best car review websites reddit

Best car rental sites to book your next road trip

When it comes to booking rental cars, there are quite a few websites to choose from. If you're not set on booking directly with one of the big national chains like Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Hertz or Alamo, you could potentially save even more money by using one of the options below.

Whether you have elite status with a car rental company or not, there are different ways to compare rental companies and find the best pricing for your next rental.

We always recommend pricing a rental directly with a national chain website so you have an idea of the going rate before moving on to the aggregator sites that compare multiple offers.

Costco Travel

For Costco members, this is a no-brainer. Costco negotiates rates on everything from vacation packages and cruises to car rentals for its members. The site allows you to compare prices from participating Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise locations and shows a grid of available car types and prices across those companies so you can make the best decision.

For the purposes of pricing, an airport was chosen below, but once you enter your desired city, you can select different locations within that city from a map and compare pricing.

There are a few rules for renting with Costco: The primary renter needs to be a Costco member, but additional drivers do not, and drivers must be 25 years of age or older.

Once you've selected your car and are ready to place a reservation, you'll need to provide your Costco membership number. One of the perks of Costco Travel is that you can make a reservation without worrying about paying until you pick up your rental car.

AutoSlash is a car rental aggregator, meaning it pulls information from many different rental sites to allow you to compare pricing. One of its interesting features is that it allows you to enter any memberships, credit cards or frequent flyer programs you belong to, and it will search for applicable discounts.

TPG's Katie Genter wrote a comprehensive guide to using AutoSlash for rental car shopping.

Once you enter in all relevant information, AutoSlash will email you a link to view your quotes. You can then choose to book now and pay now or pay later.

One of the interesting features that AutoSlash offers is the ability to track rental car prices. Once you've made a reservation with free cancellation, go back to the AutoSlash website and fill out the form to track price drops for your rental . You will need your current reservation information to fill out the form.

You will then be able to check the boxes for any of the rental car companies you'd like to track and also choose only to receive an email alert if the price drops below what you have currently reserved. This could potentially save you money and allow you to rebook at a lower rate.

Often referred to as the "Airbnb of rental car sites," Turo has definitely caught on in cities across the U.S. and even some Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. In short, Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental site that can also be accessed and managed through an app.

Many TPG staffers have used Turo and share positive experiences in the TPG guide to renting with Turo . Some of the advantages of using this service include the lower fee for drivers under 25 years of age, that delivery service can sometimes be available, and renting from a local could be more convenient than seeking out a rental car location.

Related: Renting a car in Hawaii with Turo

The one downside would be that you usually have to return the car to the same location where you picked it up, so if you're looking for a one-way rental, a traditional rental car site might work better for you in that situation.

A few quick test searches found rental prices equal to or less expensive than traditional rental car companies. The handy map will show you the locations of all the rentals available in your area for the dates that you search.

While Turo doesn't have airline partners like the big car rental companies, there are still opportunities to earn points and miles on your rentals . Since Turo codes in the travel category, be sure to use a credit card that earns you the most points for travel.

Related: Are Turo car rentals covered by credit card insurance?

Maybe you've only searched Expedia for hotels or flights, but it also offers rental cars and the option to book all trip components together if you'd like. When searching for hotels, you can check the box to add a flight and add a car.

Expedia's car rental interface is pretty straightforward and convenient. You can use filters to search for options like refundable rentals and the ability to pay at the counter. It's also a transparent booking site, meaning you will see the company you're renting with before deciding to book.

In 2022, Expedia Group announced a new rewards program called One Key which would unify rewards across its family of brands: Expedia, Hotels.com, Orbitz and vacation rental site Vrbo. There's still no official launch date in 2023 for this new program.

If you are a AAA member, check the AAA website for your area to see if there are car rental deals. The AAA site will search multiple car rental sites for you to find the best deals. If you aren't already a AAA member, you can read the TPG guide to AAA membership to learn more about the benefits and determine if it's worth it for you to join.

Some of the exclusive member benefits for car rentals include up to 20% off the base rate in the U.S. and Canada, up to 10% off the base rate on international rentals, free use of one child safety seat, and no charge for up to four additional drivers who are AAA members.

There are additional exclusive benefits through AAA's partnership with Hertz , such as 10% off a tank of gas when purchasing gas at local prices, and you can return the vehicle with any amount of fuel. The young renters fee is also waived for members ages 20-24.

To start the search process, I had to enter my Hertz membership number, and then it asked me to verify my full name and ZIP code to validate that I was a AAA member. The search feature offers pay-now and pay-at-the-counter options as well as AAA member rates and standard rates. You can even filter by car company, and the top of the search screen shows you what discounts are available with each company.

Related: The complete guide to car rental elite status matches

Bottom line

There are many search options available online for finding rental car discounts. Each site has its pros and cons, so we recommend finding a site that works best for you, and that leverages any elite status or membership that you might already have.

And no matter what, make sure you have car insurance coverage through your credit card or insurance agency, or purchase it through the car rental company.

Related reading:

• The 9 best credit cards with travel insurance
• 9 rental car rewards programs you need to know about
• The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
• Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals

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• Guides & Tools

Best Car-Related Subreddits

February 9, 2021

I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.

I run a  cause marketing agency  and serve on the board of  Vayu Global Health  where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.

You may be missing out on an amazing car information goldmine: Reddit.

Reddit is a site for the people by the people. Among thousands of other topics, it has a wealth of car tips, tricks, and advice.

We'll share some of the top car-related subreddits that you can head to for car buying advice and more.

Table of Contents

/r/WhatCarShouldIBuy

/r/askcarsales, /r/carbuying, /r/usedcars, /r/askcarguys, /r/automotivelearning, /r/crashtests, /r/carhacking, /r/mechanicaladvice, /r/convertible, /r/hatchback, /r/electricvehicles, best car deals by category, frequently asked questions, car buying subreddits.

The best of the best!

• What are some two and three-row SUV recommendations?
• What is a crossover with leather seats for around $15,000?
• Which car should I get? Make and model X or Y?

In /r/askcarsales , car buyers can ask questions that a car salesman, manager, or finance manager will answer. They state, "your hand will not be held, and you may be talked down to. But the advice will be honest with no hidden agenda (it's not like we're getting paid on your deal)." Some topics on the community include:

• Can I get a business car lease for my new business?
• Opinions about buying formal rental cars .
• What's a "Good" Fico score?

The /r/carbuying subreddit is all about car buying and selling, with advice for getting good deals and good cars. The community addresses a wide range of topics, such as:

• Dream car within grasp, dealer slips in fees above online asking price. Help?
• How to get the best deal on a new 2019 car that's sitting at the distributor's storage lot?
• Buy vs Lease

• [Guide] What used car should I get for what budget?
• 2011 Chevy Impala LS Fleet vs. 2011 Toyota Camry LE (car comparisons)
• [Guide] 4 Psychological Tricks Used Car Salesmen Usually Employ

Car Advice Subreddits

These forums share tips and information related to cars, including repairs, maintenance, and more.

• Maintaining Car Battery Overnight (trickle charger?)
• I feel like they messed up my alignment more, or am I crazy?
• What tips do you have for driving in snow?

The /r/automotivelearning subreddit for "gearhead" automotive questions. Some examples of topics addressed in this community are:

• How to test for a shorted ignition coil with a scope
• Extract broken bolts from deep hole - NEW easy WAY
• Flexplate - How Flexplates Work vs Flywheel

• aftermarket ways to make used pickup trucks safer?
• do crash tests account for car size/weight?
• Mustang full frontal: 2010 vs. 2015

The /r/carhacking community is for "people who want to take back control of their car." Advice on this forum is geared toward fixing and improving your vehicle yourself. Some of the topics include:

• Automatic lights for 2007 Cadillac SRX
• How to step through TriCore (Aurix) instructions OCDS through a warm/software reset?
• Odometer value (Volkswagen e-Up)

The content on /r/mechanicaladvice is pretty clear based on the name. Users ask a wide range of questions about vehicle mechanics and repairs. Some examples are:

• hit a curb and bent my hubcap. is it ok to drive on? should I just take the hubcap off?
• 2008 A4 electrical mystery!
• Weird Sounds Coming From Honda Civic 2014 SI

Car Type Subreddits

Individual car types also have their own subreddits. Here are some of the most popular examples.

The /r/convertible subreddit has information, photos, advice, and more all about "cars with removable or retractable roofs." People ask and answer questions related to convertibles. Some questions asked in this community are:

• Lease is up looking for a new car
• Protection from the snow
• The 2005 Nissan Micra C+C is a modern classic and I’ll tell you why

• Hatch wanted
• Anyone driven a Ford SportKa?
• Mudflaps for 2018 Impreza hatch????

Check out our picks for the best hatchbacks >>

Those who are interested in trucks should head over to the /r/Trucks community for advice, photos, stories, and more.

• What truck should I buy? megathread
• 2019 Silverado RWD need some suggestions for wheel and tire packages any other mods!
• What is this rubber piece on my tailgate hinge?

The /r/electricvehicles community talks about EV news and products. Some of the topics include:

• Tesla expected to unveil "Model 2" hatchback in late 2021
• Electric cars in winter... Any good?
• Looking to buy first EV, need help

Manufacturer and Model Specific Subreddits

Looking for advice on your specific car model? Many common manufacturers and models have their own subreddits. Here are a few examples.

As you may guess, Ford has its own subreddit, /r/Ford . In this community, people share videos, news, information, and advice about Ford vehicles. Several Ford models have their own subreddits as well:

• /r/FordModelA
• /r/FordBronco

"Jeep it and Creep it" on the /r/Jeep subreddit. This forum shares photos, videos, stories, and chronicles all about Jeeps. Some Jeep model pages include:

• /r/Wrangler
• /r/ CherokeeXJ
• /r/GrandCherokee

Learn all about Toyotas via the /r/Toyota subreddit. People share their experiences with their Toyotas as well as any important news or updates. Several Toyota models have their own communities, including:

• /r/Rav4 or /r/Rav4Club
• /r/ToyotaTacoma or /r/TacomaWorld

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What are some of the best car buying subreddits?

Some of the top car buying subreddits are /r/whatcarshouldibuy, /r/askcarsales, /r/carbuying, and /r/UsedCars.

What are some of the best car advice subreddits?

Subreddits geared toward car advice are /r/askcarguys, /r/automotivelearning, /r/crashtests, /r/carhacking, and /r/mechanicaladvice.

Can I find car advice on Reddit?

Yes! There are hundreds of car-related forums that contain car news, updates, questions, advice, and more. Most popular manufacturers and models have their own subreddits as well.

• Car Buying Tips
• Car Calculators
• Car Finance
• Car Research & Comparisons
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• Car Warranty
• Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
• European Delivery

Find Your Next Treasure at These Used-Car Websites

Take a peek at our top picks for online auto sales.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

There are two kinds of car buyers. One type loathes the entire car-buying process and avoids it for as long as possible. Given a choice between sitting in a chair at the dentist for a root canal or cruising through a dealership lot, they will pick the root canal every time.

Then there’s the constant shopper who prowls car sales like a serial monogamist on Tinder. Their web browser has more than 40 bookmarked favorites and 27 open auction tabs at any given time. Whether it's the thrill of something new or the joy of haggling, there’s always a different car in the driveway.

For both types of buyer, the best way to find your next car might be online. And to help with that, I compiled a list of our favorite used-car websites. With this information at your fingertips, you can spend less time at car lots than in the dentist's chair. And the salesperson won’t steal your fillings.

Our Favorite Places to Buy Used Cars 

As we mentioned in our guide for the Best Places to Buy Used Motorcycles , online shopping is easier than ever. Many websites provide car values, let you negotiate with the dealer, and apply for a loan. Other sites simplify the transaction process. Some will even deliver a vehicle directly to your house. There are things to watch out for, however, so you don’t get taken for a ride.

Car Dealerships

Car dealerships are the most common way to find vehicles locally, and most of them have a website. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new car dealership or a used-car lot with a mobile-home office. To find a dealer, just enter the dealer’s name. Or you can search for “car dealers near me” with your favorite search engine. From there, it’s just a matter of scrolling through the search results and clicking on any links that interest you.

Dealer websites are also an excellent way to look at cars when you don’t know what you want. Maybe you have a vague idea, like a wagon-type thingy that’s dog friendly. You could search a dealer website for wagons and SUVs, then you can narrow it down, searching for options such as leather or fold-down seats. The results will show vehicles by model, manufacturer, and even categories such as age and mileage. You can also see if a car comes with a warranty, either the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty or a limited warranty offered by the dealer.

The primary advantage of buying from a dealership is also the biggest potential drawback. You are paying for convenience. Need a loan or have a vehicle to trade in? The dealer has you covered. Want a service contract, aftermarket wheels/leather/stereo, or fuzzy dice? The dealer has you covered. Worried about the cost? Don’t worry; the dealer will just add it to your payment.

Car dealers have gotten a bad reputation for being shady and unscrupulous. However, you’re more likely to get taken advantage of by an individual seller. The key is to do your research.

Pros : Convenience, large selection of vehicles, one-stop shopping with easy financing. Many vehicles have warranties, even if just for 30 days. 

Cons: You’ll pay for convenience. Risk of dealing with predatory or unscrupulous sellers.

Third-party websites such as Autotrader are also popular places to shop for cars. These sites also let you shop by vehicle type, manufacturer, and model. They also check a variety of dealerships and individual listings. You can search locally or nationwide by price range and even options and colors.

Autotrader is one of the oldest, most comprehensive sites. It offers a great selection of tools in an easy-to-use format. One of its best features is an advanced search function that makes sorting through its millions of listings much less daunting. Beyond simple make, model, and year, the site offers detailed filters for nearly any search criteria, including gas mileage, exterior and interior colors, transmission type, and technology.

AutoTrader also publishes a number of resources for car buyers and sellers. These include comprehensive how-to guides, financial calculators, current car reviews, research, and news articles. They will also help sell your car, either by placing your own ad or selling to a dealer.

The drawback to AutoTrader is it can be hard to determine the condition of a car from the pictures. There are also no options for financing or shipping. If you’re buying a car halfway across the country, you’re almost buying the car sight unseen. Additionally, you still have to work with the seller, whether a dealer or private party, secure your own financing, and make other arrangements.

Pros : National and local ads, including dealers and private sellers

Cons : Difficult to identify cosmetic and mechanical issues or defects, no financing or shipping options 

If you prefer to avoid human contact and hate negotiating, ask your doctor if Carvana might be right for you. Founded in 2012, the company offers a virtual showroom with detailed photos and 360-degree views of the interior and exterior. They provide close-ups of scratches and imperfections, allowing you to zoom in from any angle. If you purchase the vehicle, you can choose to have it delivered to a local Carvana location or your home or office. You then have seven days to decide if you like it or return it at no cost.

As with Autotrader, you can search for cars by vehicle type and price or payment range in addition to make and model. Each car gets a 150-point inspection, a CARFAX history, and a 100-day limited warranty. Unlike Autotrader, you can also finance your car through Carvana. All pricing and information is presented in an easy-to-read format on its website.

Carvana will also buy your vehicle, even if you don’t buy theirs. It takes less than a minute to get an offer. If you accept, they will pick up your car at your door and take it away. Everything is convenient with no hassle and no pressure.

Of course, you pay a premium for convenience. Carvana’s prices are typically higher than what you might pay at a local dealer. They might also offer less for your trade-in. Ultimately, it’s a trade-off between cost and convenience. 

Pros : Straightforward pricing and delivery, seven-day return policy

Cons : No in-person checks on cosmetics or mechanical parts for issues and defects until after you accept delivery, no financing or shipping options

eBay Motors

The daddy of online vehicle auction sites is eBay Motors. If it has wheels, it’s for sale on eBay. Need parts for a vehicle, want a boat, RV, motorcycle, or ATV? Find it on eBay. The site offers several options for buying and selling anything auto related. The auction format is familiar to people, but you can also purchase items by making an offer or clicking the “buy it now” button. The layout is easy to use, and you can either shop by category or use the search field to find what you’re looking for.

One of the key benefits to eBay is security. Buyers and sellers have reviews so you can read about their previous transactions. Vehicle Purchase Protection is available for up to $100,000. You can order an AutoCheck report with the vehicle’s history. There are various payment options including financing, PayPal, or major credit cards.

If you’re buying outside your local area, you can hire a third party to inspect the vehicle. This inspection can include an appraisal, a review of cosmetic and mechanical conditions, detailed photos, or a video of the vehicle. You can also get estimates for shipping costs or make arrangements to drive it home.

On the eBay Motors site, you can find bargains or get caught up in the fervor of auction bidding. You’ll find people with an unrealistic view of the value of the vehicle they are selling, quoting prices from Barrett-Jackson or Bring A Trailer. At the end of the day, there is a buyer and seller for everything, and eBay Motors is better than most sites at bringing them together.

Pros : Vast selection of vehicles, lending and shipping options, lower prices

Cons : Auctions can turn into bidding wars, values can be inflated or unrealistic

Craigslist started as a local, San Francisco-based free community website. Now it’s a worldwide presence with more than 20 billion page views a month. Somehow, it still looks like a 1990s web bulletin board. You can find garage sales, places to rent, lost and found items, personals, and cars and car parts for sale.

On Craigslist, you can conduct a general search or look for a specific make and model. These searches default to an area within a radius of your location, but you can also search other locations. Ads can be filtered by price, location, and date of posting. You can also filter dealer ads or those from individual sellers.

Craigslist gives you a good point of reference for the type of vehicles in your area and their asking prices. You can even find deals if you’re patient. Lots of people turn to Craigslist if they need money or to sell things before they move. People are generally honest and reasonable, but you can never be too careful.

There are a lot of scammers on Craigslist. The list includes dealers posing as individuals, title jumpers , people selling stolen cars, even thieves and murderers . When meeting with an unknown buyer or seller, let people know where you’re going, bring a friend along, and meet in a public place. Play it safe, and the worst thing you’ll have to worry about is someone who won’t deal with lowballers. 

Pros : Local and in person, lower prices than dealerships

Cons : Scam artists, dealers posing as individuals, people who know what they have

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is the new Craigslist. Most people who used Craigslist migrated to Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell things. In some ways, Facebook Marketplace is better than Craigslist; in other ways, it’s worse. Before you roll your eyes and mutter, “OK, boomer,” hear me out. 

Facebook is local, pulling up ads for items in your immediate area before expanding its radius. The ads are all created by Facebook users, so you have access to their profile. That means you can see who you’re dealing with and as with those six degrees of Kevin Bacon , there’s a chance you know someone who knows the seller.

The downsides to Facebook Marketplace are the same as Craigslist. There are scammers but fewer of them. You may still have title jumpers and dealers who pose as individuals, but there are a lot fewer issues. Also, Facebook makes its money collecting information about you. They track every like and frowny face, every click or site you interact with, and even some you don’t. That’s why once you search for a Mercury Grand Marquis, you suddenly see more Mercury Grand Marquises for sale. Your Facebook feed begins showing Mercury clubs you can join. And you see ads for Mercury cars, car parts, and AARP discounts.

Pros : Same as Craigslist but very local, you know who you are dealing with

Cons : Less likely than Craigslist to end up in someone’s freezer but not by much, car ads show up after searches

Things to Consider When Buying a Used Car

Before looking at any car, research it. Look up its retail, private-party, and wholesale values on sites such as Kelley Blue Book or CARFAX . Do the same for your vehicle, if you plan to trade it in. Know what interest rates are available and the terms you qualify for if you take out a loan. Finally, look at reviews of the dealership or individual if available. Once you have all of the information, you can feel confident about the transaction. Some other things to watch for:

Maintenance Records

In addition to pictures and basic info about the vehicle, many dealerships include links to the vehicle history from Carfax or AutoCheck . This information is helpful to determine how well a vehicle was maintained. It will also show you if the car was in an accident or if the title is branded.

Branded titles include salvage and rebuilt titles. A salvage title indicates if a vehicle was declared a total loss due to damage, an accident, or flood. A rebuilt title indicates the vehicle was totaled and then rebuilt. Finally, a branded title may indicate the car was a lemon buyback or there was a discrepancy with the car’s odometer.

All of these factors affect the car’s value. Low mileage, well-maintained vehicles are worth a premium. Damage, high mileage, and branded titles detract from the value. When determining the value for a specific vehicle, always make sure you include the car’s age, mileage, and condition.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

If the vehicle does not come with a warranty or has a limited dealer warranty, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic. The inspection will cost you money, but it’s worth it to find out if the car has potential issues or needs repairs.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q. Do I have to pay for a used-car site?

A. Used-car sites typically charge sellers who want to post an ad for their car. Pricing can be as low as $25 for a basic ad that will run for a month with the cost increasing for additional photos, words, and other advertising boosts.

Due to the nature of the vehicles they sell, car sites that sell classic cars or cars from certain eras charge more, typically $90 or more. Auction sites will also take a commission fee, which can start at 4.5 percent of the sales price.

Q. What is considered high mileage for a car?

A. Most people drive between 10,000 and 15,000 miles a year. Below that amount, a car is regarded as low mileage. More than 15,000 a year is considered high mileage. To figure out the average, take the car’s total mileage and divide it by its age in years. 

Q. How many miles on a used car is too many?

A. There's no absolute number of miles that is too many for a used car. Consider 200,000 as an upper limit, a threshold where even the sturdiest cars begin to succumb to the years of wear and tear.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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The best used car websites in 2023

EVs are selling like hotcakes, and as such, it can feel like it’s a little hard to get your hands on one. Add in the fact that most of the decent EVs cost more than $40,000, and you might find that a used car is more compelling than ever. Shopping used is a great alternative to long waiting lists and inflated prices, and a used EV may even be eligible for tax rebates  if you read the fine print.

AutoTempest

Kelley blue book, cars & bids, car-enthusiast forums.

But where should you look to find one?

The best used car sites offer a user-friendly interface that provides shoppers with comprehensive details about the car they’re looking at, like high-resolution photos showing the interior and the exterior, its service history, plus its standard and optional equipment. Some even use historical data to tell you if you’re looking at a great deal, or if the price isn’t quite fair.

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We’ve put together a list of the classifieds and auction sites you should browse when shopping for your next used car online. Alternatively, if you’re buying new, automakers and dealers are increasingly making the buying process digital .

Further reading

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• Best used cars under $15,000

These sites are useful, but remember that it’s always wise to check out a used car in person (and, if possible, take it for a thorough test drive) before you hand over a big wad of your hard-earned cash.

The best well-known site

Few sites surpass AutoTrader when it comes to advanced search tools. Like most sites on our list, AutoTrader’s initial search lets you choose the make, model, and price of your desired used cars. It also lets you filter your results based on fuel economy and a host of other parameters. Do you want a car with an intuitive navigation system? How about a sedan with four doors and keyless entry? Tick the options you need and let the results come to you.

The best site for the basics

Simple and straightforward,  CarsDirect is all about the basics. You can search for used cars within a specific area based on body style, price, make, and model. Search results include offerings from both dealers and private owners, with an option to view your desired car’s Carfax report. When you find what you’re after, you can submit an inquiry about it to receive more details from the seller or request special financing if needed. CarsDirect provides links to car dealers’ websites, as well as comprehensive maps with directions to each store’s location.

Most convenient used car site

If you’re looking for the most convenient end-to-end used-car-buying experience, then Carvana is the way to go. Carvana is known for its massive car vending machines and for dropping off cars right to your door, making it perhaps the best choice for those who don’t want to trek long distances to get a new car. In fact, Carvana will deliver cars right to your door, if you live in the U.S. If you sell on Carvana, the process is also incredibly convenient — Carvana will pick up the car you’re trying to sell, straight from your door.

The best site for classic car lovers

Hemmings is a classic car collector’s dream. The site is a blast from the past, reveling in everything from 1960s Chevrolet Impalas to Studebakers from the 1930s to newer classics from the 1980s, while offering tools for locating specific parts and services pertaining to a car you already own. It publishes a daily newsletter, a fascinating blog that’s regularly updated by a team of knowledgeable writers, and several other resources aimed at the classic car owner. It even touts an online store where you can buy die-cast models, books, or wall calendars.

The best site for browsing on the go

Autolist may look similar to other sites here at first glance, but it has a leg up on the competition when it comes to mobile connectivity. Although the Autolist website is attractive and easy to use, it’s the accompanying mobile app for Android and iOS that makes it a standout. The intuitive software allows you to quickly scour the databases of other shopping apps, as well as various dealer websites. It also provides helpful information, such as how long the vehicle has been on sale, how its asking price has fluctuated over time, and what its Carfax report looks like. If you prefer to shop for your next ride on the move, this is the resource for you.

The best site for finding a bargain

If you’re looking for a bargain, CarGurus is your best bet. It ranks ads based on dealer reputation, when applicable, and price. The site goes a step further to educate buyers with information about a vehicle’s market value. That way, you’ll know whether now is the best time to shop or if you need to expand your search area. You can also see how long a vehicle has been listed on the site and how its list price has changed over time. This gives you negotiating power on cars that have been listed for a while, or lets you know when it’s too soon to ask for a price cut.

The best site for cross-site comparisons

If you’ve ever used sites like Kayak or Sky Scanner, AutoTempest will be right up your alley. The site combines search results from eBay Motors, Cars.com, AutoTrader, CarsDirect, and others, casting an all-encompassing net over a smattering of other used car sites on our list. AutoTempest’s homepage also features buying guides, checklists, and advice, as well as tips on negotiating and how to avoid purchasing a lemon, among other topics. The site provides specific guides for a selection of makes and models, along with car reviews and a compilation of frequently asked questions. And, it saves search results for easy access later, while offering suggestions for top-notch shipping services.

The best site for an all-inclusive experience

The Kelley Blue Book is a car buyer’s best friend. It provides accurate estimates of what your car is worth, how much you should pay for a used car, and a deep selection of used and new car listings. You can browse top picks and tips, calculate a monthly car payment, and compare several cars. Expert and consumer reviews are also available, along with options for finding local dealers and checking your credit score. You can browse an assortment of awards pages, too, giving you a way to quickly peruse the best of the best.

The best auction site for enthusiasts

Launched by Doug DeMuro in the summer of 2020, Cars & Bids quickly became the go-to destination for enthusiasts looking to buy or sell a car. If you want a 2018 Corolla, you won’t find it on this platform. If you’re after something a little bit more special, like a low-mileage Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG or a one-year-only BMW L6, the site has you covered. Each auction includes a full gallery of the car (including close-ups and service records when they’re available) and a thorough description that highlights its main features, its ownership history, and its known flaws. Carfax is included as well. Many sellers include videos, too, which takes some of the stress out of buying a car sight unseen.

Although it’s easy to search by make, model, and year using any of the aforementioned sites, there’s no harm in concentrating your search. If you’re looking for something specific, don’t be afraid to check out the online car owner and enthusiast groups associated with what you’re seeking. If using Google, tack on “forums” or “owners club” to whichever vehicle you’re searching for. Whether you’re seeking vintage Porsches or cars from the late AMC brand, there’s a community for almost every vehicle out there — even unloved ones. Browsing the classifieds section on these sites increases your chances of finding what you’re looking for. Plus, most of the listings are from experts who not only know what they are selling but are also invested in not getting a bad name in their respective communities.

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Whether you do your driving with an off-road vehicle, one of the most impressive EVs on the road, or anything in between, the driving experience can be made all the better by knowing you look good doing so. Keeping your vehicle clean isn’t always the easiest chore, nor is it something everyone likes to do. You can make shorter work of it with a pressure washer, and with warmer weather around the corner we decided to round up the best pressure washers for cars in 2024. The best pressure washers for cars in 2024

Buy the if you want the best pressure washer for cars overall. Buy the if you want the best gas-powered pressure washer for cars. Buy the if you want the best handheld pressure washer for cars. But the if you want the best budget pressure washer for cars.

In-car technology is advancing more quickly than anyone imagined, and it's also easier to upgrade an older car with Bluetooth and other cutting-edge features than it's ever been. Numerous aftermarket companies allow motorists to benefit from useful connectivity and safety features without having to buy a new car. In fact, Bluetooth has become a cheap, easy upgrade on any vehicle regardless of its age or value.

Bluetooth can be used to make phone calls (it channels the conversation through your car's speakers) or to stream music directly from your smartphone, though some of the more basic systems are limited to calls. Either way, it's a feature that significantly reduces distractions and allows the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. That's why most states have laws that require hands-free calling while driving.

While your car can't talk, it communicates with you using chimes, icons, and messages. One icon that you should never ignore is the check engine light. It turns on when the car's onboard computer detects a problem.

If your check engine light is on, don't panic—it doesn't necessarily mean you'll need to give your next paycheck to the nearest mechanic. Problems that trigger a check engine light are sometimes basic and quick to fix. Don't ignore it, either, and get it checked out as quickly as possible.

AutoCheck vs. Carfax: Which Vehicle History Report Is Best for You?

See what the full report says about your car's history.

• 11/13/2013 (updated 1/11/2024 )

Vehicle history reports are an integral part of any used car purchase. Reports from services such as AutoCheck, Bumper and Carfax shed light on a car's backstory and can alert you to potential problems or inconsistencies before you hand over your money. Each has its strengths and blind spots, so below we'll look at how to maximize your time and investment. With the cost of a single Carfax report at $45, a single AutoCheck report at $25, and a monthly subscription to the newer service Bumper at $23 (after a seven-day trial), it's imperative you know what kind of information you're getting with each.

Below, we'll share our experiences with AutoCheck vs. Carfax. We'll update again once we have some time behind the wheel with Bumper.

Vehicle history reports list salvage titles and other potential problems with used vehicles. The information is a good first step for used-car buyers, but it's critical to have a mechanic inspect the car, too.

Why do I need a vehicle history report?

A vehicle history report is your first look into a car's life story. Of course we want to believe the stories sellers tell us — "one owner, immaculate," "belonged to a grandmother who hardly drove it," "no accidents, changed the oil every 5,000 miles." But we'll let the words of former President Ronald Reagan guide us here: "Trust, but verify."

A vehicle history report can usually tell us whether a car has been in an accident or possibly given a "branded" title, a broad category of titles indicating extensive damage. Branding means an insurance company has declared the vehicle a total loss because of an accident, flood damage or other catastrophic event. A salvage title is one example, issued when a car has been damaged seriously enough in a crash to warrant writing it off rather than pay to fix it.

The car's vehicle identification number (VIN) is the key to the vehicle history report. The 17-digit VIN is like the car's Social Security number: It's used to note nearly every major event in an auto's lifetime. Typically, the information on a vehicle history report includes a summary and an overall evaluation of the vehicle, supported with details, dates and locations. The report makes it easy to see if the car has been registered in numerous states. Other information can include a description of the vehicle, the number of previous owners, accident information, verification of recent mileage (which could include an alert for an odometer rollback), and lemon-law and recall checks. For definitive information on recalls for any used car that you're considering, use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's free VIN lookup tool .

Several companies sell vehicle history reports, promising to reveal the past of any given vehicle. Keep in mind no report is perfect. It's only as good as the incidents that have been reported to the database. If someone gets into a minor accident and chooses to repair the car without involving an insurance company (rates often rise after making a claim), the accident will not be reflected in the report.

Similarly, if the body shop handling the repairs does not share its data with the vehicle history companies, it won't appear on a report either. A vehicle could have frame damage and you wouldn't know it by just reading the report. That said, we still recommend running a report before driving across town to see a car in person.

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Can you get a free vehicle history or title report?

The reports from the biggest players, AutoCheck and Carfax, are expensive, ranging from $25 for one report to $100 for five. And if you're shopping for a used car on the private-party market, you'll likely be paying for the reports yourself. Shopping at a car dealership is a different story. Most major used car dealers and some car-selling sites will provide a free Carfax report or AutoCheck report. You can find many of these vehicles on the Edmunds used car inventory page or on dealership websites.

If you find yourself on the used car lot and want to know the history of a particular vehicle, ask for a report. All dealers have vehicle history report subscriptions, usually with AutoCheck or Carfax, and will run a free report for interested buyers. This report becomes a valuable source of third-party information. If the dealer refuses to run a vehicle history report or provides an outdated report, it's a possible red flag.

No matter whether you're shopping for vehicles from private sellers or at a dealership, it's good to know what you'll get — and what you won't — in these reports. Here's a look at AutoCheck vs. Carfax, along with some other providers, and our experience in how they stack up.

Carfax Carfax is the most well-known provider of vehicle history reports. It dates back to the late 1980s when it faxed reports to its customers. It is also the most expensive. A single Carfax report costs $44.99. Three will cost you $64.99, and five sell for $99.99.

The Carfax report is the benchmark for all other vehicle history reports. If a vehicle has had multiple owners, the information is clearly labeled and organized in different sections. Carfax also has more detailed maintenance records, information that can inform what issues a vehicle might have had. It's also an indicator that a prior owner took good care of the vehicle.

We ran a report on a 2008 Lexus ES 350 that spent its life in Texas. Carfax had 25 service records, including one to replace the drive belts. That's an expensive repair and good to know about as a buyer. AutoCheck only had four service records and did not have the information on the drive belts.

Our opinion: Carfax is pricey but worth it given its detailed and user-friendly reports. For many, a clean Carfax report is the first step in getting a good used car.

AutoCheck AutoCheck is owned by Experian, the credit reporting company. Similar to how Experian issues credit scores, AutoCheck is notable for providing a vehicle "score" — a number and a range — such as 85 out of a range of 70 to 90. The company says that this score helps forecast the predicted reliability of a vehicle at a glance. It is meant to be a quick way to identify and eliminate vehicles that might have issues, ranging from high mileage to reported accidents.

AutoCheck's scale isn't zero to 100, which can be confusing. We ran the VIN of a 2015 Honda Civic, and it received a score of 82. Sounds like a good car, right? But this Civic was in a major accident, declared a total loss and issued a salvage title, according to the report. The numbers that matter are the range and where the particular car scores in that range. In this case, the range for similar Civics was 88-93. The car we checked, the one that scored 82, was 6 points below the bottom of the range. Not a great bet for a used car.

We also ran the VIN of a 1992 Honda Prelude with a salvage title. It scored 25 out of a range of 31-53. Six points seemed to be the deduction for having a salvage title, but the numbers weren't clearly explained.

AutoCheck charges $24.99 for a single report. But few people consider only one used car when they're shopping, so you'd likely opt for the higher-tier plan at $49.99, which gives you access to five reports in 21 days.

Our opinion: AutoCheck isn't quite as good as Carfax. Still, even though it doesn't have Carfax's name recognition or more logical report style, AutoCheck is worth a look. It's less expensive for multiple reports ($50 for five vehicle history reports versus $100 for five Carfax reports). The vehicle score is nice as a quick reference, but don't put too much stock in it.

Bumper Bumper is a newer service with a subscription model. It costs $1 for a seven-day trial, during which time you can run up to 50 reports. Then you'll be charged $22.99 per month and limited to 50 reports per month. We haven't had an opportunity yet to test the depths of Bumper's search and gathering abilities but will update this article when we do. Its user interface is slick and more intuitive than either Carfax or AutoCheck, and it certainly represents a bargain with its free trial period and relatively low cost for a month's subscription and ability to run another 50 reports.

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) The title information in the NMVTIS comes from participating state motor vehicle registries. Run by the federal Department of Justice, the system is the only one that's publicly available in the U.S. to which all insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junkyards and salvage yards must, by law, report on a regular basis. The NMVTIS web page has a list of third-party companies that provide history reports. The prices range from free to about $20. It's a less expensive alternative, but based on our experience, you get what you pay for.

You won't find any fancy scores or detailed entries of any type in these history reports. These sites should only be used to determine when and where the vehicle was registered and to learn if a branded title was issued.

Our opinion: We would only recommend using this resource to determine if your potential car has a branded title. Even then, it is best used as a secondary check. Save your money for a report from AutoCheck or Carfax instead.

Test-driving the reports

We tested more than a dozen vehicles in AutoCheck and Carfax to gauge the differences in the reports and see which was easiest to use.

We found that AutoCheck's data wasn't as comprehensive or detailed as Carfax's. We ran a report on a 2015 Kia Optima with a salvage title, for example. AutoCheck showed that it had two owners. Carfax listed three owners and caught an accident that hadn't appeared on the AutoCheck report. In comparing the two reports side by side, the AutoCheck report recorded a DMV event that indicated a third new owner, but the report hadn't yet factored that into its at-a-glance owner count. We found it difficult to determine when and for how long each person owned the vehicle on the AutoCheck report.

We also tried out two of the NMVTIS vehicle history reports with our test VINs and came away largely disappointed. Neither the free nor the $7 reports told us anything beyond whether the vehicle had a branded title and how often it was issued a title, presumably to a new owner. These reports do little to flesh out the actual backstory of a car.

A good start for used car shopping A vehicle history report isn't going to guarantee you're getting a good used car. A mechanical inspection is still a good idea. And if you suspect structural or frame damage, a body shop visit could save you from an expensive mistake. But running a report is a valuable first step that will save you time and money. It could also protect you from buying a car with a checkered past.

How can I check a car's history for free?

How do i get a carfax for free, what is the vehicle history, can i run a vin number for free.

Yes, but it depends on the information you're looking for. If you want to check for any open recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's VIN lookup tool is free to use. If you're simply looking to decode your VIN to find out where it was made and other pieces of trivia, take a look at this article on Edmunds. Finally, if you need a full vehicle history report, you'll have to either find a used car on a dealership website or pay for the report yourself.

The Edmunds content team brings you industry-leading vehicle reviews, news and research tips that make it easier for you to find your perfect car.

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The Best Car Insurance Advice from Reddit

Looking to save on your next car insurance policy? Here’s what the experts on Reddit have to say.

At Compare.com, it’s our mission to find simple ways to help our customers save money on the things they need. While we partner with some of the companies and brands we talk about in our articles, all of our content is written and reviewed by our independent editorial team and never influenced by our partnerships. Learn about how we make money , review our editorial standards , and reference our data methodology to learn more about why you can trust Compare.com.

Reddit is a popular social media platform — the ninth most visited website in the world . Its users share insights, real-world experiences, support, and opinions across thousands of topic-specific communities called “subreddits.”

People looking to save money on car insurance can find a ton of valuable information on Reddit — the best of which we’ve shared below.

But there are good ways to use Reddit and better ways to use it, so we’ve also included our best tips for getting more from the “front page of the internet.”

Key Takeaways:

• Always follow rules, guidelines, and best practices on Reddit.
• Subreddits such as r/Insurance, r/CarInsurance, and r/PersonalFinance are filled with helpful insurance advice.
• Shopping around for car insurance is a common piece of advice from Redditors.

Popular Reddit Auto Insurance Subreddits

Subreddits — formerly known as communities — are places where you can ask questions and get answers from people interested or formally trained in a subject. You’ll also find conversations, questions, ideas, and more from the people within the community.

Here are the four best subreddits for information about car insurance and saving money on your policy.

r/Insurance

r/Insurance is the “all things insurance” subreddit. You can expect to find conversations about car insurance from industry insiders (insurance agents and brokers) as well as consumers. You’ll also find broader information about the insurance industry as a whole, including conversations about other insurance products (home, life, etc.) and insurance companies of all sizes.

This is a great place to spot broader trends in the market, like rate increases and non-renewals. But, as Reddit’s most active insurance community, it’s also a great place to ask questions and get advice from insurance professionals and experienced policyholders.

r/CarInsurance

This subreddit exists specifically for “Questions and Help” regarding topics such as:

• Shopping for car insurance
• Understanding how car insurance works
• Submitting car insurance claims
• Managing your policy after an accident

You’ll also find wider information about the car insurance market specifically. The insurance market is experiencing a lot of changes at the moment, including more extreme weather patterns, automobile technology advances, and population changes, to name a few. This is a great place to see how these changes affect your premiums and what you can do about it.

r/PersonalFinance

The r/PersonalFinance subreddit is a huge community (18 million members — the 35th-largest subreddit of all) interested in improving financial well-being. You’ll find coverage of a wide range of topics, including:

• Improving your credit score
• Getting out of debt
• Personal budgeting
• Saving money
• Retirement planning

And you’ll find information about consumer products — especially auto, life, and homeowners insurance.

This is a great place to see how your car insurance policy fits into your wider financial picture. It’s also an excellent venue for asking questions about managing your car insurance costs against other financial obligations.

You might, for example, ask if you should downsize your car or look for other cuts in your budget. The users on r/PersonalFinance will have a wealth of ideas (and opinions) you can draw from.

One more broad-ranging subreddit — r/Frugal — focuses on helping people become more intentional in how they spend their resources. And not just money, but time too. You’ll find nuanced discussions about how to determine when to splurge versus when to make do (plus lots of tips about making do and splurging well).

You won’t find as many professional insiders here. Instead, you’ll find like-minded people who know how to save well to live better. This is the place for you if:

• You’re looking for a change toward a more money-conscious lifestyle.
• You’re working toward large financial goals (paying down debt, funding retirement, etc.).
• You need motivation and ideas to stay on track financially.

Top 8 Reddit Tips to Save Money on Car Insurance

So, what do the experts on Reddit have to say when it comes to auto insurance shopping? Here are eight ways to save on your next policy.

Shop around and compare auto insurance quotes

Someone posed a question about how to save on auto insurance when you’re under 25 years old . This is a common question for young drivers because this age range tends to pay the most for auto insurance.

Here’s what u/sephiroth3650 had to say in response to this question.

One of the best things you can do to save money on your auto insurance is to compare quotes. This message is in response to a driver under 25 years old who wants to know how they can save money. Not only does the responder share that your auto insurance is likely to be higher when you’re in this age group, but they recommend getting quotes from several auto insurance companies to see if you can save.

When getting quotes, you’ll learn that rates can vary drastically for the same coverage, so you’ll likely be able to secure coverage with a different company at a lower rate without sacrificing quality.

Another important point to note is that you need to be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. If you ask a friend how much they’re paying, but you have different coverage levels, you’re comparing apples to oranges, so it doesn’t tell you if their insurance company will get you lower rates.

The best thing you can do is use an auto insurance comparison calculator to compare rates and see which company can offer you the best price.

Find Your Cheapest Rates in Minutes

Don’t allow your insurance to lapse

A driver posed the question, “Should I cancel my auto insurance for a couple of months since I won’t be using it?” This is a thought that I’m sure has gone through many people’s minds when they knew they wouldn’t be driving for a certain period. While it sounds easy enough to cancel your policy and start it back up when you’re ready, it’s not that simple.

Here’s what u/t-poke had to say in response to this question.

Going any period without auto insurance can be costly. Let’s say you know you won’t be driving for several months and choose to cancel your policy. You’ll find that once you replace your policy, you’ll pay more than you did in the past. That’s because auto insurers now see you as a high-risk driver and will set your premium accordingly.

Instead of canceling your insurance altogether, it’s often better to decrease your coverage, see if your insurance company offers a storage-only policy that you can use temporarily, or keep your coverage as is. Otherwise, with your rates increasing, you’ll likely wind up paying more in the end.

Also, keep in mind that if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your finance company will still require you to carry the appropriate level of insurance to protect your interest, so in this case, you don’t have much of a choice.

If you’re at fault, you can’t choose whether the other party uses insurance

One driver came to Reddit wondering if they could convince the driver they were in an accident to skip out on filing an insurance claim.

u/nails_for_Breakfast had the perfect response to this dilemma.

Let’s say you rear-end someone, but the damage is minuscule (or so you think). You’d rather pay for the damages out of pocket, but the driver you hit wants to go through their insurance company. Ultimately, you have no rights in this situation. The other driver who’s not at fault doesn’t have to skip insurance and let you pay for the damages. That’s why auto insurance exists. Whether damages are great or small, your insurance is there so drivers don’t have to work with the other drivers directly, and instead, their insurance company can offer financial protection while being the go-between for the two parties.

Look at pay-per-mile insurance

With increased auto insurance prices over the last few years, everyone is looking to save money, and the driver who asked this question is no different. They were looking for ways to save and when the topic of pay-per-mile insurance popped up, u/mrandre3000 chimed in about how it saved him big time over several years.

Thankfully, some auto insurance companies are using technology to help you save on your auto insurance. There are telemetric programs and pay-per-mile insurance programs that allow you to pay based on how much you drive instead of paying a flat monthly fee no matter how much you’re behind the wheel.

With most pay-per-mile insurance programs, you’ll be assigned a low flat monthly rate. Then, you’ll pay an amount for each mile you drive that month. So, if you have a short commute, work from home, or don’t drive your car often, you might find great savings by switching to one of these programs.

Consider the financial risk you’re willing to take

It’s common to question whether you have too much or not enough auto insurance coverage.  While all states have minimum auto insurance coverage requirements, any additional coverage you select is up to you.

u/inthe801 gave a pretty good response to the question that makes you consider how much risk you’re willing to take when considering how much auto insurance to secure.

While we know it’s annoying to pay for insurance you might not use or rarely use, in many cases, it’s worth the protection you’re gaining. If you’re asking yourself whether you should drop coverage to save on your premium, you have to ask yourself whether you can financially handle the worst-case scenario.

For example, if you drop collision and comprehensive coverage , can you afford to pay for all your medical and vehicle-related expenses if your car is totaled? In that case, you might choose not to continue to carry coverage. However, if you know it would bankrupt you, it’s probably a good idea to maintain these coverages because doing without isn’t worth the financial risk.

There are several ways to save on your premium

There’s more than one way to save on your auto insurance premium. Yes, you can shop around and compare rates, but it doesn’t stop there. Another option is to increase your deductible. In agreeing to pay a high deductible, you’ll lower your insurance premium. Why? Because auto insurance companies know you’re agreeing to pay more before your insurance coverage kicks in. So you’re less likely to file a claim, decreasing how much they’ll pay while you’re covered under them.

This is a much better way to save on your insurance than dropping collision/comprehensive coverage or decreasing your coverage limits.

The only thing you have to remember is that you need to be able to afford to pay the deductible before your insurance protection kicks in. So, if you know you won’t be able to come up with $1,000 if you’re in an accident next month, don’t set a $1,000 deductible.

Cancel your policy in the right order

Having a lapse in your auto insurance is easier than you might think. Let’s say you’ve decided to cancel your policy. You might think you can cancel your plan and sign up with a new policy the next day. Even one day without insurance is considered a lapse and makes you a high-risk driver in the eyes of auto insurance companies.

The best thing you can do is sign up for your auto insurance and get the date your new policy will become active. Then set the cancellation date for your current policy to a couple of days after the new one starts. This allows you to be safe and ensure you won’t have a lapse on your policy.

Get the most coverage you can afford

When you’re left wondering how much auto insurance you should get, the best thing you can do is secure the max amount of coverage you can afford.  That’s because, as the respondent said, you never know whether you’ll be involved in an accident with a brand-new Tesla or a $1,000 Honda Accord. Either way, even if the vehicle isn’t damaged, with the rising cost of healthcare expenses, you could be on the hook for expensive bills if you don’t carry enough coverage to pay for the bills through your insurance policy.

Navigating Reddit for Auto Insurance Information

There’s so much knowledge waiting for you on Reddit, but how do you find it? Luckily, it’s not hard. Below, we’ve compiled some helpful tips to get the most out of your Reddit search.

How to search for relevant posts

The search feature on Reddit works much like a search engine. Here are the steps to get the best results:

• Enter your search term (e.g., “ cheap car insurance ”) in the search bar and hit enter to get results.
• Review your search results page, which will show you posts, comments, subreddits, and users related to your search.

If your search results are too broad, try narrowing your search (e.g., “cheap car insurance AND Indiana”). You can also filter your search by time frame or sort by a variety of factors (such as relevance or popularity). And if you don’t get any relevant hits, try broadening your search (e.g., “car insurance”).

Finally, don’t shy away from subreddits. There, you can find answers to questions you wouldn’t know to ask.

Engaging with the Reddit community

Reddit is a great place to learn new things, hear new viewpoints, and share what you know. But there are some formal and informal standards you should know. Here are some best practices.

• Read the rules and guidelines: Each subreddit has a unique set of rules and guidelines. Before posting or commenting, be sure you understand what’s allowed and what’s not allowed to avoid getting your content removed.
• Be helpful: Share your thoughts when you have something to add to the conversation (avoid “lol” or emoji-only responses). Share who you are or what you do if it’s relevant to the discussion.
• Be authentic: There’s no need to sound overly professional. Write like you’re having a conversation with friends you don’t know yet. If you’re using words like “nor” or “thus,” you can probably get more conversational.
• Site your sources and provide links: If you’re making a compelling point, backing it up with evidence and additional resources is a great way to add value to your posts and comments.
• Upvote and downvote responsibly: Use the upvote and downvote buttons to highlight quality content and discussions. Reserve downvotes for irrelevant or inappropriate content, and avoid using them for content that you disagree with.

Verifying user credibility and expertise

On a site where users can remain anonymous, it’s hard to tell whether content is coming from a trusted source. Here are some indications that you can trust the person offering advice.

• Post history: Frequent, high-quality posts — especially on relevant topics — may indicate expertise. Check the user’s post history to see what kind of content they contribute and which conversations they participate in.
• Karma and awards: High karma points and awards (such as Reddit Gold, Silver, or Platinum) suggest that other users find their contributions valuable.
• External links and credentials: Occasionally, users may link to their personal websites, portfolios, or social media profiles, which can provide additional context and information about their expertise.
• Consistency and depth: Look for users who consistently provide well-reasoned, in-depth responses with supporting evidence or sources.

If a Reddit user meets all four of these criteria, they’re likely a trustworthy source. But it’s still a good idea to do wider research when making financial decisions.

FAQs About the Best Car Insurance Advice on Reddit

Want to learn more? Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions by drivers like you.

How reliable are Reddit auto insurance recommendations?

Reddit auto insurance recommendations vary. Some users offer valuable insights, while others lack expertise. Upvotes and downvotes are good indications of a post’s quality, but consider multiple opinions and verify information with reputable sources before making insurance decisions.

Who pays the most for auto insurance?

People considered high-risk — especially young or inexperienced drivers, people with poor driving records, and people in high-risk areas — typically pay the highest auto insurance premiums. So a young driver with multiple serious driving incidents (DUI, accident , etc.) in a high-risk area would pay the highest rates on average.

Do auto insurance quotes hurt credit?

No, most insurance companies perform “soft credit” inquiries for quotes, which won’t affect your credit score. A hard credit check performed during your policy application may have a minor impact. But the impact is temporary and should resolve in one to three months.

Are online auto insurance companies legit?

Yes, you can find legitimate car insurance companies offering reputable coverage online. It’s still important to research and verify credibility before buying your policy. Read reviews and check their financial stability.

• Semrush, “ Most Visited Websites by Traffic in the world for all categories, June 2023 ,” Accessed July 30, 2023.

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• Car Rentals

The 12 Best Websites for Finding Cheap Car Rentals [2024]

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Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Book Directly Through the Car Rental Agency’s Website

5. priceline, 6. skyscanner, 7. travelocity, 9. costco travel, 10. american express travel, 11. rentalcars.com, 12. autoslash, price comparisons, final thoughts.

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Renting a car is rarely a fun activity. For many of us, it means we’ll devote time to finding the right price, deciding which features to add, and debating the cost and need for extra car rental insurance.

Thankfully, finding the right price doesn’t have to be difficult. There are tons of websites out there that claim to offer the best prices — but do they really? If you’re short on time or just want to get down to the nuts and bolts, we’ve given you a quick overview in the “Pros and Cons” section for each website listed here.

So, let’s get to it — here are 12 of the best websites to use to book your next rental car.

There are lots of benefits to booking directly through your car rental agency’s website. Many rental agencies have loyalty programs, and you can often choose to earn airline miles instead of car rental agency points (though there may be recovery fees associated).

However, they don’t always have the cheapest prices, and if they do, it would take a while to search through all of the sites to find out who has the best price.

Even if you intend to book directly with a car rental agency, it’s often a good idea to do a quick price search on a metasearch site or online travel agency to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

Expedia is a tried and true OTA that has been around since the 1990s. It’s a popular place to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises.

The site is easy to use with lots of filtering and sorting options so you can quickly find exactly what you’re looking for. You can quickly see the lowest price option for each category by using the Great Deal filtering option.

Plus, you can earn points in the One Key rewards program when you book an eligible car. This is a great way to participate in a loyalty program even when you’re not booking directly through a car rental agency.

Expedia also lets you bundle your car rental with a flight and/or hotel in a package, which will generally save you money.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• One Key rewards program
• Great filtering options
• You can book your rental car as part of a travel package
• You often have to pay upfront to get the discounted price

Hot Tip: To maximize your next car rental, consider using a credit card with rental car insurance included to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Outside of insurance, there are other reasons to use a rewarding card such as a travel credit card . Some of our favorites include: The Platinum Card from American Express , American Express ® Gold Card , and the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card .

Momondo is a metasearch engine, similar to Kayak, that shows prices from lots of different online travel agencies. You’ll never actually book your trip on Momondo — instead, you can use the site to search for the best prices, then you’ll get transferred to that rental agency or online travel agency to book.

While not necessarily a problem, Momondo will often transfer you to an obscure booking agency. Of course, that’s not a negative in and of itself, but you’ll need to understand that things like customer service, fees, or policies may differ from a company you’re more familiar with.

Pros and Cons of Momondo

• Searches lots of other sites at one time
• No loyalty program
• Often transfers to obscure car rental agencies

Hot Tip: When comparing car rental prices from one website to another, it’s always good to click through all the way to see the final price. Many websites don’t display taxes and fees until the last page, so you may think you are getting a great deal when, in reality, you’re just looking at a base price that doesn’t include taxes and/or fees.

Like Momondo, Kayak is a metasearch engine that shows you prices on other websites in 1 spot. It’s a great way to quickly search for cheap car rentals, flights, and hotels.

Kayak has lots of ways to filter and sort your results, including a map so you can find a rental car by location and a policy filter so you can focus solely on cars that offer things like free cancellation or unlimited mileage.

If you end up choosing to book through Kayak, be sure to create an account and log in to see Private Deals which can save up to 35%.

The featured price you see on Kayak is often the “pay now” price. If you click on the dropdown arrow next to View Deal you’ll be able to see other options, including which websites offer a “pay later” price.

Pros and Cons of Kayak

• Great sorting and filtering options, including a map
• “Pay now” vs “pay later” pricing is easy to see

Hot Tip: For more information check out our complete guide to booking travel with Kayak .

Orbitz is another huge website that’s been around awhile and is used quite a bit to book flights, hotels, and rental cars.

It’s got great filtering and sorting options and you can see only the lowest-priced options in each category by selecting Great Deal . That feature may sound familiar as it’s also available on Expedia. Many of these online travel agencies are run by the same companies and can appear almost identical. However, prices can vary among the sites, so it’s always good to check a few different ones to get the best price.

If you decide to book a rental car through Orbitz, be sure to create an account and sign in so you can see Insider Pricing which can save 10% or more on car rentals.

Hot Tip: Orbitz has its own rewards program, Orbitz Rewards , in which you can earn Orbucks when you book flights, hotels, packages, and activities. Orbucks can then be used to save money on a hotel stay. Unfortunately, you can’t earn or redeem Orbucks on car rentals through Orbitz.

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• Great Deal filtering option
• Insider Pricing
• Orbitz Rewards can’t be earned or redeemed on all car rentals
• You have to create an account to access some deals

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed post about booking travel with Orbitz .

Priceline gained fame from the “Priceline Negotiator” and the “Name Your Own Price” tool. While those tools brought opaque bookings to the forefront, both have since been eliminated.

You can, however, still get good deals on opaque bookings (one in which certain details are hidden until after the transaction is complete). If you don’t have a car rental agency preference, check out one of Priceline’s Express Deals . With these rentals, you won’t know the exact agency until after your booking is complete, but they can be a good way to save money.

Another type of opaque booking you’ll find on Priceline is called Supplier’s Choice . With this type of booking, you’ll know the exact car rental agency you’ll be renting from, but you won’t know what kind of vehicle you’ll get until you pick it up.

Regardless of what type of car you choose on Priceline, be sure to create an account and log in so you can see VIP pricing . This is an easy way to save up to 20% (depending on your membership level) on your car rental.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to Priceline .

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Opaque bookings: Express Deals and Supplier’s Choice
• Priceline VIP
• Flexibility required to take advantage of opaque deals

Bottom Line: No matter where you book your rental car , be sure to use a credit card with car rental insurance included. One of our favorites is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card  because it offers primary insurance . That means you don’t need to submit a claim with your existing insurance before making a claim with them. For more information, check out our detailed post about maximizing your car insurance with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Skyscanner , like Kayak, is a search engine, so when you find your car rental you’ll be transferred to another site to complete your booking.

While Skyscanner can offer good pricing, it’s hard to get much information about the rental, other than the price, at first glance of the search results. You have to click through on each result to find out basic information like the car rental agency.

Pros and Cons of Skyscanner

• Searches lots of websites at one time
• Hard to spot the good deals (opaque and special deals aren’t labeled)

Hot Tip: For more information check out our complete guide to using Skyscanner .

Travelocity  is a popular website used to search for cheap hotels, flights, and rental cars. While it’s powered by Expedia, pricing can be different on each site.

Like some other sites (Expedia and Orbitz), you can filter your search results to only show the lowest-priced option in each category, called Great Deals .

When scrolling the search results you can quickly see which options offer free cancellation and which ones are non-refundable . That information can be very handy since travel plans can change so much these days.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• “Great Deal” filtering option
• Easily visible cancellation policies

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed post about using Travelocity to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.

Hotwire is another site that offers opaque bookings, called Hotwire Hot Rate deals. You won’t know the rental agency until after the booking is complete, but Hotwire states that it will be from one of these companies:

Pros and Cons of Hotwire

• Hotwire Hot Rate cars

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to using Hotwire to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more!

The first thing you’ll notice when searching for a rental car on Costco Travel is it includes only 4 major rental agencies — Alamo , Avis , Budget , and Enterprise .

The search results are displayed in an easy-to-read chart that highlights the cheapest price for each car type in red.

The downside is that you have to be a Costco member to book a car through Costco Travel. However, if you’re renting a car as part of a vacation package, a Costco Shop card is often included in the deal, which can cover the cost of a membership. Plus, if you’ve got an Executive membership, you can earn 2% back on all of your Costco Travel purchases.

Pros and Cons of Costco Travel

• Easy-to-use table that shows which rental agency has the lowest prices
• Earn 2% back as a Cosco Executive member
• Only shows prices from 4 rental agencies
• You need to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our in-depth guide to Costco Travel .

Fortunately, the best Amex credit cards also offer a travel booking service. You don’t need to hold an American Express credit card to use AmexTravel.com , but it can sometimes get you more benefits.

Renting a car through AmexTravel.com is very similar to other sites. It even offers a type of opaque booking where you won’t know the type of vehicle you’re getting until you pick it up.

If you select a “pay now” price you’ll be able to use Membership Rewards to pay for your rental car . While it’s great to have the flexibility to pay with points, you’ll only get 0.7 cents per point in value, which is terrible. We value Amex Membership Rewards at about 2.2 cents each, so you’re getting less than a third of the typical value you could get by instead transferring your points to the Amex transfer partners .

Pros and Cons of American Express Travel

• Opaque bookings
• Ability to book a rental car with Membership Rewards points
• Terrible value when using points to pay for a car rental

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our complete guide to using American Express Travel to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises.

Rentalcars.com is a search engine that’s owned by the same company that also owns sites like Booking.com. Priceline, and Kayak, and as you can imagine, it specializes in rental cars.

What we liked about this site is the easy-to-read search results that quickly showed things like free cancellation and whether the deal was a “pay now” or “pay later” price.

Rentalcars.com also offered opaque deals that are often a good way to save money if you’re not particular about the type of car or car rental agency you’re getting.

Pros and Cons of Rentalcars.com

• Price match guarantee
• Easy-to-read search results
• No rewards program

Hot Tip: Interested in getting status, fast? Check out these rewards cards come that come with elite car rental status .

AutoSlash is a bit different than other sites. To get a rate quote on a rental car you need to submit all of your rental criteria plus your contact information. Then you’ll receive an email with your price quote .

It only takes a minute or 2 to request a quote from AutoSlash. One of the unique things about this site is that it will ask you about what types of credit cards and loyalty programs you have in order to get the best price.

Pros and Cons of Auto Slash

• AutoSlash takes into account your rental car memberships and credit cards for any additional benefits
• A list of available coupons is available in the Coupons  section
• Price quotes aren’t instant; it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to receive an email with your price
• It’s hard to quickly compare prices to other sites

In the following price comparisons, I was looking for the absolute cheapest price available, regardless of the rental agency, type of car, or cancellation policy.

Example 1: A weeklong rental from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Example 2: A 3-day rental from Miami International Airport (MIA)

As you can see from these examples, prices are all over the map. Skyscanner offered the best price by far on the week-long rental in example #1 while Expedia and Travelocity tied for the best price on the 3-day rental in example #2.

Costco Travel had the highest price in both examples.

Hot Tip: For more tips, check out our guide to saving money on rental cars .

Finding the best price on your next car rental doesn’t have to be hard if you know where to look. These 12 websites can help you easily search through the options to find the best price for your next car rental. Which site you ultimately use is up to you — some offer a better search function, some offer a rewards program, and some are just easier to use.

Try out a couple of these sites when you’re searching for your next rental to find which one works best for you.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best websites to use to book a rental car.

There is no one website that will always offer the cheapest prices every time. However, there are some sites that continually offer good deals. In our head-to-head comparisons, Skyscanner, Expedia, and Travelocity all offered prices lower than other websites.

What is an opaque booking?

An opaque booking is one in which the car rental agency or the type of car is hidden until your booking is complete. Many sites , including Hotwire, American Express, Rentalcars.com, and Priceline offer opaque bookings.

What is the cheapest rental car company?

Unfortunately, there’s not one specific rental agency offers the best prices all the time. There are a few websites which will usually offer the lowest prices on a consistent basis. Try searching for your rental car on a site like Skyscanner, Expedia, or Travelocity before deciding where to book.

Is it cheaper to rent a car at the airport or off-site?

Rental car prices tend to be more expensive at airport locations because of higher per day fees and airport concession fees and taxes. However, be sure to double-check pricing and add in any expenses you might incur (like a taxi or Uber ) to get to the off-site location. Sometimes the extra charge is worth it for the convenience of an airport pickup.

Should I get car rental insurance?

Whether or not you should pay for the rental agency’s insurance policy depends on a few things. First, take a look in your wallet. Do you have a credit card that offers extra car rental insurance ? If not, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and take the insurance offered by the rental agency.

But if you have a good travel rewards credit card that comes with insurance, an additional policy might not be necessary.

How far in advance should I rent a car for the best price?

The exact right time to book a rental car is an ever-changing thing — there is no formula to use to guarantee the lowest price, unfortunately. The general consensus is that unless you have lots of flexibility, it’s probably best to book as soon as you can.

However, if you can afford to wait (and have no preference for car type or rental agency) you may be able to get a lower price closer in. Waiting till the last minute to book does have some risk — cars can sell out and agencies can raise prices anytime. Even if you wait till the last minute, you should book online! Booking at the counter will almost always be more expensive.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Best Used Car Websites

Our team of experts recommends Cars.com, Carvana, Edmunds, CarMax and TrueCar as the best online platforms for buying and selling pre-owned vehicles

With our partner, Carvana

Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team writer and has written for numerous automotive news sites and marketing firms across the U.S., U.K., and Australia, specializing in auto finance and car care topics. Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team authority on auto insurance, loans, warranty options, auto services and more.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.

Key Takeaways :

• Cars.com is our top pick for selling a used car online. The company sets itself apart from other sites by offering a private sale option.
• Edmunds leads the way for buying a used car online since it makes it easy for consumers to research, buy, sell and appraise used cars.
• Whether buying or selling a used car, we recommend getting quotes from several car sales platforms to find the best deal.

In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team cover our top picks for used car websites. Our team evaluated sites based on industry standing, platform quality, cost, support and customer experience. Whether you want to buy or sell a used car online , these websites should be the first stops on your journey.

Why You Can Trust The MarketWatch Guides Team

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about financing for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best auto loan companies. We collected data on dozens of loan providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 300 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines .

Our Top Picks for Used Car Websites

Cars.com, Carvana, Edmunds, CarMax and TrueCar are our top recommendations for used car websites. Whether you want to find your ideal pre-owned vehicle or find the right buyer for a car you’re selling, these sites are easy to use and offer excellent customer support. The sections below outline our ratings for these sites when selling and buying a used car.

Best Used Car Websites: Selling a Car

Here’s a look at how we rated our top used car websites for those selling a vehicle:

*Ratings are out of 10 points each.

Best Used Car Websites: Buying a Car

Here’s how our top used car websites measure up when you’re looking to buy a quality used car:

Our Best Used Car Websites in Detail

Let’s take a closer look at our top picks for used car websites, breaking down the benefits they offer to those selling and buying pre-owned vehicles. We’ll examine each site’s industry reputation, including Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, as well as some cost and customer experience details.

#1 Cars.com

Year founded: 1998 BBB rating: A+

Cars.com is our Editor’s Choice for selling a used car online. We also recognize the site as the Best Value option for buying a used car online. Cars.com has been in business since 1998 and carries an A+ rating from the BBB. The site advertises vehicles from thousands of car dealers and private sellers across the country.

When the time is right to buy , Cars.com makes it easy to research used vehicles, filter specific features you’re looking for and schedule a test drive with a dealer. When selling through Cars.com, you can get an instant offer that’s good for three days, plus the option to trade in your car to a dealership.

Cars.com Car Selling Ratings

Here’s how our team rated Cars.com in five key categories for selling a car:

Cars.com Car Buying Ratings

Our team gave Cars.com the following ratings as a used car buying option:

Read more in our full Cars.com review .

Year founded: 2012 BBB rating: NR

Carvana serves 48 states and is known for its car vending machines scattered across the country. We recognized Carvana for having the Most Seamless Process for selling a car online and for being the Best for Transparent Pricing when buying a used vehicle online. 

The company is known for its hassle-free buying experience, at-home inspections and on-the-spot offers that are good for seven days. When you buy through Carvana, you also get the added peace of mind of a seven-day money-back guarantee.

Carvana isn’t currently rated by the BBB, but it carries a strong customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on more than 9,100 Trustpilot reviews. The Carvana mobile app receives high marks from customers on both the App Store and Google Play.

Carvana Car Selling Ratings

The table below shows how we rated Carvana for selling a used car:

Carvana Car Buying Ratings

Here’s how our team rated Carvana as a car buying website:

Read more in our full Carvana review .

Year founded: 1966 BBB rating: A+

Edmunds has a history in the automotive industry that’s tough to match, with nearly 60 years as a trusted source. Now a subsidiary of CarMax, the Edmunds website makes it easy to research, buy, sell and appraise used cars. You can browse used cars at dealerships across the country, research prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal and finance your purchase all in one place.

We gave Edmunds a perfect 10 for industry standing for its long history and A+ rating from the BBB. Edmunds also takes our Editor’s Choice award for buying a used car online, as its car research tools simplify the process of finding your perfect pre-owned vehicle.

Edmunds Car Selling Ratings

Here’s how Edmunds fared in five key categories as a car selling website:

Edmunds Car Buying Ratings

Below you’ll find our team’s ratings for buying a used car through Edmunds:

Read more in our full Edmunds review.

Year founded: 1993 BBB rating: A

CarMax is another used car retailer and selling platform with an excellent reputation. Our team gave CarMax our Great Value designation on the selling side, and it has an easy process for obtaining an instant cash offer and even getting paid on the day of the sale. 

CarMax lets car buyers browse a huge inventory from its 246 U.S. locations. Locked-in prices mean you don’t have to worry about haggling. Our team considers CarMax the Most Reputable used car buying website due to its strong industry reputation and sales volume. We also like the fact that CarMax bests other car buying sites with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CarMax Car Selling Ratings

Here’s a look at our team’s ratings for CarMax as a used car seller:

CarMax Car Buying Ratings

Our team gave CarMax the following ratings for buying a used car through its platform:

Read more in our full CarMax review .

Year founded: 2005 BBB rating: A+

In our 2024 review of used car websites, we recognized TrueCar for its quick fixed-price offers. On the used car buying side, we gave the company our Seamless Financing Process award and noted its advanced search functions and support tools (like a car loan calculator and car comparison tool). TrueCar receives solid feedback from customers on sites like Trustpilot, where it has 3.4 stars out of 5 based on nearly 1,800 reviews.

TrueCar works with more than 13,000 dealerships across the U.S. That means you can browse a huge inventory of used vehicles when you’re buying and compare offers from dealers when you’re selling. You do have to visit a dealership to close a purchase or sale, which might be a negative for some customers.

TrueCar Car Selling Ratings

Here are the ratings our team gave TrueCar as a platform for selling a used car:

TrueCar Car Buying Ratings

Below are the ratings our team gave TrueCar for its car buying services:

Read more in our full TrueCar review .

Best Used Car Websites: Pricing Comparison

Our team reached out to each of the companies in this guide for used car selling and buying pricing information. As you examine these offers and price quotes, remember that CarMax and Carvana use no-haggle pricing models that leave no room for negotiation. Also, note that Cars.com is the only site in this guide that features a private sale option.

Used Car Selling Offers

Here are some offers from a few of our top used car websites and how they compare to the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) market value:

Used Car Buying Prices

Here’s how used car pricing compares among some of our top-rated websites:

Other Recommended Used Car Websites

You’ll notice that a few popular used car websites aren’t featured in this guide. We rate companies like Autotrader, CarGurus , Vroom and Peddle as reputable sites worth checking out as well.

You can also find good used car deals on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and eBay Motors, but the selling and buying process may not be quite as smooth. It can also be difficult to access a Carfax report (or any vehicle history report) when you deal with local car listings or auction sites. Financing options may be limited as well.

Best Used Car Websites: The Bottom Line

All the websites in this review offer easy-to-use platforms that simplify car shopping. Cars.com is our top pick for selling a used car, while Edmunds tops our rankings for buying a used car online. We recommend doing plenty of research on the used car market and comparing offers and quotes from multiple sites before making your decision.

Best Used Car Websites: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about the best used car sites:

What’s the best site to buy used cars?

Edmunds earned our Editor’s Choice award as the best site to buy a used car. The company’s competitive pricing, expansive car reviews, wide dealer network and long history in the automotive industry make it an ideal place for car shoppers to begin their search.

Is Carvana legitimate?

Yes, Carvana is a legitimate car marketplace with a solid industry reputation. Although it isn’t accredited or currently rated by the BBB, online customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot are mostly positive. The Carvana app also receives high marks from customers.

Can CarMax be trusted?

Yes, CarMax can be trusted as one of the best used car platforms on the market. We gave the company our Most Reputable award for buying a used car online, as it boasts an A+ rating from the BBB and has been in business since 1956. 

Our Methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best platforms to sell your car. We collected data on several providers to grade each company in five key areas. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the car selling platforms that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Industry standing : Our research team considers ratings from industry experts and years in business when determining this score.
• Platform : Platforms that offer a variety of features, including instant offers and multiple sales options, are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Cost : To compare providers’ average offer prices, our team conducted a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicle types. We also considered the fees companies charge to use their platforms.
• Support : Car selling companies that offer strong transaction support received the highest scores in this category. This includes offerings like free pickup service as well as how quickly you receive your payment.
• Customer experience : This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot as well as our team’s experience reaching out to each platform.

*Data accurate at time of publication

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The Best New Car Buying Sites

The 8 best new car buying sites.

• Cars Direct

What's the Best Way to Buy a New Car?

Gone are the days of heading blindly over to the nearest dealership, hoping to find something you'll like and being largely at the mercy of the salesperson who greets you at the door. Now, most people do extensive research online before ever setting foot on the lot - and that's assuming they're not having the vehicle delivered directly to their home, sight unseen. Today's new car-buying experience is vastly different from what it was even ten years ago.

So, what are the ways you can put online car-buying platforms to good use? Your first step is to gather information. What makes and models do you prefer? Which cars have a stellar track record for quality and safety? How much should you expect to spend to get your must-have features? The best sites will give you all of that knowledge and then some.

Thursday, April 18th

2024 New Car Buying Site Reviews

• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Millions of vehicles listed from more than 20,000 dealers
• Very detailed car listings
• Easy to connect with dealerships
• Fun tool to help you find the right auto match for your needs

Cars has been connecting car-shoppers with their new vehicles since 1998. With headquarters in Chicago, this site leaves no stone unturned to provide you with the information you need and the vehicles you want - millions of listings with tens of thousands of cars added every day. You won't find many platforms that can even come close to that.

No-hassle search tool

Do you already have a good idea what make and model you want? Select those in the dropdowns on the left side of the page; you can also specify the preferred distance, max price and your location, or go deeper with "advanced search" to put in criteria like the vehicle's min/max mileage, the colors you want inside or out, and so on. Once your results list pops up, you can sort them by whatever matters most (such as price or miles) or click on the features options to see just the matches that have your desired convenience features or tech specs.

Not quite a blind date

Not sure what new car is right for you? No problem. Cars has lots of research to consider, especially expert reviews on the newest car releases. But, this platform has something we fell in love with. See the part of the main page that says "Shop by what matters most" ? Cars refers to that as its "Matchmaker" tool - you might have seen a TV spot showing happy "matches" made between people and their cars. Start by entering the body style (like SUV, truck, or van) and the max price you want to pay. The next page has sliders for you to show how important certain criteria are, like ride comfort and cargo space. You'll be amazed how accurate the Matchmaker's recommendations are - and how you can quickly get more details or see local inventory of each one.

Ample inventory

We had no problem finding our test vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, near and far. Our nationwide search yielded nearly 4000 options; dropping the search radius down to a fairly tight 20 miles still left us with about 150 choices. We noticed that Cars had more dealerships in their network than any other platform we used: it included both Toyota-specific local dealers as well as nationwide, multi-make dealerships like AutoNation.

Details depend on dealer

Overall, Cars' listings go into a lot of depth. Photos, VIN, features list, reviews of the dealership itself, payment calculators, and direct links to the vehicle on the dealer website are just a few of the things you'll see. But, that also depends on the dealer: we saw a few listings that didn't have a price or that only had one photo (or just a "coming soon" image). Cars will give you everything they possibly can - including a "Deal Gauge" to show you how competitively any particular vehicle is priced, and easy links to contact the dealer or go right to their website to find out more.

Phenomenal reputation

Car-shoppers love using this service. Almost everyone gives it a 4- or 5-star rating, and the BBB assigns its highest rating and accreditation to Cars as well. Across the board, people rave about how much time and effort is saved by using the tools here to find new cars that have everything they're looking for.

Best option for buying new cars

Whether you're just at the research stage or you're ready to buy right away, this is the perfect resource. You'll love how Cars covers most of the dealerships in your area and gives you options well outside of your locale too, and how quickly you can get connected when you find the right vehicle. Cars is our first choice when shopping for a new car, and we give the service our highest rating.

• Over five million vehicle listings
• All cars rated with respect to value, from "overpriced" to "great deal"
• Good for researching cars: test drive reviews, price trends, buying tips and more

If you've ever used TripAdvisor to plan a vacation and loved the service, you should take a look at CarGurus: the sites share a co-founder. In operation since 2006, CarGurus gets the most visits out of any online automotive marketplace in the US. The site uses in-depth analytics to give you insights into a new car's value, ranking it from "overpriced" to "great deal" and everywhere in between.

Excellent research tools

You could use CarGurus for the information alone. Go to the Research tab and you'll find Test Drive Reviews, Price Trends, Tips & Advice, and General Information on topics like deciding between certified pre-owned and new vehicles or what's covered by a new car warranty.

Filters come later

You'll want to have an idea of what you're looking for when you visit the CarGurus site, because it only lets you search by make and model (or by showing you ALL of the vehicles in your zip code): there's no filter to include certain features or price ranges on the first step of the search process. You'll find those once you've entered a make or at least your zip code: narrow down the options by color, desired features, dealer rating, or, our personal favorite, NHTSA Overall Safety Rating (safety first!).

Plenty of vehicles to choose from

CarGurus returned many more matching vehicles than most of their rivals. In our sample search for a new Toyota Highlander, we got results for nearly 100 cars within a 50 mile radius. Expanding that search to nationwide, there were over 4500 available. In a time when cars are selling faster than ever, it's critical to have lots of options, and CarGurus absolutely delivers in that regard.

Helpful and informative

In both the short results list and the individual vehicle listings, CarGurus doesn't bury the lead. You'll know exactly which dealership is selling the car, how long it's been listed on CarGurus and how many people have saved it as a favorite, whether or not there have been any price changes, and a price analysis to tell you if you're getting a good deal compared with similarly-equipped vehicles. And yes, you can also see lots of photos, look up the VIN, check out the features, and even get a preview on available financing.

Ready to connect?

So, you've found the new car of your dreams on CarGurus. What's next? You can use their fill-in-the-blank form on the right side of the page to send a message to the dealership. We think it's pretty novel compared with some car-buying sites' forms: you can choose several options in the dropdown boxes, like "I'd like to know your best price" or "I'd like to test drive this" . We also found options for connecting directly with the dealer via online chat (right above the Get a Quote form), and you're given all of the direct contact information for the dealer right underneath the photos. We love that CarGurus doesn't play any games or force you to use their method of contact so that they get the credit for it.

Just a few things to watch out for

You shouldn't have any concerns with CarGurus itself. The company is accredited and "A+" rated by the BBB, and barely over a dozen complaints were noted there in the 12 months leading up to this review. Looking at consumer commentary elsewhere, we found some issues when people used the CarGurus site to sell their vehicles but buyers almost always seem to come away happy with their experience here. That being said, be aware that your buying process will ultimately depend on the dealership itself. CarGurus does a good job of showing you detailed ratings and reviews (when available) on each dealer, but we read a handful of comments that said some dealers refused to honor the CarGurus price quote or hadn't provided accurate vehicle information for the CarGurus' listing.

Excellent way to buy a new car

CarGurus puts a lot of power in your hands when shopping for new cars. You'll find more listings here than on many other platforms, and it's easy to see where they're located and how to get in touch with the dealerships. Plus, the pricing insights can let you know what kind of wiggle room you have to negotiate - and how many other people might have the same idea. CarGurus gets one of our highest recommendations among services for buying a new car.

• See vehicles offered by large dealerships, smaller car lots, online-only platforms and private sellers
• Over 3 million vehicle listings (new and used)

Autotrader is one of the most visited automotive websites out there: over 14 million people visit it every month. Cars listed here can come from big dealerships, small lots, online-only services and private sellers, but if you're looking for a new car here you'll mostly find listings from well-known dealers near you.

Lots of ways to search

Do you already have a make and model in mind? Enter that, plus your zip code, right into the boxes at the top of Autotrader's New Cars for Sale page. Or, you can browse by make and style, click on "advanced search" if you've got any must-have specifics, or use the Search by Budget option a little further down the page if cost is your ultimate deciding factor.

First results may include used vehicles

When we searched for Toyota Highlanders in our area, we got over 300 matches. It took a minute, though, to realize that the list included used vehicles - despite the fact that we started on Autotrader's New Cars page. Be sure to use the filter button and select "new" ; that dropped the inventory down to just 71 vehicles in the case of our example make and model.

Get more specific if you like

Autotrader has a lot of relevant filters to help you see only the cars that match what you have in mind. Not sure? Check out the buttons right underneath the search bar: maybe you really prefer AWD/4WD, or there's a trim level that has all of the bells and whistles you want. Autotrader does a good job of anticipating what you might be looking for and suggesting ways to see just those results.

Direct connections to local inventory

What we like about using Autotrader to search for new cars is the immediate results. Unlike some of the platforms we've evaluated, this service tells you right off the bat where each car is being sold, how far it is from the zip code you entered, the KBB rating for the specific dealership, and a phone number to confirm availability - and that's just in the results list. When you go to the individual vehicle listings, you'll get everything you want to know - plus a link directly to the car on the dealer's website. (Yes, there's a form on the Autotrader site you can use to request more info, but why not skip that step and get right to it?)

Trustworthy for new cars

Autotrader maintains a flawless "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau; there were almost no complaints filed there at the time of this evaluation. The only negative reviews we found elsewhere were largely related to this platform's service for buying and selling used cars, and that won't have any effect on your search for a new vehicle.

Worth using when buying a car

Autotrader cuts out a lot of the unnecessary middle steps you'll see with other services for buying a new car: search for what you want and see where you can find it near you. We love that kind of transparency and how easy it is to get real-time inventory options. There were a few dealers in our area that didn't show up in our Autotrader search results (who we did see on a few other platforms' vehicle matches), but by and large this is a reliable option to start you off on your car-buying journey.

• In-depth car research
• 50+ years of experience

Edmunds is an automotive expert. In business for half a century and then some, they offer an incredible array of resources to help you pick the right new car - even video test drives to go along with their thorough reviews and comparisons. Would you believe that their editorial team drives about half a million miles every year to tell you where the rubber really meets the road?

Easy to get started

So, let's say you've used all of the Edmunds research to pick the right make and model for your needs. Ready to find one to buy? Enter the make or model in the search bar at the top of the site, or go to the New tab. (Or you can use the By Type or By Price options on that page too, if you're still open to different makes/models within your budget or preferred body style.) Plug in your zip code to see the specifics for new cars near you.

You'd expect the next page to show you vehicle listings that match what you entered, right? Maybe not so much. Instead, Edmunds shows you the MSRP range for the make/model you chose, more in-depth review information"�and then way down at the bottom, you'll see a small selection of vehicles of various trim levels that are available near you. This didn't even come close to matching the inventory results we got when using other sites for buying new cars.

Extra steps that might get you there

From there, when you click on one of those nearby vehicles, Edmunds takes you to a page where you can see the dealerships that may or may not have it in stock; we noticed that, in our list, one dealer was not automatically included, probably because it had a one-star rating. When you enter your first and last name, email address and phone number, you might be taken to a page that shows specific in-stock vehicles and where they're located. You could use that information to go right to the dealer website. But, Edmunds makes a point of telling you that most dealers can't post their lowest prices online, and you should use the Edmunds quote request to get the dealer's best out-the-door price on the vehicle you want. You also have some Edmunds tools to help with your negotiations, like how long the car has been listed and if there have been any price changes.

Other services are more direct

But, it felt like a lot of hoops to jump through - ones that Edmunds' higher-ranked competitors didn't usually require before getting to the nitty-gritty of cars' locations and real-time availability. There's nothing saying you can't use this service to get a ton of research done, and maybe even request a price quote, but if you're in a hurry (or if you're looking at a car that's likely to sell fast) you might not want the added steps of the Edmunds process.

Good reputation, best for research

Edmunds has a reputation you can trust, demonstrated by their "A+" and accreditation from the BBB, and you won't risk anything by using their service. Just don't expect it to be as fast or as linear as its rivals during the actual buying process.

• Service refers you to local dealerships and online-only sales platforms
• Used as the engine behind well-known car-buying services like Sam's Club and Navy Federal Credit Union
• Good for doing research on cars and the buying process

In 2005, TrueCar hit the internet as an automotive digital marketplace. Consumers use this site to buy new and used cars, and it's the force behind many established buying services offered by companies like American Express, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Sam's Club.

Great for doing vehicle research

Our favorite use of the TrueCar platform is research. From reviews and rankings to loan and lease calculators, there's no shortage of tools here that can help you figure out what you really want when buying new cars.

DIY or let them choose?

Once you have a make and model in mind, click on the Shop New section and click on the brand. You'll see all of the available models from that manufacturer with helpful reference images and starting prices. Select the model you're looking for and enter your zip code. Then decide if you want to build out a vehicle with specific features and trim level or if you want TrueCar to show you a popular default build. Either route you choose, you'll land on a page that shows you the average dealer offer on the car.

Register to connect... or not

Here's where things get a little tricky with TrueCar. If you want to "see offers on local inventory" , you'll have to create a free account (and confirm it via email, so no fake info allowed). If that's not your favorite thing to do, you might be able to sleuth out the vehicles near you: scroll down and see "top matches near you" and click on the photo. Lo and behold, at the top of the listing you'll see "Dealer Profile" , and more often than not, that'll take you to a phone number. There's also a "connect with dealer" button, but once again that will require registration with TrueCar.

Reputation on the decline

In the past, TrueCar was our preferred choice for buying cars - new or used. This company still maintains an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and there were fewer than a dozen complaints registered there in the year prior to this updated review. We're sad to say, though, that a lot of their more recent feedback from site users is on the negative side: a full 25% of their reviewers give TrueCar a rating of just average, poor, or even bad. Why? Common issues include dealers who don't honor the TrueCar pricing and cars becoming unavailable in the time between setting an appointment and driving to the dealership. People have started to use the words "waste of time" or even "scam" when describing how they feel about using this service for buying new cars.

Not horrible - but not amazing anymore either

You won't risk anything by using TrueCar to get started on your car-buying process. The research tools are decent and can help you narrow down what you want to purchase, and if you're willing to create an account you can find out more about the cars available near you. Beyond that, however, you can't really count on this platform to show you a guaranteed price on a car that's actually going to be on the lot by the time you go to see it.

• Connects you with listings at dealerships in their network
• Excellent resource for research: brands, reviews, automotive industry news

Even though the Web2Carz site may strike you as outdated at first, it's surprisingly full of current details on almost every new car you could imagine. Designed to "inform, entertain and enable" consumers in search of their next vehicles, this site is a terrific way to become well-educated in the car-buying process.

Get a match or request contact

Let's say you've used all of Web2Carz' research (helpfully located at the top under "Car Reviews" and scattered thoroughly throughout the entire site) and you're ready to buy. Look for the box on the left side of the page, and be sure to click over to the "New Cars" tab (because it defaults to "Used Cars" ). Select the make and model from the dropdowns, and the trim level if you have a preference, then enter your zip code. From there, one of two things will happen: either Web2Carz will show you a matching vehicle from a nearby dealership in their network, or you'll be asked to fill out a quote request form and wait for someone to reach out to you.

Not many results

In our case, we were disappointed to only get one vehicle near us that matched - despite knowing that there were at least two dozen within a 20-mile radius of our location. When we clicked on it, we were taken right to the dealership's listing for the vehicle; we appreciate not having to use Web2Carz as a middleman and being able to go directly to the dealer for the rest of the purchase process. We tried looking up a different model within the same brand, knowing that it tends to have much higher availability, but that wound up with the quote request form and not a single new car listing.

Inquiries often get no response

In general, we don't love the "fill out a form and be contacted" approach because it often leads to excessive phone calls and emails. In this case, you might have the opposite problem: we found comments from several recent Web2Carz users that said they never heard back after filling it out. That's better than getting dozens of spam calls, but it still doesn't help you buy a new car.

Good research tool - not much more

We give Web2Carz credit for being really thorough with their car reviews. That's probably why the Better Business Bureau gives them an "A+" and accreditation: there's nothing underhanded about this service. It just doesn't go far enough to be useful as a car-buying site. As you work through the process of choosing your next new car, Web2Carz can give you the information needed to choose a make and model - and then you'll most likely have to use another site for your purchase.

• Great information for researching new cars
• Get a quote from a dealer

Cars Direct started in 1998 and is one of the original sites used to shop for both new and used vehicles. Many people use this service to research various makes and models, in order to be as informed as possible before deciding what to buy.

Detailed reviews of each make and model

You'll definitely get that impression as you start using the Cars Direct site. When you enter the make and model (if you've got one in mind), it'll take you to the car's current-year overview. Pay particular attention to the trim levels, because getting a price quote will require you to select a specific one (and that information won't be on the quote page itself). Also, at the top of the page you'll find any incentives currently running and whether or not the vehicle is selling at MSRP at the moment. From there, you click on "Get Custom Price Quote" to find a new car for purchase.

Almost useless for actually buying a new car

We found the whole new car buying process on Cars Direct to be annoying at best. Instead of letting us see what was available for the make and model we selected, it required us to choose a color, trim level and features to request a quote. After all that, there wasn't a vehicle in their dealer database that matched what we had entered. In other words, if you just want a Honda Civic and aren't particular about every little detail, Cars Direct offers no way to browse any ready-to-buy options anywhere. Otherwise, you're back to the drawing board, tweaking all of the possible features and upgrades in the hopes that you'll achieve the "magic formula" that matches some available vehicle in their database.

Experts in internet marketing, not automotive

When you consider that Cars Direct has two parent companies (Internet Brands and iMatrix) that are both internet marketing specialists, is it any surprise that this platform comes up short in connecting customers with current vehicle listings? Unfortunately, it seems like they do a fantastic job in selling site users' contact information: we found lots of complaints from people who used the Cars Direct service and wound up inundated with spammy phone calls and emails - from car-related businesses and totally unrelated ones like security system companies and warehouse clubs. No thank you.

Use this service for research only

Buying new cars can be straightforward and convenient. Cars Direct is neither. You can find decent information that can help you refine the cars you're looking for, but you'll 100% want to use a higher-rated service when you're ready to take the next step and make a purchase. We recommend against entering your personal information anywhere on the Cars Direct site and only enter a fake name and email address when doing research here.

• Over 9,500 new cars to choose from
• No-haggle pricing
• 7-day/400-mile return policy
• All manufacturer warranties apply
• $500 refundable deposit to secure a vehicle

Driveway is one of the most recent buy-from-home options for getting a new car. While this platform definitely specializes in selling used cars - over 25,000 pre-owned vehicles nationwide vs. just over 9,500 in the new category at the time of this review - you can still find enough to choose from.

Helpful filters for narrowing down the options

To begin the process of finding your new car, enter the make, model, and year in the boxes on the right-hand side of the page. From there, you'll be taken to a screen that gives you an impressive amount of information, from pricing to safety and more, along with basic stats like MPG and MSRP. To get pricing, click on the red button that says "Get a Dealer Quote" and enter your ZIP code.

Very detailed info on each new car

Driveway makes it really easy to see practically every single detail about each vehicle: from dozens of photos and the VIN to features and financing calculators, you'll find what you need to make a decision.

Convenience galore

There are a lot of features on Driveway that are pretty compelling. Want to add a trade-in to your new vehicle purchase? No problem: you'll find that option on each new car listing, and Driveway will even arrange for it to be picked up from your home. Hoping to take advantage of rebates and incentives? Most of those will be included automatically in the pricing, and other options may show up during the checkout process (military and first responder discounts, and so on); you can also pop open a chat on the Driveway site and ask a rep what offers might be available to you. And yes, your car will be brought right to you - but not usually for free. On each vehicle listing, you'll clearly see where it's located and the shipping cost: as an example, to ship a brand-new Chevy Silverado from Pennsylvania to Florida, you'd pay $699 (at the time of this evaluation).

Refundable deposit of $500

Cars don't stay on the market long these days, and if you see a Driveway car you want, it'd be a good idea to jump on it quickly. Any vehicle they sell comes with a $500 refundable deposit to hold it for you: you'll pay it by credit card, but it'll be credited towards your purchase price if you wind up buying it. Otherwise, it'll be refunded - if you either cancel the order or you get approved for a loan with $0 down. One small detail to be aware of: putting down a deposit doesn't guarantee availability, and another buyer could "steal" it from you up until the point that you actually finalize the purchase.

Decent return policy

When you buy a new car here, it comes with all of the manufacturer warranties you'd get anywhere else (drivetrain, bumper-to-bumper). Driveway adds a 7-day, 400-mile return policy, so you're not stuck with something that you've bought online that doesn't live up to your expectations in real life.

Horrible customer service

It all sounds pretty great so far, right? We thought so too, until we started looking at buyer feedback. Because Driveway is newer within the industry, there isn't as much of it to consider - but what's out there is almost always negative. The BBB gives the company an "F" rating for failing to respond to eight complaints filed there. On its own, that wouldn't be so bad, but reading through customer reviews elsewhere revealed the same issue: a total lack of help from Driveway support reps. And, when many of those complaints say that Driveway failed to deliver the necessary paperwork to get cars legally registered - months after the purchase date - we can't get behind a company that would deliver a brand-new vehicle and then make it illegal to drive - not for a few days or even weeks but for months at a time. That's just unacceptable.

Fails to deliver when it counts

Yes, Driveway can bring a new car right to your doorstep - but these days, so can most local car dealerships. What this company offers in convenience is greatly overshadowed by where they fall short: who wants a new car that doesn't come with all of the paperwork in hand? Driveway has a long way to go before moving up in our rankings. We recommend buying your new car through a different service.

Continued from above...

Next, use a car-buying site to figure out what cars are in stock near you - or nationwide, if you're willing to make a trip to pick it up or if the dealer offers delivery (usually for an extra charge). Use all of the available tools to narrow down your options by color, price, desired technology, miles per gallon, or any other criteria you've prioritized. When you click on a specific vehicle's listing, you can typically see which dealership is selling it and how to get in touch. You may even be able to see ratings from previous customers to determine if the dealer has a good reputation.

Finally, it's time to work with the dealership to make your purchase. At this point, most shoppers will head to the lot to finalize the deal: setting up financing if needed, bringing in their trade-in when applicable, and driving away. But, look at the vehicle listing closely and you may find you have the option to have the car brought right to you. Why not?

There are quite a few websites offering to help you find your new car. How can you tell which one to use? Keep these factors in mind:

• Resources. Any website can try to sell you a car, but does it give you the information you need to make an informed decision? You might want to look at videos of test drives, comparisons between your two top picks, or articles that help you decide on a budget.
• Transparency. How much detail can you get on any particular car? Does the site clearly tell you where the vehicle is located and which dealer is offering it? Are you able to make direct contact or do you have to use a form on the website and wait for a response? Can you see a car's pricing history?
• Reputation. What do people say about their experience with using a particular car-buying site? Did it help them find legitimate vehicle listings or did it result in tons of spam emails and phone calls? Has the Better Business Bureau rated the company?

To help you in the search for your new set of wheels, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best options for online car-shopping. We're sure that this information will save you time and get you connected with a vehicle you'll love to drive!

New Car Buying Site FAQ

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If the i-Force MAX engine proves reliable this will easily go down as the best Land Cruiser to date

by Stephen Rivers

The Land Cruiser nameplate is akin to Toyota royalty. It’s been around in one form or another for over 70 years so when it went out of production for North America after 2021, it was big news. Now, the re-introduction of the model to the U.S. market as part of an entirely new generation is even bigger news. 

Toyota has completely revamped the model in just about every way possible. It looks totally different, it uses a new drivetrain including a new hybrid engine, and it has a much lower starting price than the previous generation. Those factors have all garnered worthwhile interest but none of it will matter if the Land Cruiser is little more than a shell of its former self. 

To find out just how much old-school capability this all-new SUV still has we traveled to California where Toyota let us take it way off-road for as long as we wanted. What we found out is that the Land Cruiser fills a gap in the market by blending real off-road performance with a premium interior experience. 

Quick Facts

All Aboard The Hybrid Drivetrain

Toyota is leaning heavily on its new 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder dubbed the i-Force MAX that will be used in every new Land Cruiser regardless of trim or features. Buyers will benefit from 326 hp (243 kW) and 465 lb-ft (629 Nm), an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive. The front suspension is made up of a double-wishbone architecture while the rear relies on coil springs and outboard-mounted twin-tube shocks. 

It also gets a two-speed transfer case, CRAWL control, and locking differentials at the rear and in the center. That’s a serious combination and looks perfectly poised to go head-to-head with vehicles like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and even the Land Rover Defender.

At the same time, it’s not as capable in terms of angles. It has an approach angle of 32 degrees, a departure angle of 22 degrees, and a breakover angle of 23 degrees. Despite that, it’s a bit more off-road focused than the previous Land Cruiser from 2021. 

That SUV made 381 hp which is significantly more than the new one but the previous generation had two shortcomings. First, it made just 401 lb-ft of torque, and second, it only managed up to 14 mpg combined. Toyota tells us that this new Land Cruiser will make up to 23 mpg combined. It’ll also tow up to 6,000 pounds (2721 kg). Those stats are a massive step in the right direction both for Toyota and for owner’s wallets at the gas pump. 

A Sophisticated And Squared Off Cabin

Keeping with the old versus new theme, the new Land Cruiser’s interior design leans back toward the off-road segment compared to its previous generation. Instead of a more car-like cabin with swoopy design language and super-high-tech features, this new SUV is squared off and a bit more cohesive without losing its luster. There are spaces on every door card and in the center tunnel that call back to the high-end quality the Land Cruiser is known for. 

The steering wheel is a great example of all of these points. It’s blocky with a simple but elegant design. The switchgear is completely devoid of touch-sensitive/haptic controls. Instead, these are physical switches and buttons that feel good to use. They provide a delightful tactile feeling and each control set is unique enough that it’s easy to learn without having to constantly look down at the wheel. 

That same level of switchgear is present in the center console on all of the climate controls, the off-road controls, and the volume knob. If there’s anything to complain about, it might be that volume knob. It’s placed completely on its own just to the left of the infotainment system. That puts it completely out of reach for the front passenger and at the same time just looks a little strange. Nevertheless, we’re glad to see the plethora of real buttons, switches, and knobs. 

Tech For Fun And Safety

The infotainment system itself measures 8 inches in the 1958 Land Cruiser and 12.3 in the other two trims. Both provide above-average feedback and feature an easy-to-use menu layout. Notably, the larger screen is available in the base Land Cruiser for those who prefer it. Frankly, it’s somewhat surprising that the new 14-inch unit from the updated 4Runner doesn’t make an appearance but maybe that’ll happen in the next year or two. 

A 7-inch driver information display is standard but the main Land Cruiser trim and the First Edition both get a 12.3-inch digital cluster. Those two upper trim levels also get a multi-terrain monitoring system with selectable front, side, and rear views. 

The excellent fit and finish throughout the cabin also nods to previous generations. Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard across the lineup. A cooler option is available for the center console too. The seating is more than ample with excellent head and leg room for adults in both rows.

For now, a third row isn’t available, but the Land Cruiser has cup holders, climate vents, and power ports where a third row would exist. We won’t be shocked if Toyota adds one in the future.

Safety is another area where Toyota can claim to be near the top of the segment. Every Land Cruiser comes with Safety Sense 3.0. It includes lane-tracing assist, road sign assist, automatic high beams, collision mitigation, lane-departure alert, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and proactive driving assist. That’s a big step up on rivals like the Bronco and Wrangler. 

Drive Impressions

Toyota limited our driving experience in the Land Cruiser to the place where statistically speaking it’ll be driven the least, namely off-road. While somewhat frustrating, it did give us a chance to test out what makes the Land Cruiser so unique. Blending premium cabin accouterments with serious off-road capability isn’t something that every company gets right. Toyota’s decision to put the off-road controls in prime cabin real estate is a good one. 

It makes switching into different modes or engaging an off-road feature, like a locking differential, a breeze. To tackle the more extreme trail Toyota set up for us we had to go into neutral, then switch the Land Cruiser into 4WD Low, then engage the sway-bar disconnect, and decide if you want to use Toyota’s CRAWL control feature. 

CRAWL control acts as a low-speed off-road cruise control. It has five selectable speeds that can be switched on the go to increase or decrease one’s pace on the trail. It works quite well and is especially helpful on ground that isn’t very consistent. Toyota had us cross several parts of the trail that were full of river rock. It was easy to hear the loose stones moving about under the vehicle but the Land Cruiser had no issue continuing to make forward progress even uphill. 

The sway-bar disconnect isn’t the e-KDSS system one will find in other Toyota products but is instead a more simple stabilizer bar disconnect mechanism (SDM) that uncouples the sway bar on command. It’s very handy when maximum articulation is necessary. It combined with the rear differential locker made short work of an obstacle designed to test articulation. 

Beyond the physical parts and features that enable the Land Cruiser to go off-road, the technology baked into this SUV makes the experience better too. The camera system is a great addition that goes beyond simply showing the view ahead or behind. Of course, seeing ahead when the horizon is impossible to view from a steep hill is a massive benefit too. On top of that though, the Land Cruiser comes with a great see-through feature that can show exactly where the tires are in relation to the trail. 

Once the trail smoothed out we had a chance to feel what the Land Cruiser should almost be like on the road. In a word, it’s serene. Noise, vibration, and harshness from the outside world are largely muffled. Even sharper impacts from the trail are heavily damped by the suspension and chassis. We expect on-road noise to be fairly minimal too thanks to the standard 18-inch all-season tires. Wind noise could be a bit of a bother thanks to the brick-like shape of the Land Cruiser but there is little doubt that it’ll still be quieter than any Bronco or Wrangler out there. 

Competition

The Land Cruiser is now in a very unique position. No longer is it the high-end luxury SUV from Toyota. Instead, it’s more of a grown-up 4Runner. It’s more refined, it’s more comfortable, and it’s ready to go just about anywhere without modification. That’s largely the same sort of package one gets with a vehicle such as the Land Rover Defender. Of course, the Defender costs more on average, gets worse fuel economy, and its reputation of reliability trails that of the Toyota.

Those in the market for a Wrangler or Bronco might not be as convinced to consider the Land Cruiser though. While it’s very capable off-road it doesn’t boast the same extreme off-road proportions that one can get from Jeep or Ford. Again though, it feels more mature than those SUVs. While we didn’t get the chance to drive it on the road, it shares the same platform as the Tacoma (and 4Runner) which is very good on the pavement. We expect the Land Cruiser to be in the Goldilocks zone of capable SUVs for most buyers. Not as brutal on streets and highways as the Wrangler and Bronco but also not as pricey as a Land Rover. 

Final Thoughts

The Land Cruiser made a name for itself by being an incredibly practical and somewhat posh balance of ruggedness, reliability, and refinement. The boxy good looks of this new generation should age well thanks to their simplicity. The tough but somewhat ritzy interior should hold up too. The real determining factor about the legacy of this Land Cruiser generation is going to come down to its drivetrain. If the i-Force MAX proves to be as reliable as Land Cruisers of old, then there’s no question that this will go down as the best to date. 

Image Credits: Stephen Rivers / Carscoops