Are you using CarGurus to search for your next ride? Here’s how to maximize the tool for your benefit.
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Problem Solved
- Consumers are looking to CarGurus for vehicle research and purchasing.
- CarGurus can be a valuable tool when coupled with other automotive research sites.
- Research on CarGurus is just the beginning of your car buying journey. It can lead you to great deals with the right guidance.
If you’re looking for your next car, where do you go first? For preliminary general searches, chances are you check the web for models of interest. The question is, how does one start their search? Based on recent data from Google Trends, plenty of consumers are heading to CarGurus for automotive research.
Scrolling through long lists of things we want has become a great American pastime. Whether it’s Zillow, your Amazon wish list, or an automotive site like CarGurus, digital window shopping is fairly common. Is CarGurus the best place for shoppers to actually find good deals on their next car? Here’s what you need to know about navigating the platform.
What does CarGurus do and why do people use it?
CarGurus is a publicly traded company (CARG on the NASDAQ), that specializes in American automotive research, vehicle comparisons and local listings. It was founded in 2006 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, partly by one of the co-founders of Tripadvisor.
According to CarGurus, it has “become the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S.” in just over a decade. The platform allows users to buy, sell and research cars. It does not directly sell cars to consumers like CarMax or Carvana. Instead, it acts as a directory for national car sales listings, connecting buyers and car dealers.
The platform takes things a step further by providing filters for consumers to suit their specific wants and needs. Additionally, it provides deal ratings for thousands of vehicles using a scale ranging from “overpriced” all the way to “great deal”.
How to use CarGurus to find a great deal on a car
When you access CarGurus.com, the first thing the site prompts you to do is input whether you’re searching for a used or new vehicle, the make, model and your zip code. You can choose “all makes” if you aren’t interested in any specific brand early in your search.
If users scroll down on the left side of the screen (via web browser) there’s a deal rating option to refine the search. Once you select the “great deal” option, you can browse through a curated list of vehicle offerings from local dealers.
Though CarGurus can be a great resource, be wary. It shouldn’t be your only resource in your car buying journey. You should always do independent research on specific makes, models and model years before purchasing a vehicle. Resources like CarComplaints can help drivers learn about issues owners encounter with specific makes and models. Other resources such as Kelley Blue Book (KBB) can give you a fair market price range for used vehicles.
Using CarGurus like a pro
Car buying can be harrowing and research isn’t always fun. That said, proper research into a vehicle’s fair market value can save you thousands of dollars and gain you leverage in a price negotiation process. Navigating CarGurus and using other resources to verify a great deal is easier than you may think.
For example, if you were searching for a used Nissan Rouge in Antioch, Tennessee, there are 324 results as of October 14. You can refine this search by using the “best deals first” filter, bringing some of the most attractive offers to the forefront of your search. Then, use your price and mileage preference to further narrow your search.
J.D. Power states “there’s no absolute number of miles that is considered too high for a used car.” On the other hand, gently used vehicles that are early in their life cycle are generally less prone to major engine and transmission issues. So, adjust your mileage slider accordingly when searching for a used vehicle. New vehicles are significantly more expensive than older used models due to depreciation.
My preference as a seasoned automotive journalist and car enthusiast is to search for used vehicles that are under five years old with less than 50,000 miles. These vehicles tend to feature modern driver assistance and safety technology while avoiding extreme wear and tear of long-term ownership.
Once you find a model of interest, you can use Kelley Blue Book to assess just how great of a deal a listing is based on its make, model, model year, mileage and trim. Here’s an example of KBB’s price assessment of a 2020 Nissan Rogue SV that fits the description of a CarGurus listing in Antioch, Tennessee. Based on the price assessment, CarGurus’ “great deal” rating of the 2020 Rogue SV listing is accurate.
The challenges of buying new and used cars via listings
There’s a whole other component to buying a new or used car after a thorough search on automotive research sites: the dealers. Car dealers can list vehicles for certain prices then tack on hefty fees. Hidden fees became so commonplace that the Federal Trade Commission decided to intervene to combat auto retail scams.
Before getting too excited about a great deal listed on a site like CarGurus (or any automotive site), be sure to do your due diligence. According to Nerd Wallet, the “out-the-door price of a car is the amount you would pay to walk out of the dealer’s door with keys in hand”. If you end up at a dealership after following up on an online listing, be sure to know the exact “out-the-door” price of a vehicle before making any purchasing decisions.
Buying a new or used car can be a harrowing process, but research helps ensure consumers are satisfied with their purchases once the ink has dried and you start the ignition. You can never do too much research before entering a long-term financial commitment involving a vehicle.
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