The 5 Best Apps and Websites To Buy a Car

The pandemic has made one thing clear: right now is a good time to buy a car. Because of pandemic and people being a little reluctant to splurge, car manufacturers have been offering impressive deals on autos.

But not everyone has the time to spend hours upon hours getting in and out of cars and going on numerous test drives. And some people are still cautious about being out and around crowds with the pandemic ongoing.

Fortunately, the internet has made it more possible than ever to do your research, compare prices and get all the facts before you step foot onto a car lot. And some apps will deliver the car right to your door (or driveway).

Plus, apps can not only notify you when the cars you want become available but can be used as bargaining chips if you decide to venture out and buy a car from a dealership. The salesperson may cut you a better deal if the app’s already made you an offer.

So take advantage of these options for buying a car online.

If you want to buy a used car but don’t want to go through the hassle of walking around and kicking the tires, Carvana may be the best bet for you. This online dealership will let you look at a car’s specs, take it for a virtual spin, let you sign all your docs online and then deliver the car to your home or, if you’d like to pick it up yourself, let you grab it from an automobile vending machine.

Cars also come with a limited 100 day/4,189 mile “Worry Free Guarantee.” If the car doesn’t fit your life, the site states, just return it.

Vroom is one of Carvana’s biggest competitors. Like Carvana, their website lets you explore thousands of high-quality, low-mileage vehicles with new cars and trucks added every week. Vroom vehicles have to pass a thorough inspection and come with a free CarFax vehicle history report so you can feel confident you’re getting a good ride.

You can upload all the important purchase documents directly to their site or app and schedule a home delivery. Vroom allows you 7-days to test your new vehicle. If it’s not right for you, you can return it for a full refund.

Don’t like to haggle over prices? The CarMax app will give you all the info you need on a car and tell you how much you’ll be paying every month in an easy-to-understand and straightforward way. The app also lets you compare 10 cars at a time and gives you a complete history of each car you’re looking at.

If you live within 60 miles of a dealership, they’ll bring the car to your home for free. Otherwise, CarMax is currently offering express pickup appointments.

Make no mistake: You can absolutely visit Cars.com on the web, but the site has an app, too. The app is intuitive, easy-to-use and presents information in a direct way that makes it easy to choose your next car. It’ll even show you which cars are “likely to go fast” where you live. Plus you can read reviews from other users.

Ready to buy? Cars.com can also help arrange delivery of your new or new-to-you vehicle.

This app (and site!) won’t deliver a car to your door, but it will help you answer any questions you might have about purchasing a vehicle. Not only will the service break down a car’s specs and help determine whether it’s right for you, but it’ll also help you learn more about loans and discounts, explain important terms and show you cars in your area. Have more questions? Edmunds will let you text with a dealer via its app for “upfront, guaranteed prices.”