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Where can I find local car classifieds?

If you’re in the market for your next car, chances are you want to shop around a bit. Of course, you can always visit the lots of local used car dealers. However, it’s easier, quicker and more convenient to check the car classifieds for a specific dealership. Many people turn to used car classifieds instead of purchasing a brand new car. Since the value of a new car starts to depreciate from the moment it’s driven off the lot, used cars are often the better value. One simple way to find auto insurance rates is by entering your ZIP code into the FREE comparison tool above!

Benefits of Online Car Classifieds

There are many benefits of using online classified ads when it comes to purchasing a car locally:

• By avoiding the actual dealership and perusing online classifieds, you can skip the hassle of dealing with salespeople. Car salesmen are adept at pressuring consumers, which can make the overall experience of shopping for your next car burdensome. While you’ll be able to communicate back and forth with a car dealer via email, you won’t have to worry about their showmanship and instead you can get down to business.
• Many online classifieds allow the buyer to talk not just to the dealership but also to the car’s previous owner. When buying a car from a lot, you don’t have any access to the car’s ex-owner. Find out integral information about the car’s history before making a purchase.
• Many car dealerships mark up their prices when you buy from the lot. Classifieds don’t often have these high markups, so you’re getting more for your money.

Finding Local Car Dealerships

Unless you don’t mind traveling more than 100 miles to view and purchase a car, you will likely want to find dealerships that are local to you:

• Before you can browse online classifieds for local car dealerships, you’ll have to find the dealerships themselves.
• Websites like Edmunds.com allow you to search for car dealerships in your area. Enter your zip code to find local car dealers. While a few dealerships may not be listed, a majority of them will be.
• At most supermarkets, you’ll notice magazines that advertise local car and truck dealerships.
• When you’re driving around your town, keep an eye out for dealerships that you couldn’t find in Internet search results.
• Once you’ve found car dealerships in your area, read user reviews. This will help you to avoid dealerships that have a reputation for ripping off their customers. Websites like DealerRater and Yelp offer user reviews of local car dealerships.

Top Websites for Car Classifieds

Below is a list of the most used sites for car classifieds:

• AutoTrader.com is one of the best websites for finding car classifieds.
• Cars.com is the best website to use if you’re searching for a vintage car. The stock at Cars.com has cars from 1982 and earlier.
• Yahoo! classifieds include Kelly Blue Book information as well as vehicle history.
• Additional classifieds websites include CarBuyer.com and AutoBytel.com.
• Every website includes a photo of the car you’re interested in. Some sites display the photo on the same page as the car information while others require you to open a new window. Convenient websites display search results in gallery form instead of lists.
• The best websites will let you compare two or more cars side-by-side.
• Websites that let consumers bid on cars via auctions include AutoTrader.com and EbayMotors.com.

Search Customization Options

Knowing how to best utilized the search aspect on a car classified website:

• Almost every classified search website will let you customize the results so that you can narrow down your options.
• Some websites will let you search specifically for pre-owned vehicles that are certified.
• Most sites have basic personalization options and let you sort by vehicle type, make and model.
• Some websites will let you sort results by distance from a particular zip code while other sites simply list cars by state.
• Websites with the most customization options also let you sort your car results by mileage, color, transmission and fuel preference.
• Many websites will let you set certain criteria and then send you an email every time a car that meets this criteria is added to the collection.

Considerations Before Making a Purchase

Before buying a car, do your homework a little bit more:

• Read user reviews of the type of car that you want to buy. You’ll probably want to do this before looking at classifieds. Having an idea of the type of car you want will help you to find respective car dealerships. Also, decide which car features you can’t live without. Once you make a purchase, write a review yourself to help future customers.
• Read up on buying advice that’s published by Consumer Reports. Used car classifieds tend to highlight just the best parts of the car. You want all of the information you can get your hands on before making such a huge purchase.
• Car prices often fluctuate with the seasons. By putting off your car purchase for a few weeks, you could score a great deal.
• Always visit the car dealership before purchasing the car. If you have all of the information you need, you won’t have to have a lengthy conversation with salespeople. Ask to take the car for a test drive before buying it. Test the turn signals, brakes and handling. You can also bring along a mechanic to take a look at the car.

Personal Car Dealers

If you find a car being sold by a private seller, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Car dealerships aren’t the only dealers to purchase cars from. Private dealers also sell used cars. While private dealers can be trickier to find than large dealerships, you may get a better price.
• Private dealers often advertise their cars in local newspaper and magazine classifieds. You can find these classifieds on the website for the publication.
• Some classified search engines will let you look for both dealerships and private car dealers.

Whether you are planning on purchasing a car in the very near future, or just want to research a while longer, it is always smart to know your options. Between searching websites to visiting dealerships, car buyers will be more successful if they have prepared themselves. To find the best auto insurance rates, be sure to enter your ZIP code into the FREE comparison tool below now!