How to Search for a Used Car Online

If you are in the market for a used car, then you should check out the Internet to see if you can find the best deals. Cruising the Web is a lot easier than cruising all of the local dealerships one by one, and many comparison Web sites will even let you look at two cars from separate dealerships side by side.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

1. Visit the Web sites of any local dealerships in which you are especially interested. If you find a promising car, remember to bookmark it for later.
2. Seek out a third party reviewer such as Edmunds.com, which reviews cars as well as presenting new and used cars for sale, for a more objective opinion as well as a wider range of vehicles.
3. Compare your top picks side by side to see which one best fits your needs.
4. Narrow your search by location, mileage on the car, make and model, year and even color, depending on what you prefer. If you would give anything for a red convertible of any kind, just let your search engine know that.

Tips & Warnings

• Check to see if any of the Web sites you are using have a comparison feature to evaluate more than one car at once.
• Don’t forget important features like gas mileage.
• Look for a used car that is local if you want to avoid having to travel to another area to purchase it.
• Don’t believe everything you read on a dealer’s Web page. Remember, they want you to buy the car.
• Never buy a car without looking at it first. A picture might not show you all of the minute scratches in the paint job.
• Never buy a car without looking at the Carfax report or a similar report.