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Autotrader Review

Sunday, November 3rd

2024 Used Car Site Reviews

Autotrader Review 2.5 Star Rating

Autotrader

2.5 Star Rating
  • Prices from $500 to $3,250,000
  • Includes KBB ratings and CarFax
  • Cars from dealerships and private owners
  • Payment-based search tools
  • At-home test drive
  • Delivery to your home

Autotrader is a popular automotive website with vehicles from dealers and private sellers. It offers buying and selling tips to help you find a car that fits your lifestyle. Autotrader features over 3 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners. If you are looking for a used car, you can expect a range of listings from small pre-owned car lots, your neighbor down the street, and dealerships across your area.

Search by model or by cost

When starting on Autotrader, you can decide whether you want to browse all of the inventory in your area or get started by searching for a particular make and model. You'll find listings that compare cars by body type, mileage, price, and other criteria. You can also start your search based on your monthly budget. This way, Autotrader will only show you cars that will cost you a payment of $250 per month, for example, rather than more expensive options. The site also has a calculator tool so you can figure out the trade-in value of your current car and your desired down payment. This will also change the cars shown in your search, as your intended down payment would affect your monthly price.

20,000+ used vehicles for sale

Within 50 miles of our sample area, Autotrader had 20,000+ used vehicles in its inventory. Here's how this shakes out for different body styles: there were 4,711 sedan styles, 9,689 crossovers, 3,435 trucks, and 825 coupes (two doors). More than 13,000 of the vehicles on Autotrader offered at-home test drives and all of the 20,000+ models we saw offered local home delivery.

Best Used Car Sites

Incredibly detailed and transparent

When you start browsing, you can filter cars by local radius, year range, make, model, trim level, drivetrain, body style, fuel economy, color, transmission, and more. On each listing page, Autotrader provides detailed research and comparison tools such as reviews, photos, and walk-around videos. You can find vehicle pricing with seller specials and dealer discounts, safety information, and vehicle history reports. The site also offers assistance with finance, insurance, and warranty programs if you need those services. Each listing displays the estimated car payment at the top, so you don't waste time on cars outside your budget.

Prices as low as $500

The prices will fluctuate when you're car shopping for sure, but we found used cars between $500 to $3,250,000. So, whether you're looking for a used Kia Amati from 2004 or a 2022 Lamborghini Aventador, there's something on Autotrader for you. To give you an idea of prices across different auto sites, we picked four cars to check pricing (and relative mileage) at every auto seller: a basic sedan (the Toyota Corolla), a crossover (the Nissan Rogue), an electric vehicle (the Tesla Model 3), and a luxury/sport vehicle (the Jaguar F-Type). Here are the price ranges at Autotrader:

  • Toyota Corolla: $1,880 (1998 with 253,106 miles) - $39,975 (2023 with 9,663 miles)
  • Nissan Rogue: $3,000 (2013 with 206,231 miles) - $40,991 (2021 with 7,345 miles)
  • Tesla Model 3: $14,500 (2018 with 129,727 miles) - $44,500 (2022 with 25,147 miles)
  • Jaguar F-Type: $24,950 (2019 with 71,366 miles) - $69,745 (2023 with 5,462 miles)

Test drive and home-delivery

When purchasing a car online, having peace of mind is crucial because you can't physically inspect it beforehand. Autotrader provides in-home delivery (from local dealerships) and at-home test drives for specific models, though the exact terms are set by the dealership. For instance, the test-drive opportunity typically spans a brief period (usually a few days), allowing you to drive the car before committing fully. Some dealerships offer warranties or return periods to give you an out if you're not satisfied with the purchase. Delivery fees may vary, either as a flat rate or per mile, so it's best to reach out to the dealer directly for precise shipping costs.

Best Used Car Sites

Customers are frustrated with buying process

Despite recent improvements to its inventory and features, Autotrader's reputation has declined. It currently holds an "NR" rating from the Better Business Bureau and receives poor ratings on third-party review sites. For instance, at Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs, Autotrader averages only 1.6 stars and 1 star, respectively. While negative reviews predominantly come from customers attempting to sell cars on Autotrader, there are some reviews from buyers, and they often express frustrations at additional fees and issues like delayed delivery of plates and registration after purchasing a car.

Fun browsing, but a bad reputation

Autotrader makes the car-buying process easier by eliminating unnecessary steps, allowing you to search for desired vehicles and see their availability nearby. However, due to its recent decline in reputation, we still hesitate to recommend Autotrader over other used car sites with better reputations. It is still a useful resource for starting your research and estimating monthly payments for a used car, but overall they could do a better job with used car shopping.

Where Can You Find the Best Used Cars?

Buying a car can be one of the most exciting moments in your life. Whether you're picking up your first set of wheels with Mom and Dad, or replacing your old reliable with something new-to-you, buying a car is exciting. But it's also expensive. That's why many people decide to start by looking at used cars rather than something fresh off the lot.

The options open up significantly when you start looking at used cars (and some of them are even better than new ones). Looking for something low-cost but with modern safety features? Finding a low-mileage used car is a perfect way to score a deal. Looking for a classic car that isn't manufactured anymore? The used car market is where you want to start. No matter what you're looking for, you can find millions of used cars out there that fit the bill, and they'll come out much cheaper than buying something new from the dealership.

The Best Used Car Sites Compare Used Car Sites Compare Used Car Site Reviews What are the best Used Car Sites Best Used Car Site Reviews

Used Car Site FAQ

They say that a new car depreciates, or loses value, the second you drive it off the lot. That's true! When you buy a used car, you're getting a better value: not everyone can afford a brand-new car, but there are plenty of affordable "pre-owned” vehicles within most budgets.
There are pros and cons to each one. When you buy from a dealership, you usually get certain assurances: that the car has been inspected from top to bottom, maybe some fixes for minor items or even bigger ones like new tires or brakes, and the ability to return it within a certain timeframe if you don't like it or something malfunctions. However, you're paying for those perks: comparing apples-to-apples, a private sale will almost always be cheaper than getting the same car through a dealership.
Absolutely! There are many services that make it easy to find the car you want, and some of them will even bring the vehicle to you for a test drive and/or let you buy it online and have it delivered to your home. It's a great idea to do your research before you buy a used car, even if you're planning on going to a dealership.
As a buyer, you absolutely want an inspection before buying a used car from a private seller. Most private sale contracts are "as-is”, so unless you have a lot of automotive expertise, we don't recommend you try to determine for yourself if a car is road-worthy. A professional inspection can save you a lot of time and hassle if things aren't as they appear - or give you the peace of mind that you've found a great vehicle. If you're selling a used car, it may not be worth it to provide an inspection: your buyer(s) will probably want to have one done by a mechanic they trust, rather than taking your (mechanic's) word for it.
Yes! Selling your car online is a fantastic way to reach more potential buyers. You can add photos, provide a detailed description and contact information, and voila: you should have no shortage of interested customers, without having to put a "for sale” sign in the car window.
That depends on the site. You can often list your car for free, with premium "upgrades” if you want to add pictures, a car history report, or have your vehicle featured above others in your category.
Most sites serve as a go-between and don't guarantee that the car will sell - or that the car you buy will be problem-free. Be sure to read customer reviews of any used car service you're considering, and see if the Better Business Bureau has anything to say too.
There are almost too many to list! Any used car site that offers easy navigation with useful filters, tools that help you accurately gauge a vehicle's fair market value, and simple (and non-intrusive!) ways to connect with the vehicle sellers is a good choice. For extra reassurance, you can see if the BBB has given the used car service high marks for excellence.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Used car shopping can be as frustrating as new car shopping if you have to go in person. Haggling for prices and trying to talk with dealership salespeople can easily turn your excitement into frustration. But with online auto sales, you can dodge all the unpleasantness of dealership sales tactics and shop for used cars from the comfort of your own home. Plus, you won't lose out on opportunities to try out the vehicle, as most places allow a test drive period when you select something. You can fully research your vehicle online, and most retailers allow you to have the car delivered directly to your home. Today's used car buying process is completely different from what it was even ten years ago.

Getting your next used car through online services is a breeze. You can browse through different makes, models, colors, and years. Like the look of the Ford Mustang before the 2020 update? Check out used vehicles online. Online auto sale platforms give detailed information about each car, such as safety ratings, features, detailed photos of the interior and exterior, and prices (with monthly payment or lease calculator tools). For safety and mechanical features, you can see details and trim levels with advanced driver assistance systems, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane assist. By browsing the inventory of many dealerships and sellers, finding a top-level model is much easier than shopping locally.

One of the biggest advantages of buying a used car online is access to a wider array of options than shopping in person. Most online auto trading sites have a larger inventory from dealerships across the country, allowing you to find the exact model and color you want, depending on how far you want to go to get your dream car.

With so many places to buy used cars, it might be hard to know where to start. Don't worry - we've put together this list of factors to consider when looking for a used car online, to make sure you get the best deal and experience:

  • Resources. Look for sites that have details about each vehicle. This includes photos of the car, details about mileage, the CarFax report, location, dealer, pricing history, and any past fender benders. You want to make sure your used car isn't going to need more maintenance than it's worth.
  • Selection. Choose a platform that has a wide variety of used cars in the style you're looking for. Are there a range of makes and models? Do you have access to older and newer cars?
  • Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings to see what other car enthusiasts say about a particular auto sales site. Look for feedback on how trustworthy the platform is, how it handles customer service, and the overall buying process (including test drives, delivery, and returns).
  • Cost. Ultimately, cost plays a major role. Which site has the car you like at the desired trim level for the best price? Does the price include extras like home delivery? Can you find extra deals through financing or other avenues offered at the auto sales site?

To help you find your next used car, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best online car shopping options available today. Whether you need a new family car, a vehicle for towing, a first-time car for a college student, or the dream classic car you've been saving for, we hope our research will help you save time in the car-buying process and connect you with a vehicle you'll love to drive.

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