Over the years there has been a proliferation of automotive Web sites, each offering information, suggestions in the sales process, and even connecting buyers and sellers with dealerships and/or customers.
We at Autotrader have been helping customers find cars for decades, but ultimately, our goal is to provide information to best inform the car-buying public. So here we take a look at the differences and similarities between Autotrader and Cars.com.
Autotrader Facts
Auto Trader first launched in 1992 as a print publication showing ads for cars, with the print version lasting until 2017. Autotrader.com, with much more comprehensive tools, reviews, and vehicle history reports, started in 1997.
With the stated goal of being “your ultimate solution for buying and selling new, certified, and used cars,” Autotrader.com offers a number of benefits. We boast the largest selection of vehicle inventory from dealers and private sellers; a comprehensive selection of buying and selling tips; research and comparison tools, including reviews, photos, and videos; vehicle pricing, including seller specials and dealer discounts; safety information and vehicle history reports; and even help with finance, insurance, and warranty programs. KBB.com provides pricing information through a partnership with Autotrader.com.
For those unsure about what car they want, Autotrader.com lets a shopper research and compare cars by body type, mileage, price, and other criteria. Autotrader has more than 3 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners, with more than 14 million buyers per month.
One unique feature on Autotrader.com is called “Dealer Home Services” that allows shoppers to search for only those new or used cars where the dealership offers a video walkaround, at-home test drive, and vehicle delivery. This helps mitigate some of the stress buyers feel when walking into a dealership.
Cars.com Facts
With its headquarters in Chicago, Cars.com launched in 1998. In 2004, it commenced a partnership with KBB.com and started advertising nationally. In 2007, a new partnership had its listings on the Yahoo Autos service. In 2016, Cars.com acquired DealerRater. Since the beginning, it has had a partnership with the Magliozzi brothers of Car Talk, with a Car Talk advice section appearing on the site. In 2018, Cars.com acquired Dealer Inspire with the goal of making the car buying process easier and faster.
The home page offers a number of options for searching, including by make or body style, by price, and of course by distance from the buyer’s zip code. There are also pages for Service and Repairs, Research, and Videos and Reviews.
Now let’s break down the buying and selling options on both Autotrader.com and Cars.com.
Autotrader listings for Buyers of New and Used Cars
Autotrader.com allows buyers to search for new cars by everything from make to style, price, location, and even more.
Each new car listing includes information provided by the seller, including the vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number) and often the dealer stock number.
What you will see on Autotrader
At the top of the page, you can search by make, model, or style. An “Advanced search” button allows you to broaden your search terms, with such things as location, condition, and style.
Next you come to a page that shows an example of a car and a dealership, with the MSRP. It also includes information on the dealership and a dealer rating assigned by KBB. Boxes appear with Dealer Home Services options, such as whether a video walkaround or at-home test drive is available. You also have the option to expand the search radius from your home.
Once you click on a particular car, the mileage, engine, transmission, mpg, exterior and interior colors, and the VIN are included, including seller comments. Lower down the page is listed warranty information.
Pricing and Financing
Below that is pricing information provided through our partnership with KBB.com. This includes the MSRP and how it relates to what KBB believes is the fair market range for the vehicle. This information is updated frequently, as it changes depending on things like season (all-wheel and four-wheel drive are more popular in the winter, for example) and the desirability or popularity of a particular new car.
If you need to finance the vehicle, below this is the “Calculate Payment” tool where you can plug in the number of months and down payment and (if relevant) the trade-in value of your current vehicle. It will then tell you your monthly payment and what the APR is.
Contacting a seller through Autotrader
At the top of the page is an box to click that says “confirm availability” if you like the car.
Then there are a number of ways to contact the dealership, including a private message with your name, e-mail and (optionally) phone number. Or you can send an e-mail and ask questions about the car.
What you will see on Cars.com
Once you click on a car on the home page, the next page provides information about the car, a star rating for the dealer, and information such as the transmission and the interior color. The new Shop from Home feature on the left gives the option to click only on places that offer home delivery, virtual appointments, or both.
Once you click through that to the next page, there is more information about the car, including engine type, mpg, and various convenience, entertainment, and safety features. There are more pictures as well as an opportunity to contact the seller directly and check availability.
The bottom of the page includes a payment calculator where you can fill in down payment, interest rate, term, and (if applicable) the value of your trade-in.
Contacting a seller through Cars.com
Each seller is given a star rating (including reviews), and all information is provided, such as address (including distance from the buyer’s zip code) and a phone number.
To the right is a button for “Check Availability” to see if the car is still for sale. There is also a form where you can provide name, phone number, and e-mail to ask questions about the car.
Used Cars on Autotrader
Autotrader features used car listings from both dealers and private parties.
The search options are similar to those for new cars, and include such parameters as year, make, price, style, location, color, etc.
One key difference is that used cars can be filtered via vehicle history (number of owners, any accidents) and mileage. Many listings also include a link to a free Carfax report.
Each listing includes information from the seller, features, and general model information such as reviews, where applicable. Information about the original warranty is also available, as well as KBB’s Fair Market value.
Similar to the new car listings, the used listings also offer a variety of ways to contact the seller, such as e-mail, chat, and of course a phone number.
Certified Pre-Owned
Some of the used cars are known as CPO (certified pre-owned) cars. CPO programs are run by the manufacturers and available at dealerships. A CPO car is one with low mileage that has been thoroughly inspected and includes a warranty from the manufacturer.
More Search Choices on Autotrader
Even beyond the conventional new and used car listings, Autotrader.com provides different classes of search on other pages. At the bottom of the home page, there are options to find classic and exotic cars, motorcycles, or even RVs. One category that may be handy for certain buyers is a special search for those with bad credit. After all, everyone deserves a chance.
Used Cars on Cars.com
The search function for used cars on Cars.com is pretty much the same as for new cars, with a “used cars” or “new cars” pull-down menu option on the first page.
Once you click through it, the page is relatively similar to the new car listing. Now each page includes the mileage of the car, and a green arrow next to the price indicating whether it’s a great deal, a good deal, or a fair price. An optional Carfax report is also included, and whether the car is a certified pre-owned car. To the left, there are various check boxes where you can request certain features, prices, and deals.
Once you arrive at the page for the car itself, the information is much the same as on the new car page, with contact information, the “Check Availability” button, and more detail on the car, including its VIN and mileage.
Autotrader.com Listings for Sellers
Since Autotrader.com exists to help not only buyers but also sellers, it offers a few different choices for private-party sellers. Listings are on a pricing scale, with a basic ad going for $25, a featured ad costing $50 and a premium ad going for $90. Due to Autotrader’s partnership with KBB.com, any Autotrader posting also appears on KBB.com.
Each listing includes comes with photos. Basic comes with three photos, Featured gets 20, and a Premium ad includes 30. There is also the option to add 10 more photos to any package for an additional $20.
Sellers also get a counter to see how successful their ad has been and how many people have clicked on it.
Seller Options
Sellers can choose to include a vehicle history report, which costs $15 with a basic or Featured listing but is included with Premium. Another $15 option is called Spotlight Ad status, which bumps the add up on the search results page from time to time. This is free with Premium.
Premium ads also get something called the Supercharger listing, which makes the ad stand out in search results. This costs $10 with a Basic or Featured ad.
KBB Instant Cash Offer
Yet another advantage to Autotrader’s partnership with KBB.com is that a seller has the option of participating in the Kelley Blue Book instant cash offer, which gives the seller the option to get a cash or trade-in offer fro KBB at participating dealers. This eliminates a lot of the hassle of selling a car, which could include scams or even damage of one’s property.
Cars.com Listings for Sellers
Sell Your Car appears at the top of the home page. Once you click on that, it brings up a page that includes “How to Sell Your Car.” That page walks you through the stages of selling your car, such as taking photographs, collecting relevant documents, figuring out your car’s value, and writing a clear listing. A basic package costs $4.99 and runs for 30 days. It includes up to 10 photos and free renewals, and adds a Carfax report for an extra $35.
There is also an option to get direct offers from dealers or in-person appraisals from up to four dealers.
