CarGurus

• Compare Prices and Features
• Search Filters
• Question and Answer Board
• Sell Your Car on CarGurus
• Vehicle Pricing Tools
• Mobile Apps

Compare Prices and Features

CarGurus.com uses mathematical search algorithms to analyze and compare car prices and features on cars for sale. It claims to provide the utmost transparency during the buying and selling process by providing the data and information consumers need to make smart, empowered car purchasing decisions.

To use the auto finder, potential buyers simply type in a zip code and the desired car make and model, and CarGurus shows which vehicle listings to go for and which to avoid for the best local deals.

Whether you are looking for pre-owned vehicles, all-wheel drive, fuel economy, motor trend reviews, or other specs, CarGurus can find the perfect vehicle to fit your needs. 

Search Filters

CarGurus' technology search allows users to search by:

• Price
• Mileage
• Body style
• Dealer or seller radius to a particular zip code
• Transmission type
• Trim
• Days on the market
• Recent listings
• Drivetrain type
• Color
• Fuel type
• Engine type
• Vehicle history
• Additional options (such as self-driving car, backup camera, utility package, etc.)
• Sold by a car dealership or individual
• Photos
• Fuel economy
• Price drops.

You can also add similar cars to your search or type in very specific text to help narrow your options. 

Question and Answer Board

CarGurus' most unique feature is its question and answer board. This is an online community forum where car buyers can post questions on any auto-related topic. You have to sign in to the website to set up a profile to post a question, but the board is free and open to all visitors.

This is a helpful tool, beyond the search engine features, to help individuals find the latest updates on all things auto-related. The categories include:

• Shopping and Pricing
• Maintenance and Repair
• Car Customization
• General

This forum provides a prime opportunity to ask questions you would not otherwise be able to ask on the Contact Page of the website because you can receive help beyond car shopping customer service, which you can't always plan on to respond immediately. Users themselves can be resources for one another beyond consumer reviews and share practical, real-world advice without any marketing bias. 

Plus, CarGurus staff, who are presumably car guru experts themselves, reply to questions on the forum as well. This feature seems more efficient for both customer and company because chances are your question is not uncommon and being answered publicly can help others as well. It also allows you to keep track of question topics that interest you by "favoriting" them.

Sell Your Car on CarGurus

Something else that resonates with CarGurus users is that the website allows you to sell your car through its site at no cost. Similar to Craigslist, you can post an ad on the platform to be seen by others. This makes the pool to shop from much larger than some other companies with specific seller requirements. 

nother difference is that to upload your ad you have to complete a form with the following specifications:

• Transmission Type
• Exterior Color
• Interior Color
• Car Description
• Car Photo

This method can definitely be a safer way to sell your car because you know exactly what specs to include instead of just guessing. And posting with a popular site like CarGurus.com gives you some semblance of legitimacy. 

Vehicle Pricing Tools

The Cargurus IMV or Instant Market Value is a tool for pricing your car. It is a combination of a recommendation tool and a comparison tool. You can go to the "Sell My Car" page and specify the car, zip, mileage, transmission and options to see suggestions for the most competitive pricing and to determine the value of your car.

To help you determine if a seller is selling the car at a fair price, CarGurus also offers a trade-in value tool that analyzes over 4 million used car listings per day to deliver an accurate estimate of your cars Trade-in and private-sale value. In most cases, CarGurus innovative data analysis is superior to using your own metrics. 

Mobile Apps

One final note: This is one of the few websites in its industry that makes its app easy to find and download for iPhone and other Apple products as well as Android. The CarGurus.com app has received solid performance ratings.

• Anyone Can Post a Listing

 Anyone Can Post a Listing

Being able to post your car for free on CarGurus.com is definitely advantageous for the seller; however, buyers should be aware that it may not be as advantageous for them. According to the website, if someone has a car he or she wants to sell, he or she can just post it on the CarGurus site and from there it will be included in the millions of used car listings it provides. All the seller has to do is have the car's color, transmission type and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and photo. Vehicle history information helps, but could in some cases be fabricated. 

There doesn't seem to be a system in place to ensure that sellers are legitimate. This may be cause for concern if considering a test drive. When searching the used car listings, individuals should consider whether the car is being sold by an individual seller or a dealership or whether it is certified pre-owned or not. 

Car dealerships are likely the safer bet, as they have a vetting process of their own and many car dealerships have already established an affiliate relationship with CarGurus. Through the "Find a Dealer" page, shoppers can find car dealers in their area with the best reputation.