| Used car website | Best for… | Comparison tool | Free vehicle history report | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Comparing options | → Millions of listings → Compare five cars at a time |
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 | 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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 | Consumer reviews | → Car model review in each listing → A+ Better Business Bureau |
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 | Car price valuation | → Expert in car valuation → Compare five cars at a time |
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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, you can choose a car financing option and submit it directly on their site.
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.
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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.
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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 their 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.
Carvana’s inventory is smaller than other car-buying sites on this list, with over 20,000 listings compared to Autotrader’s more than three million. 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.
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Cars.com has a solid industry reputation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which can give you confidence when you use it as a search engine to find used cars.
In addition to solid search filters and an easy-to-use interface, it also offers car model reviews at the bottom of each car listing. These consumer reviews can help you decide if a particular model is the right one for you.
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 include a report. Cars.com doesn’t offer a comparison tool, so you’ll need to switch between listings to compare features and pricing.
Find your next ride at Cars.com.
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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, and you’ll also find any promotional offers for specific groups (e.g., military members and rideshare drivers).
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, so you’ll have to do your own VIN check to confirm the history and condition of any vehicle.
Find your next ride on the Kelley Blue Book website.
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.
