Best Used Car Websites for November 2024

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See the best sites for cheap cars, classic cars, auctions, and more

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 simplify the shopping experience 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 details 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.

CarGurus

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.

Advanced pricing tools

Helpful information on blog

List cars for free

No vetting of sellers

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, including its proprietary valuation tool, the Instant Market Value (IMV), which makes it our top choice for affordable 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 the calculation factors in dealer reputation, only sellers that consistently offer the best deals will get the highest scores.

The CarGurus deal rating is calculated by comparing a vehicle's asking price with its IMV which is generated by an advanced algorithm that analyzes each detail of the car against similar vehicles in the marketplace. 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 for free through its marketplace. 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.

AutoTrader

Autotrader is one of the best used-car sites because it's one of the most recognized car buying and selling websites in the online auto marketplace. Its huge volume of listings and advanced search tool make it a go-to place to buy and sell a car.

Search filters for nearly any option or feature

Over three million listings nationwide

Car research, financing, and insurance tools

Charges to post a listing

Trade-in restrictions based on location

Launched in 1997, 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.

To list and sell on Autotrader, however, users will have to pay between $9 and $49 per listing, based on the vehicle's asking price. A 0.99% seller protection fee also applies at the time of sale when using Private Seller Exchange. Listings appear simultaneously on Kelley Blue Book and a free vehicle history report by AutoCheck, included at no additional cost (a $25 value).

CarsDirect

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.

Find deals from local dealers

Apply directly for no-credit or low-credit loans

Fast and flexible customer service

Car down payment may be needed

Similar to Autotrader, which was the first online car marketplace for private sellers, CarsDirect was the first website to help dealers sell directly to customers online. Launched in 1998, the company 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, 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 car comparison tool that lets you compare up to 4 vehicles at a time. Users can even save their favorite searches and create email alerts based on the exact type of vehicle or deal they’re looking for.

Hemmings

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.

Blog and newsletters for classic car lovers

Buy and sell classic car parts as well as cars

Account required

Listings only stay up for six months

Fewer listings than ClassicCars.com

Originally created as a small four-page car magazine in 1954, Hemmings has become a leading classic car website featuring over 20,000 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 their main rival, Classiccars.com, offers a larger collection of cars for sale, Hemmings boasts a searchable database of classic car parts, along with its own selection of die-cast car models, apparel, books, wall calendars, and more.

Hemmings offers several options for sellers. A week-long auction listing costs $99.95, and if unsold, automatically converts to a six-month Make Offer listing at no extra charge. For direct sales, a $149.95 ad includes a 35-word magazine listing with one photo and an online listing with unlimited words and up to 35 photos. All ads that include it run for one month in the Hemmings Motor News magazine and for six months online.

Autolist

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 2018, making it the best used car site for mobile users.

Compiles over 5,000,000 listings

Top-rated mobile app

No option to place ads

No financing tools or options

Founded in 2014, Autolist makes it easy for shoppers to browse millions of used car listings compiled from car shopping apps and dealer websites. 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.

AutoTempest

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.

Compiles listings from the largest number of sites

Smart search pages display targeted buyer guides

Car pricing tool helps shoppers find the best deals

Doesn’t vet listings

No option to purchase cars online

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 such 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, buyer guides, checklists, tips for negotiating, and more. Car owners can even sell their cars directly through several affiliate sites, including Carvana, eBay, Hemmings, and Private Auto, with listing fees waived.

Cars & Bids

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.

Low listing and commission fees

Every vehicle includes a history report

Some listings featured by a popular YouTuber

No listings for cars made before 1980

No financing options available

No buyer and seller tools or resources

Cars & Bids was created in 2020 by automotive reviewer and YouTuber 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 occasionally chooses 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 and 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.

Here's a look at price listings around El Paso, Texas, from some of the best used car websites. We compared some of the top-selling used cars in 2024 (according to the Kansas City Star, with data from CoPilot). Take note that trim levels, features, and mileage can cause prices to vary quite a bit.

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 Q2 2024, the average new car MSRP was $41,481 in 2023, compared to $41,963 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:

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 it's 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, pricing comparison guides, and 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 their listings are trustworthy. Buyers must always do their due diligence when shopping for a car.

Kelley Blue Book, 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.

Several websites 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.

The cars listed on used car websites usually come from private sellers, i.e., people who want to sell their cars, or used car dealerships. Used car dealerships may get their cars through a number of ways, such as trade-ins, auctions, repossessions, and even pawn shops. They can also obtain off-lease cars (cars that are returned after their lease is up), retired rental cars, and certified pre-owned cars from manufacturers.

No, you can't negotiate CarMax offers. According to CarMax, "all of our offers are firm and valid for 7 days." That's not true for every used car website, though; others, like CarGurus, do allow negotiation.

To determine our top picks, we looked at over a dozen used car sites and selected sites that either had built 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 chose sites that offer nuanced 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.

Investopedia / Julie Bang

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AutoTrader. "Sell My Car.

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CarsDirect. "60 Second Auto Loan Request."

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Hemmings. "Sell Your Classic Car with a Hemmings listing."

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CarGurus. "CarGurus Acquires Car Shopping Platform Autolist."

AutoTempest. "About Us."

AutoTempest. "All the cars. One Search."

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Cars & Bids. "What's Cars & Bids?"

Crunchbase. "Cars & Bids"

Cars & Bids. "What's Cars & Bids?"

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Experian. "State of the Automotive Finance Market Report."

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CarMax. "Can I negotiate my online offer with CarMax?"