Car Research Tools: Best Car Apps and Websites in Canada
Looking to buy a new (or new-to-you) car? It can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to start on your search. Filter out the noise and start your car search on the right foot by visiting some of these helpful and easy-to-use Canadian car-selling sites and car-buying apps.
Car buyers have a lot of resources to help them in their search for a new set of wheels—right at their fingertips. If you’re looking for a new or used vehicle, car-buying apps and websites can provide access to private seller and dealership listings, as well as tools for researching the right vehicle and figuring out how much your car loan will cost.
AT A GLANCE
Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket these days and developers are busy creating apps for our every want and need. Why not use technology in our favour when it’s time to do research for our next vehicle? We selected the most common car-buying apps and the most popular car-selling websites in Canada.
Here’s our list of the best car-buying apps In Canada on the market for both Apple and Android users:
- Auto Trader
- Kijiji
- CARFAX
- Facebook Marketplace
- Cars.com
- Consumer Reports Car Guides
- CarGurus
- Mint / Credit Karma
- CarBuzz
- Carpages
MOST POPULAR APPS
With the rise of online car shopping, Canadians have a huge selection of websites and mobile apps to use when searching for their next vehicle. Whether you’re just browsing car listings or you’re ready to buy, these apps can help you find the right vehicle at the best price. Here are some of the most popular options for finding and purchasing cars online in Canada:
Auto Trader
Auto Trader’s website is one of the most comprehensive online car search tools for Canadian car buyers. You can search the ample vehicle database for free without signing up for an account. Searches are based on your location and can be as detailed or as broad as you’d like. Results include Auto Trader’s pricing index info so you know if used vehicles are priced accurately by the seller. You can also fill up your “virtual garage” by saving vehicles that catch your eye while you’re scrolling.
Kijiji
You can buy and sell just about anything on Kijiji and its popularity makes it a good place to look for used cars as a research tool. It’s essentially an online classifieds section, so the quality of the ads and information about the posted vehicles will vary widely. The app does give sellers the option of adding specs to their listing, which covers all the basic car details from make, model, and colour to drive, terrain and transmission.
CARFAX
Used car shopping is a practice in buyer-beware warnings. While you want to give every seller the benefit of the doubt, it’s very important to have the right research tools. CARFAX is a trusted vehicle background-checking service that now offers a mobile app. You can request a Vehicle History Report through the app by entering the driver’s licence plate number or the car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (or VIN) into the database. The service isn’t free, however, trusted dealerships will provide you with a CARFAX copy free of charge.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has exploded in recent years as a place for Canadians to buy and sell vehicles directly to others in their local community. You can access Marketplace through the Facebook app where car buyers can browse local listings, communicate with sellers and purchase cars all in one place. Keep in mind that these listings are user-created and may not always include all details of the vehicle. It’s important to do your research and find out as much as you can about the car (including taking a test drive, if possible) before purchasing.
Cars.com
Cars.com has over half a million new and used vehicle listings from auto dealers across Canada, making it one of the largest online automotive marketplaces in the country. In the app, you can shop for vehicles by make, model, price, and location. You can also browse dealer inventories in your own area, research prices and connect with sellers across Canada.
Consumer Reports Car Guides
How much are you actually going to spend on your new or used vehicle? Yes, the sticker price is an important part of the calculation, but most people don’t have the cash to buy a car outright. If you’re going to be leasing or applying for a car loan you should have the Consumer Reports Car Guide app on the ready. It has a free lease and loan calculator that helps you add up all the cost-related aspects of buying a new car so you won’t be surprised by your monthly payments. You can either plug in the price of an actual car or search their database to find the average selling price of a car you’re interested in.
CarGurus
Car buyers can feel confident they’re getting a fair price when using CarGurus because of its instant price analysis and deal ratings on car listings. The app compiles dealer inventories nationwide to help you find the right car at the right deal. You can search millions of listings in one place, compare prices and features, access unbiased ratings and reviews, and estimate payments.
Mint / Credit Karma
While not specifically related to car-buying, Mint (which has now moved to Credit Karma) is a great tool to help you save for that big purchase. The app allows you to view your current month’s spending broken down by category, your average spending in each category and how much your current month’s spending differs from the same period in the previous month. It also shows your transactions across all of your connected accounts, giving you a view of your spending at a glance.
CarBuzz
CarBuzz is designed primarily for car enthusiasts with daily updates about industry news and new models. That said, if you’re looking for a brand-new car it’s a good place to go for information on new releases. The free app also has a car review section that can be narrowed down by make. It offers detailed overviews of new and old models complete with plenty of photos and information about interior and exterior craftspersonship, handling performance, fuel consumption, and more. The app’s buyer’s guide also allows you to research different car types by price range and includes all of the trim types available and has links to CarBuzz articles published on the vehicle.
Carpages
Carpages.ca is a mobile app designed for those looking for a used car in Canada. It has a sparse interface but offers everything you need while searching for a vehicle. It’s free to use and you can jump right into a search from the load screen. Pick the year, kind of car you’re looking for, make and model and away you go. The Carpages app allows you to bookmark vehicles and the history tab allows you to look at your past searches.
MPORTANT FEATURES TO HIGHLIGHT
The number one reason the apps above made the list of top car-buying apps in Canada is how easy they make it for the user to shop for new and used cars right from their phone. Each app has its own unique advantages, but here are some key features they all have across the board:
- Huge inventories of vehicles for sale
- Detailed vehicle information and history reports
- Price comparisons across vehicles and sellers
- Loan payment calculators
- Test drive options
- Purchasing and financing within the app
HOW CANADIANS USE THESE APPS
More and more Canadians are turning to these car-buying apps on their vehicle-buying journey. How are they using them to their advantage? Here are 5 ways:
- Browse Inventory: Buyers can search massive national inventories to find specific makes, models, and prices. They can view inventory across the entire country to find exactly what they want.
- Compare Pricing: Using these car-buying apps allows buyers to compare prices across a number of sellers and negotiate the best deal possible. Having quotes from several dealers creates leverage for a lower price.
- Check Vehicle History: Car buyers use these apps to check on the detailed vehicle history of a vehicle before buying. Many offer access to maintenance records, accidents, etc.
- Schedule Test Drives: Some car-buying apps offer the option for buyers to get a feel for the car before buying by scheduling a test drive at a local dealer.
- Make An Easy Purchase: A big draw for some buyers is to make their entire car purchase digitally—financing included. Your next car could be delivered straight to your door!
Best Car Buying Websites in Canada
Don’t want to look into apps? Preferer to do your car research on the comfort of your tablet or computer? We’ve also selected the best websites
Car Pages
Get extensive listings for both new and used vehicles with the click of a button. Car Pages has an exclusive agreement with the Used Car Dealers Association, providing exceptionally accurate information and fair pricing from listed dealers. All private sellers listed on the site are identity-verified.
Auto Trader
The gold standard for buying and selling used cars, this site boasts extensive Canada-wide listings for both dealer and private vehicle sales. Using their “Compare” function compiles an at-a-glance spreadsheet of up to four different vehicles, so your final decision will be even easier!
Canadian Black Book
This site offers one-stop shopping for both new and used cars across Canada. Simply choose the make, model, and price that fit your criteria to be presented with a selection of options close to you, or search by location for most major Canadian cities. CBB also provides the useful “Average Asking Price” function, allowing you to compare your findings against average market prices for any car you’re considering.
Used Cars Canada
Easily adjust search settings to find the exact vehicle you’re after in the price range you want. Or, search by the dealer to see who has the best deals in your area. Save cars to your compare list to easily weigh your options, and contact the dealer directly through the website.
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