Australia's Best Car Websites

Australia's Best Car Websites 2015

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No matter what kind of car you’re looking for, the easiest way to get a complete picture of what’s on the market, to find a niche model or just make sure you’re getting a fair deal is to go online. Without leaving your home you can very quickly work out how much you should pay, the safety features and how they’re rated, and everything else you could possibly want to know about cars.

We surveyed over 1000 Australians to find out where they are shopping for and selling their cars. Carsales.com.au came out on top by a long shot, followed by Gumtree.com.au and Cars Guide. We’ve compiled the results into a handy graph for you to check out.

Q: When looking for a car, which website do you use?

best car websites 2015 survey results

So here’s the full list of the 23 best car websites for 2015:

  1. Carsales.com.au

    best car websites Car Sales app Using Australia’s biggest car website you’ll find all the most popular cars in Australia, with private sellers, brand new cars and special offers. It’s easy to use through the website, iOS app, Android or Windows, so you can shop for your new car from absolutely anywhere, even on the train on the way to work. best car websites Car Sales As well as finding the right car, you can search for parts & accessories, and for a local service centre. The People’s Choice and CarSales recommends are also good places to check out the cars that other’s have road-tested and recommend.
  2. Gumtree

    best car websites gum tree Gumtree was launched in 2007 and provides a community website where you can find local classifieds advertisements for just about anything you could want, including new and used cars, vans and utes, motorcycles and scooters, caravans, campervans and trailers. You can even source parts and accessories. You can narrow your search by State or suburb to find just what you’re looking for, just around the corner. Advertisements usually contain photographs so you can see what people are selling before you make the effort to travel to view it. There are cars added to the website every minute, so you can compare prices, and negotiate to get a great deal from a private seller who needs to shift their car quickly.
  3. Carsguide.com.au

    best car websites cars guide Carsguide is a huge car sales website with over 100, 000 cars listed from all over Australia. It’s run by Newscorp, so you’ll benefit from their deep resources which include a map showing where the cars are located. There’s new cars, used cars, and everything else you can think of. One key feature is the new car deals listing so you can find the current best deals by location. You’ll also find reviews and news on exciting new concept cars.
  4. eBay

    best car websites ebay You’ll find a wealth of used and collector cars on eBay, with those extras and modifications that won’t be sold by a dealership. If you’re after something unusual, this would be the best place to go to find it. This is where people who are passionate about their vehicles go to sell them. There are cars like the Maserati Spider, Porsche, Chevrolet’s from the ‘60’s - it’s a world of dreams for a classic collector.
  5. Drive.com.au

    best car websites drive On Drive.com you’ll find new and used cars, with a convenient ‘lifestyle’ browse option. Search categories include First car, small car, family car, adventure, prestige, performance, eco and trade commercial. You’ll also find a wealth of information about car maintenance, fuel and oil, tyres, tips for buying and selling; as well as reviews written by both experts and car owners.
  6. Carpoint.com.au

    best car websites car point Carpoint stands out with its simple search function allowing you to select brand new cars, dealer used demo and new cars, or private seller second-hand cars. You’ll get a comparison of the prices across these sources, from locations Australia-wide. You’ll find everything from classic cars like the Austin Healey, to Ferrari and Ford. The partner website even lets you search for car parts and accessories in case you’re doing repairs.
  7. Pickles Auctions

    best car websites pickles Pickles was established as an auction house and valuation specialist in 1964. It now has 19 branches nationally, in every State and Territory of Australia. More than 35% of their sales are now made online. Offering a huge range of Government, Fleet, Repossessed and Luxury vehicles, all vehicles are available to inspect prior to the auction. You can register for product alerts and also opt to avoid the auction process altogether and buy at a Fixed Price. Buying at Pickles has never been easier. You can bid onsite or online via Pickles Live and they’ve made it super easy for Pickles Online sales, so if you’re too busy to be at your desk at the auction time you can set a maximum bid and Pickles will take care of the bidding for you.
  8. Autogenie

    best car websites Autogenie This handy tool was featured on Channel 7’s Today Tonight. First, you decide on the make, model, colour and any optional extras (using Go Auto or the other tools below). You submit an anonymous request for the car, and dealers will get back to you with 3 offers with 24 hours. This saves you shopping around, you just pick your favourite deal, contact the dealer and drive away with your new car. There’s a handy app on the website that updates on the deals people are getting, so just by having a look, you get an idea of what to expect.
  9. Car City

    best car websites car city You’ll find over 2000 second-hand cars across Melbourne and Sydney, amongst these ex-government vehicles. You can narrow your search by year, make, model, price, km’s and recently added, or search an individual dealer.
  10. Trading Post

    best car websites ebay Browse over 21,000 cars by body type, make, model or price from all over Australia. You can save searches or access a list of recently viewed items, making this an easy way to find where you’ve been in your search for the right vehicle. You can also save a search so it’s easy to keep your eye on the market for the exact car you’re after.
  11. BMW Used Cars

    best car websites bmw used cars If you’re looking for a second hand BMW, this will be your first stop. You’ll get peace of mind that the car you’re buying has been looked after by the dealer at each service, it contains only genuine BMW parts and accessories, and has undergone a stringent 100 point check by factory-trained BMW technicians. You’re saving money by purchasing a second-hand car, but you’re not compromising on quality.
  12. Autoline

    best car websites autoline This is Australia’s largest free online vehicle classifieds listing. You can browse dealers and private sales to find the best deal in your state. You can select from popular searches such as a Mitsubishi Magna or Holden Commodore, or satisfy your need for speed with HSV Clubsport, Nissan Skyline or a Suburu Impreza WRX.
  13. Redbook

    best car websites ebay Redbook was launched as a printed publication in 1949 but went online in 1997. It remains the forefront authority in Australia on car valuation and information. Before you buy a car or trade-in your old vehicle, it’ll pay to check their website to be sure you’re getting a fair deal.
  14. Choice.com.au

    best car websites choiceChoice has safety ratings for 239 popular second-hand vehicles, including Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai and more. Used Car Safety Ratings are more comprehensive than the ANCAP safety rating for new cars, as data is updated annually with data from police reports on actual crashes. You can search by car type and compare ratings across all car categories, so you can make a smart decision about how you’ll protect yourself and your family. You’ll also find advice on competitive insurance and reviews of the policies available so you can make sure you’ve got a good rate before you get the keys to your next car.
  15. Used Cars Adelaide

    best car websites used cars adelaide This is a great resource for Australians looking to get into a popular second-hand car model. Based in Edwardstown in Adelaide, the team at Used Cars Adelaide will use their extensive network to search the market to find you the best deal on any second-hand car. You don’t even have to lift a finger.
  16. Autotrader

    best car websites autotrader Autotrader is the number one market place in Western Australia for selling cars. They also list motorcycles, boats, caravans, trucks and commercial vehicles. You can find everything from a classic Austin Healey to a Ford or a Vespa, choosing from over 30 000 vehicles.
  17. Country Cars.com.au

    best car websites country cars Country Cars is the biggest online classifieds dedicated to buyers and sellers of Second-Hand Cars in regional areas in every state in Australia. It’s only $55 to create an ad with 5 photographs. With an unlimited word count, it’s likely that you’ll find an honest and upfront description from private sellers as well as regional dealers without having to drive the long miles through the outback to get there. You can also find equipment, motorbikes, boats, caravans and commercial vehicles.
  18. Motoring.com.au

    best car websites motoring By now you’ll be getting sick of looking at car sales websites so you’ll appreciate the chance to kick back and enjoy this fantastic resource with travel advice, videos, car reviews and general industry news. No price tags. There’s a section on galleries and events so you can look through photos of your ‘lust-haves’ or find a local motor show.
  19. Car Advice

    best car websites car advice This site will give you lots of info on the best selling cars across Australia - from Abarth and Alfa Romeo to Wiesmann and ZX Auto. You have heaps of options, browsing by showrooms or comparing makes and models. It’s not a sales website, it’s Australia’s most comprehensive collection of independent editorial reviews. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for you can submit a question and one of the journalists will answer it for you. The most useful feature is the ‘Top 5 Cars recommended by category’ which allows you to read the expert's opinion on your new car. You can also access owner car reviews and compare specs of the vehicles you’re considering.
  20. Car Facts

    best car websites car facts If you’re buying a second-hand vehicle, for just $29 you can get peace of mind that you are getting what you think you’re getting. You will find out if the car has ever been written off or stolen, whether it’s under finance, whether the registration is valid and accurate, and which state it’s registered in. You’ll get confirmation of the vehicle description, including the year of manufacture, fuel type, engine size, power/torque, and fuel consumption. The PPSR Certificate is included, along with a check on whether the car is still under the manufacturer's warranty, its Green Star and ANCAP Safety Rating. You’ll also find a market comparison based on odometer reading and sales price.
  21. Unique Car Sales

    best car websites unique car sales A division of carsales.com, this website contains exclusive editions and modified cars that you don’t find at the average dealer. You can search through Asian, American, Australian, prestige and luxury models as well as classic and convertible cars. It’s the perfect place to find a car for the Australian summer.
  22. Australia’s Best Cars

    best car websites australias best carsThis site has been ranking cars based on value for money, design and function and road performance since 2000. There are up to 8 criteria, with each being given a score between 1 and 10. The judging panel is made up of 11 motoring experts with backgrounds in vehicle engineering, vehicle testing and motor advisory from the major motoring clubs across Australia (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RACT, RACWA). The 2015 program launch has been postponed because of issues regarding emissions compliance of the VW group - so you can see how seriously the judges take their decisions. Watch this space, as as soon as the issue is clarified the judging will be finalised. In the meantime, you have access to results from the past 14 years to help you make the important decision of your next car.
  23. Go Auto

    best car websites go autoThis website has a model history for 57 makes of cars launched in Australia, so you can find all the information you need to decide on what car you are looking for. You’ll also find car reviews, road tests, videos, updates on local motor shows, and how to choose a ‘green’ car within your budget. You can search by car size, type, and purpose to identify exactly the right model for you so when you hit the websites listed above, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for.

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