Key Takeaways
- Carvana, AutoTrader, and CarMax provide exceptional tools for virtual tours and immediate financial arrangements, enhancing the buying experience.
- Features unique to each app, such as Carvana’s money-back guarantee or AutoTrader’s VIN scan, tailor the shopping experience to your needs.
- Edmunds and Cars.com offer extensive resources for market comparisons and pricing evaluations, ensuring you get the best deal possible.
10 Car Buying Apps
Carvana
Carvana has thousands of meticulously inspected vehicles in its inventory. You can see every detail before you make a purchase.
This app allows you to search for vehicles for sale, obtain instant finance terms and then buy online. You may even enjoy free delivery. All Carvana purchases have a seven-day money-back guarantee. So, if you don’t love your new vehicle, Carvana will come and collect it, bringing you a different vehicle or providing a full refund.
The Carvana app is available for Android and iOS. It allows you to select a vehicle, schedule delivery and track delivery right to your door.
CarGurus
The CarsGurus app provides a one-stop shop for buying a car. You can browse both new and used cars at your local dealerships. You can also use the app to apply for financing and sell your existing car directly through the app. This can be a great time saver if you want to make a quick deal.
Each CarsGurus listing states the vehicle is below or above the current market value. The simple page layout also shows car information and dealership details.
The platform also has model research and FAQs to assist you in making an informed purchase decision.
The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
CarMax
If you don’t like the idea of negotiating, the CarMax app could solve your car-buying woes. This free app allows you to search for cars in your area.
You can:
- Check vehicle reviews
- Scan window stickers
- Find the nearest CarMax locations
- Access financial information
- Make payments if you have a CarMax loan
The CarMax app appeals because it allows you to browse dealership inventory without any pressure from salespeople. The prices on the app are generally fixed, so you know what you can expect to pay.
AutoTrader
The Auto Trader app is available for Android and iOS devices. It allows you to search and shop for a used vehicle, save your search information and contact dealers.
One innovative feature of AutoTrader is the ability to scan vehicle VIN numbers to find comparable models in your area.
You can also use the AutoTrader app to get an instant offer or trade-in deal if you have an existing vehicle you’re looking to sell.
Carfax
While the Carfax app has many features in common with some of the other best car buying app options, it has one standout feature. Carfax provides free vehicle history reports for each car for sale on the app.
You can also use the app to run vehicle history reports for vehicles you find on other platforms or apps. This has the potential to save you from buying a vehicle with hidden repair issues that could cost you a fortune.
Autolist
Autolist can match you with an ideal used car. This app is free on both Google Play and the App Store. It allows you to search various web platforms to find the right vehicle for you.
The app has great functionality. You can:
- Bookmark searches
- Track price changes
- Use filters to narrow your searches
- Compare the prices of similar cars
Used Car Search Pro
Used Car Search Pro, also known as iSeeCars, is the best car-buying app for searching for cars based on very specific criteria.
In addition to filtering standard factors such as make and model, you can sort by days on the market, dealership rating, and vehicle features.
The app is available for Android and iOS and features almost 1.9 million options through 40,000 dealers. So, there is no shortage of vehicles to compare.
Finally, if you’re ready to sell a vehicle, you can list it for free. There is even a free tool to help you determine the optimal selling price.
Edmunds
Edmunds is a well regarded automotive platform and its app provides numerous search tools to help you to find the right vehicle for you. This app also has other buyer resources including:
- A market pricing tool that helps you to confirm price points
- A car buying calculator
- Vehicle reviews
- Price comparisons
This app is available for iPhone and Android devices. It offers millions of listings of new and used vehicles, photo galleries, dealer reviews and trade-in tools.
Cars.com
Cars.com is similar to other used car shopping apps. However, it also has a comparison tool that allows you to compare up to three vehicles.
There are also some impressive filter options, which can help you narrow down your choices. Vehicle reviews, dealer information, and various other tools are also available to help you make your purchase.
TrueCar
TrueCar allows you to walk into your local dealerships confident that you know what to pay for a car. The app gets pricing data from over 15,000 dealers across the USA. According to TrueCar, typically, users save more than $3,000 on the MSRP on new cars.
According to the company, Truecar has sold more than 3 million vehicles through its network of dealers.
The app is available on Google Play and the App Store.
Important Tips for Buying a Car
Research Your Options:
Before you start browsing listings and looking for vehicles, you need to do some basic research. You should consider the type of vehicle that will suit your needs, what miles per gallon you can expect and other running costs.
Set Your Budget:
It is important to do some financial calculations and work out how much you can comfortably afford for your new vehicle.
Organize Your Finance:
Finally, before you start shopping, it is a good idea to get your vehicle finance preapproved. This will save you time once you find a vehicle that you like.