Before You Shop New vs Used Leasing Buying Ready to Negotiate At the Dealership About Tools & Resources

Resources

Tools & Resources

Every tool referenced across this guide, organized by category for quick reference at any stage of the journey.

Research & Pricing

Edmunds

Invoice pricing, local transaction data, and the True Cost to Own calculator.

CarGurus

Vehicle listings with Deal Rating against local market pricing.

TrueCar

Local transaction data and certified dealer pricing.

AutoTrader

Vehicle inventory search across new and used listings.

Cars.com

Vehicle inventory search with side-by-side comparison tools.

Consumer Reports

Reliability data by make, model, and year.

Kelley Blue Book

Vehicle values and depreciation.

Credit Score

Experian

Free credit report and FICO Score 8 access from one of the three major credit bureaus.

Equifax

Credit report access and monitoring tools from one of the three major credit bureaus.

TransUnion

Credit report access from one of the three major credit bureaus.

Vehicle History Reports

Carfax

Vehicle history reports with service records and reported accident history.

AutoCheck

Experian-owned history reports with the AutoCheck Score for quick comparison across listings.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

A pre-purchase inspection is recommended for any used car purchase, performed by either the brand's service department or a qualified independent mechanic.

Auto Financing

LendingTree Auto

Auto loan rate comparison across multiple lenders.

Compare Rates →

Capital One Auto Navigator

Pre-qualification and dealer inventory browsing in one platform.

Get Pre-Qualified →

Insurance

The Zebra

Side-by-side comparison across major carriers with minimal upfront information required.

Policygenius

Independent insurance marketplace with licensed agents for guidance.

Trade-In

CarMax

Guaranteed offer, valid 7 days, no obligation.

Carvana

Online offer in minutes.

KBB Instant Cash Offer

Vehicle valuation with an instant cash offer from participating dealers.

Lease Tools

LeaseGuide

Lease calculators and monthly lease specials.

Leasehackr

Current money factor and residual data by model and region.