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10 best online car-buying sites for used cars

Many websites claim to be the best place to buy a used car, but we separated the good from the not-as-good. Here are the best online car-buying sites in Canada.

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

1. Clutch: For competitive prices and an easy buying experience

Available in Ontario and Nova Scotia only

Clutch used car inventory page

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.

  • 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: No private sales available and 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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ProsCons
  • 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

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 offers a hassle-free experience and competitive used car prices.

2. CarDoor: For buyers in the GTA looking to buy online

CarDoor used car inventory page
CarDoor is another online car-buying site that lets you purchase cars from home. Its focus is on the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This site comes with a number of perks such as a money back guarantee, exchange program and free warranty.

  • 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: No private sales available.
  • Where’s it available: You can use CarDoor in Ontario.
  • How much will I pay: This is a free platform.

ProsCons
  • 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 before purchasing

3. Craigslist: For cheap used cars via private sales

Craigslist used car inventory page

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.
ProsCons
  • 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)

4. Kijiji: For used car private sales via an easy-to-use site

Kijiji used car inventory page

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.
ProsCons
  • 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

5. Facebook Marketplace: For cheap used cars from verified private sellers

Facebook Marketplace used car inventory page

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.
ProsCons
  • 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
  • Potential for scams
  • Sponsored ads can diminish user experience
  • You need a Facebook account to send messages about cars you want

Our top pick for general marketplaces

Facebook Marketplace is our top pick for the best place to find used cars online for general marketplaces because it lets you shop with verified sellers and provides a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to compare vehicles.

6. AutoTrader: For extensive options from private sellers and dealerships

AutoTrader inventory page

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.
ProsCons
  • 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

7. CarGurus: For an easy search experience with price alerts for used cars

CarGurus homepage

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.
ProsCons
  • 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

8. Carpages.ca: For a comprehensive search of used cars from dealerships

Carpages homepage

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.
ProsCons
  • 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

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.

9. DriveAxis: For used car sales from dealerships in Ontario

DriveAxis car inventory page
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.

ProsCons
  • 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

10. Go Auto: For used car sales from dealerships in Western Canada

Go Auto homepage

Go Auto is an online network of low-fee in-person dealers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. Its headquarters is in Edmonton, Alberta. This online car-buying site lets you shop for used cars online with dealers that offer zero documentation or admin fees.

  • 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, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
  • How much will I pay: This is a free platform.
ProsCons
  • 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 websiteExamplesProsCons
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
  • DriveAxis
  • 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
Car icon

Plans to buy a used car in the next 3 months

According to data from the recent Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2, 1 in 4 Canadians (25%) plan to buy a used vehicle in the next three months. This is a significant drop from Q1 2023 survey results when 42% of respondents planned to purchase a used vehicle.

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 siteTypeWhat you should know
Wheels.caOnline automotive marketplaceAvailability will depend on your location; there are options for various major cities, but GTA has the most listings
AutoTempestAggregatorDisplays listings from various used car sites such as eBay, AutoTrader and Kijiji, but Canadian results are very limited
Used.caGeneral marketplaceSimilar to Craigslist, but more limited options
CarnexOnline dealerFor buying a used EV online, GTA only
Car Nation CanadaOnline network of in-person dealersOptions to buy a new or used car online, Southern Ontario only
Ontariocars.caOnline network of in-person dealershipsOptions to buy a new or used car, Ontario only
Canadian Black BookCar valuation siteFor estimating the value of cars, available across Canada
RightRideOnline dealerNationwide inventory

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.

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.

ProvinceCar-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Associate editor

Claire Horwood was a writer at Finder, specializing in credit cards, loans and other financial products. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria, and an Associate’s Degree in Science from Camosun College. Much of Claire’s coursework has focused on writing and statistics, with a healthy dose of social and cultural analysis mixed in for good measure. In her spare time, Claire enjoys rock climbing, travelling and drinking inordinate amounts of coffee. See full bio

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Publisher

Leanne Escobal is a publisher for Finder. She has spent over 11 years working with financial products and services, specializing in content and marketing. Leanne has completed the Canadian securities course (CSC®) as well as the personal lending and mortgages course by the Canadian Securities Institute. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature and creative writing from Western University. See full bio

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