You can get anything on the internet these days. Medication? It’s being hand-delivered to you. Alcohol? It’s on the way as we speak. A brand new used car? Yeah, you can order one of those online as well. In a world where technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, it’s up to you to take advantage of what’s in front of you.

Plus, it saves you the pain and heartbreak of going to dealership after dealership, wasting weekends and time (so much time), not to mention pushy car salespeople who upsell everything from undercoating to overcoating and won’t catch a hint. In fact, that alone may be reason enough to shop for a car online.

In this article, we’re racing to tell you everything you need to know when it comes to buying a car online, and we’ll show you our favorite spots to shop as well. Now, buckle your seatbelts and hang on for the ride of your life. Is that overstating it? Absolutely not. Read this article like you live your life: A quarter-mile at a time.

Can You Really Buy a Car Without Leaving Your Home? The 10 Biggest Online Car Buying Questions

How does online car buying work?

It’s not that car dealerships are a thing of the past. It’s that car companies understand that online shopping is the future. And in a world overrun by a global pandemic, car dealerships (both the old-fashioned kind and new, internet-first kind) have gone above and beyond — making it easier than ever for you to find the car that fits you. 

You can search through available inventory, check out detailed photos, compare prices, get financing — basically, everything involved in hunting for and buying a car. Most online car sites will even bring your car to your home for a test drive and for the final purchase.

Can I test drive a car I buy online?

Virtually all of the big online sites do test drive and home deliveries when you’re thinking about buying a car or actually buying it. In the COVID era, they abide by a no-touch test rule (where you don’t have to come in contact with online car company employees) that allows shoppers to drive before they buy without having to leave the house. Well, technically you’ll have to leave the house to test drive the car, but you'll only have to drive around your neighborhood.

Can I sell my car to one of those sites?

Yes, most online car buying sites will buy cars as well as sell them. Places like Vroom and Carvana will give you a real offer on your car within minutes of posting it [1]. All you do is enter your car’s VIN, answer a few questions, and you’ll get your offer based on vehicle details and current market conditions. Carvana will buy your car for cash or you can trade it in. The choice is yours.

Of course, this does present quite a paradox. Since you can buy virtually everything online, including a car, you literally never have to leave your house again, which eliminates the need for a car. Ponder on that for a moment.

Are the online car dealerships reputable?

We’ve hand-picked five reputable car dealership companies that operate online so you don’t have to go through the trouble of searching for a scam-free ride. If you aren’t going to use our faves, there are other reputable companies out there — but there are also some less reputable ones as well.

Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true when shopping for cars online. Also, you should never wire funds or complete bank-to-bank transactions. Scammers love this kind of transaction because there’s no way for you to get your money back once it’s completed. Instead, make legitimate purchases by check or credit card [2]. Make sure to see the car in person before you buy it as well. 

Are there extra fees for buying a car online?

In most cases, there shouldn't be any extra fees for buying a car online — at least, no fees beyond what you'd encounter buying a car the old school way. Things like delivery or destination charges existed before online car buying and will probably continue to exist forever. However, one of the best parts of buying a car online is you can take your time, see all the fees and numbers up front, and make sure you're satisfied with the final cost to you. When you're buying in person, often things can happen so fast that suddenly you don't understand what you're paying for or why the price seems to keep going up.

Can I buy a vehicle online with bad credit?

Don’t let your bad credit stop you from buying a car. We’ve all made credit-related mistakes in our past and that’s OK. A great way to check your credit score is by going to Credit Karma. If you don’t need a new car right away, taking some time to build your credit could pay off — you may be able to qualify for a lower interest rate that could save you thousands on your auto loan. But if you can’t or don’t want to wait, you may want to consider asking a family member or close friend to be a co-signer. A co-signer with good credit could give you a better chance of getting approved for a loan or may help you get a better loan rate and terms [4].

Can I negotiate the price when I buy a car online?

Most online car buying sites have eliminated the negotiation process — the listed price is their lowest offer and there's no long back and forth with a salesperson. You may find a site that's willing to negotiate but in general, the online car buying process eliminates haggling. If you're dealing with an old-fashioned dealership's internet sales department, you may be able to do some negotiating. [5]

What are the downsides of buying a car online?

Perhaps the biggest downside of buying a car online is the inability to see it in person. Good online car companies will provide multiple photos from various angles of the car so you can get a virtual feel of what you may buy. But there’s nothing quite like the feel of the steering wheel in your left hand and the gear shift thrumming in your right as you test drive your potential new car.

Online car companies want to make sure you get a car that’s right for you, which is why they’ll bring cars to you to test drive. But if you don’t like the one brought to you, you’ll have to wait a significant amount of time before another car is delivered to your door. When you’re shopping in-person, you have the option to run around the lot from one car to the next, and you can’t do that from your home. 

How do I choose which online car buying site is best?

You sit pretty and we’ll take the hard part out of your hands. We’ve scoured the internet for the five best online car buying sites and what they specialize in. Let’s take a look at which site revs your engine.

The 5 Best Online Car Buying Sites

Vroom - best online car buying site overall

Vroom believes in three things: that buying cars online should be fun, easy, and affordable. And if it’s not easy or fun buying your affordable car, then you’re doing it wrong. Vroom takes the haggle and hassle out of car shopping. And when you buy online, they’ll deliver the car to your door. Spend a week with the car before you decide to keep it for good. Because that’s how Vroom rolls. 

Carvana - best online car buying site for selection

Do you love vending machines? Putting in your little coins, selecting your little snack and enjoying your little treat at your desk before getting back to work? What if we told you that you can do that on a larger scale? Instead of Kit Kats, maybe you’d want to buy a car. Yeah, like the kind you drive. Carvana is an all-around great site for car buying, but perhaps it's best known for its car vending machines all over the country. Their selection doesn’t end at the vending machines, though. You can shop Carvana’s wide selection online and have it shipped straight to your door.

Gettacar - best online car buying site for protection

When you buy a car from Gettacar, you’re not just getting a car. You’re getting a year’s worth of protection too. With Gettacar guarantee you’re covered for 365-days or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Coverage includes electrical, suspension, cooling, brakes, steering, battery replacement, air conditioning, transmission, engine and so much more. Gettacar is good about easing you into your new car. They won’t let you just drive without a safety net.

CarMax - best online car buying site for customer service

CarMax is the OG used car dealership, and with almost 30 years of experience under their belt, it’s no wonder their online site has superb customer service. CarMax offers more than just answers to FAQs. They’re there for you when you need help with financing, account details, selling, buying, and relationship troubles. OK, not really the relationship troubles part, but their customer service team goes above and beyond for potential buyers and sellers to help ease their minds before switching from in-person shopping to online. Their return policy is easy to use as well, which is helpful for the wishy-washy shoppers.

Shift Cars - best online car buying app for selling your car

Sure, you can buy a car online. But have you ever thought about selling your car online too? The Shift Cars app lets you do that without having to deal with greasy salesmen or low-ball prices. All you have to do is enter your license plate or VIN number and the model of your car and Shift will have your estimate ready for you in minutes. From there it’s up to you on whether you really want to sell. Of course, you also have the option to trade with Shift too. And don’t worry, they’ll come to you to pick up the car you trade or sell as well.