How to Find a Car in Your Area

Find a car in your area with easy-to-use online resources. Finding a car online lets you check different cars in your area, according to your personal preferences, with just few clicks. It also enables you to get more information about the car with photos or video. If you want to look at the car in person before buying it, you can do it at your own convenience. In identifying a reputable, local car company through your online research you can also avoid the many online scams and fraudulent transactions that plague the Internet.

Instructions

1

Go to the Consumer Action website (see Resources). Look for the car manufacturer that makes the car you are looking for, and click its website link. Once there, find and click the "Dealer Locator," "Locate a Dealer," or "Dealer Directory" button.

2

Type your zip code and hit "Go." If given an option, you can also search either by state or city, dealer name or center, or vehicle brand. Enter the required information and click "Find," "Search" or "Locate."

3

Browse the list of local car dealers with their contact information. Pick a dealer in your area. Write down the dealer's contact information for future use.

4

Visit the website of your selected dealer by clicking the highlighted name of the local car dealer or "Dealer Website" link. Search the car dealer's inventory by looking for new, pre-owned/used or certified vehicles. Select the car's year, make, model, body style, mileage and price. Then click "Search."

5

Check the list of cars provided. If interested, select the car you like in order to see more photos and information.

6

Contact the local dealership about the car you like by sending it an email through its website. You can also call or visit the dealer's showroom.