Are you looking for the best apps for car sales?
If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got all the information you need to make an informed decision about which tools can help your business grow.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for decades, these apps will help streamline your workflow and make it easier than ever before to connect with customers and keep them coming back!
We’ll tell you what they do, how they can benefit your business, and who they might be useful for—whether you sell new or used cars, or both.
Best Apps For Car Sales
The days of visiting a car lot with your fingers crossed for the right model at the right price are far behind you. If you have a smart phone, you have access to apps that can help you find the best deal out there. These are some of the best around when it comes to researching and buying a car.
We judged each car-buying app based on its features and overall design, including some that can help with the research process but don’t list specific cars for sale.
Overall, we looked for apps that have a solid user interface and make the search process easy. Since many share the same features — like the ability to save cars, look at vehicle history reports and contact local dealerships — we listed our top picks in no particular order.
Carvana
CarMax
Edmunds
Kelley Blue Book
Carfax
TrueCar
Consumer Reports
Cars.com
Used Car Search Pro
Autolist
1. Carvana
Best for: A 100% online process
Carvana is the go-to place if you don’t want to set your phone down. You can search for used cars, apply for financing and sign all of your documents online. The app allows you to search from over 20,000 cars.
Once you create an account, you can favorite cars for quick comparison and get an estimate for your trade-in. And after you complete your purchase, you can track your delivery, get recall notifications and make monthly payments all through the app.
So while you’re limited to Carvana’s inventory — and can only use Carvana financing on one of its vehicles — it provides one of the few all-online buying experiences out there. There’s no haggling, either, which makes it a good choice if you just want to buy a car without frustrating sales pitches.
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2. CarMax
Best for: Comparing a nationwide inventory of cars with upfront pricing
CarMax is a national used car buying service with an app to help the process. Through the app, you can compare up to 20 cars at once and save searches to keep track of your favorites. When you think you’ve found the one, you can schedule an appointment with one of the 200 dealerships nationwide.
When you get there, you can browse a car’s information and CarFax report directly on your phone with its Scan and Shop feature. And if you’re on the fence, you can share results with a friend or CarMax associate to get a second opinion.
However, you’ll be limited to the CarMax inventory. It may be extensive, but you won’t find every possible vehicle in your area. You won’t be able to negotiate prices, either — what you see is what you get. But with a quick financing process and an inventory of over 40,000 cars, it may be worth skipping the traditional dealership and avoiding the haggling process.
Get CarMax on the App Store | Get CarMax on Google Play
3. Edmunds
Best for: Researching a variety of cars before shopping
Edmunds is one of the top resources available when you’re trying to decide between cars. Its Research section allows you to narrow your selection down by make and model. From there, you can read a comprehensive review based on the model year you’re interested in.
And if you’re stuck between a handful of cars, you can compare the features, cost of ownership, current incentives and specifications of each to help guide your decision.
The Edmunds app allows you to save cars and quickly return to your favorites. It also offers an affordability calculator alongside a loan and lease calculator to ensure you’re choosing a car that fits your budget. You can even use a parking calculator to see if the car you’re interested in will fit in tight spots — a unique feature for drivers living in urban areas with cramped parking conditions.
Get Edmunds on the App Store | Get Edmunds on Google Play
4. Kelley Blue Book
Best for: Viewing information about specific models and trims
The Kelley Blue Book (KBB) app won’t help you find your dream car at a dealership, but it can help you see what a fair purchase price would be for any new or used car you’re interested in. Each model has its own dedicated page that covers the car’s value, basic features, consumer reviews and a KBB expert review.
However, the app’s design is quite basic. You can find the same information on KBB’s website, which may be slightly easier to navigate.
Get Kelley Blue Book on the App Store | Get Kelley Blue Book on Google Play
5. CarFax
Best for: Looking up the repair and maintenance history of a used car
CarFax is the most well-known source for vehicle history reports — and its app makes it easy to look at the history of a variety of used cars in your area. It allows you to filter cars based on reported accidents or damage, the number of previous owners, how the car was used and its service history.
Each listing offers a free CarFax report along with pictures of the car and dealership contact information. You can even estimate your monthly payment for each car to ensure it fits your budget.
But it lacks calculators and overall reviews for specific models. So if you’re hoping to find the best deal out there, it may be worth downloading an app like Edmunds or KBB to look at comparable listings in your area.
Get CarFax on the App Store | Get CarFax on Google Play
6. TrueCar
Best for: Seeing what others paid for similar cars in your area
TrueCar lets you view what other people paid for similar cars — both new and used. You can shop by brand, compare model trims and view TrueCar’s best-rated vehicles. When you select a car, TrueCar will show you a personalized offer from a dealership that includes taxes and fees, which means less guessing on the final price. And when you’re ready to sell your current car, TrueCar allows you to get an estimate and skip the trade-in hassle at the dealership.
It works with over 16,000 dealerships nationwide, so it can give you an accurate idea of what you should be paying for your car. And it also works with several organizations to help you find special deals and discounts you might qualify for. For example, USAA members can receive a special discount off their car’s MSRP. However, your contact details may be shared with these dealerships and organizations, so be prepared for sales calls.
Get TrueCar on the App Store | Get TrueCar on Google Play
7. Consumer Reports
Best for: Quickly viewing ratings and test results from Consumer Reports
Through the Consumer Reports app, anyone can view reviews of cars by type, make or model. It also offers helpful articles about buying or leasing. But to unlock ratings, you’ll need to create a Consumer Reports account.
And if you’re looking for a search engine to help you find a car in your area, you’re out of luck. Consumer Reports doesn’t provide listings, but rather easy-to-access information on a multitude of car models. It’s best used when you already have a selection of cars in mind and are trying to narrow down your selection.
Get Consumer Reports on the App Store | Get Consumer Reports on Google Play
8. Cars.com
Best for: Searching for cars in your local area
While you’ll have to sign up for a Cars.com account to save searches and receive price-drop notifications, you can browse all of the app’s features as a guest. These include a short quiz to help you select a car based on your lifestyle, three calculators and a selling tool to make it easy to list your car on Cars.com or with a local dealership.
What makes Cars.com’s app stand out is its powerful search engine. You can filter by used, new and certified cars, as well as by make and model, maximum price and location.
Its research section covers the specific features and specifications of each car by year, and you can read expert reviews to compare the good and the bad of each car. When you’re ready to buy, you can view the inventories of nearby dealerships to make shopping that much easier.
Get Cars.com on the App Store | Get Cars.com on Google Play
9. Autolist
Best for: Browsing a wide selection of cars across the US
Autolist is a powerhouse of service. It claims to offer the largest selection of new and used cars — with over 24 million listings. You’ll even be able to email or call the dealership directly from the app to start the car-buying process.
The app itself is easy to use. You can search by location, body style or specific make and model. Each listing comes with an estimated monthly payment, breakdown of the car’s features, mileage stats and a CarFax report.
And like with other apps, you can save your favorite cars, get notified when prices drop and calculate your potential monthly payment. If you’re looking for variety, Autolist may be the best place to start your car search.
Get Autolist on the App Store | Get Autolist on Google Play
10. Used Car Search Pro
Best for: Narrowing down your search by specific criteria
Also known as iSeeCars, the Used Car Search Pro app is ideal for narrowing down your car search by very specific criteria. Aside from filtering by standard factors like make and model, you can also sort by dealership rating, days on market, legroom, headroom and a variety of other features.
When you’re ready to sell, you can list a car for free with a tool that helps you determine what price you should sell it for.
Get Used Car Search Pro on the App Store | Get Used Car Search Pro on Google Play
6 more car-buying apps to try
These don’t make our best list, but if you want to get the best possible deal out there, it’s good to have a wide selection of apps on your phone.
Instamotor. It’s only available in California — but it lets you find and finance used cars similar to Carvana or CarMax.
Vroom. Another service that offers financing for its inventory of used cars. You’ll just need to put down a deposit to reserve your vehicle.
Fair. Fair lets you lease used cars, which may be a more affordable option if you like to have a new ride every few years.
AutoTrader. Like Autolist and Used Car Search Pro, AutoTrader lets you browse dealerships across the country to find new and used cars in your area.
Blinker. Blinker specializes in helping you sell your car, but it also works with AutoTrader when you’re ready to buy.
CarGurus. CarGurus lets you browse new and used cars at dealerships in your area. You can also apply for financing and sell your car directly on the app.
Looking for private party sales? Amazon Marketplace, Craigslist and eBay all have apps available that let you browse local listings.
best apps for car dealers
Best Apps for Car Dealers
Thomas OppongMar 17, 20212 minute read
Just like every other area of modern business, car dealerships are moving with the times and utilising modern technology to improve the visitor experience. A big part of this revolves around smartphones. People rely on apps for more and more of their everyday activities, as well as their shopping needs. So, if you run a car dealership yourself, let’s take a look at some of the apps that can help you to do it even more successfully.
SnapCell
The ultimate goal of car dealers is to get prospects into the showroom itself, but more and more customers are doing a lot of their browsing online. Therefore, you need to make this whole process as appealing as possible. SnapCell is an app that can help with this by allowing you to shoot more professional walkaround videos, as well as offering a virtual test drive. You can also use it to instigate a two-way chat with customers to answer some of their main questions and queries before they set foot in the showroom itself.
Auto Repair Invoicing
If you run a dealership that sells second-hand cars or does repairs, the Auto Repair Invoicing app is one that can make your life a lot easier. The main purpose of the app is to allow you to diagnose any issues that a car is having quickly and easily. You can then create job cards and repair orders. It also allows for the generation of online invoices, which can then be easily sent across to customers.
DealerApp Vantage
Next up on the list, we have DealerApp Vantage, which comes with a whole host of different features including My Garage. Essentially, this allows you to put in a range of vehicle details such as the size of the tires, insurance information, and oil type. Customers can book service appointments directly through the app, so this takes away the necessity of always having to take phone calls, which can often be a time-consuming part of the day. You can also create an entire inventory of everything that you have in stock, which allows for easy browsing before your customers come into the showroom.
myMobileDealer
Offering many similar services that we have already discussed above, this app also offers features such as a payment calculator, a map with the cheapest places to buy fuel, and roadside assistance, if this is necessary. You can also integrate it with your current existing systems including your CRM, DMS and Online Scheduling system. This way, you do not have to worry about making the switch over to an entirely new system.
Any one of these apps can prove to be highly useful to your car dealership. So, it is certainly worth trying them out as a starting point. You can then see what an impact they have on your shop. Of course, it will take a bit of time before you get used to all of the different features and work out how to use them effectively.
Thomas Oppong
Founder at Alltopstartups and author of Working in The Gig Economy. His work has been featured at Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine.
LATEST ON ALLTOPSTARTUPS
How to Choose a Warehouse Location
Thomas OppongMar 17, 20212 minute read
When running a shipping company, location is probably the number one factor that can ensure its success. Proximity and being able to meet deliveries on time are crucial, meaning that you want to have a warehouse that can meet demands as easily as possible. With these factors in mind, this guide has been created as your essential overview with regards to what you should bear in mind when choosing a warehouse location. Read on to learn all about it.
Rent Cost
Cost is such an important point to consider when looking for a warehouse. Naturally, warehouses in more competitive areas are likely to have higher rental prices, so it could be worth going somewhere more non-traditional, but this will have to be figured out via a complex analysis process. This means that it might be a smart option to bring in another company in order to ensure the best supply chain network optimization.
Proximity to Other Businesses and Customers
By being as close as possible to the people that you serve, this means that the time it takes delivering to them can be minimized as much as possible. You should also be thinking about how close you are to other suppliers, meaning that if somebody orders something you don’t have in stock, it can be transported to your warehouse then to them in the minimal amount of time. Ideally, you should be equidistant between supplier and customer in order to maximize productivity.
Workforce Availability
It makes sense to set up your warehouse near the right people. With this in mind, it might make sense to set up next to a city, like Tesla in Berlin, but this might mean that there are a lot of other potential competitors, meaning that salaries are high. In less served areas, you could hire for lower salaries and maximize profit, but the likelihood of availability as well as skilled workers could decrease. It makes sense to think deeply about where to place the warehouse in order to weigh up these two competing factors.
Proximity to Air, Rail and Sea Ports
In today’s globalized world, it is likely that your warehouse will not just serve the community nearby but will be used to service locations all across the globe. That’s why it makes sense to make sure that you are as close as possible to air, rail and sea ports, so once an order has been made, it can reach almost anywhere within just a couple of business days. Just be sure to school yourself on the different and often difficult-to-understand import/export rules and regulations that are required when dealing with other countries.
Roads and Access
It’s not enough just to have a warehouse near the people you want to serve. It’s also important to know that you have easy access to roads so trucks can come and go with minimum pressure. By maintaining a smooth flow of goods and services, your warehouse can turn the best possible profit.
Thomas Oppong
Founder at Alltopstartups and author of Working in The Gig Economy. His work has been featured at Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine.
LATEST ON ALLTOPSTARTUPS
AllTopStartups
Published by Content Intelligence Media LLC
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