Tuesday, November 29th
2022 Used Car Site Reviews
Web2Carz
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- Connects you with used car listings at dealerships
- Good for researching brands, reviews, and auto industry news
Web2Carz seeks to "inform, entertain and enable" people searching for their next vehicle. You'll find automotive buying guides, helpful articles about specific car models and much more, as well as a platform for finding used cars for sale. Don't be fooled by the initial appearance of this site - far from outdated, you'll find coverage of daily automotive news and ample info about the most current model years here.
Search capabilities are a little lackluster
You may want to use those research features first, because Web2Carz requires you to enter a make and model to begin your used car search, along with your zip code and preferred maximum distance. On the next page, you can use sliders to indicate your maximum mileage and price, your preferred model years, and (again?) maximum driving distance. There are also buttons for sorting those results by distance, price, year, mileage, CARFAX report and CARFAX 1-owner vehicles. Unfortunately, that's where it stops. You can't specify any must-have features, like a sunroof or lane departure warnings, color, or trim level. That's a disadvantage that puts Web2Carz below most of the resources we reviewed for buying a used car.
Listings are inconsistent
What will happen when you click on a car you like? That varies. Sometimes, Web2Carz will redirect you right to the dealership listing. For others, you may have to do some sleuthing on the listing to see where it's being sold and then reach out directly. (For example, on a 2018 Toyota Highlander, we were able to see a map and the dealership name in the photo listing on the Web2Carz site.) You can submit an availability request through this platform too.
Details... or not?
For cars with a direct link, you'll get all of the information the dealer provides - which is usually pretty detailed. On those used car links that stay on the Web2Carz site and make you request more info, sometimes you'll get next to no details on the car's features and only stock photos for the make, model and trim level. This inconsistency makes for a frustrating shopping experience.
Inquiries go into the void
How about reputation? Not only is Web2Carz accredited and "A+" rated by the Better Business Bureau, there were absolutely no complaints filed there. Given that this service has been in operation for the better part of two decades, that's no small feat. But, most of the reviews we found for Web2Carz were from people who used the site at least two years ago; the small number of comments we found more recently said that no one ever got back to them on the vehicles on which they made an inquiry.
Best for research, not for buying used cars
There's nothing inherently bad about the Web2Carz site, but it's not our favorite resource. You don't get the same type of information with each car listing, making it almost like a game of chance when you click on a car you like. Feel free to use this platform to do your car-buying research, but we suggest looking at our higher-ranked services when you're ready to get down to business.
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
Continued from above...
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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