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| HOME | US | USED CAR CLASSIFIEDS |

US Used Car Classifieds

Looking for used cars? Check out these classified sites.

AutoTrader.com - Buy Used Cars, New Cars, and Certified Cars
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/index.jsp

This site has a lot of great features and a vast number of used cars in the database (about 1.41 million as of this review). Using their advanced search you can specify a lot of criteria in one fell swoop. They also allow you to search back to vehicles from 1981. Results are very well presented and can be re-sorted in a variety of ways. You can also save vehicles for future consideration.

Pros:
The search process is quick and easy using distance (10 miles to All) from your zip code. It is very cool that you can specify up to 3 make/model combinations! You can specify body style, make/model, age range, price range, mileage range and some other criteria on this page (click on the View more search criteria link just above the Search button to see additional criteria.

Search results are very well presented and can be re-sorted by year, vehicle, price, mileage, distance from your zip code and make/model. Within the results page you can select up to 3 vehicles to compare to each other and by registering for free with AutoTrader you can save up to 25 (!) vehicles to a virtual garage, save searches and even create alerts so that when a vehicle that matches your criteria is added to the database you'll be notified.

The details page is excellent with links to Carfax reports, NADA guides and insurance and finance sites. You can email details to a friend, create a "detailed brochure with photos, maps and more" or print vehicle highlights. At the bottom of the page are other similar cars you may be interested in and information on the dealership where the car is located. You can get more information on a vehicle by email or telephone.

Cons:
I have only a couple of criticisms of this site. One is that the email request form on the vehicle detail page is not secure and that there is no indication given how long you will wait for a response from the dealership. Since you can register with the site it would be nice if an anonymized contact system would be implemented for signed in users, like some other sites offer, so that personal details are not flying around the Internet. The other complaint is that not all privately listed vehicles have VINs - I would think that no one is going to buy a used vehicle without doing a vehicle history report on it and when I see a vehicle without a VIN it makes me instantly suspicious. Perhaps this could be made a mandatory field or something that can be requested and supplied by the listing system (if AutoTrader feels that listing VINs publicly is unwise).

How to:

• Locate a car
  Use the radio button to indicate you are looking for Used Cars and put in your zip code and search radius. Then select body style, up to 3 make/model combinations, age range, price range and ad type (dealers, private sellers or both). If you'd like more criteria (including mileage range and exterior colour) click on the View more search criteria link. When you've finished specifying all your criteria click on the Search button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have a results list of vehicles displayed click on the Vehicle Name. You'll see lots of information on the vehicle as well as a form to send to get more information from the seller (whether a dealership or an individual) as well as a phone number (if the seller is an individual there'll be a link to click on to display their phone number).
  
  

Used Car Advanced Search at Automotive.com
http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/advanced.html

This site supposedly has over 1,500,000 used cars for sale. There is now an advanced search tool that remedies many of the deficiencies I mentioned earlier. Details on individual cars are fair but there are some additional information features that make this site a good option. Getting more information on an individual vehicle is quick and easy.

Pros:
There are lots of cars in this database and the new advanced search tool makes it easier to find the one that is just right for you. The results display format is good and it is great to be able to re-sort by photo, year, model, type, price, colour, mileage and distance from your zip. Details on individual vehicles (meaning the individual vehicle that you have found on a lot somewhere versus this year, make and model combination) are not that great but the tabs at the top of each detailed listing allow you to learn a lot about that particular year/make/model combination - information like pricing, recalls, safety and specs are all there.

Cons:
Some listings are missing important information like VIN or mileage (am I supposed to believe that an 8-year-old vehicle has 0 miles?). To request further information you have to submit personal data on a non-secure form and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Input your desired criteria (make, model, mileage, color, age range, price range and a few more) and indicate your search range (25 miles to any range) and zip code. Then click on the blue SEARCH CLASSIFIEDS button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have obtained a list of vehicles (see above) click on the vehicle picture to see the details page. On the details page input your information in the Email The Seller form and click on the yellow CONTACT button (or you could telephone - most vehicle detail pages seem to have a phone number - often toll free - as well).
  
  

cars.com - Buy Cars Online, New & Used Car Search, Auto Classifieds
http://www.cars.com/

There are lots of cars in this database although an exact number is not known. The search tool is good and results are also displayed very effectively. Details on individual cars are good and getting more information is easy.

Pros:
As mentioned above there are plenty of cars in this database. The search tool is adequate and if you click on the Advanced Search link you get a lot of extra criteria to search on including the ability to select multiple makes, models and years. The results display format works well and you can re-sort them by year, vehicle, price, mileage, seller, body type, colour and distance from your zip code. Details on individual cars are good and usually include VIN and photo(s). You can get more information via telephone or email. If you want a Carfax report you simply click on the link - you don't need to copy and paste the VIN in to the Carfax page yourself.

Cons:
To request further information you have to submit personal information on a non-secure form and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Click on the Advanced Search link, input your criteria, choose your search area (by city or distance from your zip code) then click on the orange Search button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars (see above) and click on the vehicle name link. To get more information use the email form on the left hand side of the page or use the phone number displayed (under the heading "About the Dealer/Seller").
  
  

Used cars, trucks, SUVs, or RVs from over 650,000 vehicle listings on GetAuto.com
http://www.getauto.com/vehiclesearch.php

GetAuto has lots of vehicles in the database but a simple search tool that could use a few more criteria. The results display format is disappointing but details on individual cars are good and getting more information on an individual vehicle is quick and easy. There are supposedly over 650,000 vehicles in the database which puts them near the top of this category in terms of number of listings.

Pros:
As mentioned above there are plenty of cars in this database. The search tool is easy to use and results can be re-sorted by year, price and mileage. Details on individual vehicles are good and usually include VIN and photos (often more than a single photo). You can compare vehicles to each other within the results list.

Cons:
There is no advanced search tool and mileage is not a criteria for the search. Another somewhat annoying oddity is that the link we have given you above - which purports to be for Used Vehicles - actually returns new vehicles as well. The results display format is very cumbersome and results can not be re-sorted by distance from your zip code. To request further information you have to submit personal information on a non-secure form (but only first and last name and email address are required so it isn't too intrusive) and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Input your criteria and click on the red SEARCH VEHICLES link.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have obtained a list of cars (see above) click on the name of the vehicle or its photograph to see the details page. To get more information click on the contact dealer button or call the dealer/seller at the number displayed (contact details for the seller are usually on the far right hand side of the page beneath the vehicle photos).
  
  

Used Cars, Used Trucks and Auto Dealers
http://www.carslave.com/UsedCars.aspx

There are quite a few vehicles in this site's database although the exact number is hard to ascertain (perhaps somewhere in the range of 20,000?). The search tool is good and results are displayed effectively. Details on individual cars are adequate and getting more information on an individual vehicle is quick and easy.

Pros:
By clicking on the blue More search options link (just above the green Search button) you can search on age range, make, model, colour, price range, mileage and distance (from 5-150 miles) from your zip code. You can also search using price, body style and most popular vehicles as your basic criteria (see the buttons below the green Search button). The displayed results list can be re-sorted by year, make, model, colour, price, mileage and distance. Details on individual cars are very variable - some vehicles have lots of information and photos whereas others do not. You can get more information easily via an email form on the details page.

Cons:
It would be better if this site had more mandatory information collected from the seller and thus had less variability between listings. To request further information you have to submit personal information on a non-secure form and no turnaround guarantee is given (obviously this is not possible for private sales but it would be nice to know when you might expect to hear back from a dealership).

How to:

• Locate a car
  Click on the blue More search options link, input your criteria and click on the green Search button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars (see above) and then click anywhere within the row to display the details page. To get more information input your details in the contact form on the right hand side of the page and click on the green Send button.
  
  

eBay Motors: Home
http://www.motors.ebay.com/

There are over 43,000 vehicles on eBay Motors which puts them in the upper half of this category in terms of numbers. Although there is not a single traditional search tool there are lots of different search options that allow you to find a specific vehicle quite easily. Result display format is okay but details on individual cars vary widely. Getting more information is simple.

Pros:
There are lots of vehicles in eBay Motors and you can search using a variety of tools that should allow you to find almost any specific vehicle. Results can be re-sorted by price, year, mileage, condition and distance from your zip. Details on individual cars vary quite a bit but usually include VIN and photo(s). You can get more information via email.

Cons:
You can't easily use mileage as a search criteria (although it is an option in a pop up window that you'll see if you click on the Choose more ... link under the Body Type heading) and the display format is somewhat cumbersome. Because this is a user driven site the amount of information entered can vary quite a bit from vehicle to vehicle.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Use the Cars & Trucks Finder in the left hand column to specify a number of criteria. I think, if you delve in to it deeply, you can use this tool to search by mileage (by clicking on the Choose more... link under the Body Type heading and then selecting Mileage in the column on the right in the pop up window). Once you have search criteria set click on the Go button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have obtained a list of vehicles (see above) click on the vehicle photo to display the details page. On the details page click on the Ask seller a question link underneath the Meet the seller heading on the right hand side of the page (you'll need to register at eBay and log in to send a message).
  
  

Used Car Finder - Search for Used Cars - Enterprise Car Sales
http://www.enterprisecarsales.com/carsales/usedCarFinder.do

Enterprise Auto Sales don't have hundreds of thousands of cars but they do offer a selection of 100-200 vehicles in major cities and are definitely worth checking out. The vehicles on Enterprise's site are also of higher quality than you might find on other sites. The search tool is not that full featured but you can search by location (major cities). Details on individual cars are good and you can easily get more information on any vehicle.

Pros:
Cars offered for sale by Enterprise Car Sales are late model, certified and offer a limited warranty. Details on individual vehicles are good and getting more information on is easy. They are one of the few sites in this category that offers a turnaround guarantee (someone should get back to you within 24 business hours, Monday to Saturday, when you request more information on a vehicle).

Cons:
There is a search tool on the site but it is fairly basic. The form where you enter your personal information is not secure (but only asks for first and last name and email address).

How to:

• Locate a car
  Search for a used car by Make/Model, vehicle type or by city-metro area.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  After you obtain a list of cars (see above) click on the car name. On the details page complete the email form on the right hand side of the page or call on the toll-free number provided.
  
  

Hertz Car Sales - The Used Car Advantage
http://www.hertzcarsales.com/index.jsp

Hertz Car Sales don't have as many cars as Enterprise but they do have late model vehicles for sale. The Details on individual cars are good and you can easily get more information on any vehicle.

Pros:
There aren't thousands of cars available but what is available is late model and relatively low mileage. The simple search tool allows you to search by distance from your location or by make and model or - if you prefer - you can simple browse all Hertz car sales locations. Results are displayed in an effective format and details on individual cars are good and include VIN. If you want more information you are given an email contact form on a secure page.

Cons:
There are not thousands of cars in the database and because of this some searches will come up empty (repeatedly). The inventory list for a location can not be re-sorted. Many of the vehicles do not have photos - it would be nice if Hertz put in even a stock photo so you could get a hint of what the vehicle looks like.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Choose your search method - find the location closest to you and see the cars available there (by either state and city or zip code and distance) , search by make and model or browse all locations.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have obtained a list of vehicles (using the Locate a car procedure we've given you above) click on the price to bring up the vehicle details page. Once the car details page is displayed click on the "I want this car" logo button to bring up the secure email contact form.
  
  

Search Used Cars - The Big Lot!
http://www.thebiglot.com/

There are plenty of vehicles in this database though it's hard to know exactly how many. The search tool is good and the quick links that allow you to quickly search for antique vehicles or handicap equipped vehicles is very helpful. The results display format is okay and details on individual cars are good. Contacting the seller is easy.

Pros:
Plenty of vehicles in the database that can be easily searched using just make and model or age range, price range and some other options. You can search by your state or from 25 miles to any distance from your zip code. The format for how results is displayed is good and details on individual cars are fair. Getting more information can be accomplished via email or telephone.

Cons:
You can't search on mileage and results can not be re-sorted. You must request VIN from the seller (it is not displayed). The links on the page - to Kelley Blue Book or to Vehicle History Report for example - do not take directly to information on the specific vehicle you are looking at but rather to the kbb or autocheck sites - this isn't helpful at all. To request further information you have to submit personal information on a non-secure form.

How to:

• Locate a car
  To get started click on the Used Cars link on the main page (just below the red main heading). On the next screen put in your search criteria and click on the blue Search button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars (see above) and click on the name of the car you are interested in. To get more information put your email address and questions/comments in the form on the details page or get the seller's telephone number via either of the two options described just above the Email the Seller box.
  
  

TheSamba.com - Volkswagen Classifieds
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php

If you're into Volkswagens this site is for you - there are about 5,800 vehicles in the classified section of the site. The search tool is okay and a bit tricky to use - pay attention to instructions. Results display is pretty cumbersome. Details on individual vehicles vary quite a bit depending on the seller's whim. Getting more information on a vehicle is quick and easy.

Pros:
There are plenty of vehicles in the database and the search tool is strong in terms of searching by location. Getting more information is easily accomplished (just click on the email this advertiser button).

Cons:
The search tool is not particularly full featured and the results display method is cumbersome and can't be re-sorted. Details on individual vehicles vary depending on what the seller has entered. Entering your personal information is done on a non-secure page (but you only have to put in your name and email address).

How to:

• Locate a car
  Select your criteria (including your choice of optional location criteria in the right hand box) and click on Search.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you've obtained a list of vehicles (see above) click on an individual listing's description to see the details page. To get more information simply click on the Email this Advertiser button in the lower left hand corner of the page.
  
  

Search Used Cars For Sale - Autohopper.com
http://www.autohopper.com/search/search.asp

AutoHopper is average in terms of numbers of cars in the database, the search method and way you display results. However the site has a nice crisp design, is easy to use and has some cool features that raise it above the competition.

Pros:
The search tool is simple and easy to use and it's nice to be able to search by fuel economy (this is a separate search option below the main page search box). The format for how results is displayed is good and you can re-sort them by price, mileage, make/model and state. Details on individual cars are adequate, links to Kelley Blue Book and NADA are helpful, but the VIN is no longer listed and must be requested from the seller via email. Getting more information is easy and can be done via telephone or email.

The site has a couple of cool features - there is the 'want ads' section where AutoHopper users list vehicles they are looking for. There is also the 'Ultimate Car Finder' that allows you to enter in criteria of a vehicle you are searching for - if a similar vehicle is entered in to the database you'll receive an email from AutoHopper notifying you of its inclusion. The final cool feature is the method for getting the seller's phone number - you can call a toll free number and enter in a reference ID to receive it or have it sent to you via email.

Cons:
It's too bad that there is no ability to include mileage as a search criteria and it would certainly be better if you could re-sort results by distance from your zip code. The links to Kelley Blue Book and NADA are just to the top level of those sites - I thought it might take you right to the vehicle you are looking at (what a dreamer I am!). An earlier link to a Carfax report has disappeared but this isn't surprising since VIN is no longer listed (must be requested from seller). The form where you submit your email address is not secure - not that this is that important since you only have to give them your email address - and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Input your criteria - click on the Show More Search Options button if you want more criteria. Click Search Autohopper when you have filled in all your criteria.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars (see above) and click on the name of the car you are interested in. To get more information put your email address and questions/comments in the form on the details page or get the seller's telephone number via either of the two options described just above the Email the Seller box.
  
  

AutoTrader Classics - Search for a Classic Car, Antique Car, Muscle Car, Collector Car
http://www.autotraderclassics.com/search.php

This site has undergone a name change and is now more obviously part of the AutoTrader family. Strangely though this change seems to have resulted in a sharply decreased number of vehicles - only about 12,500 - down from 60,000 earlier.

The search tool is okay but the display format of the results and their manipulation is lacking. Details on individual cars are fair and getting more information on an individual vehicle is quick and easy.

Pros:
With the reduced number of vehicles on the site it is hard to tell whether this is still the winner in the collector/classic car field but it seems to have a large variety as well as quantity of vehicles in the database. The search tool is good and allows you to search by a number of criteria including the all important distance from your zip code. Details on individual vehicles are pretty good and you don't have to surrender too much info to get more information from the seller.

Cons:
I don't like that you can't include mileage as a search criteria and that you must also type in the model (you don't see a drop down list after you have selected Make). The results format is a bit cumbersome and hard to scan quickly. Results can not be re-sorted by distance from your zip. The form where you input your details to request more information is not secure (although you only have to put first and last name and email address so that's not too bad) and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Input your criteria, choose how you would like results sorted and click on the Search button just above the Additional Tools and Tips heading.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars you are interested in (see above). Click on the photo for any given vehicle and you'll see the detail page. There'll be a Contact The Seller/Dealer area off to the right on all vehicles (it will say Seller if it is a private sale and Dealer if the vehicle is at a dealership) where you can submit your details to get more information. A phone number will also usually be included somewhere on the vehicle details page - either in this contact area if it is a dealer sale or within the vehicle specifications listing if it is a private sale.
  
  

Car Prices, price quotes, new car prices, recommended car dealers
http://www.carprices.com/

To get started click on the Buy Used link just below the graphic at the top of the page.

This site has deteriorated from earlier reviews with fewer search criteria, fewer vehicles and a less user-friendly results display format and manipulation options. Details on individual vehicles are good and getting more information on the vehicle is easy.

Pros:
There seem to be several thousand vehicles in the database. The search tool is adequate with the basic criteria supplied and the ability to search by distance from your zip code (30-100 miles). The format for how results is okay and they can be re-sorted.

Cons:
Certain zip codes prompted a no vehicle in range type of message and also the 30-100 mile search radius seems rather small. The re-sorting criteria have also been pared down and you can no longer sort by distance from your zip code. Information on individual vehicles could be a little more elaborate. Contacting the seller is done on a non-secure form and may sometimes link you through to another site (such as Autobytel) which can be a bit disconcerting.

How to:

• Locate a car
  To get started click on the Buy Used link just below the graphic at the top of the page.
  
  A kind of strange quirkiness of this site is that it seems to remember details from some other person's visit so you may find a zip code and other criteria already in the search form. Simply put in your criteria (zip code, make, model etc) and the search will be resubmitted.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of cars (see above) and click on the See Vehicle Details button to see the detailed information on the vehicle. Click on the "? Request More Info" button to bring up a non-secure form for your personal details. Complete the necessary fields (which appears to be all of them) and click on the Submit Request button.
  
  

Online Used Cars | Car.com
http://www.car.com/content/Buy/used/index.cfm

There seem to be a few thousand (certainly less than 10,000) vehicles on this site but it's hard to tell exactly how many. There are three different search tools which is good but none have that all important mileage criteria. Results display format is okay and results can be re-sorted. Details on individual cars are good and getting more information on an individual vehicle is quick and easy.

Pros:
As mentioned above there seem to be a fair number of cars in this database. You can search using a basic search tool, a payment search tool or a category search. The format for how results is displayed is good and you can re-sort them by vehicle, price, transmission, mileage and distance from your location. Details on individual cars are good and usually include VIN and photo(s). You can get more information via email or telephone. VIN is lnked with the Carfax check and is automatically put in the VIN box (no copy and paste required).

Cons:
It's unfortunate that mileage is not a search criteria on any of the search tools. To request further information you have to submit personal information on a non-secure form and no turnaround guarantee is given.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Choose your search method, input your search criteria and click on the blue go! button.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Once you have obtained a list of vehicles (see above) click on the vehicle photo or the More Info button to display the details page. Use the email form on the right hand side of the page to email the seller or - if provided - use the telephone number shown.
  
  

The Car Experience LUXURY AND SPECIALTY CARS ONLY
http://www.thecarexperience.com/

In fairness to the other listings in this category I must point out that this is not the site to come to if you are looking for an economical, practical and reliable family car. This site deals exclusively in exotic and fanciful vehicles some of which cost more than most of us will MAKE in our entire lifetime! So if you're looking for something to get you to work each day and into the countryside with the family on the weekend this is not the site for you.

That being said - if you are seriously searching for that collectable vehicle this is a fair place to start although it definitely has its shortcomings. The search tool is mediocre (to say the least) and the results display format is cumbersome and can't be manipulated in any way. Details on individual vehicles are pretty good and contacting the seller only requires divulging your name and email address.

Pros:
There are a fair number of vehicles in the database (about 2,200 on this review) and individual vehicle details are quite good and often have a VIN supplied.

Cons:
The search form doesn't let you indicate your location and the results list doesn't allow you to sort by any criteria so you can not easily find vehicles close to your or ones within your price range. The form where you input your details to request more information is not secure.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Select your make, model, age range and price range and then click on the search button you prefer (with highest prices at the top or at the bottom).
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of vehicles (see above) and either click on the Email Seller link on the results listing page or click on the Details button to see the vehicle details page. If you do the latter you can click on the email seller link (left hand column in red) within the details page to get more information.
  
  

Free Classic Car Advertising. Buy and sell Classic and Muscle Cars
http://www.collectorcarads.com/

There are just over 2,800 vehicles in this database. The search tool is fair but the results' display format is cumbersome and can't be manipulated. Details on individual cars are sketchy but getting in touch with the seller is easy.

Pros:
This database has some interesting vehicles for the collector but is hampered by many deficiencies.

Cons:
The search tool is very basic and searching by state/province rather than distance from a zip code simply doesn't cut it in today's classifieds' sites (plus if you go to the search by location option you'll see that some vehicles are actually located outside of North America). The search tool requires you to type in your model (rather than using a pull down list) and has no price or mileage criteria. Results display is cumbersome and can't be re-sorted. Details on individual cars are very minimal and some don't include mileage. The email form that you complete to get more information is not secure.

How to:

• Locate a car
  Input your make, model (type in field rather than drop down), age range and choose a location and click on Search.
  
  
• Request more information from seller/dealer
  Obtain a list of vehicles (see above) and click on the Details link to display the details page. Click on the Contact Seller link (red, on the right hand side of the page) and fill out the non-secure form to get more information on the vehicle.
  
  

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