• Autotrader.com

Autotrader.com

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Overview

Autotrader.com has a rating of 2.0 stars from 124 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Autotrader.com most frequently mention customer service, complete waste, and facebook marketplace problems. Autotrader.com ranks 622nd among Car Buying sites.

  • Service
    35
  • Value
    33
  • Shipping
    9
  • Returns
    14
  • Quality
    27
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 10%
Positive
1
Neutral
0
Negative
9
4
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How would you rate Autotrader.com?
Top Positive Review

“Good job”

Gelasio M.
4/12/22

My first car buying experience was made easy by a smooth transaction and very helpful staff, and the crew has given me their full attention to all of my car needs. Thank you once more for your excellent assistance!

Top Critical Review

“Don't waste your money on an Ad”

C C.
8/8/24

I would give zero stars if I could. If you plan to place an ad, DON'T. You will get nothing but illegitimate inquiries. Scams. AutoTrader does NOT screen these inquiries. I placed an ad in the morning and within an hour my email was blowing up with messages from AutoTrader about an inquiry. All fake or scammers. They would not refund my $49 for the Ad. Oh, and they have the worst customer service.

Reviews (124)

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auto trader (18)
Thumbnail of user johnr568
Georgia
9 reviews
21 helpful votes
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March 25th, 2018

Simple to use website for placing as well as editing your car ad. Super worldwide exposure. My DeLorean sold to a gentleman from Japan! Simply amazing.

Thumbnail of user mysticw
New York
1 review
5 helpful votes
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December 7th, 2016

We had Listed our car on Autotrader to sell. After a couple of weeks with no contacts we were contacted by a Autotrader representative asking us to try their VIP service for $289, advising us if our car did not sell within a 120 days we would get a full refund. We paid the $289 and sought out their advise on ad, pictures and price. We contacted them numerous time seeking advise on why we were receiving zero contacts, following their advise each time. WE HAD ZERO CONTACTS (0) during the 120 days. We did sell our car to a local person who heard we were selling it. When we contacted Autotrader to see if they would refund our $289, we were told since we sold our car NO REFUND WAS DUE. Really!

Thumbnail of user audreya170
Massachusetts
1 review
3 helpful votes
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July 3rd, 2022

Autotrader.com, I saw a commercial on how easy it is to buy a car online, don't haggle with the dealers etc… I went and did my thing looked on their website found a car entered my information because they have this awesome thing called "buy it online", right? Well NO! They don'! They work with dealers to get them as the dealer said "leads" (that's us) They put up one price and in reality it's not the true price. They get your information and run your credit on something you weren't even trying to purchase, so that's basically fraudulent and then the dealer (Roland) explains to me how this is just a common practice so people can do all this and waste their time so at the end you don't make your own deal online you just get baited and hooked to have to be given the run around by the them. I informed Roland twice not to run my credit since I did not agree to that price Roland said my information was never sent to them and that auto trader must have my information and they never sent it. Today I see that dealer on my credit report after speaking to Roland from Diamond Honda, twice to confirm that he was not going to run my credit and that he checked and made sure my information was not there they ran it for no reason! This is complete BS, don't fall for their lies!

Tip for consumers:
DO NOT USE THIS SITE THEY LIE! They take your information for false pricing!!!

Products used:
Autotrader online buy a car make your own deal

Thumbnail of user karenh3624
South Carolina
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 4th, 2022
Verified purchase

I expected my listing to be live by Monday. I submitted it and paid on Friday mid day. Their website says expect your ad to be live in 24 hours. It is now Thursday 9:30am and still says pending. I sent them an email on Tuesday. Did a chat with them Wednesday morning and he said I needed to call so I called them at 9:30am. Again they said expect it to be on line in 24 hours. I also reached out via chat and he said it will take 2 business days for it to be published. My experience with large for sale items is people contact you on the weekends, why doesn't auto trader work on the weekends and the auto dealers do? One detail to mention is on Friday I fat fingered my cell phone #. I noticed that on Sunday morning when I checked to see if the add was live yet and I fixed the phone #. I did not know that they call you to confirm everything as I did not see that anywhere on their website or in the confirmation email they sent me. When I called on Wednesday they said they tried to call me twice to confirm. I asked when they called and they said Monday and Tuesday. Somehow they still had the phone # I fat fingered in but I did not receive any emails from them after the first. I think their process is not fast enough and their is really no need for the phone call. Their website could be improved, including their chat process. I sat waiting for 25 minutes. Hope this helps some people with the process. If you want it to go smooth make sure you call to confirm you ad! I am still waiting for my add to go live! I might just as well look for a different company to advertise with if I do not see it by 3 today.

Tip for consumers:
Follow up with a call to confirm ad.

Products used:
Ad to sell a vehicle.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user martinw369
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 27th, 2021

I posted an ad - selling a very desirable vehicle - the ONLY replies I get are from CAR DEALERS looking to lowball me OR from SCAMMERS. Absolute WASTE of $50. PATHETIC, PATHETIC, PATHETIC - do NOT waste your money on this company. NO money back guarantee and NO control over the scams and spam. HORRIBLE!

Tip for consumers:
Use CraigsList - for $5 you'll get better responses from REAL buyers than this site will - at 1/10th the cost

Products used:
Horrible experience. Just the worst! Avoid Autotrader.com - not the good company it used to be. BAD BAD BAD

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Thumbnail of user brandonf15
Texas
1 review
3 helpful votes
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September 19th, 2014

I listed my truck on autotrader after reading what a great audience they had and all the reviews that they publish about how effective selling automobiles on their site would be. After having my truck listed on their site for 3 weeks, I decided to put an ad on Craigslist for free (auto trader's ad cost me $60). On the Auto Trader site, my truck was showing up in results hundreds of times, but I only had one person look at my contact info. I received one text message asking if my truck was the eco boost and that was it. Which makes me think that their reports are a big fat lie! Within 3 days of listing my truck on Craigslist, I had a buyer that was interested in my truck. He came and bought it the next weekend.
I requested a refund from Autotrader, but because my truck sold, even though they had nothing to do with the sale, I was not entitled to a refund. My advice if you are selling a car would be to list on Craigslist for free, save yourself the hassle of being scammed by Auto Trader.

Tip for consumers:
Fine site for searching for information, but not as a tool to sell your vehicle. Don't waste your money, list your car on Craigslist

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user tonyh14
New York
2 reviews
8 helpful votes
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October 9th, 2011

Found the car of my dreams on here. Easy to navigate site, and great info. Like being able to search within proximity to my zip code. Only negative is to better filter the spam listings.

Thumbnail of user gerardoa27
Massachusetts
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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May 16th, 2020

Called the dealer interested in a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, Klei was the one I spoke to told me to schedule appointment, I did for that vehicle, got message the same night it was sold, this was her message to me than she lied she never said they hold cars, my prove of who I spoke right here Klei here =) 400 Maple st in Marlboro. Please ask for Doug when you arrive Tuesday at 11am

Thumbnail of user miked1964
Australia
1 review
2 helpful votes
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November 14th, 2022

A platform for car scams. Do not use this website! Sellers will make an escuse they are somewhere else and that will use a shipping company at their cost. All a scam!

Service
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Thumbnail of user nated5
California
1 review
4 helpful votes
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May 6th, 2016

I paid for a premium ad for $100. My sports car is in the $40k-$50k range. I priced it within range of similar postings and added several detailed photos and very descriptive text for buyers. My car came up in search a few thousand times but I received only one legit e-mail from a dealer and then a couple spam text messages from others. It took a while to get a good offer but I had several genuine buyers reach out to me through my eBay posting and my Craigslist posting. EBay generated the most views and genuine traffic by far. During this process, I reduced my selling price on Autotrader and did not receive any more interest. While some of this is out of Autotrader's control, I sincerely don't think the money spent was worth it. They do not offer guarantees anymore. At least with eBay, you only put a minimal amount of money up front. If Autotrader still believes they are the authority, they should back their stats. Autotrader also deploys their staff to push and try to convince you to spend another $250 for VIP service. They pitch it as if it is a sure thing and the only way to sell your car. Overall, disappointed and don't plan to use Autotrader again.

Thumbnail of user markm343
Connecticut
2 reviews
5 helpful votes
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March 3rd, 2017

I AM A CONNECTICUT USED CAR DEALER CALLED MASSIRIO ENTERPRISES INC. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MY EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE WASTING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY WITH THIS COMPANY. MY NAME IS MARK AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU. HOORIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A PAY TO PLAY SITE. IT'S A BIG MONEY GAME AS FAR AS EXPOSURE WITH THIS COMPANY UNLIKE CARS.COM. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND UNRETURNED PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS

Thumbnail of user michaeld314
Ohio
1 review
2 helpful votes
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July 1st, 2017

I had been looking for a 2017 Chevrolet truck for several weeks now. I had been in contact with Schmitt Chevrolet over the last several days negotiating the price on a blue 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 stock number *******, on a Friday. On the next day, Saturday I checked the online price and it was $33,607. So I contacted the dealership and spoke with both the internet sales consultant, Angela and the salesman, Brent. Brent confirmed the internet price was correct. I asked to give a deposit to buy the truck of which Brent said he would call me right back. Two hours laters I had not yet received a call so I contacted the dealership and spoke with the sales manager and was told the truck was now at $37,000+ and he would not sell the truck to me at the advertised price of $33,607. Really?

How can Schmitt Chevrolet dealership advertise a new truck for $33,607 and tell the customer " sorry the truck is now $37,000+"? I feel totally strung along on the sale and taken advantage of! Over the last 20 years I have purchased 5 GM new pick up trucks! I have never been treated like this before from a dealer. I would strongly recommend... BUYER BEWARE... stay away from this dealership! Would you want to be treated like this. It is obvious they use the old sales tactic "hook... line... sinker".

Buyer... you may consider NOT a GM automobile!

Thumbnail of user juana988
Texas
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 8th, 2023

AUTOTRADER HAS GONE TO S**** AND BECAME GREEDY, JUST WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF TRANSACTION FEES, THEY RATHER LET SCAMMERS MESSAGE SELLERS INSTEAD OF REAL BUYERS

Service
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Thumbnail of user jeffreyh29
Illinois
1 review
3 helpful votes
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August 25th, 2014

They charged us twice for our ad and then took several days to get a credit. We heard from no one but scammers! We would NEVER recommend Autotrader to anyone and would NEVER use them again!

Thumbnail of user joes765
Florida
1 review
2 helpful votes
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March 14th, 2018

AFTER I paid, autotrader disclosed the STANDARD DELAY for the paid posting. Later I edited my ad = EDIT did NOT show on "view live ad."
Called "customer service," and asked why new, lowered, price was not showing on my ad (SHE ASKED for my ad # and security question), I was told the edit takes 24 to 48h to show = First, that DELAY is not the service advertised. Second, there is no need for security protocol TO ANSWER MY QUESTION AS TO WHY my edit not showing. Finally, there is NO CONFIRMATION NUMBER for CANCELING my ad &getting a REFUND (just have to depend on the "put out" attitude of the customer service rep). Car was on autotrader ~3days (this review is not about selling or not selling my car; it's about the customer service = 2 thumbs DOWN!

Thumbnail of user razar1
Ireland
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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July 29th, 2019

Posted my Honda Civic for sale here. Heard it's the place to do it. No problems as of yet, will update this review if I do have one!

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user jacke61
Ohio
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
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February 22nd, 2017

All kinds of interesting info. I wanna see more advertising of custom parts hood bumpers rims tires Lowering kits.

Thumbnail of user stand121
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 24th, 2023

Selling on Autotrader has been a DISASTER. I received FOUR spam inquiries trying to get me to either use a 3rd-party (not CarFax) technical assessment product that was clearly intended only to get me to pay them money or to use a payment method that was phoney. All were from 'buyers located 2,000 to 3,000 miles away and had no intention of coming to see the car. They stopped asking one I questioned how far away they were. I then got an offer from Autotrader Private Seller Exchange which I accepted. Despite them saying that they could reduce or rescind the offer if the car was not as advertised (which is reasonable) after I went through the seller verification and provided my bank details they called me and after discussion they simply changed their mind and withdrew the offer because THEY HAD NOT READ the description of the vehicle in my ad - which was 100% accurate of the car's condition. Furthermore, although I got emails saying that I had messages I was not able to read the messages once logged in. A complete and utter terrible experience!

Service
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Thumbnail of user mitchr3
Oregon
1 review
5 helpful votes
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August 17th, 2015

Spent $100.00 putting my vehicle on their site, and NEVER received one call. The MORE you pay, the MORE exposure you are supposed to receive. What a WASTE OF MONEY!

Thumbnail of user billb422
New York
1 review
6 helpful votes
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June 1st, 2018

One of the worst websites I have ever usedstay away! Functions were impossible to find and the site was completely disorganized. Just awful!

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Thumbnail of user jasperr
7 reviews
36 helpful votes
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June 9th, 2008

Auto Trader - Auto trader is self-proclaimed to be the largest online car selling and trading website. From what I have seen I don't doubt them. Being specific for cars only it allows the web site to have allot more material and information only related to cars. Although you can't find the variety of cars and vehicles that you can find on E-bay motors or Craigslist.com, it does have much more comprehensive search parameters. You can search and compare multiple make/models at a time in conjunction with a zip code finder to maximize local results. You can also choose the distance in miles to search from your area code and you can also set a minimum and maximum price range you wish to search for. As advertised on their recent television commercials, for many listings they provide a 360° picture view of the car along with a short test drive video. Again there are user submitted reviews to help the decision process. Unlike E-bay motors, Autotrader.com does not have any form of comprehensive insurance against fraud or other potential losses, however the website does seem to be linked and integrated with a GEICO insurance link which will give you free quotes and 24/7 online service. Autotrader.com also has a large section devoted to new cars as well. These however are mostly posted by local car dealerships and unless there are blowout sales, you can't expect the great price breaks and savings usually associated with on-line car shopping.
An interesting addition that Autotrader.com has recently made is the inclusion of an auto show window. If you scroll down the home page you will find a dialogue box with links to information about all sorts of concept cars and upcoming cars, along with a full list of all the auto shows in your area.
For those looking to buy a classic car or anything built earlier than 1981, Autotrader.com has a sister site called collectorcartrader.com with a very comprehensive selection of classic cars, hot rods, and muscle cars.

Thumbnail of user fuckyoua3
Iowa
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 2nd, 2022
Verified purchase

Took my money and didn't post my car. $#*! them and there magazine. Only can see new cars not by owner. Stay the $#*! away.

Thumbnail of user harryj361
Florida
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 31st, 2023

Looking to buy a new truck. Looked on Auto trader found a real good deal, only to find out it was all lies. Advertised price $37,500. Real price $46,500. DO NOT BELIEVE AUTO TRADER!

Thumbnail of user radyd1
Texas
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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December 9th, 2023

Love the place and the owners. Great place to buy a used car. I truly like the place and live the location

Tip for consumers:
Nothing at all

Products used:
Great place to buy a used car

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user tinac68
Missouri
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 31st, 2016

David Wells Robert Cosgrove and Bryan in Finance@ Hendrick Toyota are the guy's to see to meet your needs, they are 100% dedicated to customer satisfaction

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