The best apps for car shopping on iPhone and iPad

Things certainly have changed when it comes to shopping. You no longer have to deal with traffic, crowds, and checkout lines. You can buy almost anything you want online or from an app. So when you’re ready to purchase a new vehicle, why not do it the same way?

Now of course, you’ll want to see that car in person, take it for a test drive, and make sure it’s in great condition, especially if it’s used. But you can get a jumpstart on your vehicle purchase with a handy app on your iOS device.

These car buying apps for iPhone and iPad let you find the right vehicle for you before you head out the door to see it. Instead of traveling from one car lot to another, check out these convenient apps for finding a new vehicle.

Best apps for buying a car

These car shopping apps do offer the same basic features. Search for a vehicle, see where it’s located, get its price, and more. So we’ll show you some of the standout features that make car buying a breeze.

Cars.com

Apps for buying a car - CarsDotCom on iPhone

Cars.com is an easy-to-use app that lets you browse for vehicles without signing up. But with a free account, you can get alerts for cars and trucks that interest you as well as save your favorites.

Start by selecting new, used, or certified vehicles. Then pop in the make, model, price, location, and other optional details to narrow down your results.

With Cars.com, you get all the information you need to decide if you want to purchase the vehicle. You’ll also have options for online home delivery and virtual appointments where available.

What’s nice about this app is that you have a built-in calculator. Figure out what you can afford or how much your monthly payments would be. And if you’re selling, you can get in-person appraisals and create your own listing.

  • Availability: iPhone, Android, and the web
  • Cost: Free download

CarMax: Used Cars for Sale

CarMax on iPhone

CarMax starts you off a little differently than Cars.com. With this app, you can shop for cars in your budget to save time and energy from seeing vehicles you can’t afford. You can also look for vehicles by make or model, type or style, or price or budget if you rather.

Going beyond static photos, CarMax gives you a 360-degree view of the vehicle, inside and out. Then peruse the details, features, specs, and more.

Find out if you can afford a particular car or truck by entering your credit rating, down payment, and loan term length right on the vehicle detail page.

Call the seller, save your favorites with a free account, or sell or trade in your own vehicle. CarMax is a great app for finding your next car or truck.

  • Availability: iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web
  • Cost: Free download

Autotrader

Apps for buying a car - Autotrader on iPhone

Autotrader is another excellent app for car and truck shopping. And if you own an Apple TV, you can download the app there and shop from the comfort of your couch on the big screen.

Enter a make and model, style, price, and location to start. After you get your results, you can use advanced filters to narrow down your options. From delivery to your door to the color and vehicle features, you can find the exact vehicle to fit your needs.

Like the other apps, you can save vehicles you like, but you can also save your searches. So you can go back and see what new vehicles meet your requirements anytime you like.

When you’re ready to move forward, you can call or email the seller directly from the Autotrader app. You can also view the seller’s details when available like website, hours, and more.

  • Availability: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, and the web
  • Cost: Free download

TrueCar: The Car Buying App

TrueCar on iPhone

Looking for a vehicle but not sure which is the best car, truck, or SUV in its class? With TrueCar, you can browse the “best” guides to see descriptions, pros and cons, pricing, and overall assessments. Then, shop for the one you want!

Of course, you can also find vehicles by new or used, or a specific model. Configure all the options you’re looking for upfront and check out your search results. Or, let the app find a car for you based on the details you provide.

TrueCar gives you details like what other consumers paid for the vehicle in your state, similar cars for sale, and tons of photos.

If you want to sell or trade in your current car or truck, you can get an estimate on what your car is worth and start the ball rolling in just a few taps. For the full experience and to save configurations to vehicles you’re looking for, just sign up for a free account.

  • Availability: iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web
  • Cost: Free download

CarFax

Apps for buying a car - CarFax on iPhone

If you’re in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, CarFax is an app you want. You can view the history of a car or truck including damage or accidents, the number of previous owners, service records, and more.

Start your search by make and model or body type. Enter your location, mark the vehicle history options you want, and see your results.

You can view all information about the vehicle in addition to the CarFax report snapshot. Call or email the seller, share the details with a friend, or mark a favorite to revisit it later. You can also use the Check Availability feature which lets you fill out a quick form and send a message to the seller.

When you’re searching for a used car or truck, the history of that vehicle is important. CarFax gives you the history details you need.

  • Availability: iPhone, Android, and the web
  • Cost: Free download

Wrapping it up

Finding a new vehicle doesn’t have to be work. With these apps for buying a car on your iPhone or iPad, you can search, browse, and contact the locations quickly and easily.

Do you have a different app you’ve used to help you with car shopping? If so, let us know in the comments below!

For more, take a look at some of our app lists for other great tools for your devices!