When you want to buy a car online in 2025, it’s almost impossible not to come upon CarGurus. It’s an extremely well-established platform with millions of active listings and thousands of dealer partners, one of the largest automotive marketplaces today.
But maybe you’re wondering if you can really trust it to buy or sell a car. Read detailed CarGurus reviews, analyze features, weigh pros and cons, and make that determination for yourself whether to use this platform for your next transaction.
CarGurus Customer Reviews
Before placing trust in any platform, it is natural to wait and listen to the voices of actual people. Opinions about CarGurus are superlative on the one hand and are critical on the other.
The price analysis tool of transparency and the search ease are appreciated by many buyers, though there are still some buyers who feel that outdated listings or poor dealer communication left them unsatisfied.
Here’s a snapshot of real feedback collected in 2025 from Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, Google Play, and Apple App Store:
| Source | Rating | Key Takeaways |
| Trustpilot | 4.0/5 (4,500+ user ratings) | An easy-to-use app with very nice searching capabilities, but some users feel the vehicles have been misrepresented. |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) | A+ | It has been accredited since 2019; a strong reputation exists in business, though most concerns come from dealers and not the platform. |
| Google Play Store | 4.8/5 (189,000+ user ratings) | Users praised the app for its design and filters, except for some grumbles about ad placement. |
| Apple App Store | 4.9/5 (549,000+ user ratings) | Simple filters with smooth financing; on the flip side, customers report poor warranty support and unhelpful customer service. |
And then there are also several other comments like this:
- “I love CarGurus! I have been browsing through listings for many years, and it is a great site when it comes to finding older cars, such as the Infiniti QX56. The site is very easy to use, and all the information I want to see is right there.”
- “CarGurus was great in finding me a Toyota RAV4 Estate; the process was smooth from beginning to end.”
Probably, people get frustrated when dealers refuse to update their inventory in a timely manner. This is, after all, one of the chief problems of other online marketplaces, and CarGurus is no exception.
What is CarGurus?
If you’re wondering about what CarGurus is, the answer is pretty simple. CarGurus is an online market where bidders and sellers meet for the sale or purchase of cars. The company was started in 2006 and has grown into a big platform hosting over five million vehicle listings. It has purchased Autolist and continues to grow its service offerings.
Its biggest selling point is transparency. Instead of you having to doubt whether that car is a great deal or not, the system dissects a given listing with its private algorithm and ranks it as “Great Deal,” “Good Deal,” “Fair Deal,” “High Priced,” or “Overpriced.” It really should make it easy to catch if you are paying a fair price or being tricked!
This is the place to browse cars new and old, apply filters to limit choices, and contact dealers directly. On the other hand, sellers get instant cash offers through the CarOffer program.
How Does CarGurus Work?
Each time we hear, ‘How does CarGurus work?’ we should imagine an online matchmaking system. It neither owns nor sells a single car, but it permits the posting of listings from dealerships around the country and allows you to compare.
Buying a Car
Here’s how CarGurus operates as a car-buying site:
- Search Listings: Enter make, model, price range, and distance, and the platform will give you vehicles matching the said criteria.
- Check Price Analysis: A price rating is provided for each listing, and you would know if it is priced fairly due to current trends in the market.
- View Dealer Reviews: CarGurus also displays customer opinions of dealers, so you aren’t walking in blind.
- Contact the Dealer: Contact can be made by phone, email or by requesting more information from the site once you have decided on a car.
- Financing Options: CarGurus works with certain lenders like Capital One and Chase, so you can apply for financing through the Internet.
- Delivery: Delivery is arranged by CarGurus in certain instances, allowing your search radius to join nationally.
You can see why many CarGurus reviews call it one of the easiest places to begin searching for a car.
Selling a Car
Selling cars on CarGurus is a different system. Private listings as of June 2024 have been discontinued. They can now only be sold to a dealer through the CarOffer feature. Here is how it works:
- Enter your license plate or VIN, mileage, and condition.
- CarGurus will collate dealer offers for your vehicle.
- You pick the best offer and set a time for pickup.
- The transport partner will pick up the vehicle, inspect it, and either hand you a check or transfer the money to your bank.
The process is pretty straightforward, and the only downside here would be if the dealer offers just a little less than what your private buyer was willing to pay. But if you want to maximize your payout, check guides on how to sell a used car for strategies that go beyond dealer-only offers.
Pros and Cons of CarGurus
Every platform comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Here is a quick glance into it, subjecting the same to user experiences and expert reviews:
Pros:
- Transparent prices help make sure you never have to worry about paying for more than you should.
- Vast nationwide inventory updated on a daily basis.
- Sort and apply filters with a simple click to make your search easier.
- Dealer reviews offer a helping hand in feeling confident before getting in touch with sellers.
- Instant dealer cash offers for sellers.
- Financing integrations with the best lenders.
Cons:
- Private car sales were discontinued in 2024.
- There are some remaining outdated or duplicate listings.
- An offer in cash is “take it or leave it.”
- Some people find ads intrusive.
- With instant offers, coverage is somewhat limited (available in select states only).
CarGurus Review Table
After having a look at the current role in the automobile market, we put our observational processes under greater scrutiny. After comparing features, customer reviews, and CarGurus’ industry reputation, Tempus Logix assigned ratings to the platform in different categories.
| Category | Rating | Our Review |
| Overall Rating | 9/10 | Strong 9/10 for usability, transparency, and inventory. Car shopping is simplified and made reliable by filters, dealer ratings, and pricing tools. |
| Industry Reputation | 9/10 | Well-known since 2019, with an emphasis on price transparency. Its high ratings on BBB, Trustpilot, and app stores attest to its credibility. |
| Platform | 9/10 | Great reports with dealers, ease of online financing, and transactions online all add a plus, except perhaps when dealer updates are slow. |
| Pricing | 9/10 | Clearly stated pricing supports flexible financing options for more value. Lack of private listing opportunities for negotiation in 2024 kept it from being a clean 10. |
| Inventory | 9/10 | A broad range of listings available, from CPO to older curiosities. Updates keep options fresh, though sometimes an entry may be misrepresented or duplicated. |
| Customer Experience | 9/10 | Simple design, helpful guides, and enhanced dealer communication. A few users complain of inconsistent pricing and poor warranty support. |
Using CarGurus with Auto Transport
Another aspect to consider is the logistics. Suppose you find the perfect car on the opposite coast; shipping might be required. CarGurus delivery may be available for some listings, but not all of them.
You might want to calculate shipping costs yourself through an auto transport quote calculator. Thus, you will have a clear idea of whether the deal at hand justifies that additional cost.
CarGurus is a well-trusted name as of 2025, known for transparency, good ease of use, and a wide variety of transverse listings. Buyers may compare purchase options with ease while sellers get instant offers from dealers, albeit with less flexibility than if they had sold privately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cargurus Legit?
Absolutely, CarGurus is indeed a legitimate company. It was started way back in 2006 and changed the game by allowing millions of buyers and dealers to transact safely. However, CarGurus never really actually sells cars: Your experience is all dependent on the dealership’s professionalism, honesty, and customer service.
Does CarGurus Ship Cars?
CarGurus offers shipping on select listings marked with a truck icon. The delivery fee is usually included in the price, but the terms vary by dealer. Some allow returns, while others don’t. For other options, Tempus Logix, as an auto shipper, details dealership shipping services.
Is CarGurus Good?
CarGurus is good for car shoppers since it has a monstrous inventory, clear prices, and some pretty useful filters. For those wanting a private seller or an extended negotiation, this website is not great. But otherwise, it’s efficient and safe for car buying. It is the platform to go with in 2025.
How Reliable Is CarGurus?
CarGurus generally maintains reliability, with deal ratings based on actual market data and checks from qualified dealer reviews. However, some listings may lag in time, showing vehicles already sold. To avert any such issues, always cross-confirm details with the dealer and ask for a vehicle history report from approved NMVTIS data providers.
