Why the Best Car Deals are Found on Craigslist

Car shopping is so much easier today than it was in the past. There’s no need to go from dealership to dealership or scan through newspaper classified ads looking for the right vehicle. The internet gives us the opportunity to find what we want without leaving our desk. Then, it’s just a matter of closing the deal.

There’s something else about the internet that has changed in recent years. For over a decade, websites for car dealers have been designed specifically to allow us to search inventory. Then, there are sites like AutoTrader and Cars.com that have multiple inventories compiled to allow us a broader picture. It’s nice to have choices when shopping for cars, but there’s a catch. Having too many options can make it challenging to find the best deal, the needle in the haystack that allows us to leave knowing that we saved money on our purchase.

This is where Craigslist comes into play. I know what you’re thinking. Craigslist doesn’t have all of the vehicles available. That’s the point. Because Craigslist charges car dealers $5 per vehicle listed, they are more selective with what they post. Perhaps they’re putting up old-aged units that they want to move at a discount. Maybe they’re putting up specialty vehicles that can stand alone with their merits. It could even be as simple as putting out the best deals in order to stimulate sales. Regardless of the reason, Craigslist and its $5 charge forces dealers to pick the vehicles they list wisely.

It’s usually not random, either. Companies like LotVantage help dealers to sort through their inventory and easily place listings on Craigslist. This takes away the hassle of manually posting, giving consumers the luxury of seeing exactly what vehicles need to be moved today. When the dealer wants to move a particular vehicle, we have the upper hand.

Next time you’re looking for a used car, consider using Craigslist. The best deals from dealers and individuals are there. It’s simple and in chronological order, meaning that you’ll be able to know when a car was listed and how much interest there likely is in the vehicle.