While most online apps allow you to explore used vehicles, the iSeeCars interface is built for deep research for used, certified pre-owned vehicles that fit your specific needs. The app also encourages drivers to take advantage of the free VIN (vehicle identification number) report to check out used vehicle history before purchasing.
Download the free Cars.com app to find the perfect car for you today. Shop the best deals with immediate access to 4.9 million listings, 5 million driver reviews, and various tools to compare pricing on cars you like.
Why the Cars.com car-buying app stands out: The Cars.com app makes it easy to see if a car is for sale at a comparatively good price. Cars.com provides in-app badges that identify good or great deals as well as fair pricing. While browsing cars in the app, you can use the badges to spot any particularly good deals.
We selected apps for this roundup based on features that are useful for different types of car buyers. We looked at factors such as whether an app offers free vehicle history reports or a money-back guarantee.
The idea of driving a new car is exciting, but doing the work and research that goes into buying a new car can be daunting. You have to research the vehicles you're interested in, then locate one in your area, and finally negotiate a good price before you get to drive your new car home.
TrueCar gets its pricing data from more than 15,000 dealers throughout the US, and according to the company, users typically save more than $3,000 off a new car's MSRP. The app can also help buyers searching for used cars. TrueCar says more than 3 million vehicles have been sold to its members through its network of dealers. The TrueCar app is free on on the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.
If the commitment of buying or leasing a car has you flummoxed, but you need something longer-term than car-sharing or renting, Fair might be the solution. Fair is a program somewhat like a lease that connects you with used vehicles only, none of which is more than six years old or has more than 70,000 miles. Most cars are just a couple of years old and come from dealerships rather than private sellers.
Craigslist is great for searching for used cars, but it has its limitations. Maybe you want a 10-year-old, low-mileage Toyota Corolla in a specific color and transmission combo. BRZO can pinpoint you to that exact vehicle and, if it isn't available, you can bookmark your search and return to it later. The app can also give you a better idea of what to pay when you do find the car you're looking for.
On top of that, you can bookmark your searches, track their price changes, see how prices compare among similar cars and narrow your search with hundreds of filters. Autolist is free on the App Store and Google Play.
An important part of the car-buying process is finding out the estimated cost of your insurance. An (iPhone-only) app called Go allows you to scan your license to get a quote within five minutes, thus saving you time populating pages of paperwork, which especially comes in handy if you're running quotes on multiple prospective vehicles.
It's worth noting that apps from major insurance companies like Geico and Esurance allow you to get quotes for prospective new vehicles, too, so if you're not keen on switching insurance providers, you may be able to use your insurance company's app.
All of Blinker's features are currently available in California, Colorado, Florida and Texas, but at the moment, you can only refinance cars in Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
With abundant search filters, a payment calculator, in-app finance qualification, bookmarked searching and search alerts, CarMax's app is just as robust and easy to use as any of the apps on this list. Where CarMax stands out, however, is with the additional services this used car dealer network offers, including no-haggle pricing, a five-day money-back guarantee and a free appraisal for your current vehicle.
Check pricing in multiple places to make sure that you are getting a good deal on your vehicle. If you're buying directly in the app, use one that is well-reviewed and has been around long enough that you know it's trustworthy. If you are connecting with a seller, be wary of someone who won't talk on the phone or let you see the vehicle in person.
Using an app, you can see the available inventory at all your local dealers before going down there in person, and even get cars delivered to your door. So give one (or all) of these apps a try before you head down to a dealership to see if you can find your next dream car on your phone.
Carvana is a car company that has revolutionized buying and selling cars. The days of going to a car dealership will soon be over. With Carvana, you can buy a car right from your iPhone or Android device and have it delivered to your door, sometimes for free.
With the Carvana app, you can search over 40,000 new and used cars to find one that fits your needs. You can sort by price or transmission type, and you can get a free Carfax report before you buy. Carvana also offers vehicle financing at an affordable rate, so you can quickly get a newer vehicle and start making monthly payments.
Similar to Carvana, Vroom is also a delivery site for cars. With this app, you can search and find your new (or new to you) car right from your phone. Like Carvana, Vroom also accepts trade-ins, so you can trade your vehicle without having to get it inspected or take it anywhere.
With such a wide selection of vehicles available at almost every pricing point, you can easily search specific models and makes that interest you. The Autotrader app also lets you add multiple models to your search, so if you have several cars in mind, you can see all that are available in your area.
Joe is a former web designer and current entrepreneur and freelance writer. In his 8 years as a web designer, he helped create several apps and helped startups simplify their user experience. This began his passion for making technology easy to understand and accessible for everyone. He's been a freelance writer for over 6 years and loves writing about technology. Joe holds a Bachelor's degree and a postgraduate certificate in editing.
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.
Similar to Carvana, CarMax allows you to buy used cars online. You can schedule a test drive at the CarMax dealership. You can also buy a vehicle online and have it shipped to your nearest CarMax location or delivered to your home.
Car-buying services can be a great option. You can browse available selections across multiple dealerships and get access to upfront discounted pricing in some cases. Additionally, you may be able to purchase the car entirely online and have it delivered to your door.
Due to the nature of the vehicles they sell, car sites that sell classic cars or cars from certain eras charge more, typically around $89 and higher. Auction sites will also take a commission fee which can start at 4.5% of the sales price.
Consumers are growing more comfortable with buying a wide variety of things online, from fruits and vegetables to couches and cars. Partly by necessity and partly because we've realized how convenient and time-efficient it is, we've become quite comfortable with online buying.
Undoubtedly, there are pros and cons to buying a car online. While history favors the traditional in-person car-buying process, those who look to the future see a trend pointing toward an increase in online car-buying going forward.
The vast majority of American consumers now shop online for their next car. A summary of consumer behavior surveys in this area suggests that over two-thirds of car-buyers go online to research a car, find cars listed for sale, compare different models, determine what their current vehicle is worth, calculate car loan payments, and get dealer information. Car shoppers also use social media to learn about vehicles and dealerships. Shoppers enlist dealer website chat functionality to gain information and negotiate with car dealers as well.
If you asked these people if they are online car-buyers, they might tell you yes. But buying online is different than shopping online. By the strictest definition, a customer is buying a car online only if they complete the entire transaction from start to finish using the Internet.
New-car buyers are often thought of as different from used-car buyers, and in many ways, they are. However, one thing they share is the propensity to go online to perform vehicle and dealer research. Several consumer behavior studies indicate that nearly 75% of both new-car and used-car shoppers use websites and apps to conduct at least some of their research and shopping.
Their marketing messages often emphasize their clients' ability to avoid visiting a dealer and talking to a car salesperson. In actuality, though, they technically are car dealers because virtually all 50 states require any business that sells more than a handful of vehicles each year to hold a dealer's license. The online used-car retailers have changed how the buying public perceives them because of the online experiences they offer.
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