Sunday, May 22nd
2022 Used Car Site Reviews
True Car
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- 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 has traditionally been a high finisher in our ratings for buying used cars. But recently, they've been outpaced by some of their competitors. This service no longer gives you a free vehicle history report, and some site users have had big frustrations with dealerships not honoring the TrueCar price quote. You can still use TrueCar to get a reasonable overview of what's for sale near you and to do pre-purchase research, but you'll get more overall from a higher-ranked platform.
Autotrader
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- See vehicles offered by large dealerships, smaller car lots, online-only platforms and private sellers
- Over 3 million vehicle listings
Autotrader's used car listings go above and beyond. Not only will you get the usual brand-name dealerships and some online-only options, but here you'll see private listings and smaller used car lots too. There's plenty of detail to help you analyze each vehicle, from KBB values that are updated weekly to CARFAX reports and more. Autotrader is worth trying when you're buying a used car.
More Used Car Site Reviews
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.
Used Car Site FAQ
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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!
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