How to Buy a Used Car Online

Shopping online for a used car means you don’t have to spend hours visiting car dealers or searching the classified ads in your local paper trying to get the best deal on the car you want. Web sites, such as Kelly Blue Book, can help you find the current value for any make and model and, when you’re ready to buy, sites like CarsDirect and MyCar help you get in touch with sellers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Navigate to a site that sells used cars (check the Resources section for suggested sites).

2. Click the Used Car link on the homepage (usually located on a menu bar at the top of the page) to start searching.

3. Follow the site’s search directions, which usually involve selecting a make, model, year, and trim and accessories options. You’ll also need to enter your zip code or state to focus your search results.

4. Review your search results. Select cars that you want to take a look at by clicking individual links.

5. Compare cars in your search results by placing a checkmark in the box beside each car and then clicking the "Compare" button (not all sites will offer this feature).

6. Select a car that meets your criteria and note the seller's contact information.

7. Check Kelly Blue Book or another evaluative site to find out the value of the car you’re interested in before contacting the seller.

Tips & Warnings

• Car evaluations at Kelly Blue Book take into account the condition of the car. When you search for a car at this site, write down the values for each condition category. Then, when you view the car and see for yourself what kind of condition it’s in, you can refer to your notes to see how the seller’s asking price compares to the book value.
• Many auto-trading sites offer special features, such as the ability to save your searches and create a “wish list," if you register as a site member. Registration is usually free, and only requires that you submit your name and an email address.
• Note that many sites do not actually sell cars, but just provide a place for buyers and sellers to meet. CarsDirect is one of the few sites where you can buy both new and used cars. This site also offers free VIN checks and credit reports, and can help you arrange financing.
• Listed prices do not usually include sales tax and additional charges such as registration, finance, license and title fees.

[cardude]

on 1/8/2008 try sites like http://wwww.iSeeCars.com which is a search engine for used cars where you can find listings across hundreds of car sites like craigslist, ebay, etc

[kidcat]

on 4/1/2007 Nice article! www.mycar.com is no longer available. I think the new page is www.mycar.net