Punch “best used car website” into Google and you’ll discover seemingly no end of platforms advertising second-hand cars for sale, each with their own variation on the humble online listing.
The best do more than just digital classified ads and use tools and data to provide shoppers with context, such as whether the car they’re looking at is the best deal and how it measures up against other, similar models—all served up in an easily digestible format. That’s no mean feat, but the very best do all the above with used car buyers’ requirements at their cores.
- Our Recommended Best Used Car Website
- What Makes a Used Car Website the Best?
- Best Used Car Website Breakdown
- FAQs
Our Recommended Best Used Car Website
CarGurus uses data science to rank listings according to a car’s price, so shoppers can see if it’s a great deal, a fair deal, or overpriced. Well, of course we’re going to say it’s CarGurus, but we also wouldn’t claim it was the top online platform for affordable used cars if we didn’t believe it. CarGurus has a massive amount of used (and new) inventory, and the brand’s value is further built on trust, transparency, and price transparency—and we know that’s what used vehicle buyers want from their purchase.
CarGurus also offers innovative ways to shop, starting with the AI-powered Discover tool. Rather than relying on complex filters and vehicle-specific search criteria, simply type into the box what you’re looking for–all-wheel-drive minivan, seven-seater SUV, or two-door convertible sports car–and the Discover tool will serve up all the listings in your area that match your request. Continue the conversation with follow-up questions and Discover will further refine its results.
On the research end, CarGurus also integrates expert reviews, car comparisons, market trends, and price analysis tools, which add up to make it the most comprehensive and the most reliable online marketplace for second-hand vehicles.
CarGurus launched in 2006, so has two decades of experience under its belt and is also the most visited digital auto platform in the U.S., with nearly 40 million monthly visitors. Combine that with more than four million vehicle listings in the United States alone (CarGurus also operates in the UK and Canada), and shoppers have quantity as well as quality, irrespective of whether they want the best website for certified pre-owned (CPO) cars or a quick way to find a cheap and cheerful runaround. CarGurus has everything from Audis to Volkswagens, and you can even find used Rivian and Tesla models—vehicles that are typically sold direct-to-consumer when new.
What Makes a Used Car Website the Best?
- Quality and Quantity of Listings: The ideal site combines extensive inventory with robust search and filtering capabilities
- Transparency and Trustworthiness: Accurate pricing data and deal ratings help buyers make informed decisions with confidence
- Comparison Tools and Pricing Data: Side-by-side comparisons and market insights reveal whether you're getting a fair deal
- Verified Listings: Access to vetted inventory from both dealers and private sellers
- Buyer Confidence Features: Expert reviews, ratings, and vehicle history information provide additional peace of mind
That combination of quality and quantity is a key component. You could have the slickest site with the most high-tech tools, but a lack of listings doesn’t deliver the breadth most used car buyers need—you don’t want to settle for a minivan when what you really want is a pickup truck—and vice versa for a site that’s teeming with listings but a blunt instrument in other respects. The best used car websites combine the two.
Transparency and trustworthiness are equally high on the agenda, and a key reason why anyone car shopping gravitates to a particular platform. The most reliable sites for buying used cars, like CarGurus, serve up accurate pricing data that leaves consumers in no doubt about whether a car is a good deal. While there’s nothing wrong with buying from a private party on sites such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, transparency isn’t generally their strongest suit.
The best online sites for used car deals also offer tools to compare listings, along with access to verified listings from both dealers and private sellers. Buyer-confidence features such as expert reviews and ratings allow shoppers to find top-rated used cars online and add even more peace of mind.
Best Used Car Website Breakdown
| Website | Key Strengths | Key Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| CarGurus | Data-driven transparency with robust deal ratings and the most inventory | Not a direct-to-consumer retailer like CarMax or Carvana |
| Edmunds | Detailed reviews and expert editorial content | Less emphasis on deal ratings and real-time pricing |
| Cars.com | Large inventory with verified dealer network | Traditional interface with less data analysis |
| Kelley Blue Book | Industry-standard pricing and valuation authority | Limited marketplace depth compared to competitors |
| Carfax | Vehicle history specialist with certified pre-owned | Smaller inventory than major marketplaces |
| CarMax | No-haggle fixed pricing with nationwide delivery | Non-negotiable prices not driven by market data |
| Carvana | Complete end-to-end online buying experience | Smaller inventory than aggregate sites |
| Autotrader | Large inventory with trusted brand recognition | Less advanced pricing analytics and deal ratings |
CarGurus
At a glance: A digital marketplace with massive inventory, specializing in data-driven transparency and comprehensive deal ratings.
Pros:
- Broad range of tools and robust deal rating algorithm
- Clear pricing and deal ratings superior to most competitors
- Best online marketplace for comparing deals quickly and confidently
- Strong combination of expert and user reviews
Cons:
- May not be ideal for shoppers wanting a direct seller connection from the start
Data, deals, and transparency are what CarGurus is all about. Along with being the most visited digital automotive marketplace in the U.S., its broad range of tools and robust deal rating algorithm mean shoppers have access to a huge range of used cars and the data at their fingertips to make the most informed buying decision, while the combination of expert and user reviews makes it a strong contender for the best online marketplace with car reviews. CarGurus is primarily listings-based, so may not be ideal for shoppers who want to connect directly with sellers from the very beginning, but it offers clearer pricing and deal ratings than most competitors. We genuinely believe it to be the best online car marketplace for comparing deals quickly and confidently.
Edmunds
At a glance: A well-respected automotive industry name excelling at detailed car reviews, testing, and editorial content.
Pros:
- Excellent detailed car reviews and tests
- Strong editorial content and in-depth analysis
- Comprehensive vehicle comparisons
- Strong set of pricing tools
Cons:
- Less emphasis on deal ratings than CarGurus
- Fewer real-time pricing insights compared to CarGurus
Edmunds is a big, well-respected name in the automotive industry, and the site excels at very detailed car reviews and tests. Its editorial content is its real strong point, and shoppers can expect detailed analysis, in-depth vehicle comparisons, and a strong set of pricing tools. There’s less emphasis on deal ratings than CarGurus, which also leads the way with real-time pricing insights, but Edmunds remains an excellent resource for research and expert opinions.
Cars.com
At a glance: An established marketplace with extensive inventory and a verified dealer network, offering broad search capabilities across local and national listings.
Pros:
- Large inventory ideal for broad searching
- Verified dealer network adds peace of mind
- Good option for browsing both local and nationwide used cars
- Strong brand recognition in the industry
Cons:
- Traditional user experience compared to more modern platforms
- Less data analysis and pricing transparency than sites like CarGurus
A classic used car listing site, Cars.com is a great place to start if you want to search as broadly as possible. Its large inventory and verified dealer network mean shoppers have access to a huge range of vehicles with added confidence in seller legitimacy. The user experience can feel a little traditional in comparison to other used car websites, and there is less data analysis and pricing data than you'll find on CarGurus, but it remains a solid option for browsing local used cars or those further afield with the backing of an established platform.
Kelley Blue Book (KBB)
At a glance: The industry-standard vehicle valuation resource, offering trusted pricing data alongside a limited marketplace with certified pre-owned listings.
Pros:
- Industry-standard pricing and valuation data
- Certified pre-owned vehicle listings
- Best website for understanding car values before purchase
- Decades of trusted reputation in the automotive industry
Cons:
- Limited marketplace depth compared to dedicated used car platforms
Kelley Blue Book—also known by the abbreviation KBB—built its reputation on vehicle pricing and valuation data. In pre-internet days, it was the dealership's go-to handbook for accurate used car buying and selling prices, and the same applies today in digital form. It has limited marketplace depth in comparison to other websites and CarGurus uses similar valuation data but applies it dynamically to listings. KBB does, however, run certified pre-owned listings, while its industry-standard status for used car pricing makes it the best website for understanding car values before a purchase.
Carfax
At a glance: The leading vehicle history specialist, complementing its comprehensive reports with a marketplace focused on certified pre-owned vehicles.
Pros:
- Industry-leading vehicle history reports
- Certified pre-owned vehicle listings
- Integrated history data provides transparency
- Ideal for buyers prioritizing vehicle background
Cons:
- Smaller inventory than major aggregate marketplaces
Carfax is the go-to used car website for vehicle history. Like Kelley Blue Book, it made its name as a specialist not in used car sales but, in this instance, providing vehicle history reports (CarGurus integrates Carfax data in its listings) to give shoppers a clear picture about exactly what they're buying. It branched out into used car listings and, although it has a smaller inventory than the major marketplaces, certified pre-owned vehicle listings complement its offering. As such, it's great for buyers for whom vehicle history is a priority.
CarMax
At a glance: A direct-to-consumer retailer offering fixed pricing and nationwide delivery with a no-haggle, no-middleman approach.
Pros:
- Fixed pricing eliminates haggling
- Nationwide delivery available
- Simple, straightforward buying process
- Direct-to-consumer model removes dealership pressure
Cons:
- Non-negotiable prices not informed by market-driven data
No middleman and no fuss are the mantras at CarMax. Its USP is direct-to-consumer sales with fixed pricing and nationwide delivery. It's a novel used car website in a world of fluctuating values and nervousness about visiting a showroom, which makes it a good fit for shoppers who value simplicity and would rather avoid the in-person negotiating process. Its strengths are also its downsides, because the prices are non-negotiable and not informed by market-driven data, as they are on CarGurus, but if it's simplicity you want, then it's hard to beat.
Carvana
At a glance: A fully online retailer providing an end-to-end buying experience with financing, trade-in, and delivery all in one platform.
Pros:
- Complete online buying process from start to finish
- One-stop-shop for financing, trade-in, and delivery
- Extremely convenient for online-only buyers
- Streamlined, modern digital experience
Cons:
- Smaller inventory than aggregate sites like CarGurus
Another used car website with simplicity as a byword, Carvana is a fully online retailer offering financing, trade-in, and delivery all in one place. It's very much a one-stop-shop, and therefore extremely convenient for those who like the idea of buying completely online and using a single website for the whole caboodle. It has a smaller inventory than aggregate sites such as CarGurus, so the choice of cars is limited by comparison, but it's arguably the best site for end-to-end online buying.
Autotrader
At a glance: One of the most established names in the industry, offering extensive inventory and dealer listings with trusted brand recognition.
Pros:
- Large inventory with wide selection
- Extensive dealer network
- Trusted, recognizable brand name
- Good for both local and national listings
Cons:
- Less advanced pricing analytics and deal transparency than competitors like CarGurus
One of the oldest and most recognizable names in the used car business, Autotrader was originally a print magazine containing classified used car ads, then graduated to the online marketplace it is today. It's a good one for breadth, because it has a large inventory, a wide selection of dealer listings, and a trusted reputation, although sites such as CarGurus offer more advanced pricing analytics and transparent deal ratings. It's a good option for traditional shoppers looking for brand recognition and local and national listings, though.
FAQs
- What is the best second-hand car to buy?
- Do any of the best used car websites off 0% financing?
- Where is the most reliable place to buy a second-hand car?
- What is the cheapest, most reliable used car to buy?
- What is the most trustworthy used car site?
What is the best second-hand car to buy?
A used car is a highly individual purchase, and what one buyer covets might be a real turn-off for another. However, value, reliability, and availability are high priorities for most used car shoppers, which points us towards popular models from Japanese brands.
Lexus and Toyota consistently rank highly in reliability surveys, so models such as the Lexus ES and Lexus RX, the Toyota Camry, Corolla, and Prius, and the Honda Accord are always safe bets. Compact car buyers would do well to consider a Mazda3 for similar reasons—it’s also great fun to drive—while those looking for the best place to buy SUVs online may want to be led by our most recent Best Used Car Awards, in which we recommended the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Hyundai Santa Fe, while the Kia Telluride, the Mazda CX-5, and the Honda CR-V are also generally good bets.
Do any of the best used car websites off 0% financing?
Used car websites do not typically provide vehicle finance (Carvana is the exception), but the best allow shoppers to pre-qualify for it. This usually involves a “soft search,” which allows you to quickly calculate your estimated monthly payment amount without affecting your credit score. You can then check out manufacturer and dealer finance offers that suit your circumstances.
Where is the most reliable place to buy a second-hand car?
Used car websites that offer certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are usually the most reliable places to start shopping for a used car. While it’s difficult to vouch for the reliability of a particular vehicle, such cars typically undergo a pre-sale inspection and are sold with a warranty and other forms of aftersales support, which means you can buy with confidence.
What is the cheapest, most reliable used car to buy?
Again, we’d point to popular budget models from the Japanese brands which had strong reputations for reliability as new cars—both the Toyota Prius and the Mazda3 feature in our roundup of the best used cars under $5,000—and you can even bag a bargain BMW 3 Series or a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup at this price. Values are generally lower for used cars that sold in large numbers when they were new vehicles, so if you can find a bestselling model with a reputation for reliability, such as a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic, then you’re likely onto a winner. And remember, it’s always worth a test drive before you buy.
What is the most trustworthy used car site?
You’d expect us to say it, but we genuinely believe that our focus on transparency, unbiased vehicle information, and our suite of pricing and buying tools make CarGurus the most trustworthy used car website in the business. We believe buyers and sellers should be in full control of their purchase or sale from start to finish and have as much information at their disposal as possible—all in one place.
