Monday, December 2nd
2024 New Car Buying Site Reviews
True Car
- Prices from $19,460 to $263,665
- 14,000+ new vehicles for sale
- Includes CarFax and KBB ratings
- Cars from dealerships
- Payment calculator available
- "A+ rating from the BBB
In 2005, True Car launched as an online automotive marketplace. People use this site to buy new and used cars, and it supports many well-known buying services offered by companies like American Express, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Sam's Club. One of the best ways to use True Car is for research. The platform offers a variety of tools, from reviews and rankings to loan and lease calculators, to help you figure out what you want when buying new cars. It's an excellent resource to get all the information you need.
Pick your ideal car or let True Car help
True Car offers a quiz for buyers who just aren't sure where to start. You can click on the "Let Us Help” button to answer a few key questions that will narrow down your vehicle options quickly. The quiz will ask about your must-haves, how you plan to use your car, your favorite car brands, and your favorite body styles. If you'd rather browse the traditional way, you can select a make or model and start looking through True Car's inventory. In most cases, you'll end up on a page that displays the average dealer offer for the car. Here's where True Car can be a bit tricky. To "see offers on local inventory," you'll need to create a free account and confirm it via email. If you want to check out the normal listings page, you'll have to do so from the top navigation bar.
Competitive inventory
There are 18,000+ listings for new cars available at True Car within 50 miles of our test area. Across different models, we found 2,451 sedans, 10,584 crossovers, 4,074 trucks, and 224 coupes. It was, however, unclear whether any of these were available for home delivery.
Prices from $19,460
The prices on True Car range from $19,460 to $263,665. The cheapest car is a Mitsubishi Mirage while the most expensive is a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Maybach. We also priced out the cars we've been researching at each site: the Toyota Corolla, the Nissan Rogue, and the Tesla Model 3. Here's what we found:
- Toyota Corolla: $22,265 to $30,469
- Nissan Rogue: $30,078 to $43,580
- Tesla Model 3: Not offered on True Car
Delivery and refunds determined by dealership
Based on the blogs and posts we found on True Car's website, things like return policies and at-home delivery are left up to each dealership. True Car just facilitates the purchase. To get full details about these policies and whether or not you'll have a period to test drive your car, you'll need to contact the dealership directly.
Dealerships don't always honor True Car prices
True Car used to be our top choice for buying cars, both new and used. The company still holds an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, with fewer than a dozen complaints in the past year. However, recent feedback from customers has been more negative. About 25% of reviewers rate True Car as average, poor, or bad. Common complaints include dealers not honoring True Car pricing and cars becoming unavailable between setting an appointment and arriving at the dealership. Some buyers describe their experience with True Car as a waste of time or even a scam.
Great research tool, but not reliable for final prices
Using True Car to start your new car-buying process is risk-free. The research tools are useful and can help you decide what to buy. Basically, it's like shopping on a dealership website, but all the makes and models are in one place, so it's easy to compare. And if you're willing to create an account, you can learn more about the cars available near you. However, you can't always rely on this platform to show you a guaranteed price for a car that will still be on the lot when you go to see it.
More New Car Buying Site Reviews
The 10 Best New Car Buying Sites
Where Can You Find the Best New Cars?
It's pretty much universally agreed that the "New Car” smell is one of the best feelings in the world. Getting into your dealership-clean car with brand-new features makes you feel like a little kid all over again. That's why buying a new car is one of the most exciting times in your life. But we're all also familiar with the dealership process. Haggling for prices and feeling pressured by overzealous salespeople can easily turn your excitement into frustration.
With online auto sales, gone are the days of heading blindly over to the nearest dealership, hoping to find something you'll like, and being largely at the mercy of the salesperson who greets you at the door. Now, you can do extensive research online before ever setting foot on the lot - and that's assuming you're not having the vehicle delivered directly to your home. Today's new car-buying experience is totally different from what it was even ten years ago.
New Car Buying Site FAQ
Continued from above...
Buying a new car is an exciting experience, and getting one through online services can make it even more enjoyable. Instead of spending hours at a dealership, you can browse through numerous makes and models from the comfort of your home. Online platforms provide detailed information about each car, including safety ratings, features, detailed photos of the interior and exterior, and prices (including monthly payment or lease calculator tools). This helps you make a well-informed decision without the pressure of a salesperson hovering over you. You can take your time, compare different options, and find your dream car.
One of the biggest advantages of buying a new car online is access to a wide range of options that may not be available at your local dealership. Online car-buying platforms often have a larger inventory from multiple local dealerships (or those in completely different states if you don't mind making the drive to pick it up or paying for transport), allowing you to find the exact model and color you want. Plus, many online services offer home delivery, so you can have your new car brought right to your doorstep. This convenience saves you time and effort, making the new car-buying process smooth and hassle-free.
Plus, purchasing a new car online can help you pick out the newest models (even those that are just released and harder to find on dealership lots). When it comes to safety and mechanical features, you can find details and trim levels that offer advanced driver assistance systems, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane assist. Since you're browsing the collective inventory of many dealerships and sellers, it's much easier to find that top-level model than it would be just shopping locally.
So, if you're ready to start the process of getting a new car, there are plenty of places to begin your journey. But if you don't know which site is best for you, don't worry. When looking for a new car online, here are several factors to consider to help you get the best deal and experience:
- Resources. Look for websites that provide detailed information about each vehicle. This includes videos of test drives, comparisons between models, and articles to help you set a budget and choose the right car for your needs.
- Transparency. Choose platforms that offer detailed information about the car's location, dealer, and pricing history. It's important to know exactly where the car is coming from and who is selling it. Being able to contact the dealer directly is a plus.
- Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings to see what others have experienced with the car-buying site. Look for feedback on the legitimacy of vehicle listings, customer service, and the overall buying process. The Better Business Bureau's rating can also be a useful indicator of the company's reliability.
- Cost. At the end of the day, cost is a pretty big factor. Which site offers the car at the trim level you want at the most competitive cost? Does the cost include features like home delivery?
To help you in the search for your new set of wheels, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best options for online car shopping out there today. Whether you're looking for a new family vehicle, something to haul your trailer, a first-time car for a new college student, or that dream sports car you've been saving up for, we're sure that this information will save you time and get you connected with a vehicle you'll love to drive!
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