Best Used Car Websites in 2026
Our picks for the best place to buy a used car online
| Used car website | Best for… | Comparison tool | Free vehicle history report | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Comparing options | Millions of listings Compare five cars at a time |
||
 | Full vehicle history | Free CARFAX vehicle history reports Detailed search filters |
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 | Generous return policy | Seven-day return policy 360-degree photos |
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 | Real-world driver insights | Car model review in each listing Offers millions of listings |
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 | Car price valuation | Expert in car valuation Compare six cars at a time |
Read more about how we chose the best used car websites.
Best for: Comparing options – Autotrader
Comparison tool: Yes
Free car history report: No
Pros
- Compare up to five car listings at a time
- Has an online car loan marketplace if you need financing
- Extensive inventory
- Proprietary AI mode function can make it easier to find your perfect ride
Cons
- Low consumer reviews on Trustpilot (but mostly related to selling cars, not buying them)
- No free vehicle history reports
Autotrader’s comparison tool compares up to five car listings at once based on price, monthly payment, mileage, fuel economy and 15 additional features. This tool is particularly useful once you’ve narrowed down your options and will save you time toggling between listings.
If you’re looking for a site with extensive inventory, this is it — Autotrader has millions of listings for you to search and filter. Plus, Autotrader’s loan marketplace could help you find financing. It partners with multiple lenders that accept good and bad credit alike.
Unlike other online car marketplaces, Autotrader does not offer a free vehicle history report, so you’ll have to run your own VIN check on any Autotrader used car listing to see the car’s full history.
Find your next ride on the Autotrader website.
Best for: Full vehicle history – CARFAX
Comparison tool: No
Free car history report: Yes
Pros
- Free CARFAX vehicle history reports
- Filter by history of ownership, accidents and service records
- Detailed value estimations
Cons
- No car comparison tool
- No cars for sale by private owner
- Low consumer reviews on Trustpilot (some about CARFAX reports, some about the car-buying experience)
If your top priority is to find a car with a known vehicle history, using CARFAX may be your best bet. In addition to the typical filters that allow you to search by car make, model and year, you can also limit your search results to cars with no accidents or damage, single ownership and records of regular service.
CARFAX also provides free vehicle history reports for each of its listings, so you’ll be able to spot a lemon before you even speak with the seller.
CARFAX doesn’t offer a comparison tool, so you’ll need to toggle between listings to compare your top picks. Note that only CARFAX Advantage dealers — that is, dealers who partner with CARFAX — can list used cars on the CARFAX website, so inventory is limited compared to other used car sites.
Find your next ride on the CARFAX website.
Best for: Return policy – Carvana
Comparison tool: No
Free car history report: Yes
Pros
- Seven-day return policy
- Home delivery
- Carvana Certified cars come with 150-point inspection
- You can apply for financing and insurance on Carvana’s website
- 360-degree photos
Cons
- No comparison tool
- Smaller inventory compared with other sites on our list
Carvana’s car listings give you nearly all the information you need to buy your next ride without seeing the car in person or taking it for a test drive. 360-degree photos allow you to explore any of its vehicles inside and out, and you can review the free CARFAX vehicle history report to ensure the car you’re interested in is road ready.
Carvana distinguishes itself from the competition with its limited warranty and seven-day car return policy, which can give you the peace of mind you need to buy a car sight unseen. Keep in mind, limitations apply to Carvana’s return policy, such as the vehicle can’t be changed or damaged.
Carvana’s inventory is smaller than other car-buying sites on this list. It’s also more difficult to compare listings on Carvana, since there’s no comparison tool. Carvana is not available in Alaska or Hawaii.
Find your next ride on the Carvana website.
Best for real-world driver insights – Cars.com
Comparison tool: No
Free car history report: Yes
Pros
- Car model reviews on each listing
- Millions of listings
- Some listings come with CARFAX vehicle history report
Cons
- Low Trustpilot score (many are about selling cars)
In addition to solid search filters and an easy-to-use interface, Cars.com also offers car model reviews at the bottom of each car listing. These reviews are written by real people who own the make and model you’re looking at. Cars are then issued a consumer review score, which is broken up into six categories: comfort, interior, performance, value, exterior and reliability.
While some Cars.com listings do come with a free CARFAX vehicle history report, you’ll have to do your own VIN check on listings that don’t.
Find your next ride at Cars.com.
Best for: Price valuation – Kelley Blue Book
Comparison tool: Yes
Free car history report: No
Pros
- Financing and market value tools to help you negotiate the best offer
- Compare up to six car listings at a time
- Car listings include ratings for associated dealers
Cons
- Low Trustpilot scores (most are about selling cars through KBB, not buying)
Kelley Blue Book uses its expertise in car valuation to provide a detailed price advisory on each listing, which can help you decide whether a car is worth the asking price. You’ll see where the MSRP falls compared to the market value of the vehicle.
Kelley Blue Book makes it easy to finance your car without leaving the site. You can build and send a financing offer based on your budget and the monthly auto payment you want directly on any car listing.
You can’t get a full vehicle history report on Kelley Blue Book, but it does partner with Experian and offer its own vehicle history tool.
Find your next ride on the Kelley Blue Book website.
- Used car apps and websites make it easy to shop for a used car with a few taps on your phone.
- The best used car websites are Autotrader, CARFAX, Carvana, Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book.
- These sites help you save time by filtering search results according to the criteria that matter most to you, including cost, monthly payment, mileage and year.
How to find the best used car online
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Set a budget
Use a car affordability calculator to calculate how much you can spend on a car based on the monthly payments that fit in your budget. -
Choose a car
Decide what car you should buy down to the make, model and year. Take note of any particular features you want and any dealbreakers like a salvage title or flood damage. -
Shop around
Choose at least three sites on this list, and use them to find used cars that fit your budget. Different sites have different inventory, so use several to shop around. Many sites also allow you to set up alerts when a car of a certain make or model is listed, or when the price drops on a particular listing.
What to do next
Take the time to thoroughly vet a used car before you buy. The first step is knowing what to look for in a used car and doing your due diligence by reading a vehicle history report and having the car inspected.
You should also be familiar with the laws of buying a used car from a dealership. Knowing your rights will help you identify (and avoid) shady dealers.
Knowing the right questions to ask when buying a car is half the battle of making sure you get the information you need about the car you plan to buy. At a minimum, you should ask about the car’s ownership, maintenance and title.
Whether you’re buying directly from the previous owner or working with a dealership, you should come prepared with research to negotiate the price of the car. Remember that there are millions of listings online, so don’t be afraid to walk away if the seller is unwilling to budge to a price that fits your monthly budget.
Shopping around for a car loan is as important as shopping around for the car itself. Borrowers can save an average of $2,346 by using LendingTree to shop and then selecting their best offer. We make shopping for your car loan easy — you’ll get offers from up to five lenders when you fill out one form.
Alternatives to buying a used car online
No-haggle car buying
If you want to buy a used car without the hassle of negotiating a price, consider no-haggle car buying. You can go directly to a dealership like CarMax or like the Costco Auto Program to buy a used car at an affordable price.
Certified pre-owned cars
Many manufacturers offer certified pre-owned cars that have been refurbished to manufacturer standards and come with an extended warranty. These cars are ideal for customers who want the peace of mind that comes with additional inspections and warranties but don’t want to pay new-car prices.
Car leases
You can lease both new and used cars. Used car leases come with additional restrictions around mileage, but they typically come with more affordable monthly payments.
How we chose the best used car websites
We reviewed more than 20 used car websites to identify the top five. Each of our top car-buying sites operates online with no physical locations, is available largely nationwide, has a variety of cars in its inventory and primarily sells vehicles. We then used the following criteria to systematically rate and review each used car website:
Search experience: We rated each used car site based on the ease and effectiveness of the search experience for users. Key factors include customizable search filters, comparison functions and ease of site navigation.
Availability of information: To get a high score on this metric, the car platform must offer free vehicle history reports, clear photos of cars and additional resources — like educational articles and car reviews — to help customers make the right choice.
Customer satisfaction: We looked at the Better Business Bureau and real customer reviews of each site to assign customer satisfaction ratings. We also considered factors like whether customers need to submit personal information to get basic details about a car and whether the site provides quick payment.
Frequently asked questions
The best way to buy a cheap used car is to look for cars for sale by the owner rather than a dealership. You’ll have to handle the paperwork yourself, but if you find a motivated seller and come prepared with research, you may be able to negotiate a low price. Check out local listings on sites like Craigslist, Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader.
Yes, you can list your car for sale on sites like Craigslist or sell it directly to a car-buying service. With sites like Craigslist, you’ll list the car yourself and sell it directly to another person. Car-buying services like Carvana and CarMax will buy the car directly from you, saving you the hassle of managing the sale.