Did you know that, according to McKinsey & Company, the used car market in the US is more than twice as large as the new car market in the US? Additionally, the growth of the US used car market is outpacing that of the US new car market.
Considering how many Americans buy used cars, there are many options when it comes to where to buy a used car from.
Online, especially, there are many websites now where you can buy used cars from. If you’re thinking of buying a new car website, you might be wondering: “What is the best used car website?”
With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. You might be feeling overwhelmed with so many sellers, cars, and deals to choose from.
That’s why we’ve put together this article. In it, you’ll learn everything you need to about the best online used car buying sites. Finally, you can buy the right car for you at the right price. Read on to learn more.
What Is the Best Used Car to Buy Right Now?
Before you go onto the best used car website to buy the right used car for you, you should know what the best used cars to buy right now are. This way, you’ll know what to look for when scrolling through the best used car websites in the USA.
According to U.S. News, the best used cars that will cost you less than $20,200 in 2021 include the 2016 Chevrolet Cameo, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, the 2015 Ford F-150, the 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, and the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.
They also include the 2015 Kia Rio, the 2016 Toyota Prius, the 2015 Buick LaCrosse, the 2016 Scion FR-S, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, the 2017 Kia Soul, the 2018 Toyota Camry, and the 2015 Honda Odyssey.
How Do I Find a Good Used Car?
First, you want to think about the make and model you’re looking for. To do this, check out used cars online, in your local area, and at dealerships. You should also look up the car that interests you on Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book.
When researching, figure out what car features you need and which cars fit in your budget. This way, you’ll know what to look for when you go onto the best used car website.
Where Can I Get the Best Deal On a Used Car?
The best online used car buying sites are CarsDirect, AutoTrader, Autolist, Hemmings, Cars & Bids, and AutoTempest. Depending on what type of car you’re looking for, one of these best used car websites in the USA will be better for you than others.
CarsDirect
The best basic option when it comes to the best website to buy used cars is CarsDirect. It has a car buyer guide that’s user-friendly, a search engine that’s simple, and an uncluttered website. If you’re looking at different cars in your area, this is a great choice.
Pros include flexible and fast customer service and great deals from dealers near you. Additionally, you can directly apply for loans that don’t require any credit or only require low credit.
Cons include that you can’t buy from private sellers, you might need a downpayment, and the prices listed aren’t always accurate.
AutoTrader
AutoTrader is the best used car website overall. It’s one of the most popular sites used for buying and selling cars online. Because it has an advanced search tool and a large number of listings, you can easily find a car for yourself here.
Pros include insurance, financing, and car research tools, as well as search filters you can apply for nearly every feature or option under the sun. Also, nationwide, you can get access to more than three million listings.
Cons of this best used car website include that there are trade-in restrictions depending on location, a screening process for vehicles that is poor, and that sellers have to pay to post a listing.
Autolist
If you prefer to use a phone to do online research, this is the best website to buy used cars for you. This website works on an app and gathers different listings that appear on a variety of used car websites and apps.
Pros of Autolist include that you get many listings that come from dozens of websites, a tool for fair price comparisons, and that the app is top-rated.
Cons include that you don’t have any financing options or tools and that you can’t place ads on the app.
Hemmings
If you love older cars, then Hemmings is the best website to buy used cars from. They sell car parts, as well as cars, that were made between the 1930s and the 1980s. One pro is that this website is cheaper than ClassicCars.com.
Additionally, they have newsletters and blogs that are perfect for the classic car lover.
Cons of this best site to buy used cars include that listings are up a short amount of time (between three to six months), there aren’t as many listings as with ClassicCars.com, and you need an account to use it.
Cars & Bids
Cars & Bids is the best website to buy used cars from if you prefer to use the online auction method. Pros include that you get a history report with every vehicle and that the listing and commission fees are low.
Cons of this best site to buy used cars are that there aren’t any resources or tools available, financing options aren’t available, and you can’t find listings for any cars that were made before 1980.
Carvana
You may have asked yourself the question, “What is the best website to buy used cars from that will also help me with the car buying process?” If you want help going through every step of this process, then we recommend you go with Carvana.
They’ll handle everything for you, including the financing. It can also take just ten minutes for you to find the car and buy it!
You can also have the vehicle delivered directly to your home. Carvana also has vending machines for car pickup in 12 cities in the US. If you’re looking for an easy, fast way to buy a used car, Carvana can be a great choice.
AutoTempest
If you want many options, AutoTemptest is the best site to buy used cars from for you. This website compiles listings from CarsDirect, AutoTraders, and Craigslist. If you want to scroll through different listings comparing as many cars as possible, use this site.
Pros include the car pricing tool that makes it easier for you to find the best deals and that the pages have a smart search feature that causes you to see buyer guides that are targeted.
Cons of this best website to buy cars in the USA are that you can’t actually purchase the cars online directly through it and that they don’t vet their listings.
Where Is the Cheapest Place to Buy a Car?
If you’re looking for the best website to buy cheap used cars, you should visit CarGurus. This website combines advanced car price research tools with an online marketplace to get you the best deal on a used car.
Pros include that sellers can advertise their cars for free, there’s a Q&A Board to help you, and that there are pricing tools that you can use to get a price as close as possible to the car’s true market value.
The con of this best website to buy used cars in the USA are that there isn’t any vetting of sellers.
How Do You Buy a Used Car From an Owner?
In addition to knowing about the best cars, you also need to know the process of how to buy a used car from an owner before using the best website to buy a used car from owners. This process includes researching getting information about the car and more.
Get Information About the Car
To get information about the car you want to buy from the best website to buy cheap used cars, you need to get a vehicle history report. This way, you’ll know if there are any issues with the car. You’ll learn about:
- Service history
- Lien history
- Title history
- Open recalls
- Damage sustained by the car
- Accident history
In addition to the vehicle history report, you should ask the car seller for service records. Cars should be regularly serviced—and if the car you’re thinking of buying hasn’t been serviced the recommended amount, you might have problems with it later on.
You should also ask the seller questions about whether they’re the original owner, whether there are any liens on the car, whether the car has been in any accidents, and where there have been recalls on the car.
Additionally, ask whether the car has undergone any repairs, why the buyer is selling it, and how many miles are left on the car.
Go For a Test Drive
Next, you should go for a test drive. This way, you can figure out if there are any serious issues with the car’s brakes, suspension, or steering. During your test drive, you should check for any issues with the turn signal, windows, lighting, heat, and AC.
If anything seems strange, or you hear a strange smell or odd noise, you should have a mechanic look at it before buying.
Get an Inspection
When you buy a car from a best used car website, it’s a good idea to get it inspected. This way you can learn about any issues with the car and whether they might turn into a costly repair in the future. An inspection usually costs between $100 and $200.
Get Financing
Once you’ve found the right car for you and are happy with the information, test drive, and inspection results, you need to get the money to pay for it. Unless you’re paying for it with cash, you’ll need to get help from a lender.
These lenders include credit unions, banks, and other types of lenders. To learn more about how to finance your used car purchase, check out this advice.
Negotiate and Close
Finally, you’ll want to negotiate a fair price for the used car. From the research you did during the beginning of your search, you should know what seems fair. Use this information to explain to the seller why the price you want is best.
Once you’ve settled on a price, you need to have the title signed over to you by the original owner. Note that you might have to pay any money owed on the car to the lender when you buy it.
Finally, you’ll register the car’s title in your name through the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state.
You Know How to Buy Used Cars—Now What?
Know that you know how to buy used cars and the answer to the question, “What is the best website to buy used cars from?” you might need additional information. Maybe you want to learn about how to budget or get a loan for your new car.
Or maybe you need your used car to be delivered to you.
Whatever information you need, we can help. At Nexus Auto Transport, we’re experts when it comes to cars. We also offer car shipping services. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us now.
