Key Takeaways
- Cars.com is our top pick for selling a used car online. The company sets itself apart from other sites by offering a private sale option.
- Edmunds leads the way for buying a used car online since it makes it easy for consumers to research, buy, sell and appraise used cars.
- Whether buying or selling a used car, we recommend getting quotes from several car sales platforms to find the best deal.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team cover our top picks for used car websites. Our team evaluated sites based on industry standing, platform quality, cost, support and customer experience. Whether you want to buy or sell a used car online, these websites should be the first stops on your journey.
Great Choice for Older Vehicles
4.4/5
Offers convenient at-home pickup and delivery servicesEasy-to-use online platformPays by ACH transfer or certified check
833-672-0583
Get an Offer On Peddle’s Website
Featured Partner
3.9/5
Offers free pickupInspector comes to you for the saleWill pay off your outstanding loan
321-340-6624
Get an Offer On Wheelzy’s Website
Good for Damaged Vehicles
4.3/5
Free towing with all offersGuaranteed offer for 7 daysRecycles end-of-life vehicles
844-596-7477
Get an Offer On Carbrain’s Website
The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about financing for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best auto loan companies. We collected data on dozens of loan providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 300 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Our Top Picks for Used Car Websites
Cars.com, Carvana, Edmunds, CarMax and TrueCar are our top recommendations for used car websites. Whether you want to find your ideal pre-owned vehicle or find the right buyer for a car you’re selling, these sites are easy to use and offer excellent customer support. The sections below outline our ratings for these sites when selling and buying a used car.
Best Used Car Websites: Selling a Car
Here’s a look at how we rated our top used car websites for those selling a vehicle:
Website | Our Award | Overall Rating |
---|---|---|
Cars.com | Editor’s Choice | 9 |
Carvana | Most Seamless Process | 8.9 |
TrueCar | Good for Quick, Fixed-Price Offers | 8.7 |
CarMax | Great Value | 8.6 |
Edmunds | N/A | 8.3 |
*Ratings are out of 10 points each.
Best Used Car Websites: Buying a Car
Here’s how our top used car websites measure up when you’re looking to buy a quality used car:
Website | Our Award | Overall Rating |
---|---|---|
Edmunds | Editor’s Choice | 9 |
Cars.com | Best Value | 8.9 |
CarMax | Most Reputable | 8.9 |
Carvana | Best for Transparent Pricing | 8.8 |
TrueCar | Seamless Financing Process | 8.8 |
Our Best Used Car Websites in Detail
Let’s take a closer look at our top picks for used car websites, breaking down the benefits they offer to those selling and buying pre-owned vehicles. We’ll examine each site’s industry reputation, including Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, as well as some cost and customer experience details.
#1 Cars.com
Year founded: 1998
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Extensive tools for car shopping Instant online offers when selling a carExcellent industry reputation
Cons
Some customers found the dealership added hidden fees
Cars.com is our Editor’s Choice for selling a used car online. We also recognize the site as the Best Value option for buying a used car online. Cars.com has been in business since 1998 and carries an A+ rating from the BBB. The site advertises vehicles from thousands of car dealers and private sellers across the country.
When the time is right to buy, Cars.com makes it easy to research used vehicles, filter specific features you’re looking for and schedule a test drive with a dealer. When selling through Cars.com, you can get an instant offer that’s good for three days, plus the option to trade in your car to a dealership.
Cars.com Car Selling Ratings
Here’s how our team rated Cars.com in five key categories for selling a car:
Rating Category | Cars.com Selling Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 9.8 |
Platform | 9 |
Cost | 9.3 |
Support | 8.6 |
Customer experience | 8.8 |
Cars.com Car Buying Ratings
Our team gave Cars.com the following ratings as a used car buying option:
Rating Category | Cars.com Buying Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 9.4 |
Platform | 8.7 |
Pricing and financing | 9.5 |
Support | 8.6 |
Customer experience | 8.3 |
Read more in our full Cars.com review.
#2 Carvana
Year founded: 2012
BBB rating: NR
Pros
Easy instant quote processLets you sell your car from homePays by either direct deposit or certified check
Cons
May not be the highest offer aroundDoesn’t provide a private sale optionIsn’t great for scrap or junk cars
Carvana serves 48 states and is known for its car vending machines scattered across the country. We recognized Carvana for having the Most Seamless Process for selling a car online and for being the Best for Transparent Pricing when buying a used vehicle online.
The company is known for its hassle-free buying experience, at-home inspections and on-the-spot offers that are good for seven days. When you buy through Carvana, you also get the added peace of mind of a seven-day money-back guarantee.
Carvana isn’t currently rated by the BBB, but it carries a strong customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on more than 9,100 Trustpilot reviews. The Carvana mobile app receives high marks from customers on both the App Store and Google Play.
Carvana Car Selling Ratings
The table below shows how we rated Carvana for selling a used car:
Rating Category | Carvana Selling Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 7.2 |
Platform | 9 |
Cost | 8.5 |
Support | 9.8 |
Customer experience | 9.4 |
Carvana Car Buying Ratings
Here’s how our team rated Carvana as a car buying website:
Rating Category | Carvana Buying Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 8.1 |
Platform | 8.4 |
Pricing and financing | 8.5 |
Support | 9.7 |
Customer experience | 9.4 |
Read more in our full Carvana review.
#3 Edmunds
Year founded: 1966
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Instant offers available for most vehiclesSelection of tools and calculators for car buying and sellingStrong industry reputationWide variety of cars available for purchase
Cons
No instant offers for selling cars with significant damageLow consumer ratingsLimited availability for car drop-off and pickup servicesOffers from other buyers may be better
Edmunds has a history in the automotive industry that’s tough to match, with nearly 60 years as a trusted source. Now a subsidiary of CarMax, the Edmunds website makes it easy to research, buy, sell and appraise used cars. You can browse used cars at dealerships across the country, research prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal and finance your purchase all in one place.
We gave Edmunds a perfect 10 for industry standing for its long history and A+ rating from the BBB. Edmunds also takes our Editor’s Choice award for buying a used car online, as its car research tools simplify the process of finding your perfect pre-owned vehicle.
Edmunds Car Selling Ratings
Here’s how Edmunds fared in five key categories as a car selling website:
Rating Category | Edmunds Selling Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 10 |
Platform | 9.3 |
Cost | 8 |
Support | 7.9 |
Customer experience | 7.5 |
Edmunds Car Buying Ratings
Below you’ll find our team’s ratings for buying a used car through Edmunds:
Rating Category | Edmunds Buying Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 10 |
Platform | 9 |
Pricing and financing | 8.7 |
Support | 8.9 |
Customer experience | 8.8 |
Read more in our full Edmunds review.
#4 CarMax
Year founded: 1993
BBB rating: A
Pros
Easy instant online cash offerPays by check on the day of the saleHigh offer values compared to other options
Cons
Requires visiting a CarMax locationNot the best option for junk cars
CarMax is another used car retailer and selling platform with an excellent reputation. Our team gave CarMax our Great Value designation on the selling side, and it has an easy process for obtaining an instant cash offer and even getting paid on the day of the sale.
CarMax lets car buyers browse a huge inventory from its 246 U.S. locations. Locked-in prices mean you don’t have to worry about haggling. Our team considers CarMax the Most Reputable used car buying website due to its strong industry reputation and sales volume. We also like the fact that CarMax bests many other car buying sites with a 10-day money-back guarantee.
CarMax Car Selling Ratings
Here’s a look at our team’s ratings for CarMax as a used car seller:
Rating Category | CarMax Selling Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 10 |
Platform | 9 |
Cost | 9.1 |
Support | 8.3 |
Customer experience | 6.8 |
CarMax Car Buying Ratings
Our team gave CarMax the following ratings for buying a used car through its platform:
Rating Category | CarMax Buying Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 9.5 |
Platform | 9.2 |
Pricing and financing | 8 |
Support | 9.7 |
Customer experience | 8.5 |
Read more in our full CarMax review.
#5 TrueCar
Year founded: 2005
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Fast, transparent price offersA+ rating from BBBMany filtering options and support toolsStrong online customer reviews
Cons
No private sale optionContact information necessary to access offerDeals need to be closed with a dealership sales rep
In our 2024 review of used car websites, we recognized TrueCar for its quick fixed-price offers. On the used car buying side, we gave the company our Seamless Financing Process award and noted its advanced search functions and support tools (like a car loan calculator and car comparison tool). TrueCar receives solid feedback from customers on sites like Trustpilot, where it has 3.4 stars out of 5 based on nearly 1,800 reviews.
TrueCar works with more than 13,000 dealerships across the U.S. That means you can browse a huge inventory of used vehicles when you’re buying and compare offers from dealers when you’re selling. You do have to visit a dealership to close a purchase or sale, which might be a negative for some customers.
TrueCar Car Selling Ratings
Here are the ratings our team gave TrueCar as a platform for selling a used car:
Rating Category | TrueCar Selling Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 9.4 |
Platform | 8.3 |
Cost | 8.8 |
Support | 8.2 |
Customer experience | 9.3 |
TrueCar Car Buying Ratings
Below are the ratings our team gave TrueCar for its car buying services:
Rating Category | TrueCar Buying Score |
---|---|
Industry standing | 9.1 |
Platform | 8.7 |
Pricing and financing | 8.9 |
Support | 8.4 |
Customer experience | 9.2 |
Read more in our full TrueCar review.
Best Used Car Websites: Pricing Comparison
Our team reached out to each of the companies in this guide for used car selling and buying pricing information. As you examine these offers and price quotes, remember that CarMax and Carvana use no-haggle pricing models that leave no room for negotiation. Also, note that Cars.com is the only site in this guide that features a private sale option.
Used Car Selling Offers
Here are some offers from a few of our top used car websites and how they compare to the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) market value:
Vehicle | Cars.com | TrueCar | Carvana | KBB Trade Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Ford F-150 SuperCab | $14,075 to $16,175 | $14,525 | $18,576 | $15,120 |
2015 Toyota Camry | $9,925 to $12,025 | $11,984 | $11,860 | $11,768 |
Used Car Buying Prices
Here’s how used car pricing compares among some of our top-rated websites:
Vehicle | Cars.com | TrueCar | Carvana |
---|---|---|---|
2017 Ford F-150 XL | $28,988 | $25,977 | $29,590 |
2017 Toyota Camry SE | $18,967 | $19,998 | $19,590 |
2020 Honda CR-V EX | $25,900 | $27,700 | $27,990 |
Other Recommended Used Car Websites
You’ll notice that a few popular used car websites aren’t featured in this guide. We rate companies like Autotrader, CarGurus, Vroom and Peddle as reputable sites worth checking out as well.
You can also find good used car deals on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and eBay Motors, but the selling and buying process may not be quite as smooth. It can also be difficult to access a Carfax report (or any vehicle history report) when you deal with local car listings or auction sites. Financing options may be limited as well.
Best Used Car Websites: The Bottom Line
All the websites in this review offer easy-to-use platforms that simplify car shopping. Cars.com is our top pick for selling a used car, while Edmunds tops our rankings for buying a used car online. We recommend doing plenty of research on the used car market and comparing offers and quotes from multiple sites before making your decision.
Best Used Car Websites: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about the best used car sites:
Edmunds earned our Editor’s Choice award as the best site to buy a used car. The company’s competitive pricing, expansive car reviews, wide dealer network and long history in the automotive industry make it an ideal place for car shoppers to begin their search.
Yes, Carvana is a legitimate car marketplace with a solid industry reputation. Although it isn’t accredited or currently rated by the BBB, online customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot are mostly positive. The Carvana app also receives high marks from customers.
Yes, CarMax can be trusted as one of the best used car platforms on the market. We gave the company our Most Reputable award for buying a used car online, as it boasts an A+ rating from the BBB and has been in business since 1956.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Industry standing: Our research team considers ratings from industry experts and years in business when determining this score.
- Platform: Platforms that offer a variety of features, including instant offers and multiple sales options, are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
- Cost: To compare providers’ average offer prices, our team conducted a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicle types. We also considered the fees companies charge to use their platforms.
- Support: Car selling companies that offer strong transaction support received the highest scores in this category. This includes offerings like free pickup service as well as how quickly you receive your payment.
- Customer experience: This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot as well as our team’s experience reaching out to each platform.
*Data accurate at time of publication
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.