Used Cars Online

From LoveToKnow Online

Think buying used cars online is absurd? Think again. You may be able to find a great deal on a used vehicle without having to trudge from dealership to dealership and talk to salespeople at every turn. Just be prepared to do some research!

Determine the Worth

When you're buying a car—used car, especially—you need to do your research. Find out what the car is worth and what the car's history is like. Here are a few resources to visit once you find a car you're interested in:

  • Kelly Blue Book: You can find out what specific models are worth before you put down more money than you should. Once you have a number in mind, you'll be able to negotiate more confidently with the dealer.
  • Carfax: Some listings will include a free Carfax report, but if they don't, you can get the vehicle's VIN from the seller and run it here to find out how many owners it's had, if it's been in any accidents, and so on. It's important to know exactly what you're buying when you're looking at used cars, so you don't run into too many surprise repairs later. Another place to run the VIN is VIN.org.

Where to Find Used Cars Online

Why waste time traveling from dealership to dealership and then back again to compare prices, try to get the best deal, and just see what they have on the lot? You can compare used cars online quickly and easily to save yourself time, money, and potential heartbreak because you get to look at the car's history before you fall in love.

CarMax

CarMax allows you to search used cars online by make, vehicle type, model, price, features, and gas mileage. You can search by your zip code and the distance you're willing to drive if you see a car you like on the site. CarMax takes some of the inspection legwork out for you. They do a 125+ point inspection and reconditioning on all used cars.

If you're not interested in doing the entire transaction strictly online, this is a great site to look through because you can see what's available without wasting the drive time or wandering through a lot. When you find something you think you'll love, then you can venture out to the store. In addition, you won't find a car that's too far away if you search based on where you live, so you save yourself the disappointment of finding the perfect car and then realizing it's three states away.

Auto Trader

Auto Trader allows you to, upon visiting the main page, get right down to researching and comparing different models you have in mind. You can also start browsing the used car selection. In addition, you can enter your zip code on the main page to see what is available near you. You can narrow your search down to dealers, private sellers, or both.

When you use this site, you simply locate the cars you may be interested in. There is no guarantee from Auto Trader that says the car has been inspected and so forth. What they do offer, however, is a free Carfax report with each listing so you get the car's full history upfront. That's because this site pulls from multiple car lots, so you get a great selection and aren't limited to one lot's prices when you look. It's easy to compare vehicles from one lot to another, call around, and try to get the best deal you can.

Cars.com

Cars.com gives you the option to look at all used cars or certified pre-owned vehicles only. They also give a list of the pros and cons to choosing certified used cars if you're not sure if one is right for you. You get a free Carfax report with all of Cars.com's used car listings as well. This site also pulls used cars from several dealers. It's not a car sales spot in itself, so you can check around with multiple car dealerships you've seen on the site and compare deals.

Cars Direct

Cars Direct advertises that they update their listings daily, so you'll get a fresh look at what's really available rather than calling a dealership only to find that a car was sold days ago. You start your search with your zip code, then narrow it down by make and model. You'll then see all of the used cars in your area that match your requirements. You'll get the price, the mileage, and the proximity to your zip code. In addition, you'll find the dealership information along with the typical statistics such as color, options, seating, and more.

Craigslist

Craigslist is a classified ad wonderland. Start your search by choosing the major city you live near, then select "Cars + Trucks" in the For Sale category. You won't be able to narrow your search down very much past that, but if you have a few minutes to scroll through the listings, you might find what you're looking for at a very good price. Since so many different users post their ads on Craigslist, each listing is a little bit different. Some include pictures; some don't. Some have a free Carfax report option; others don't. If you have questions, though, you will be able to get the contact information for the user either in the ad itself or at the top of the listing.

You can find your perfect used car online quickly and conveniently by using the sites above and doing your research.

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