Finding the right website to buy your next used vehicle can help you save money and organize a faster purchase. Here are 10 popular used car sites to shop for used cars online and lock in the best provider (and future vehicle!) for your needs.
Best used car websites in Canada
- Clutch
- Canada Drives
- CarDoor
- Craigslist
- Kijiji
- Facebook Marketplace
- AutoTrader
- CarGurus
- Carpages.ca
- Go Auto
1. Clutch
Available in Ontario and Nova Scotia only
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.
Pre-qualify with no impact to credit
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2. Canada Drives
Canada Drives is a buy-from-home car dealer that’s gained a lot of attention in the past few years. This used car site lets you shop for and finance vehicles in several different provinces and offers a 7-day return policy and 30-day warranty coverage to make sure you find the right fit. You can buy a car with a few clicks of your mouse and get it delivered to your home in a matter of days.
- Who’s it best for: Best for people who want quick delivery and a decent level of free warranty coverage.
- What to watch out for: Can be more expensive than private sales and you won’t be able to test drive before you buy.
- Where’s it available: You can use Canada Drives to shop for used cars in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
- How much will I pay: This is a free platform.
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3. CarDoor
CarDoor is another online dealer 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 (specifically the Greater Toronto area).
- How much will I pay: This is a free platform.
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Our top pick for online car dealers
Clutch is our top pick for the best place to find used cars online in this category because it’s available in several large cities and offers decent warranty and exchange programs.
Canada Drives vs Clutch vs CarDoor
4. Craigslist
Craigslist is a user-friendly private 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.
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5. Kijiji
Kijiji is an online 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.
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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.
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Our top pick for private marketplaces
Facebook Marketplace is our top pick for the best place to find used cars online for private marketplaces because it lets you shop with verified sellers and provides a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to compare vehicles.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Our top pick for online automotive marketplaces
AutoTrader is our top pick for the best place to find used cars online in this category because it lets you set price alerts and provides pricing information to help you find the best deal.
10. Go Auto
Go Auto is an online network of low-fee in-person dealers across Western Canada, Ontario and Manitoba. This used car 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, BC, Ontario and Manitoba.
- How much will I pay: This is a free platform.
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Summary of the types of used car sale websites in Canada
There are 4 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:
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Online dealer |
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Private marketplace |
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Online automotive marketplace |
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Online network of in-person dealerships |
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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. They may offer financing, but they don’t typically get involved in vehicle sales or deliveries (you’ll usually need to arrange that with the dealer you choose).
- Online car dealers. Online dealers 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.
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.
Bottom line
These 10 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.
Frequently asked questions
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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, Canada Drives 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.