LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Dozens of apps and websites make it easy to shop for a used car with a few taps on your phone. The best used car 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. You can even sort by features like heated seats or Apple CarPlay.
We’ve evaluated over 20 of the best car buying websites and narrowed the list to the top five based on a series of objective metrics. Below you’ll find our ratings, along with a summary of what to expect with car shopping on each site.
Used car website
Best for...
Key features
Comparing options
Millions of listings
Compare five cars at a time
Full vehicle history
Free Carfax vehicle history reports
Detailed search filters
Generous return policy
Seven-day return policy
360-degree photos
Consumer reviews
Car model review in each listing
A+ Better Business Bureau
Car price valuation
Expert in car valuation
Compare five cars at a time
Read more about how we chose the best used car websites.
AutoTrader: Best for comparing options
Pros
Cons
Compare up to five car listings at a time
Build financing offer online
Extensive inventory
Low consumer reviews
AutoTrader’s comparison tool lets you compare up to five car listings at once based on price, monthly payment, mileage, fuel economy and additional features. This tool is particularly useful once you’ve narrowed down your options and will save you time toggling between listings when you’re deciding which car is best for you.
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.
Carfax: Best for full vehicle history
Pros
Cons
Free Carfax reports on vehicle history
Filter by history of ownership, accidents and service records
Detailed value estimation
No comparison tool
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 identify any potential issues before you speak with the seller.
Carvana: Best return policy
Pros
Cons
Seven-day return policy
Home delivery
Cars come certified with 150-point inspection
Apply for financing and insurance online
360-degree photos
No comparison tool
Complaints with Consumer Finance Protection Bureau
Carvana’s car listings provide you with all the information you need to buy your next ride without seeing the car in person or needing to take it for a test drive. Its 360-degree photos allow you to explore any of their vehicles inside and out, and you can review the free Carfax vehicle history report and the results of the Carvana 150-point inspection 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.
Cars.com: Best for consumer reviews
Pros
Cons
Car model reviews on each listing
A+ rating on Better Business Bureau
No comparison tool
Must pay for full vehicle history report
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.
Kelley Blue Book: Best for price valuation
Pros
Cons
Financing and market value tools to help you negotiate best offer
Compare up to five car listings at a time
Dealer ratings
No free vehicle history report
Smaller inventory
Kelley Blue Book uses its expertise in car valuation to provide a detailed price advisory on each listing, which can help you determine whether a particular 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 desired auto monthly payment directly on any car listing.
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 to car buyers 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 car shoppers. 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 marketplace 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.