Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a headache.
With so many apps out there, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time and which ones aren’t. To help you sort through the noise and app overload, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite apps for when you’re in the market for a used car. Whether you want to sell your current vehicle or haggle with a seller, we’ve got the recommendations that will make your life easier.
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best apps for used cars

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Shopping for a car online requires diligent research and repeated checking of listings, usually on multiple websites.
Car-buying apps cut out some of that work. They can send mobile alerts when prices drop or new cars surface, and they have abilities their company websites don’t, like scanning a window sticker or vehicle identification number for price estimates. Plus, you’ll have bargaining power in the palm of your hand when you talk with a dealer or private seller.
Tip: It’s smart to compare auto loans, rates and lenders — which you can do online or at your local credit union or bank — before you head to the dealership.
We checked out many of the most downloaded and top-rated car-buying apps. Here are our favorites, in no particular order:
1. Used Car Search Pro
APPLE | ANDROID

Used Car Search Pro by iSeeCars is the dark horse of car apps. It searches 40,000 dealerships and private sellers for cars, and its 59 search filters include every conceivable parameter to find your dream car — even obscure ones like driver height, so you can find a car with enough headroom. The app also judges the market value of cars to make sure you’re getting a fair price and even sorts your selected cars by “best deal.”
2. CarMax
APPLE | ANDROID

This app accesses CarMax’s nationwide inventory of more than 50,000 vehicles. You can get alerted when prices drop, compare up to 10 cars at once and calculate payments on your phone. You also get free vehicle history reports, and CarMax’s expert and customer reviews. Plus, you can scan window stickers or bar codes to access all of a vehicle’s information at any CarMax dealership.
The app exclusively searches CarMax dealerships, all of which have non-negotiable prices on their cars. If you appreciate upfront pricing, that’s great news. If you don’t mind haggling for the best deal, maybe CarMax isn’t for you. If there’s a CarMax location near you, the app provides a no-hassle car-buying experience.
3. Autotrader
APPLE | ANDROID

Autotrader searches for new, used and certified pre-owned cars at dealerships near you and saves your selected cars to your My Autotrader profile. Car shoppers get a free vehicle history report on each car, plus pricing information and reviews. The app connects you with dealerships or private sellers by phone or email and lets you share cars you love with friends and family by text.
4. Edmunds
APPLE | ANDROID

Edmunds provides expert auto advice website and an arsenal of car pricing tools and calculators. The Buy a Car feature gives a detailed list of vehicles near you that match your specifications — but the research section is where Edmunds pulls ahead of competitors.
Its top-tier car reviews have everything buyers need, and the helpful “costs of ownership” section breaks down expenses, like average fuel and repair spending, for various models. And if you click the app’s “help” section, you can text an Edmunds car-buying expert directly for any questions on car buying or leasing.
5. Car Buying by Kelley Blue Book
APPLE | ANDROID

Kelley Blue Book is a renowned source in the auto world. The website provides a broad spectrum of car tools, but its Car Buying app focuses on reviewing and pricing specific models and finding dealerships near you. You’ll also access Kelley Blue Book’s car pictures and in-depth videos.
The app is simple to use and has trusted brand power, but it doesn’t have close to all the information its website offers — and it can’t show you local listings of cars you’re searching for.
6. TrueCar
APPLE | ANDROID

TrueCar users search for their desired car and get a price breakdown based on what others paid for the same vehicle. The app accesses dealer, factory and partner incentives, including ones only TrueCar users get. And its mobile “price check” feature shows TrueCar price estimates simply by scanning the window sticker at any participating dealership. The cherry on top? TrueCar’s app has the best cosmetic design of the bunch.
The app sends your contact information and price quote to a network of over 13,000 TrueCar Certified Dealers, which means plenty of sales calls but also plenty of offers.
7. Cars.com
APPLE | ANDROID

This brightly colored app lists new and used cars for sale near you with an extensive breakdown of the vehicles’ details and features. You can read owner reviews and see estimated car payments. The app also includes dealer profiles and reviews and a market comparison feature, showing how other vehicles are priced in a given area. Turn on the app’s On The Lot tool the next time you’re at a dealership to instantly compare nearby dealership inventory and find special local offers.
8. Autolist
APPLE | ANDROID

Autolist claims to have the “largest selection of cars” to search, pulling from thousands of used car app and dealership listings. But we love its large, high-definition car images to swipe through as you search.
It also includes a Buyer Intelligence section showing how a car’s price compares with others in the area, how long the car has been on the market and its price change history. You can also get alerts when the price drops on one of your favorite listings.
best used car sites by owner
- Best Overall: AutoTrader
- Best Basic Option: CarsDirect
- Best for Classic Cars: Hemmings
- Best for Mobile: Autolist
- Best for Cheap Cars: CarGurus
- Best for Comparing Options: AutoTempest
- Best Auction Site: Cars & Bids
BEST OVERALLAutoTrader
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AutoTrader tops our list as the best overall used car site as the most recognized car buying and selling online auto marketplace. Its huge volume of listings and advanced search tool make it the go-to place to buy and sell a car.Pros
- Over three million listings nationwide
- Search filters for nearly any option or feature
- Car research, financing, and insurance tools
Cons
- Charges to post a listing
- Trade-in restrictions based on location
Founded in 1997, AutoTrader was the first nationwide, online marketplace for new and used cars and is our choice for the best site overall due to its reputation, reach, and abundant research guides. The site hosts three million vehicle listings and offers detailed car reviews, buying tips, finance calculators, and more.
One of AutoTrader’s best features is its advanced search function which makes sorting through its millions of listings much less daunting. Beyond simple make, model, and year, the site offers detailed filters that let users select nearly any search criteria, including gas mileage, exterior and interior colors, transmission type, technology, and more.
AutoTrader also publishes a number of resources for car buyers and sellers. These include comprehensive how-to guides, current car reviews, research and news articles, car payment and financing calculators, and even the ability to apply for a loan and shop for car insurance.
Those who want to sell on AutoTrader, however, will have to pay. The site charges $49 per listing which includes three to 30 photos, reports showing how many people have viewed the ad, and simultaneous listings on Kelley Blue Book. After the initial payment, ads can be renewed for free every 30 days for up to a year.
BEST BASIC OPTIONCarsDirect
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CarsDirect provides car buyers with an easy way to compare listings from local dealerships. Its uncluttered website, simple search engine, and user-friendly car buyer guides make CarsDirect our choice for the best basic used car site.Pros
- Find deals from local dealers
- Apply directly for no-credit or low-credit loans
- Fast and flexible customer service
Cons
- Dealer listings only (no private sellers)
- Car down payment may be needed
Similar to AutoTrader which launched the first online car marketplace for private sellers in 1997, CarsDirect launched the first website to help dealers sell directly to customers online in 1998. CarsDirect is owned by Internet Brands. It’s our choice for the best basic option because of its simplified search engine and helpful buyer resources.
CarsDirect does more than simply show listings from local dealers, however. It also showcases the best deals in a buyer’s area as well as upcoming seasonal deals and pricing on upcoming models to help car shoppers focus their search.
Although CarsDirect’s search filters aren’t as detailed as AutoTrader’s, the site’s clean results page shows everything a buyer needs to know, including the CARFAX report and a “Check Availability” button that takes shoppers directly to the listing on the dealer’s website.
Each listing on CarsDirect features a link to a simple four-step loan application that takes just 60 seconds to complete. CarsDirect then sends the applications to its network of lenders and returns a list of financing options with estimated monthly payments. Shoppers can also click straight through to the dealer’s website and explore financing options with them directly.
CarsDirect also offers a number of resources for car buyers, including reviews, car news, videos, reports, and a trade-in valuation tool. Users can even save their favorite searches and create email alerts based on the exact type of vehicle or deal they’re looking for.
BEST FOR CLASSIC CARSHemmings
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Hemmings is an online marketplace for classic cars and car parts. Its car enthusiasts’ blog, newsletter, and info about local auctions and car clubs make the website a vintage car lover’s dream and our pick for the best website for buying and selling classic cars.Pros
- Blog and newsletters for classic car lovers
- Buy and sell classic car parts as well as cars
Cons
- Account required
- Listings only stay up for six months
- Fewer listings than ClassicCars.com
Originally created as a small four-page car magazine in 1954, Hemmings has become a leading classic car website featuring 20,000 searchable car ads. Combined with a car parts marketplace and tons of classic car resources, it tops our list as the best site for classic cars.
In addition to serving as an online marketplace for classic cars, Hemmings also has a number of resources for true classic car enthusiasts. These include pricing guides, buying tips, virtual dealer and auction showrooms, as well as a blog, newsletter, and multiple magazines for classic car lovers.
Although Hemmings’ main rival, ClassicCars.com, has close to 30,000 listings, Hemmings boasts a searchable database of classic car parts for sale as well as its own selection of classic car die-cast models, apparel, books, wall calendars, and more.
Hemmings offers a number of advertising packages depending on the needs of each seller. Users can post a two-week-long auction listing for $99.95. For those selling outright, Hemmings charges $129.95 per ad, which includes a small 35-word ad with one photo. All ads run for one month in the Hemmings Motor News magazine and for six months online.
BEST FOR MOBILEAutolist
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Autolist is a unique website that collects listings from dozens of used car apps and websites in one place. Its intuitive and easy-to-use app has been downloaded over seven million times and is listed in CNET’s top 10 car apps making it the best used car site for mobile users.1Pros
- Compiles over 5,000,000 listings
- Top-rated mobile app
Cons
- No option to place ads
- No financing tools or options
Founded in 2011, Autolist makes it easy for shoppers to browse millions of used car listings compiled from car shopping apps and dealer websites. Both its website and user-friendly app display valuable information on each vehicle, days on the market, changes in price, and the CARFAX report.
Signing up for a free Autolist account also lets users set up email alerts for vehicles based on specific search criteria. In 2020, CarGurus purchased Autolist which also allowed owners to sell their cars online with an intelligent tool that calculates a fair asking price for their car based on other vehicles in their area.
BEST FOR CHEAP CARSCarGurus
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By combining an online car marketplace with advanced research tools that accurately assess a vehicle’s true market value, CarGurus is our pick as the best used car site for cheap cars.Pros
- Advanced pricing tools
- Helpful information on blog
- Advertise cars for free
Cons
- No vetting of sellers
CarGurus was created in 2006 by TripAdvisor co-founder Langley Steinert to help consumers post questions and reviews of cars and local dealers. The company later added a marketplace to its site with a car evaluation tool that makes it our choice as the best site for cheap cars.
What sets CarGuru apart from most other online auto markets is that it gives each car a “deal rating” and sorts the results from the best deal to the most overpriced. Since no one can pay to boost their listings, only dealers that consistently offer the best deals will get the best scores.
CarGurus also uses advanced algorithms that compare every detail of a car to similar cars on the marketplace to assess the market value of any vehicle. Combined with information on how long a car has been listed as well as whether its price has risen or dropped over time, this helps shoppers know if they’re looking at a good deal or if they have room to negotiate.
CarGurus still offers a trove of car reviews and other research tools to help educate and inform car shoppers about the quality of new and used cars. CarGurus also lets owners list their car through its marketplace for free. A quick comparison tool helps sellers set a realistic price, and the site’s pre-created fields ensure that the most useful information is included in every listing.
BEST FOR COMPARING OPTIONSAutoTempest
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Drawing on the databases of most online marketplaces including Craigslist, AutoTraders, and CarsDirect, AutoTempest offers the largest online car marketplace, making it our top choice as the best site for comparing used cars.Pros
- Compiles listings from the largest number of sites
- Smart search pages display targeted buyer guides
- Car pricing tool helps shoppers find the best deals
Cons
- Doesn’t vet listings
- No option to purchase cars online
AutoTempest was developed in 2008 as an aggregator of online classifieds for cars. It tops our list as the best for comparing options since it draws results from the largest number of databases, including Craigslist, eBay, Cars.com, AutoTrader, Carvana, and more.
Besides the sheer number of sites it accesses, one of the advantages of AutoTempest is that it can automatically filter listings in your area when possible. For instance, if a shopper is in Chicago, the site will only compile postings in the Chicago area. Users can also just select the sites they want to get results from to fine-tune their search. For example, you can limit searches to just AutoTrader and CarsDirect if you want.
AutoTempest lets shoppers search by basic search parameters as well as mileage, price, and more. Searches can also be saved and accessed later from either a web browser or AutoTempest’s mobile app.
AutoTempest also offers a number of useful resources for car shoppers, including car reviews, buyers guides, checklists, tips for negotiating, and more. Car owners can even sell their cars directly to Carvana through a partnership with the company.
BEST AUCTION SITECars & Bids
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Cars & Bids is an online auction site for cars from the 1980s and newer and is our choice as the best auction site due to its easy listing process, car history reports, and low auction fees.Pros
- Low listing and commission fees
- Every vehicle includes a history report
- Some listings featured by a YouTube celebrity
Cons
- No listings for cars made before 1980
- No financing options available
- No buyer and seller tools or resources
Cars & Bids was created in 2020 by automotive reviewer and YouTube celebrity Doug DeMuro to help modern car enthusiasts buy and sell cars quickly and safely. The site is our choice for the best auction site because of its ease of use and focus on protecting both buyers and sellers.
Unlike other auction sites which can take weeks to get a seller’s auction live, Cars & Bids gets cars listed as quickly as possible and works with sellers to figure out the best schedule. The site also offers a simple submission process that lets sellers know quickly whether or not their car will be accepted.
In an effort to protect car buyers, Cars & Bids provides a vehicle history report for every vehicle it auctions free of charge instead of asking the seller to pay for one. As a fun bonus, Doug DeMuro will occasionally choose a listing to review bringing extra eyes and buyers to specific auctions.
Cars & Bids offers lower fees than other auction sites, charging between $49 to $89 per listing and taking a 4.5% buyer’s fee with a minimum of $225 and a maximum of $4,500. The site also offers a detailed description of its buying and selling process as well as FAQs that walk buyers and sellers through every step of the auction process.
Conclusion
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