How does CarGurus help you find a car?
How does CarGurus help you find a car?
Find the right car
How does CarGurus work?
A typical car-shopping journey on CarGurus looks like this:
Search & browse
Compare
Contact dealer
Buy
How CarGurus helps you find a great deal
1. Get Deal Ratings you can actually trust
CarGurus provides the highest standards for showing you what is a Great Deal in the business. Only a small percentage of cars earn a Great or Good Deal Rating. Transparency is foundational to CarGurus Deal Ratings so we are the only site that identifies Overpriced Deal Ratings.
CarGurus Deal Ratings consist of millions of data points and serve as a price-comparison signal for an individual car listing. It is based on Instant Market Value, or IMV, which is CarGurus’ data-driven estimate of a fair market price for a specific vehicle in a specific market.
CarGurus estimates IMV by analyzing comparable vehicle listings and relevant vehicle, listing, and local-market information. Depending on the listing and the available data, that information may include the vehicle’s make, model, year, trim, mileage, options, location, seller type, vehicle history, and other listing details.
Deal Ratings can change when a listing’s price, vehicle details, or relevant market data changes. They are not updated second by second and should be treated as a current market reference, not a guarantee.
BadgeWhat it means | |
|---|---|
Great Deal | The asking price is significantly favorable compared with CarGurus’ estimated fair market value for comparable vehicles in that market. |
Good Deal | The asking price is favorably below the estimated fair market value. |
Fair Deal | The asking price is generally in line with the estimated fair market value. |
High Price | The asking price is above the estimated fair market value. |
Overpriced | The asking price is well above the estimated fair market value for comparable vehicles in that market. |
No Deal Rating | There is not enough reliable, comparable, or complete information to generate a rating. This does not automatically mean the vehicle is a bad deal. |
Badge
Great Deal
What it means
The asking price is significantly favorable compared with CarGurus’ estimated fair market value for comparable vehicles in that market.
Badge
Good Deal
What it means
The asking price is favorably below the estimated fair market value.
Badge
Fair Deal
What it means
The asking price is generally in line with the estimated fair market value.
Badge
High Price
What it means
The asking price is above the estimated fair market value.
Badge
Overpriced
What it means
The asking price is well above the estimated fair market value for comparable vehicles in that market.
Badge
No Deal Rating
What it means
There is not enough reliable, comparable, or complete information to generate a rating. This does not automatically mean the vehicle is a bad deal.
A Deal Rating tells you about price competitiveness. It is not a certification of a vehicle’s condition, reliability, safety, title, accident history, or service quality.
Use the rating as one part of your research. Review the vehicle history, arrange an independent inspection when appropriate, and confirm availability and fees with the dealer. Taxes, registration, and government fees are not included in the Deal Rating. Financing terms, warranty coverage, trade-in value, negotiation, and delivery can also change the total cost of buying a car.
2. No hidden details
CarGurus shoppers can easily understand upfront if dealer fees have been disclosed with new “Price includes fees” badges and filters that exclude listings missing fee details. Note, “price includes fees” relates to dealer fees only; it does not include taxes, registration, or other government fees. When dealer fee information isn’t available, listing badges also flag that additional fees may apply.
Feel more confident in the car you are buying with ownership details and accident history shown on every used car. CarGurus also includes information about price changes and days on lot to help guide you in your negotiations.
3. Find a trusted dealer with dealer ratings, reviews, and Top Dealer Awards
Trust in a dealership and the price they offer is important, which is why CarGurus makes dealership ratings and reviews a core part of the car buying experience. Reviewers are vetted by submitting a contact form, scanning a QR code, or opening the app at the dealership.
CarGurus screens submitted reviews before publishing them and may contact the reviewer if more information or clarification is needed. Dealers can publicly respond to reviews and flag a review for moderation if they believe it does not meet the review guidelines. A flag is a request for review, not an automatic removal.
More recent reviews carry greater weight in the overall CarGurus dealer rating, helping the score reflect a dealership’s more current performance. Since reviews describe individual experiences, consider the score together with the number, recency, and substance of the reviews.
Reviews submitted by CarGurus shoppers are also used to determine the CarGurus Top Dealer Awards, which recognize dealers who go above and beyond to deliver shoppers outstanding service, value, and transparency. These special dealers get badging on the CarGurus site and signage at their dealership to help shoppers recognize them.
How to start your car-buying journey on CarGurus
1. Start with a search or describe what you want to Guru
You can begin with a make and model, a vehicle category, a budget, or a location. You can also ask Guru, an AI-powered conversational search experience built by CarGurus.
With Guru, instead of selecting every filter yourself, describe what you need in everyday language—for example, “a reliable SUV under $20,000 for a family.” You can then refine the results by adding preferences such as mileage, features, payment budget, or distance.
Guru can help you explore relevant vehicles and alternatives, but it is not a substitute for checking the listing yourself. Verify important specifications, price, availability, and vehicle condition before taking action.
2. Browse, filter, and compare listings
Use filters to narrow results by price, mileage, distance, body style, fuel type, features, new or used status, certified pre-owned availability, and other criteria.
Before contacting a dealer, review the listing carefully. Look at the photos, mileage, included equipment, price history, days on market, disclosed fees, and VIN or vehicle-history information when available. A listing can change, so confirm that the vehicle is still available before traveling to a dealership.
2. Browse, filter, and compare listings
Use filters to narrow results by price, mileage, distance, body style, fuel type, features, new or used status, certified pre-owned availability, and other criteria.
Before contacting a dealer, review the listing carefully. Look at the photos, mileage, included equipment, price history, days on market, disclosed fees, and VIN or vehicle-history information when available. A listing can change, so confirm that the vehicle is still available before traveling to a dealership.
3. Contact the dealer
When you find a vehicle you want to explore, use the listing’s contact options to call, email, text, or send an inquiry where available. Ask the dealer to confirm the vehicle’s availability, advertised price, required fees, condition, title status, and whether the vehicle can be viewed.
On eligible listings, you may also be able to request or schedule an appointment through CarGurus. The dealer confirms the appointment time and vehicle availability.
4. Explore financing or estimate a payment
Depending on the vehicle, dealer, lender, and shopper’s location, CarGurus may offer a payment calculator, soft-pull pre-qualification, or a dealer-specific credit application.
A payment calculator is an estimate, not a loan offer. Pre-qualification is available only to eligible shoppers through participating lenders and typically requires the information requested by the lender. A soft credit check does not affect your credit score, but pre-qualification does not guarantee approval, an APR, a loan amount, or final terms. The lender and dealer make the final financing decision.
When comparing offers, look beyond the monthly payment. Compare the APR, loan term, amount financed, total interest, fees, and total cost.
5. Test drive, negotiate, and complete the purchase
After you contact a dealer via CarGurus, the dealer handles the next steps. These may include confirming availability, arranging a test drive, answering questions, reviewing a vehicle-history report, discussing the price, evaluating a trade-in, and finalizing financing.
The dealer—not CarGurus— completes the sale, paperwork, payment, title and registration process, and vehicle-specific delivery arrangements. Some eligible listings may support more online steps, such as a financing application, appointment, deposit, or delivery request, but available options and final terms vary by dealer and vehicle.
How does the CarGurus app help you stay on top of your car search on the go?
Real-time notifications on price drops and new matches
When you find a car you want to keep an eye on, select Save. CarGurus can send email and mobile push notifications when the price drops on your saved vehicles. Save your searches and get notified when new matches are listed. This makes it easier to compare new options, spot changes, and act when the right car becomes available—without checking every listing yourself.
Compare cars side-by-side and get a second opinion
Compare two saved cars or two cars on the lot to get a side-by-side look at specs and history. Then get an AI-powered summary of the key pros and cons of each option along with an unbiased recommended top choice.
Use Dealership Mode when you visit a dealership
Dealership Mode is an app experience designed to help you shop with more confidence while you are at an eligible dealership. Once a dealership is selected, you can browse that dealer’s inventory and view detailed information about the vehicles on the lot.
With Dealership Mode, you can:
- See all the available inventory on the lot and pull up detailed vehicle information on a car instantly.
- Compare two vehicles side by side, including mileage, history, features, and Deal Ratings.
- Use the calculator to estimate your final price and monthly payments as taxes, fees, and add-ons change.
- Explore the dealership’s inventory in one place so you can consider alternatives you may not have found before.
Dealership Mode uses your location to help identify the dealership you are visiting, or you can select a nearby dealership manually. It is available only at participating dealerships.
How Is CarGurus different from other car marketplaces?
CarGurus is especially useful when you want to compare live dealer inventory and understand the price of a specific listing. Other marketplaces may offer similar search, pricing, review, financing, delivery, or online-buying features. Availability varies by platform, market, dealer, and vehicle.
Here are some of the tools shoppers may find useful on CarGurus:
- Listing-level price context: Deal Ratings show whether a listed price is a Great Deal, Good Deal, Fair Deal, High Price, or Overpriced when enough information is available.
- Instant Market Value: IMV provides an estimate of fair market value for a specific vehicle using comparable listings and relevant market data.
- Dealer feedback: Dealer Ratings are built from consumer feedback connected to interactions with dealerships through CarGurus, with more recent reviews weighted more heavily.
- Ask Guru: Guru is your AI-powered car shopping expert. Describe the car you want for personalized results. Then ask questions about search results or a listing to get detailed answers on fit, price, features, history, and more.
- Vehicle and pricing details: Listings may include price history, days on market, vehicle details, and other comparison information when available.
- Financing tools: Eligible shoppers may be able to estimate payments, explore soft-pull pre-qualification, or complete a dealer-specific financing flow.
- Selling and trade-in tools: Sell My Car can provide a valuation and, in select markets, multiple offers from participating dealers.
See all our free tools here.
When is CarGurus right for you?
CarGurus may be a good fit if you:
- Want to compare several live dealer listings in one place.
- Are buying a used, certified pre-owned, or new vehicle from a dealership.
- Want price context before contacting a dealer.
- Want to monitor a vehicle or receive alerts when relevant inventory changes or a price drops.
- Want to read consumer feedback about dealerships before reaching out.
- Want to describe your needs conversationally and explore vehicles you may not have considered.
- Want to estimate payments or explore pre-qualification before speaking with a dealer.
- Are comfortable completing the final transaction with the dealer, either in person or through online steps the dealer supports.
- Want guidance throughout the car shopping journey on finding the right match, what’s a good deal, and communicating with dealers
CarGurus may not be the best fit if you:
- Specifically want to buy directly from a private seller.
- Need a single retailer to own the inventory and provide a fully standardized, end-to-end online transaction.
- Want CarGurus to inspect, guarantee, finance, title, or deliver every vehicle listed on the site.
- Want a guaranteed final price before speaking with the dealer.
- Are unwilling to independently verify vehicle condition, history, availability, fees, or financing terms.
CarGurus’ role is to make the research and comparison stages clearer and connect you with participating dealers. The dealer remains responsible for the vehicle, the final deal, and the purchase process.
*Similarweb, Traffic and Engagement Report (Cars.com, Autotrader.com, TrueCar.com, CARFAX.com Listings (Defined as CARFAX.com Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic)), Q2 ‘26.
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CarGurus is especially useful when you want to compare live dealer inventory and understand the price of a specific listing. Other marketplaces may offer similar search, pricing, review, financing, delivery, or online-buying features. Availability varies by platform, market, dealer, and vehicle.
