Top 10 Best Online Car Buying Sites & Shopping Tools: A Complete Guide to Making Your Purchase Easy and Convenient

Buying a car is a significant investment, and today’s technology offers a range of online tools and platforms that make the car-buying process faster, easier, and more transparent. Whether you’re purchasing a new or used car, these platforms provide a convenient way to compare prices, find deals, and complete your purchase without leaving your home. To help you navigate this process, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best online car buying sites and shopping tools that can assist you in making an informed decision.

1. Carvana

Why it’s great:
Carvana is one of the most popular online car buying platforms that provides a seamless experience for purchasing used cars. With its 360-degree car views, virtual tours, and a user-friendly interface, Carvana allows buyers to browse and purchase vehicles entirely online.

What sets it apart:
Carvana’s standout feature is its seven-day return policy, giving you peace of mind if you’re not satisfied with your purchase. They also offer vehicle delivery to your door, and the site includes detailed vehicle history reports. The process is fast, easy, and straightforward, making it one of the best options for those who want to buy a car online with minimal hassle.

Best for: Buying used cars, vehicle delivery, and ease of use.

Available at: Carvana

2. Autotrader

Why it’s great:
Autotrader is a trusted platform with an extensive database of both new and used cars, making it one of the best options for online car shopping. It allows users to filter search results by make, model, price, year, and location.

What sets it apart:
Autotrader features a vast network of dealers and private sellers, which increases your chances of finding the best deal. The site also includes helpful buying tools, such as reviews, pricing reports, and even a trade-in estimator to gauge your current car’s value.

Best for: Comprehensive car listings, price comparison, and trade-in evaluations.

Available at: Autotrader

3. TrueCar

Why it’s great:
TrueCar simplifies the car-buying experience by providing transparent pricing and offering discounts from certified dealers. The platform helps you see what others are paying for similar vehicles, giving you a clear picture of market prices.

What sets it apart:
TrueCar is known for its transparent pricing system, showing you the “True Price” of the car based on recent sales data in your area. Additionally, TrueCar provides a “Certified Dealer” network, ensuring you work with reputable sellers.

Best for: Transparent pricing, reliable dealer network, and price comparisons.

Available at: TrueCar

4. Cars.com

Why it’s great:
Cars.com is a comprehensive platform for browsing new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles. It allows buyers to search for vehicles from dealerships and private sellers across the country, making it easy to find the right car.

What sets it apart:
The site provides useful filters for searching vehicles based on various criteria like budget, body style, and more. Cars.com also features helpful buying advice and financing tools, ensuring a smooth car shopping experience.

Best for: Extensive listings, buying advice, and financing tools.

Available at: Cars.com

5. Vroom

Why it’s great:
Vroom offers an easy, fully online car-buying experience with a focus on convenience. The site has a huge inventory of used cars and offers door-to-door delivery, making it a great choice for those who want a hassle-free experience.

What sets it apart:
Vroom is known for its no-haggle pricing, meaning the price you see is the price you pay. The platform also includes a seven-day return policy and comes with a detailed inspection report of the car’s condition, so you can purchase with confidence.

Best for: No-haggle pricing, vehicle inspection reports, and delivery service.

Available at: Vroom

6. Kelly Blue Book (KBB)

Why it’s great:
Kelly Blue Book has been a trusted name in car valuations for decades. The site offers a range of car-buying tools, including a pricing guide for new and used vehicles, a trade-in estimator, and a dealer locator.

What sets it apart:
KBB is known for its accurate vehicle valuation system, which helps you gauge whether you’re getting a fair price. The platform also provides access to certified listings and allows you to sell or trade in your vehicle directly.

Best for: Car valuations, trade-in estimates, and trusted pricing.

Available at: Kelly Blue Book

7. Edmunds

Why it’s great:
Edmunds is an all-in-one car-buying platform that provides expert reviews, pricing, and buying advice. The site offers tools to compare vehicles, calculate payments, and find dealer incentives, making it easy for buyers to make informed decisions.

What sets it apart:
Edmunds offers expert car reviews and buying advice, along with a price calculator and incentives data to help buyers secure the best deal. They also provide a wide range of filters to make car searches more personalized.

Best for: Expert reviews, buying advice, and detailed comparison tools.

Available at: Edmunds

8. CarGurus

Why it’s great:
CarGurus helps you search for new and used cars while providing price analysis and seller ratings. It features a robust platform that highlights good deals and provides detailed information about the car’s history and condition.

What sets it apart:
CarGurus uses an algorithm to rank listings based on pricing and the dealer’s reputation. This makes it easier for buyers to find the best deals and avoid overpriced vehicles. The platform also includes an extensive set of filters to narrow your search.

Best for: Price analysis, dealer ratings, and good deal identification.

Available at: CarGurus

9. Shift

Why it’s great:
Shift offers a convenient car-buying experience by allowing you to shop for used cars online, get a free car inspection, and have the vehicle delivered directly to your door. Shift’s simple and transparent process makes it easy to buy a car without the usual dealership hassle.

What sets it apart:
Shift provides free home delivery, detailed vehicle inspections, and a seven-day return policy. The platform also lets you schedule a test drive at your home, further enhancing the convenience factor.

Best for: Used car buying, home test drives, and home delivery.

Available at: Shift

10. Carfax

Why it’s great:
Carfax is a trusted source for vehicle history reports, which can be crucial when purchasing a used car. Their online platform provides access to listings from both dealers and private sellers, complete with Carfax reports to ensure you’re buying a vehicle with a clean history.

What sets it apart:
Carfax provides detailed reports that include accident history, service records, and more. The site allows you to search for cars with a clean history and find listings from dealers that provide free Carfax reports.

Best for: Vehicle history reports, clean title verification, and trustworthiness.

Available at: Carfax

Conclusion

Buying a car online offers the convenience of browsing thousands of listings from the comfort of your home, and the sites mentioned above provide a range of tools to ensure you make an informed decision. Whether you’re looking for a new or used vehicle, need help with financing, or want to check vehicle histories, these top 10 online car-buying platforms provide the resources to simplify the process. With detailed search filters, transparent pricing, and customer-friendly policies, you can confidently shop for your next car with ease.