There are several ways to buy a new car online, and they differ in three ways that matter: who sets the price, whether you see the whole out-the-door number before anyone contacts you, and who you deal with. None is right for everyone. Here is each one side by side, and the questions that tell you whether a site will save you time or just move the haggling somewhere else.
| Way to buy | Who sets the price | Whole out-the-door number up front | Who you deal with |
|---|---|---|---|
| A dealership's own website | The dealership | Sometimes; many show a price before tax and fees | That dealership's sales team |
| The Broker Black | Each participating dealership, per car | Yes, as an estimate: cash, finance, and lease on each new car, with the taxes and fees for where you register | No dealership until you send your deal; then the dealership, directly |
| Car buying services (credit unions, Costco, AAA) | Pre-arranged pricing at certified dealerships | Often the price only; the dealership writes the final numbers | A dealership contact the program assigns |
| Direct-sale brands (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid) | The manufacturer, fixed | Mostly; taxes and fees are estimated at order | The brand's own advisors |
| Listing marketplaces (Cars.com, Autotrader, CarGurus) | The dealership | Rarely; you contact the dealership for numbers | The dealership, once you reach out |
| Online used-car retailers (Carvana, CarMax) | The retailer, fixed | Yes, for their inventory, which is mostly used | The retailer's team |
| A broker or concierge | Negotiated for you, usually for a fee | Depends on the broker | The broker |
With approved credit, many lenders will finance a new car with nothing down. It raises the payment and the interest, and it can leave you owing more than the car is worth for the first years, which matters if you sell or trade early. Run it both ways in our car loan calculator before you decide.
The one that shows you the whole out-the-door number, cash, finance, and lease, before anyone contacts you, and lets you choose how you sign and whether the car comes to you. Compare any site on those points rather than on the sticker price it shows.
Yes, where the dealership offers delivery or shipping. Each dealership decides whether a car can come to you and what that costs. See how home delivery works for the steps.
Not automatically. The price is still set by the seller. Buying online helps when it shows you the whole number up front, so you can compare dealerships without a day in showrooms.
Their business is mostly used cars. For a new car, you are buying from a franchised dealership, a manufacturer that sells direct, or a service that connects you with one.