too many for a used car? ›There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.
What is the best brand for second hand car? ›Toyota is considered to be the go-to vehicle for reliability, while brands like Honda, Mazda, Subaru and Hyundai are also highly ranked for their quality and cheap maintenance costs. Brand recognition isn't the only factor for choosing what's a reliable vehicle.
What is better, Carvana or CarMax? ›Both Carvana and CarMax advertise no-haggle pricing, but Carvana offers a seamless selling process that helps it come out ahead in our rankings. We give Carvana the edge over CarMax as a car selling website. Our team rates CarMax just slightly ahead of Carvana for its car buying services.
Can I negotiate at CarMax? ›
CarMax has a no-haggle policy, which means you can't negotiate the price. This can be a benefit, though, because you know you're getting CarMax's best rate first instead of a lowball offer. You can still sell your car to CarMax after the seven-day period, but you'll need to get a new offer.
What is the best selling car website in the US? ›The best websites to sell your car online for the most money include Cars.com, Carvana, CarBrain, Peddle, TrueCar, Copart, CarMax and CarGurus. Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more.
What is the forecast for automotive sales in 2025? ›Global light vehicle sales will increase by 2% to 3% over 2024 and 2025 (to over 90 million), mainly supported by growth in Southeast Asia and India. U.S. and Europe may lag global growth, while China's long-term potential remains.
Are used car prices going to keep rising? ›From December 2023 to January 2024, the CPI for new cars fell by 0.04%. The CPI for used vehicles fell more dramatically, 3.4%. During this one month, the overall CPI increased 0.3%. It seems that vehicle prices will continue to hold steady, or even decline slightly, in the coming months of 2024.
Are new car prices dropping now? ›However, we're seeing a different trend this spring: falling new car prices. Market-wide, the average transaction price for a new car sold in the U.S. has fallen by 5% since the start of the year. Yet, a closer look depicts a more nuanced picture, with certain brands experiencing significant price drops.
Do cars go down in value every year? ›There's no pre-determined rate at which a vehicle will depreciate. Within the first year, many cars will lose up to 20% of their value. After that, they may lose about 15% more per year until the four-or five-year mark. Use our car depreciation calculator to get an idea of how much your car may be worth over six years.