Chapter 8. Website Directory
The Top Buying, Selling, and Information Sites
These are the top sites that provide buying and selling, along with more tools, information, reviews, ratings, rankings and advice compared to the selling-focused sites in the next section. To rank the sites, we used two key metrics from a leading website analysis company, Semrush, for the month of December 2023:
- Authority Score attempts to measure the trustworthiness and reputation of a website.
- Visits represents the total number of individual sessions for a given time period, which measure the popularity of a website.
#1 Kelly Blue Book www.kbb.com
- Authority/Visits: 83/33,400,000
- New and used car lead generator for local dealers
- Private seller exchange via Autotrader partnership with free AutoCheck reports, financing, service contracts, GAP insurance, and extended warranty options
- Used car values and sell your car with instant cash offers
- Excellent research, reviews and rankings
- Uses Experian AutoCheck for vehicle history
- Car repair and maintenance recommendations and estimated prices, but very limited set of partners
- Owned by , which also own Cox Automotive Autotrader
#2 CARFAX www.carfax.com
- Authority/Visits: 79/61,000,000*
- Vehicle maintenance and repair history reports: one report: $44.99, three reports: $64.99, five reports: $99.99
- New and user car lead generator for local dealers
- Used car value finder
- Buyer's guides, advice, and brief reviews
- Excellent free maintenance tracker
- Owned by S&P Global Mobility
- Mobile apps available
#3 Edmunds www.edmunds.com
- Authority/Visits: 79/33,500,000
- New and used cars lead generator for local dealers
- Estimated dealer invoice prices
- Price checker to rate deals and offers
- Features True Market Value® (TMV®), which is an average of what other people are paying for a car in a given area
- Road tests, reviews and rankings
- Database of national and regional incentives and rebates
- Has their own new car testing facility
- Vehicle value appraisal tool, including offers to purchase through CarMax
- Tools to calculate budget, financing and more
- Has an owners Forum
- Owned by CarMax
- Mobile apps available
#4 Cars.com www.cars.com
- Authority/Visits: 78/44,400,000
- New and used car search/buy/sell lead generator for dealers
- Free CARFAX reports
- Limited research/reviews/rankings
- Financing, reviews, and buyer's guides
- Uses the Black Book rather than Kelley Blue Book for valuation
- Includes dealer reviews: www.cars.com/dealers/buy
- Listing partnerships with Autoblog.com, CarGurus.com, NewCars.com, and TrueCar.com
- Mobile apps available
#5 J.D. Power www.jdpower.com/cars
- Authority/Visits: 75/8,400,000
- Excellent historical and projected reliability data
- New and user car lead generator for local dealers
- Pricing and values, including a range of what people are paying
- Free maintenance and repair history reports by AutoCheck
- Data provider for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) nada.org
- Estimated dealer invoice prices
#6 CarGurus www.cargurus.com
- Authority/Visits: 72/47,400,000
- New and user car lead generator for local dealers
- Financing available through partnerships with lenders
- Expert reviews and extensive advice
- User reviews and dealership finder and reviews
- Vehicles that are high-priced or over-priced are so noted
- Owns AutoList
- Mobile apps available
#7 TrueCar www.truecar.com
- Authority/Visits: 70/1,800,000
- New and used car search with leads sold to local dealers
- Free AutoCheck reports for used cars Very good electric car section
- Excellent rating/ranking section
- Excellent car payment/lease and affordability calculators
- Available manufacturer incentives listed after your choose a car
- Shows Consumer Reports ratings alongside used car listings
- Powers online buying services for many partners, including AAA, AARP, Consumer Reports, Navy Federal Credit Union, Sam's Club, and U.S. News Best Price Program.
* CARFAX has a very large number of Visits because many sites link to them just for vehicle maintenance and repair history reports.
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The Top Buying and Selling Focused Sites
These are the top sites that are focused on buying and selling for all vehicle types. There is a section below for electric vehicles only. Some have tools and information, but generally less than the sites listed above. To rank the sites, we use two key metrics from a leading website analysis company Semrush, for the month of December 2023:
- Authority Score attempts to measure the trustworthiness and reputation of a website.
- Visits represents the total number of individual sessions for a given time period, which measure the popularity of a website.
#1 Autotrader www.autotrader.com
- Authority/Visits: 77/32,900,000
- New and used car lead generator for local dealers
- Limited, random research information Excellent research tools including car payment/lease and affordability calculators
- Private seller exchange allows you to sell a car on AutoTrader and with a free AutoCheck report
- Owned by Cox Automotive, which also owns Kelley Blue Book
- Has a classic car website: https://classics.autotrader.com/
- Mobile apps available
#2 CarMax www.carmax.com
- Authority/Visits: 74/25,300,000
- Used car buy/sell/trade online and many locations nationwide from their own inventory
- Their physical locations are a great place to browse large and diverse inventories without being hounded by sales people 125+ point inspection
- Free CARFAX reports
- 24-hour take home test drive
- 30-day/1,500 mile free return policy 90-day/4,000 mile limited warranty
- Fixed prices, no haggle
- Shipping fees may apply depending on location
- Owns Edmunds for buying advice
- Mobile apps available
#3 Carvana www.carvana.com
- Authority/Visits: 58/16,200,000
- Used car buy/sell/trade online and a few physical locations nationwide from their own inventory
- 190-point vehicle inspections
- Free CARFAX reports
- 100-day/4,189 mile limited warranty
- 7-day money back guarantee Fixed prices, no haggle Owner reviews Calculators, financing, and insurance
- Pickup at a car vending machine, limited area free delivery, or paid delivery
- Personalized recommendations on price changes and new arrivals
- Mobile apps available
#4 AutoTempest www.autotempest.com
- Authority/Visits: 58/7,600,000
- New and used car buy/sell/trade online via partnership with TrueCar
- Aggregates listings from dealers and private sellers, showing all the results for your search from each of their listings partners, including eBay, Cars.com, TrueCar, Carvana, Autotrader, Craigslist and more
- Generates comparison links for the large sites with which they don't have partnerships (e.g., eBay, Facebook, Craigslist)
- Good for searching for hard to find vehicles
- Dealership comparison tool
- Offers a private sale platform
#5 Cars For Sale www.carsforsale.com
- Authority/Visits: 58/4,300,000
- New and used car lead generator for local dealers
- Very wide range of vehicle types beyond cars, including all types of trucks, trailers, RVs, off-road and more
- Many reviews, articles and advice
- Free NMVTIS vehicle history reports through vehiclehistoryreport.com (title, salvage, odometer, insurance claims only)
- Does not include CARFAX or AutoCheck repair/maintenance history reports
- Calculators and financing available, including partnership with Auto Credit Express for buyers with limited or poor credit
#6 iSeeCars www.iseecars.com
- Authority/Visits: 57/3,300,000
- New and used car buy/sell/trade lead generator for dealers
- Shows prices relative to market value
- Financing available, including no and poor credit history customers
- Insurance quotes and service contracts available
- Free AutoCheck maintenance and repair history
- Studies, guides, and rankings
- Shows rankings based on NHTSA data and an extensive database of longevity/reliability data
#7 Autolist www.autolist.com
- Authority/Visits: 53/2,100,000
- Used car buy/sell/trade lead generator for local dealers, CarMax, Hertz and others
- Reviews, guides, and rankings
- Owned by CarGurus
- Mobile apps available
#8 Enterprise Car Sales www.enterprisecarsales.com
- Authority/Visits: 53/1,900,000
- Used car buy/sell/trade from their own inventory online and at nationwide locations
- Huge selection of all vehicle types, including EVs and hybrids
- Rigorous inspections, inside and out, by ASE-certied technicians
- 7-day/1,000-mile buy back guarantee
- 12-month/12,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
- 12-month Unlimited Mileage Roadside Assistance Package
- Free CARFAX report
- Fixed prices, no haggle
- Pricing shown relative to Kelley Blue Book (KBB) values
- Financing available through lending partners
- First time buyer and college graduate financing programs
#9 CarsDirect www.carsdirect.com
- Authority/Visits: 53/1,600,000
- New and used car lead generator for dealers
- Estimated dealer invoice prices
- Many financing options
- Reviews by "experts", but not based on actual road tests
- Random links to third party reviews and news
#10 CarEdge www.caredge.com
- Authority/Visits: 51/4,500,000
- Used car lead generator for dealers in a defined region
- Membership required for some of their information and services
- Add-on products such as financing and service contracts
- Uses the Black Book for valuations
- Concierge service options to have them manage the entire buy/sell/trade process
- Repair facility locator and reviews through partnership with Openbay.com
#11 AutoNation www.autonation.com
- Authority/Visits: 50/3,000,000
- New and used car buy/sell/trade online and at over 300 new car dealerships in 20 states
- Highly rated in the J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence Program
- 5-day 250 mile money back guarantee on all used vehicles
- Fixed prices, no haggle
- Free CARFAX reports
- 125 point inspections
- 90-day/4,000 mile warranty
- Financing and vehicle protection and service plans
- Extensive service, parts, and collision repair network with 12-month/12,000 mile guarantee
#12 EchoPark www.echopark.com
- Authority/Visits: 50/691,000
- Used car buy/sell/trade online and at a limited number of locations nationwide
- 190-point inspection
- Free CARFAX reports
- 7-day/250 mile money back guarantee
- 30-day/1,000 mile limited warranty
- Fixed prices, no haggle
- Insurance quotes available
- Shipping fees may apply depending on location
#13 Costco Auto Buying Program www.costcoauto.com
- Authority/Visits: 49/1,200,000
- New and used car search through authorized dealerships
- Must be a Costco member
- Manufacturer incentives listed
- Member-only incentives that can be used without buying through the program
- Good for those who want a simplied version the normal car buying process
- Fixed prices, no haggle, but it would be best to check with dealers that are not in the program as they may be able to beat the offer
- Not available for all makes, models and trims
- Very limited build/research/pricing tools; must be contacted by a dealer
- 15% off parts, services and accessories at participating service centers, up to $500
#14 Hertz Car Sales www.hertzcarsales.com
- Authority/Visits: 49/1,000,000
- Used car search/buy/sell/trade from their own inventory online and at nationwide locations
- Mostly former rental cars, but some trade-ins and acquisitions from third parties
- Huge selection of all vehicle types, including EVs and hybrids
- 115-point inspections
- Rent2Buy: Rent the car for up to 3 days at a special rate or take a complimentary 2-hour test drive
- 7-day/250 mile refund or exchange for higher priced vehicle
- 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- Free AutoCheck vehicle history reports
- Fixed prices, no haggle
- Financing available through lending partners
- Many vehicle protection and maintenance options
- Delivery available for a fee
#15 DriveTime www.drivetime.com
- Authority/Visits: 46/746,000
- Used car search/buy/sell through a nationwide network of Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealerships
- Specializes in vehicles for people with poor or no credit
- 30-day/1,500-mile warranty 5-day returns
- Free AutoCheck vehicle history reports
- In-house, high interest, sub-prime financing available
- Installs vehicle trackers on high risk customers with low credit scores
#16 Driveway www.driveway.com
- Authority/Visits: 44/1,300,000
- New and used car demand aggregator for Lithia Motors, Inc. dealerships
- 7-day/400 mile returns
- Vehicle valuation and selling offers
- Calculators and financing
- Manufacturer incentive listings
- A subsidiary of Lithia Motors, Inc.
#17 AutobyTel www.autobytel.com
- Authority/Visits: 44/301,000
- New and used car demand aggregator for AutoWeb.com dealership partners
- Very limited reviews, research and buying tools
- Related to www.usedcars.com and www.car.com
- Owned by AutoWeb/One Planet Group LLC
#18 CarZing www.carzing.com
- Authority/Visits: 32/571,000
- New and used car lead generator for dealers
- Many finance options
- Reviews by "experts", but not based on actual road tests
- Random links to third party reviews and news
#19 Avis Car Sales www.aviscarsales.com
Miscellaneous Sites
Consumer Reports Car Buying Services (subscription required)
- New and used car search/buy through partnership with TrueCar
- New cars: www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-prices-build-buy-service/
- Used cars: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-prices-used-car-inventory/
- Estimated dealer invoice prices
eBay Motors www.ebay.com/b/Auto-Parts-and-Vehicles/6000/bn_1865334
- A wide range of vehicle types, conditions, and ages from across the nation; current new and used through classics, collectors, and exotics
- Vehicle purchase protection on all vehicles up to $100,000
- Financing available through a partnership with Express Tech-Financing
- Shipping available through a partnership with uShip
- No protection against undisclosed problems
- No returns
Invoice Pricing invoice-pricing.com
- New and used car lead generator for dealers
- Estimated dealer invoice prices
Microsoft Autos https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/marketplace
- New and used car lead generator for car makers, local dealers, and online sites like CarMax and Cars.com
- Limited random research, advice, and reviews
Motor Trend Marketplace https://marketplace.motortrend.com/
- New and used car lead generator for dealers
Sam's Club Auto Buying Program www.samsclub.truecar.com/samsclub-landing
- New and used car search/buy through partnership with TrueCar
- Must be a Sam's Club member
- $2,000 in post-sale member benefits
U.S. New Cars & Trucks https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks
- New and used car lead generator for local dealers
- Offers a surprisingly good range of reviews, ratings, rankings, comparison tests
- Best price program https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-price-program
Electric Cars
There are two general classes of EV manufacturers: major manufacturers of multiple vehicle types that also offer EVs and Hybrids through their franchised dealer networks. As of this writing, they include Audi, BMW, General Motors, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
There is also a growing number of EV-only companies that mostly sell direct to consumers rather than through dealers, such as Lucid, Rivian, Polestar, Tesla, and Vinfast. Note that some states do not allow cars to be sold directly by manufacturers to protect the interests of dealerships. The most popular EV sites with high authority are:
Tesla www.tesla.com
- Authority/Visitors: 87/47,300,000
- Direct sales of new cars only
- Direct sales of a variety of accessories and branded merchandise
- A large number of retail and service locations
- Offers their own insurance plans
- Manufactured in the U.S., China, and Germany
Polestar www.polestar.com
- Authority/Visitors: 67/1,400,000
- Direct sales of new and used Polestar cars
- A small number of retail and service locations
- Owned by the China-based Geely Holding Group Co., which also owns Volvo cars
- Manufactured in China and the U.S.
Rivian www.rivian.com
- Authority/Visitors: 65/3,000,000
- Direct sales of new cars only
- Direct sales of a variety of accessories and branded merchandise
- A small number of retail and service locations
- Offers their own insurance plans
- Manufactured in the U.S., British Columbia, England, and Serbia
- Partnership with, and investment from, Volkswagen
Vinfast www.vinfastauto.us
- Authority/Visitors: 48/193,400
- Direct sales of new cars only
- A small number of retail and service locations
- Manufactured Vietnam
Lucid www.lucidmotors.com
- Authority/Visitors: 2/1,000
- Direct sales of new cars only
- Direct sales of a variety of accessories and branded merchandise
- A small number of retail and service locations
- Manufactured in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia
Get up-to-date EV information and availability at these sites:
- Car and Driver www.caranddriver.com/features/g32463239/new-ev-models-us
- Consumer Reports https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/ (subscription required)
- Edmunds www.edmunds.com/electric-car
- Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com/car-advice/ev-car-companies-guide
- U.S. News cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/electric-vehicles
Private Party Sales
There are several places online to find a wide variety of used vehicles types and ages, especially if you're looking for something unique and/or classics and collectibles. They are also good sources for lower cost, high mileage vehicles that are still in good shape, and luxury vehicles that have already taken a large depreciation hit.
- Craigslist www.craigslist.org
- Facebook Marketplace www.facebook.com/marketplace/category/vehicles
- eBay www.ebay.com/b/Auto-Parts-and-Vehicles/6000/bn_1865334
Be aware that:
- Nearly all private party sales or independent car dealers
- Sellers and vehicles not vetted by a third party
- No financing, ideal for cash buyers
- Watch out for common scams (see Appendix 2 for details)
- CARFAX or AutoCheck report and independent inspection highly recommended
- Many low cost vehicles, and many with with salvage titles (see the Glossary for information on salvage titles)
- Caramel, Escrow.com, or Private Auto can securely manage the entire buying and selling process, and provide financing information.
Auction Sites
A vehicle auction is a marketplace where vehicles of various makes, models, and conditions are sold to the highest bidder. Essentially, it's a competitive bidding process where interested buyers raise their bids until one emerges victorious. Learn more about vehicle auctions in the Glossary.
Benefits of buying vehicle at auction:
- You can get a great deal on a used vehicle
- You can find a wide variety of vehicles, including some that are not available to the general public
- You can support your local government
Risks of buying vehicle at auction:
- The vehicles are sold "as is," so you will not have any type of warranty
- The vehicles may have high mileage, be damaged or have a salvage title
- You may not be able to inspect the vehicles before you bid
General Auction Sites
Autobidmaster www.autobidmaster.com
- Sells clean and salvage cars
- Over 300,000 used, wholesale and repairable cars, trucks, and SUVs
- Requires a paid membership for bids over $2,000
- Extensive financing and shipping assistance
- Vehicle history reports available for a fee from ClearVin (NMVTIS and NICB only, not CARFAX or AutoCheck)
- Also owns www.copart.com auto auctions
Cars and Bids www.carsandbids.com
- Focused on modern enthusiast cars — anything cool and exciting from the
- 1980s to the 2020s
- Buyers pay a 4.5% commission, capped at $4,500. Sellers list for free and receive 100% of the sale price
- Vehicle history reports available for a fee from CARFAX
SCA Auctions www.sca.auction
- Repairable and salvage cars for sale
- Vehicle history reports available for a fee from EpicVIN (NMVTIS and NICB
- only, not CARFAX or AutoCheck)
Hagerty www.hagerty.com/marketplace
- A leading destination for buying and selling collector and classic cars online
- Valuation tools for listing/buying cars at a competitive and fair market price
- Personal support for pre- and post-sale logistics, including shipping, transfer
- of ownership and payment facilitation
Salvage Bid www.salvagebid.com
- Repairable and salvage cars for sale
- Wide range of vehicle types, including cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, RVs, trailers, and medium duty trucks
- 100% free if you’re looking to buy one vehicle
HiBid www.hibid.com
- A variety of vehicle types including cars, motorcycles, all type of trucks, RVs, trailers, off-road and more
Government Auction Sites
These are public websites and/or events where government agencies sell their surplus vehicles to the general public. Vehicles can include sedans, SUVs, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and even armored vehicles. While you can often find quality vehicles for much less than their usual market price, it is important to do your research and understand the risks involved.
- USA Government Auctions www.usa.gov/car-auctions
- Government Auctions www.governmentauctions.org/aNoFeeCarsByState.asp
- GovDeals www.govdeals.com/automobiles
- Municibid www.municibid.com
Classic and Collector Cars
While purchasing a classic car at auction may conjure images of high-rolling collectors and frenzied bidding wars, don't be intimidated. Although a discerning eye, cool head, and quick decision-making are valuable assets, don't assume a hefty bank account is the only ticket to success. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that owning your dream classic car can be a reality even with a limited budget. Note that there are lenders focused on classic and collector cars, which can be found at Vintage Car Collector and Hagerty.
What are classic and collector cars?
- Classic car: Generally, a car at least 20 years old, but not older than 45 years. Some organizations, like the Classic Car Club of America, have stricter definitions and only consider cars from specific eras, like 1915-1948.
- Collector car: Often used for newer cars with potential to become classics, typically at least 20 years old.
- Some insurance companies use this term for cars manufactured in 1980 or earlier.
- Cultural significance: Classic cars often represent an important era in automotive history or popular culture. They may have iconic styling, innovative technology, or association with famous events or people.
- Rarity and demand: Cars that were produced in limited numbers or have become rare tend to be more valuable and collectible.
- Condition: Collectors seek cars that are in original and well-maintained condition, or have been carefully restored.
It's important to note that these are just general guidelines, and there will be exceptions. Ultimately, whether a car is considered a classic or collector depends on a variety of factors. Some of the reasons to consider classic or collector cars are:
- Investment: Classic cars can be a good investment if they are properly cared for and maintained. The value of classic cars has increased steadily over the years, and some rare or unique models can be worth millions of dollars.
- Nostalgia: Many people buy classic cars because they bring back memories of their childhood or younger years. Owning a classic car can be a way to reconnect with the past and relive happy memories.
- Enjoyment: Classic cars can be fun to drive and own. They often have a unique style and character that is not found in modern cars. Many classic car owners enjoy participating in car shows, rallies, and other events.
- Community: Classic car owners are often passionate about their cars and enjoy connecting with others who share their interests. There are many clubs and organizations dedicated to classic cars, which can provide a sense of community and belonging.
- Preservation: Some people buy classic cars to preserve automotive history. They may restore the car to its original condition or keep it in a museum so that others can enjoy it.
Classic and collector car sites
- Autotrader Classics www.classics.autotrader.com
- Barn Finds www.barnfinds.com
- Barrett-Jackson www.barrett-jackson.com
- Bring-a-Trailer www.bringatrailer.com
- eBay Motors www.ebay.com/b/Collector-Cars/bn_7117729158 and www.ebay.com/b/Classics/bn_7005623268
- GAA Classic Cars www.gaaclassiccars.com
- Gateway Classic Car www.gatewayclassiccars.com
- Hemmings www.hemmings.com
- Mecum www.mecum.com
- Exotics
- Carlisle Auctions www.carlisleauctions.com
- Gooding & Company www.goodingco.com
- RM Sotheby's www.rmsothebys.com
Vehicle Research and Reports
While these sites are focused on research and information, several also have vehicle search and buy/sell/trade features through partnerships with various online dealers.
AutoCheck www.autocheck.com
- Vehicle maintenance and repair history reports
- Single report: $24.99, 5 reports in 21 days: $49.99
- New and used car marketplace via Carzing partnership www.autocheck.carzing.com
- Owned by Experian
Bumper www.bumper.com
- An official NMVTIS data provider
- Single report: $31.99, or monthly membership
- Search by VIN or license plate for accidents, recalls, theft, and title status
- Specifications and equipment details
- Market values, ownership costs, and research tools
- Mobile app available
Car and Driver www.caranddriver.com
- Excellent and extensive road tests, reviews, news, and shopping advice
- Used car valuations based on Black Book (see Glossary for more information)
- Financing and insurance quotes
- Owned by Hearst Autos
Consumer Reports www.consumerreports.org
- A non-profit with independent reviews, rankings and in-depth testing of new cars
- $39 per year including online access to all product tests, ratings, and reviews, not just vehicles
- Has tested cars for over 85 years, from researching and buying to owning and maintaining
- Key rating factors are road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety
- Excellent historical frequency of repair data by make, model, year and vehicle component
- New and used car marketplace partnership with TrueCar.com
- Uses Black Book® data for car valuations
- Excellent car buying with advice, build tool, MSRP, average price paid by others, and available incentives and offers from local dealers: www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-buying-and-pricing
- Very good maintenance and repair advice
GoodCar www.goodcar.com
- Seven days unlimited access to VIN & plate lookups for $2.95 a 7-day trial
- Includes MSRP, detailed specs, and all of the NMVTIS data
- Provides total loss data, salvage reports, state title information, and odometer information
- Does not include maintenance and repair data like CARFAX and AutoCheck
- Loan and lease calculators
- Residual values: estimates what your car will be worth in 1, 3, or 5 years
J.D. Power www.jdpower.com/cars
- Bases their independent and unbiased ratings, reviews, and awards on detailed survey feedback from verified car owners each year to uncover and understand their experiences over the first three-months of ownership and, subsequently, experiences over the first three-years of ownership
- Excellent new and used car ratings and values, but no detailed tests or reviews like Consumer Reports and others
- All information is available at no cost
- Buying and selling partnership with Carvana.com
- Excellent, up-to-date EV incentives & benefits information
- Offers NADA Guides, which is a consumer resource for vehicle valuation
Monroney Labels www.monroneylabels.com
A Monroney label, also commonly called a window sticker, is a mandatory label displayed on all new cars sold in the United States. You can get one for most vehicles by entering a VIN and the cost is $9.99 per vehicle.
When buying a used car, it can be valuable to ensure that the vehicle features as advertised are included and match the original specs. It provides important information about the vehicle, including:
- Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): This is the recommended retail price set by the automaker, but the actual selling price may be negotiated with the dealer.
- Make, Model, and Trim: This identifies the specific car you're looking at, including any additional features or packages that are included.
- Safety Ratings and Crash Test Scores: This information comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and gives you an idea of how the car performed in simulated crashes.
- Fuel Economy and Environmental Impact: This information comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and tells you how many miles per gallon the car is expected to get in city and highway driving, as well as its emissions levels.
- Engine and Transmission Details: This section tells you about the car's engine size, horsepower, and type of transmission (automatic or manual).
- Standard Equipment: This lists all the features that come standard with the car, such as air conditioning, power windows, and a stereo system.
- Pricing of Vehicle Options: This section lists any additional features that are available for purchase, along with their prices.
- Warranty Information: This section outlines the car's warranty coverage, including the length of the warranty and what it covers.
Motor Trend www.motortrend.com/cars and https://marketplace.motortrend.com
- Excellent and extensive road tests, reviews, news, and buyer's guide.
- Used car buy/sell/trade via connections to local dealers and online partners.
- Owns advisory service IntelliChoice for best overall value ratings.
Vehicle Pricing and Valuation
While a variety of the mainstream buying and selling sites like Cars.com, CARFAX, and Edmunds offer pricing and valuations, these are the most reputable and popular independent sources used by consumers and businesses—not just car dealerships but insurance and financial services companies as well.
Black Book® www.blackbook.com
A subscription-based resource for used vehicle values of many types in the automotive industry. It is not directly available to consumers, but is used by businesses like dealerships, lenders, and insurance companies to value used vehicles. They take into account similar factors to KBB, but place a heavier weight on the car's age and mileage. Their data is more up-to-date than KBB, with key values being updated weekly, and taking regional differences into account. Published by Cox Automotive, which also owns Autotrader, Manheim Auctions (wholesale), and Dealertrack (auto dealer and lender business solutions).
J.D. Power www.jdpower.com/cars
A resource for consumers looking to research new and used car values. Analyzes over 20 million vehicle transactions per year, including actual wholesale and retail transactions to build a comprehensive view of the automotive market. Built on the NADA Guide's 90-year legacy, J.D. Power also offers extensive data, analytics, and reports across a wide range of industries through a subscription service.
Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com
A resource for consumers looking to research new and used car values. Offers a variety of tools and resources to help you make informed decisions about buying, selling, or trading a car. They take into account factors such as the car's make, model, year, mileage, condition, options, and local market demand. Car dealerships use it to some extent, but many rely more on the Black Book.
Regulatory and Consumer Advocacy
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) www.vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov
NMVTIS is designed to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold. It provides an electronic means for verifying and exchanging title, brand, theft, and other data among state motor vehicle titling agencies, law enforcement officials, consumers, and other authorized users of the system.
- Differs from CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as NMVTIS does not provide accident/repair history or vehicle service/maintenance data, just total loss data, salvage reports, state title information, and odometer information.
- Its reports are very accurate, as state titling agencies, insurance carriers, auto recyclers, and junk and salvage yards are required to report to it. Managed under the U.S. Department of Justice's umbrella and run by the non-profit American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the NMVTIS delivers reports through an approved set of providers who charge for reports including:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) www.iihs.org
- An independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals.
- Established in 1959, and noted for safety reviews of vehicles in various simulated traffic situations, including the effectiveness of a vehicle's structural integrity and safety systems during a collision, in addition to examining improvement on such elements.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.gov
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers make smart decisions about safety when purchasing a vehicle. Provides overall, front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings, plus the availability of recommended safety technology like Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Crash Imminent Braking, and Dynamic Brake Support. Also offers information about child car seats and tires. Provides the latest information on safety recalls and investigations at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) www.nicb.org/vincheck
NICB's VINCheck is a free lookup service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle may have a record of an insurance theft claim, and has not been recovered, or has ever been reported as a salvage vehicle by participating NICB member insurance companies.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Vehicle Service Contract and Warranty Regulations https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts
General information about vehicle service contracts and warranties. Regulations vary by state, so do a Web search on "vehicle service contracts <state>" for those that apply to you.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - The Used Car Rule
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/dealers-guide-used-car-rule#vehicle
The FTC’s (Federal Trade Commission) Used Car Rule requires licensed dealers who sell more than six cars per year to post a standard FTC-provided Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale using any type of agreement. Motorcycles, vehicles sold for scrap or parts (with a Salvage Certificate) and Agricultural equipment are exempt from the rule.
Consumer Affairs www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/online-car-buying-sites/
- Includes ratings and consumer reviews of selected car buying websites
- Powered by Detroit Trading Company services and technology detroittrading.com
C.A.R.S. www.carconsumers.org
An award-winning, non-profit auto safety and consumer advocacy organization working to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect consumers from auto-related fraud and abuse.
Consumer Complaints www.carcomplaints.com
An online automotive complaint resource that uses graphs to show automotive defect patterns, based on complaint data submitted by visitors to the site. The complaints are organized into groups with data published by vehicle, vehicle component, and specific problem. Also contains information about NHTSA recalls and investigations, and lemon laws by state.
