CarGurus: Used & New Cars is a vehicle shopping app developed by CarGurus, Inc. It focuses on helping people find cars for sale from dealers and private sellers, with tools for comparing prices and checking deal ratings. You can download it from Google Play or the App Store, and installation numbers are in the tens of millions. The app is free to download and use. Ads appear in some sections, and there are optional in-app purchases tied to certain premium services, but the core browsing experience does not require payment.

Searching for a car starts with entering a make, model, or body style, along with a location and price range. Results show listings with photos, mileage, and a deal rating that indicates whether the asking price is below, near, or above market value. Tapping a listing opens details like vehicle history, dealer info, and estimated monthly payments. I found the filters useful for narrowing things down quickly, especially when comparing similar trims across different dealers. Saving cars to a list and setting price alerts also works smoothly, and the app sends notifications when something changes.

Other car shopping apps tend to focus either on private-party listings or on dealer inventory. CarGurus leans toward dealer listings and puts more weight on its deal rating system. The layout is clean but a bit busy in places, and some screens feel more cluttered than similar tools. In my experience, the deal ratings are the main reason to use it over general classified apps, since they give a quick sense of whether a price is reasonable without needing to research every listing manually.

• Deal ratings appear next to most listings and compare the asking price with similar cars in the area. It is a fast way to spot overpriced listings, though the rating depends on how much local data is available.
• Price alerts and saved searches send notifications when a car drops in price or a new match appears. This cuts down on constant manual checking, and I noticed it worked reliably during a two-week search.
• Vehicle history and dealer reviews are built into listing pages, which reduces the need to open separate apps or websites. Some reports cost extra, but basic info is included.
• Compared with Carvana or Autotrader, the app places more emphasis on price analysis than on the buying process itself. It is better for research than for completing a purchase online.

• Quick price comparisons save time when browsing many listings.
• Deal ratings help avoid overpaying without deep market research.
• Saved searches and alerts keep track of new inventory automatically.
• Free access to most listings makes it easy to start browsing right away.

• Some listings show limited photos or outdated information.
• Deal ratings can be inaccurate in areas with fewer comparable cars.
• The interface feels crowded on smaller phone screens.
• Certain features push users toward sponsored or premium listings.