With so many options for buying or selling a car online in 2025, it’s only natural to look into whether platforms such as CarGurus are legit. CarGurues is known for its price transparency and user-friendly platform, It has become one of the top online automotive marketplaces in the U.S.
In fact, CarGurus accounts for about 15.7% of automotive click share in U.S. dealership-related searches more than any brand except Carvana. This in-depth review explores how it works, its pros and cons, and what real customers think. We will also compare it with other popular used car websites to help you decide if it delivers on trust, ease of use, pricing, and value.
Whether you’re looking for a reliable commuter car or hoping to sell your old vehicle fast, understanding what CarGurus offers can make all the difference. If you need help getting your new car home, services like Sherpa Auto Transport can take care of the logistics for you.
Key Takeaways
- Sherpa rates CarGurus 8.8/10, naming it one of the five best used car websites for 2025.
- CarGurus is ideal for online buyers, especially those seeking price transparency and wide inventory selection.
- The platform no longer supports private sales as of June 2024, focusing exclusively on dealership listings.
- CarGurus simplifies the car-buying process with robust filters, real-time pricing tools, and trusted dealer reviews.
In This Review
- CarGurus – Is it Legitimate? 2025 Review
- What is CarGurus?
- How Does CarGurus Work?
- Pros of CarGurus
- Cons of CarGurus
- Buying a Car on CarGurus
- Selling a Car on CarGurus
- CarGurus FAQs
CarGurus – Is it Legitimate? 2025 Review
We evaluated CarGurus and other leading used car sites based on reputation, platform, pricing, inventory, and customer satisfaction. We give CarGurus an overall rating of 8.8 out of 10, making our list of the five best used car sites.
Overall Rating: 8.8/10
CarGurus stands out for its transparent pricing, intuitive interface, and wide-ranging vehicle inventory. If you are in the market for a commuter sedan or a vintage muscle car, the platform’s strong filters and dealer ratings make it straightforward to find a suitable option. This balance of usability and selection underpins why CarGurus reviews rank it as a reliable choice for many buyers and sellers.
Industry Reputation: 9/10
CarGurus is known for price transparency and positive user reviews. Over the years, CarGurus has built a strong reputation since its establishment in 2006. It has cemented itself as a trusted name in online vehicle sales. Much of this esteem stems from its price transparency model, which highlights how listed prices compare to current market values.
Positive CarGurus reviews show that it has earned a reputation as a go-to resource for those seeking fair deals and dependable insights. It pinpoints price transparency showing a particular offer is a good deal, fair deal, or overpriced. This in turn boosts consumer confidence and builds user trust. Furthermore, it consistently has high ratings on consumer review platforms that attest to the site’s commitment to honest dealings.
Platform: 9/10
Platforms that streamline the shopping experience and provide real-time data can save you hours of research, making car-buying less stressful. CarGurus shines in ease of use and comprehensive features:
- Advanced Search Options: You can narrow down your hunt by make, model, price range, trim, mileage, and more. This granularity ensures you’re not sifting through irrelevant listings.
- 100% Online Transactions: Buyers (and previously private sellers) can manage the entire buying or selling process through the CarGurus interface. This makes remote negotiations and final transactions more convenient.
- Dealer Reviews & Pricing Trends: CarGurus offers dealer-specific feedback from previous customers, plus an analysis of pricing trends is helpful if you want to gauge whether values are on an upswing or if you might snag a seasonal bargain.
Pricing: 8/10
CarGurus earns praise for its transparent pricing tools and quick, reliable online quotes. However, the platform discontinued private sales in June 2024, limiting users to dealership listings. While dealers offer perks like warranties, buyers may miss out on lower prices typically found with private sellers. This change slightly lowers its score in the pricing category, though CarGurus remains a strong option for those preferring dealer-backed purchases.
Inventory: 9/10
CarGurus offers an extensive inventory from various dealers, providing buyers a wide range of options from nationwide and even international dealers. The sheer variety means you can browse everything from newer used models under factory warranty to older, budget-friendly cars that might be perfect for a first-time buyer.
Inventory Highlights:
- Broad Brand Selection: Whether you want a Honda or a Maserati, CarGurus likely has multiple listings for your region.
- Frequent Updates: New vehicles are added daily, so you can catch fresh deals quickly if you keep an eye on filters or set up email alerts.
Customer Experience: 9/10
Users appreciate the comprehensive support and ease of navigation, making the overall customer experience very positive. From sign-up to purchase, CarGurus aims to simplify each stage of the consumer journey. This streamlined approach significantly improves consumer confidence and often speeds up purchase decisions:
- Comprehensive Support: Pop-up guides and FAQs lead buyers through financing, extended warranty, and trade-in questions.
- User-Friendly Interface: CarGurus keeps navigation smooth, whether you’re on mobile or desktop. The website’s layout is clean, and relevant information—like mileage or accident history—is front and center.
- Dealership Communication: Many users praise CarGurus for facilitating direct contact with vetted dealers, reducing back-and-forth phone calls or spammy email chains.
What is CarGurus?
CarGurus is an online automotive marketplace connecting buyers with sellers. It was established in 2006, and has become a trusted platform for price transparency and user reviews. CarGurus aims to make the car buying and selling process easier and more transparent for its users. Moreover, it has A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and generally positive customer reviews. CarGurus is a trusted site in the used car space.
How Does CarGurus Work?
CarGurus connects buyers with dealers, offering tools to analyze prices and read dealer reviews. Users can search for cars based on various criteria, compare prices, and contact sellers directly through the platform. CarGurus boasts a 100% online car-buying experience that allows visitors to shop, finance, and check out from home. Used car purchases through CarGurus come with a 7-day return policy.
For sellers, CarGurus provides accessible online offers in minutes from its dealer network. Like car-buying, selling your used vehicle through CarGurus is simple through the platform. CarGurus even arranges for the pickup of your purchased vehicle.
Pros of CarGurus
There are several aspects of car buying and selling through CarGurus that shine, let’s have a look at some of those factors:
- Price Transparency: CarGurus uses advanced algorithms to analyze prices and ensure fair, market-based pricing.
- Extensive Dealer Reviews: Users can read reviews from other buyers, helping them make informed decisions.
- User-Friendly Platform: The website and app are easy to navigate, with advanced search options and helpful tools.
- Robust Search Tools: Users can filter searches by price, make, model, and other criteria to find the perfect car.
Cons of CarGurus
While our experience with CarGurus was overwhelmingly positive, here are a few drawbacks of the site:
- Intrusive Ads: Some users find the ads on the platform to be intrusive and distracting.
- Outdated Listings: Occasionally, listings may be updated infrequently, leading to discrepancies in availability.
- Limited to Dealer Sales: As of June 2024, private sales are no longer available via CarGurus.
Buying a Car on CarGurus
Overall, the buying process on CarGurus is designed to be informative and transparent, helping buyers make confident decisions based on sound information. The buying process on CarGurus is straightforward and user-friendly. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
- Search and Compare: Buyers can start by entering their desired car make, model, and location. CarGurus provides advanced search filters, allowing users to narrow their choices based on price, mileage, features, and more.
- Price Analysis: One of CarGurus’ standout features is its price analysis tool. Each listing includes a price analysis (e.g., “Great Deal,” “Fair Deal,” or “Overpriced”) based on market data. This transparency helps buyers quickly identify the best deals.
- Dealer Reviews: Buyers can read reviews of dealers from other users, which provide insights into the dealer’s reputation and customer service. This is crucial for building trust and ensuring a positive buying experience.
- Contacting Sellers: Once a buyer finds a car they are interested in, they can contact the seller directly through the platform. CarGurus facilitates communication between buyers and dealers or private sellers.
- Vehicle History Reports: Many listings include vehicle history reports, which provide detailed information about the car’s past, including accidents, service records, and ownership history. This adds an extra layer of confidence for buyers.
Selling a Car on CarGurus
As of June 2024, CarGurus has discontinued private sales. So to answer: What is CarGurus? CarGurus is an online platform that provides an easy online experience for used car owners to sell their vehicles through their extensive dealer network. Here’s how the car-selling process works through CarGurus:
- Instant Offer: provide some basic information about your vehicle, and CarGurus will source thousands of dealers to produce an instant offer.
- Vehicle Pickup: schedule a convenient time for your car pick-up through the CarGurus site.
- Get Paid: CarGurus will pay out via cash or direct deposit within two business days.
Overall, the car-selling process through CarGurus is easy and convenient. However, because car sellers are limited to dealership offers, they are unlikely to receive the maximum potential payout for their vehicle.
CarGurus FAQs
Does CarGurus buy used cars?
Yes. CarGurus buys used cars directly through its CarGurus Sell My Car program. You can enter your vehicle’s details online such as make, model, mileage, and condition to receive instant offers from CarGurus’ nationwide dealer network.
Does CarGurus sell used cars?
Absolutely. CarGurus lists thousands of used cars from both dealers and private sellers across the U.S. You can search by make, model, price, mileage, or location, and the site’s deal ratings help identify fair or great deals based on market data.
