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There are a number of used car sellers that let you buy used cars in Montreal, both in person and online. These include private sellers, car brokers, in-person dealerships and auction sites. Learn more about the best place to buy used cars in Montreal for your unique set of needs.
At a glance: Where to find used cars in Montreal
Learn more about the pros and cons of various types of used car providers in Montreal.
Compare different types of used car providers in Montreal
Compare different categories of providers to find the best fit for your personal needs:
Private marketplaces
Craigslist is a community-driven marketplace that lets you shop for private sale used cars online. It’s simple to use and you can shop anonymously without creating a user profile. The main drawback is that it lists a lot of dealership cars and some are listed without prices.
How the car buying process works. Send a message to the seller through the online platform. You’ll typically pay by cash or etransfer.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who are looking for an anonymous and simple platform to shop for private sale vehicles.
What to watch out for. Lots of ads and the potential for fraudulent sellers.
Kijiji is similar to Craigslist but offers a little bit more information about vehicles upfront in thumbnails. The site can sometimes be slow to load but is good for comparing vehicles side-by-side without needing to open each advertisement.
How the car buying process works. Send a message anonymously to the seller through the online platform. You’ll typically pay by cash or etransfer.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who want to compare private sale vehicles on the landing page without opening each ad individually.
What to watch out for. The website can be slow to load and isn’t easy to navigate.
Facebook Marketplace is one of the best places to buy used private sale vehicles. This is because you can see the profiles of people who post ads and they often have a star rating to show you if they’re a trustworthy seller.
How the car buying process works. Send a message to the user who posted the vehicle to arrange a meeting. You’ll typically pay by cash or etransfer.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who want to buy a private sale vehicle from a trusted seller.
What to watch out for. You may still end up with a faulty vehicle and you have to message quickly to get the best deals.
Used Montreal is another popular website that lets you buy private sale vehicles in Montreal. You can shop anonymously and use specific parameters to search for the car you want. The main downside is that the inventory of used cars on this site can be small.
How the car buying process works. Send a message anonymously to the seller through the online platform. You’ll typically pay by cash or etransfer.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who want to search by basic parameters on a very simple user interface.
What to watch out for. Smaller inventory than other private marketplaces.
Our top pick for private marketplaces
Facebook Marketplace is our top pick for the best place to buy used cars in Montreal in the private marketplaces category. This is because the site lets you shop with verified sellers and provides a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to compare vehicles.
Online car brokers
AutoTrader lets you compare cars from various dealerships to find the best price. You can also use this site to apply for financing before you start shopping for a vehicle. The main downside is that the site is difficult to navigate due to crowded pages and lots of ads.
How the car buying process works. Send a quick message to the dealership you want to buy a car from. You’ll typically pay by cash or get in-house financing.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who want to compare used cars from multiple dealerships.
What to watch out for. The website can be difficult to navigate.
Carpages.ca is another online broker that connects you with multiple dealerships at one time. Just click on the ad for the car you want and send a message to the dealership. Book your test drive or arrange at-home delivery options with some dealers.
How the car buying process works. Send a message to the dealership that listed the vehicle to book an appointment. You’ll typically pay by cash or get in-house financing.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who want an easy platform to navigate to find the best price on dealership vehicles.
What to watch out for. The site requests a decent amount of contact information up front which may deter some users.
Our top pick for online car brokers
Carpages.ca is our top pick for the best place to buy used cars in Montreal in the car brokers category. This is because the website is well laid out and you can arrange at-home delivery options with some dealers if you don’t want to shop in person.
In-person dealerships in Montreal can be a one-stop shop for all of your car buying needs. Look for a dealership with solid customer service and a reputation for providing high quality used cars to find the best deal.
How the car buying process works. Shop for your next vehicle in person and get help from a salesperson. You will typically pay with cash or get in-house financing.
Who it’s best for. In-person dealerships are best for customers who want a helping hand with the car buying process and would prefer to test drive multiple vehicles.
What to watch out for. Keep an eye out for poor customer service, dodgy sales tactics and faulty vehicles.
Lombardi Honda Montréal is our top pick for the best place to buy used cars in Montreal for in-person dealers. This is because it has a 4.4 star rating based on over 1,500 reviews and many customers have had a wonderful car-buying experience here.
Auction sites
Buying a car at an auction can help you save money on used cars. You’ll usually need to place a bid in person or online to participate in auctions and you won’t be able to test drive the vehicle before you buy.
How the car buying process works. Place a bid on a vehicle and drive it home if you win. You’ll typically pay by cash or etransfer.
Who it’s best for. Best for people who don’t mind uncertainty and have a set price in mind that they want to pay for a vehicle.
What to watch out for. Potential for faulty vehicles and you may pay too much if you get caught up in bidding. There are also no test drives or returns.
Manheim Montreal is our top pick for the best place to buy used cars in Montreal for the auctions category because it seems to have a very friendly customer service crew and offers a decent inventory of vehicles.
Compare used car loans in Montreal
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What to look for when you buy a used car in Montreal
Consult this used car checklist before you start shopping for a used car in Montreal:
Low mileage. Make sure your car has low mileage (usually under 120,000kms) or pay for extended warranty coverage to avoid extra costs down the line.
Clean inspection. Book an inspection with a licensed mechanic even if your car has had a dealership inspection to make 100% certain that it’s in good shape.
Maintenance records. Ask for the maintenance records to make sure the previous owners took care of the car properly.
Fair price. Consult sites like Kelley Blue Book and Canadian Black Book to make sure you’re getting a fair market price for the car you want to buy.
Passes a VIN check. Get a CARFAX report to make sure the car hasn’t been involved in any thefts or serious accidents.
Performs well in a test drive. Take the car for a test drive and be sure to carry out your own visual inspection to make sure it’s in good working order.
Eligible for financing. Double check that the car you want to buy is eligible for financing and consider getting pre-approved before you start shopping.
You can buy a used car in Montreal with the following payment or financing options:
Use your own savings. Save up money to buy a used car or see if your friends or family might be able to give you an interest-free loan.
Apply for a car loan. Ask to borrow funds from a bank or private lender to buy a used car in Montreal or get a bad credit car loan if your credit score is below 650.
Apply for dealership financing. Apply for financing directly with your dealership or car broker if you don’t mind paying higher interest rates.
Bottom line
There are a number of places to buy used cars in Montreal. The best place to shop will depend on how much you want to spend, what type of car you want and how much effort you want to put in. Learn more about which seller could be the best choice for you and compare used car loans to get the money you need to start shopping.
Frequently asked questions
The best place to buy used cars in Montreal will vary based on your personal preferences. Private sellers and auctions may be a good fit if you want to save money and you don’t mind taking your time to find a good deal. Car dealerships and brokers are better if you want in-house financing or you’d like to test drive and compare multiple vehicles at one time.
Unfortunately, there are no online dealers that let you shop for used cars with at-home delivery in Montreal. However, you can buy a used car and get at-home delivery with some dealers on carpages.ca.
It can be difficult to get financing for a private sale used car unless you have very good credit. You may want to shop with a car broker or dealer to get in-house financing if you have bad credit. You could also have better luck getting financed through the bank or a personal loan provider if you buy a new car.
You should start by considering your budget and whether you need financing. From there, you can decide where to shop and start comparing vehicles to find the best fit. You can then inspect cars and test drive to narrow down your options. Decide on the car you want and pay to drive it home once you have insurance and registration.
Claire Horwood is a writer at Finder, specializing in credit cards, loans and other financial products. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria, and an Associate’s Degree in Science from Camosun College. Much of Claire’s coursework has focused on writing and statistics, with a healthy dose of social and cultural analysis mixed in for good measure. In her spare time, Claire enjoys rock climbing, travelling and drinking inordinate amounts of coffee.
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