11 best online car buying sites for used cars

Finding the right website to buy your next used vehicle can help you save money and organize a faster purchase. Here are 11 popular used car sites to shop for used cars online and lock in the best provider (and future vehicle!) for your needs.

1. Clutch

Clutch is a well-known site that lets you finance and buy cars online from the comfort of your own home. This online dealer delivers your used car to your doorstep and is upfront about any damage to the vehicle right from the start. Just be aware that this service comes with some fees that other online dealers don’t charge and you’ll have to pay for warranty coverage.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want a transparent car buying experience with the option for financing and home delivery.
• What to watch out for: There is a prep fee if you’re in Halifax.
• Where’s it available: You can use Clutch in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

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Pros	Cons
User-friendly site Shows price, kilometres and special features upfront Very transparent about damage or issues with the vehicle Offers financing for good credit Test own for 10 days/750 km and return if you’re unhappy Cars are thoroughly inspected and come with a free CARFAX report	Mostly newer used vehicles with higher price tags Not possible to test drive vehicle before purchasing Prep fee if you’re in Halifax Warranty coverage costs more

2. CarDoor

CarDoor is another online car buying site that lets you purchase cars from home in the Greater Toronto Area. This site comes with a number of perks such as a money back guarantee, exchange program and free warranty. The main downside is that it’s not available outside of Toronto – otherwise, it would be our top-rated dealer in this category.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want longer-term warranty coverage and a solid customer service guarantee.
• What to watch out for: Limited inventory and service is unavailable outside of Toronto.
• Where’s it available: You can use CarDoor in Ontario.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
User-friendly site No hidden fees Shows price and kilometres upfront 14-day money back guarantee and 60-day exchange program Free 90-day warranty	Mostly newer used vehicles with higher price tags Not possible to test drive vehicle

Related: Clutch vs CarDoor

3. Autorama

Autorama is a Toronto-based dealership where you can shop its inventory of over 150 used cars at its showroom, or browse and purchase vehicles on its website for delivery to your home. You can also apply for auto financing through Autorama and get a free CarFax history report. The company offers financing with no down payment, for any credit type and with same-day approval.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people in Toronto or the GTA who want to view a large inventory of vehicles in person with the option to shop online.
• What to watch out for: Its services are not available outside of Toronto, and it has a limited online inventory compared to other web-based dealerships.
• Where’s it available: You can use Autorama in Ontario.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Can visit the dealership in person Low starting financing rates Free CarFax history report Scheduled vehicle delivery Virtual vehicle tours available on request Trade-ins accepted	Only used vehicles accepted Other online dealerships may have larger inventories Only available to people in the Greater Toronto Area

4. Craigslist

Craigslist is a user-friendly general marketplace that lets you shop for used cars online from private sellers and dealerships in your local area. You can search for used cars using a number of different parameters to find the best deals. When you find a car you like, simply hit “Reply” on the ad to send a message and arrange a meeting in person.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want to shop for used cars online using a simple and user-friendly website that’s easy to access.
• What to watch out for: Potential for unverified or fraudulent sellers and the user experience can be frustrating due to excessive ads.
• Where’s it available: You can use Craigslist across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Multiple search functions to narrow findings User-friendly interface Anonymity while you shop Great deals	Unverified sellers Too many dealerships Thumbnails list limited information Many vehicles listed at $0 (which covers up actual pricing)

5. Kijiji

Kijiji is an online general marketplace for private sale vehicles (though some dealerships advertise here too). This site provides information-heavy thumbnails so that you can easily compare your options side-by-side and you’ll be able to omit search results that you don’t want. This will make it easier for you to find the right used car for your unique set of needs.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want plenty of information upfront to compare private-sale vehicles.
• What to watch out for: Potential for fraudulent sellers and unsolicited advertising on the website can interfere with searches.
• Where’s it available: You can use Kijiji across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Easy to compare vehicles with information-heavy listings You can omit dealerships when you perform searches Prices are displayed upfront in thumbnails Anonymity while you shop	Unverified sellers Sponsored ads can diminish user experience Not the most user-friendly site layout

6. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is an exceedingly popular marketplace for finding private sale vehicles. This is because the site lets you shop for used cars with reputable sellers who are validated through their Facebook profiles. These sellers often have a star rating to show feedback from other customers so you’ll have a better idea of who you’re buying from.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want to find a private sale vehicle with a seller they trust.
• What to watch out for: You may still end up with a fraudulent seller running a sophisticated scam.
• Where’s it available: You can use Facebook Marketplace across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Sellers are often rated and you can view their Facebook profile Fewer dealership listings Prices and kilometres are included in thumbnails for ease of shopping User-friendly interface	Unverified sellers Sponsored ads can diminish user experience You need a Facebook account to send messages about cars you want

7. AutoTrader

AutoTrader is a well-known and well-loved online automotive marketplace that can help you save money. This used car site rates the prices for many of its listings to tell you if the car you want to buy is below or above market value. It also allows you to set price alerts and apply for financing before you buy a vehicle.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want a bit of extra help finding great deals when they shop for used cars online.
• What to watch out for: Not ideal for shopping for private sale vehicles and the website could be more user-friendly.
• Where’s it available: You can use AutoTrader across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Prices are rated to show if they are above or below market value Shows your potential monthly payments for some listings Gives you access to financing Lets you set price alerts to lock in a great deal	Lists more dealers than private sales (so usually more expensive) Sponsored ads can diminish user experience Congested pages make it difficult to navigate the site

8. CarGurus

CarGurus is an automotive marketplace that can help you find a new, used or certified pre-owned car. Search cars by make, model and postal code. As you browse cars, CarGurus will show you whether the price listed is a great deal, good deal, fair deal, high price or overpriced.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who want to browse cars on a user-friendly automotive marketplace site.
• What to watch out for: May not find as many options for private party vehicles as bigger marketplaces.
• Where’s it available: You can use CarGurus across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Easy to use Gives insights into car pricing and dealer ratings Gives you an alert for price drops	Smaller inventory Some reviews say dealers are unresponsive

9. Carpages.ca

Carpages.ca is an automotive marketplace that works primarily with dealerships in big cities across Canada. You’ll usually need to visit the dealership in person if you like a car, which can make it difficult for use between provinces (though you may be able to arrange home delivery options with some dealers). Inventory may be limited since it depends on what partner dealers have in stock.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people who are living in big cities with many dealers.
• What to watch out for: Can be difficult to find what you’re looking for in smaller cities and remote areas.
• Where’s it available: You can use Carpages.ca across Canada.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Good for used car shopping in big cities Lets you apply for financing through the website Offers “Buy from home” options Website is fairly intuitive	Search function often turns up irrelevant results Limited inventory in smaller cities and more remote areas

10. DriveAxis

DriveAxis is the direct-to-consumer online car buying site that is a subsidiary of Axis Auto Finance, a Finalist in the Finder: Car Loans Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023. The focus of Axis Auto Finance — and the DriveAxis portal — is to enable Canadians to shop and finance used vehicles in Ontario. It’s made up of a network of dealers in this province. Browse for a used car online and get connected to a dealer who can best serve you.

• Who’s it best for: Best for people in Ontario who want to buy a used car online from a dealer.
• What to watch out for: Used car inventory is limited to the dealership network.
• Where’s it available: You can use this online car buying site if you live in Ontario.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
Easy to navigate the site Shows details about price, VIN, interior, exterior Get pre-approved for financing 7-day return or exchange policy	Less inventory than big marketplaces No private sales

11. Go Auto

Go Auto is an online network of low-fee in-person dealers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories. This online car buying site lets you shop for used cars online with dealers that offer zero documentation or admin fees. However, the website is somewhat outdated and Go Auto offers a limited inventory compared to online automotive marketplaces.

• Who’s it best for: Best for finding a vehicle from a dealer with very few or no fees.
• What to watch out for: Doesn’t offer a very big inventory and the website needs to be modernized.
• Where’s it available: You can use Go Auto in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories.
• How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

Pros	Cons
No hidden fees 30-day exchanges on vehicles if you’re not satisfied Bad credit financing	Not a very user-friendly website Only available in certain locations Limited inventory compared to other sites Not easy to see where vehicles are located when comparing cars Quality of service varies by dealer

Summary of the types of cars for sale websites in Canada

There are four main categories of used car sites that let you shop for used cars online in Canada. Weigh the pros and cons of each category below:

Type of used car website	Examples	Pros	Cons
Online dealer	Clutch CarDoor	Completely online process Option for delivery “Test own” for 1 to 2 weeks and return if you’re not satisfied Potentially lower vehicle prices than in-person dealerships All used cars go through inspection first	More expensive compared to private sales Prices are usually non-negotiable Limited to the dealer’s own inventory
General marketplace	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace	Less expensive Large inventory of private and dealership vehicles	Higher risk of fraud or of buying a defective vehicle Takes more time and effort to shop around Harder to test drive vehicles
Online automotive marketplace	AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca	Large inventory of cars from individuals and dealerships Easy to get financing Easy to compare cars	Potential for hidden fees Often more expensive than private sale used cars
Online network of in-person dealerships	Go Auto	Large inventory of new and used vehicles from multiple dealerships Financing for bad credit is available	Quality of service varies by dealer Process may not be completely online

What are some other cars for sale websites in Canada?

If you’re searching for used cars online, below are other car buying sites you can visit.

Used car site	Type	What you should know
Wheels.ca	Online automotive marketplace	Availability will depend on your location; there are options for various major cities, but GTA has the most listings
AutoTempest	Aggregator	Displays listings from various used car sites such as eBay, AutoTrader and Kijiji, but Canadian results are very limited
Used.ca	General marketplace	Similar to Craigslist, but more limited options
Carnex	Online dealer	For buying a used EV online, GTA only
Car Nation Canada	Online network of in-person dealers	Options to buy a new or used car online, Southern Ontario only
Ontariocars.ca	Online network of in-person dealerships	Options to buy a new or used car, Ontario only
Canadian Black Book	Car valuation site	For estimating the value of cars, available across Canada

What’s the difference between online automotive marketplaces and online car dealers?

There are a number of key differences between online automotive marketplaces and online car dealers:

• Online automotive marketplaces. Marketplaces let you compare used cars from many dealers and private sellers. They don’t typically get involved in financing, vehicle sales or deliveries (you’ll need to arrange that with the dealer you choose).
• Online car dealers. Online dealers in Canada let you shop, finance and get your vehicle delivered all in one place. They typically offer newer used cars with low kilometres for higher prices. They may also offer additional benefits such as customer satisfaction guarantees and warranty coverage.

How to find the best online car buying sites in Canada

Finding the best online car buying sites in Canada will depend on your needs. To help narrow down your options, consider the following:

• Do you want to find the cheapest used cars? If so, consider private sellers from general marketplaces or online automotive marketplaces.
• Do you want a hassle-free buying experience and peace of mind? If so, consider one-stop-shop online dealers like Clutch and CarDoor.
• Do you want an easy experience browsing for cars online? If so, consider used car sites with a good amount of listings and easy designs such as Clutch, CarDoor, AutoTrader and CarGurus.

What is the most popular used car buying site?

The most popular used car buying site on our list, according to the numbers, is AutoTrader.ca with over 15 million website visits per month in Canada. CarGurus comes in second with over 5 million website visits every month.

Of course, general marketplace sites like Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji have many millions more website visits per month, but when looking at sites designed specifically for buying used cars, AutoTrader.ca and CarGurus stand out from the rest as the most popular in Canada.

Summary: Car-buying websites by province

Here’s a breakdown of which car buying websites you can use depending on where you live in Canada.

Province	Car buying sites
Alberta	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca Go Auto
British Columbia	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca Go Auto
Manitoba	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca Go Auto
New Brunswick	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca
Nova Scotia	Clutch Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca
Ontario	Clutch CarDoor Autorama Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca DriveAxis Go Auto
Prince Edward Island	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca
Québec	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca
Saskatchewan	Craigslist Kijiji Facebook Marketplace AutoTrader CarGurus Carpages.ca

Where can I find the cheapest used cars in Canada?

You can find the cheapest used cars from private sellers in automotive marketplaces like AutoTrader or general marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace. Buying a used car from a private seller takes more time and effort as you sift through many listings and book test drives with sellers, but the trade-off is better prices.

Related: The 10 best cars under $30k in Canada

What is the best used car to buy?

When looking at the best used car to buy, long-term dependability will be a top priority. To help you narrow down your options based on reliability, you can compare models from the following list of award winners from the J.D. Power 2023 Dependability ratings. These vehicles all had the fewest number of owner-reported problems after three years of ownership:

• 2020 BMW X2
• 2020 Toyota C-HR
• 2020 BMW 4 Series
• 2020 Kia Sportage
• 2020 Lexus NX
• 2020 MINI Hardtop 4 Door
• 2020 Kia Forte
• 2020 Chevrolet Blazer
• 2020 Toyota Tacoma 4WD
• 2020 BMW X5
• 2020 Toyota Highlander
• 2020 Kia Optima
• 2020 Lexus RX
• 2020 Toyota Sienna
• 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
• 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
• 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe

Another important factor when deciding on the best used car to buy is a vehicle’s availability. Higher inventory means more options for you, along with better price comparisons and negotiation potential.

According to the most recent AutoTrader Price Index report released in March 2024, used SUVs have the highest inventory availability, followed by used cars, used trucks and finally used minivans with the lowest inventory.

The report also shows that vehicle production levels have ramped up over the past few months, to where inventories are now approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Higher availability has lowered the cost of used cars, with year-over-year decreases in used car prices by 6.1% for luxury brands and 3% for mainstream brands.

Related: Our guide to the best used cars to buy in Canada

What brand of used car is the most reliable?

Whether you’re looking at a vehicle’s reliability based on reported maintenance issues or residual value, Toyota and Lexus are the two car brands that consistently come out on top.

According to a recent Consumer Reports study on brand reliability for new cars, the top brand for reliability is Lexus, followed closely by Toyota. The next runner ups for the most reliable car brands are Mini, Acura, Honda, Subaru, Mazda, Porsche, BMW and Kia. The J.D. Power Residual Value Awards most recently awarded Toyota and Lexus as the top make-level performing brands.

Related: Guide to the overall best cars to buy in Canada, by category

Bottom line

These 11 platforms are some of the best websites for buying used cars in Canada. Whether you’re looking to shop for and finance a vehicle all from the comfort of your home, or simply compare used car options from private sellers or dealerships, these used car sites use top-notch technology to help make the car buying process easier for you.

Survey Methodology

The results of the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2 were collected through an online Pollfish survey conducted between April 27 and April 29, 2023. In the survey, 1,011 Canadians from across the country were asked about their opinions and plans regarding the purchase of a vehicle and the use of vehicle financing. The estimated margin of error for the survey is +/- 3%, 19 out of 20 times.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best website for buying a used car?

  This depends on your needs. If you're looking for a used car that's on the newer side, some of the best websites for buying a car include Clutch and CarDoor. If you're looking for a cheaper car that's on the older side, you may want to try marketplaces like Kijiji, Craigslist and AutoTrader.

• Is it easier to shop for used cars in person or online?

  It's not necessarily easier to shop for used cars in person but it might be safer. This is why you should at least go in person to inspect and test drive cars from private marketplaces and automotive marketplaces. You may be able to put more trust in reputable online car dealers if you want to buy a car completely online.

• Should I buy a used car from a dealership or a private seller?

  The best place to find used cars online will vary based on your unique set of needs. You may want to buy from a private seller if you need a cheap vehicle and you don't mind putting in the time and effort to inspect and test drive used cars at multiple locations. Consider buying from a dealership if you'd like to qualify for used car financing and you don't mind paying a little bit more for added peace of mind.

• Where else can I shop for used cars online?

  You may be able to shop for used cars online with local dealers who maintain online shops. In this case, you can browse the inventory of a nearby dealer and compare cars before you head to the lot to speak with an agent and arrange a test drive.