Buying a car is no small feat and can come with a slew of complications. Repairs, loans, warranties, and seller reputation all come into play here, and it's tough to keep everything in check if you're not highly experienced.

But worry not. Using a few nifty websites, you can ensure that you're buying the car you want from a seller you can trust. So, let's discuss the best online tools for car buyers.

1. Experian AutoCheck's Vehicle History Report

screenshot of experian auto check webpage

If you're buying a used vehicle, it's crucial that you check its history to make sure you're not making an unwise investment. There are plenty of possible pitfalls to avoid when buying a used car, including incomplete finance repayments, repair history, and ownership.

With the Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Report, you can read about a given vehicle's history free of charge. This includes how many owners the vehicle has had, past accidents or write-offs, and outstanding finance (i.e. any finance payments the current or previous owner hasn't yet made).

2. Bank of America's Auto Loan Calculator

screenshot of bank of america car loan calculator webpage

If you're buying your car using a loan, it's important to know how the loan will affect you financially. How long will it take to pay off the loan, what will the monthly repayments look like, and what interest rate fees will you incur? It's worth considering all of these factors.

You can answer a lot of these questions using the Bank of America's Auto Loan Calculator. This webpage lets you determine how your car loan repayments will play out, both in terms of amount and duration. You can enter the amount you want to borrow, how long you want to spend repaying it, and what charge your set interest rate will incur.

3. RAC's Used Car Checklist

close up shot of row of parked cars

When buying a used car, you need to do a lot of checks before confirming any purchase. The RAC offers a very useful comprehensive checklist to work through when shopping around for a used car, as well as red flags to look out for. Various areas are covered here, including...

  • How to physically assess the car.
  • How to test drive the car.
  • Where to buy a used car.
  • Checking accident history.
  • Checking service history.
  • Choosing a payment method.

This list can be especially useful if you're buying a used car for the first time, but can give you food for thought even if you're an experienced buyer.

4. Car Leasing's Lease Comparison Tool

screenshot of car leasing lease calculator saved list

If you're leasing a car instead of buying it outright, it's worth doing a little research on how much this will cost you and if the lease you're looking at is a good idea.

With Car Leasing's lease comparison tool, you can get an estimate of what your payments will be on the lease of almost any vehicle. After providing the make and model of the car you want to lease, Car Leasing will show you the monthly cost of your lease, as well as the initial deposit required.

On top of this, you can see the varying prices between a personal and business lease and view the varying repayment amounts based on the length of the lease contract you're looking for. If your annual mileage is expected to be over 10,000 miles, you can also adjust this to a higher amount.

Even if you're considering leasing one of a number of cars, Car Leasing has you covered. You can save the vehicle lease calculations you've searched previously to easily compare one with another.

5. Car and Driver's Vehicle Reviews

care and driver website homepage screenshot

Even if a car is brand new, if its design and specs aren't right for you, that's a deal-breaker. This is why you should check driver reviews of your desired vehicle before committing to anything.

Using Car and Driver's vehicle reviews, you can check out in-depth reviews of thousands of cars. Simply enter the make, model, and production year of the car you're interested in, and you can see the pros, cons, price, specs, and performance to get an idea of what's being offered.

6. Zapmap's EV vs. ICE Running Cost Calculator

close up shot of electric car charging

Buying an EV can vary massively from buying an ICE. After all, you're buying a very different product. EVs don't have conventional engines or transmissions and don't rely on petrol or diesel to function. However, they still come at a cost.

To determine how much you'll be forking out on electricity instead of fuel, check out Zapmap's EV vs. ICE running cost calculator. With this nifty tool, you can check how much more, or less, an EV will cost to run compared to a typical petrol or diesel vehicle.

To do this, you'll need to first provide the make and model of your current ICE and then the make and model of the EV you're looking at. Then, provide the distance you're looking to compare, such as your daily commute. Finally, enter how much petrol or diesel costs in your area and your home's electricity rate. With this information, Zapmap can tell you how much you'd be saving (if at all) when using an EV instead of an ICE.

7. Cars.com's Dealer Reviews

screenshot of cars.com dealer review page

There's no shortage of shady and outright criminal dealers in the automotive industry. Thousands of people have bought cars under false assumptions, many of which weren't able to receive compensation. Because of this, it's wise to check dealer reviews.

You can do this with Cars.com's dealer ratings and reviews. Simply type the name of the dealer in the provided box, as well as the ZIP and make of the car you're looking to buy, and you'll be able to read hundreds or even thousands of positive, negative, and mixed reviews.

You can also leave a dealer review on Car.com if you want to share your experience.

Buying a Car Is No Walk In the Park

Cars are complex machines that can come with an array of challenges and issues. To avoid falling into a financial pit when buying a car, consider using the tools listed above so that you can make the right choice. After all, they're free, easy to use, and can provide you with incredibly valuable information that you may not have previously been aware of.