AutotraderWorks with Autotrader

Check an Autotrader listing before you buy.

Autotrader lists millions of used cars from dealers and private sellers across the country. Listings show trim, options and price, but not whether this engine and transmission have known problems or which expensive repairs are coming. Paste the listing link below to find out before you call the dealer.

Works with listings from

  • Cars.com
  • CarGurus
  • Autotrader
  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Craigslist
  • CarMax

Check an Autotrader listing in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Copy the link

    5 s

    In the Autotrader app: tap share on the listing, then copy the link. On a computer: copy the page address.

  2. 2

    Paste it into Carvizia

    2 s

    One bar, no VIN or form to fill in.

  3. 3

    Read the verdict

    ≈ 1 min

    Exact engine, common problems, upcoming maintenance and how much to negotiate.

Everything the listing doesn't tell you

A full report for every Autotrader listing, ready in about a minute. Extracts from the sample report: Ford F-150 King Ranch 2017.

A clear verdict

Reliability score and decision at a glance.

6/10NO GO

The exact engine's common problems

Identified for the listing's precise engine, with their severity and cost.

  • Cam phaser rattleCritical
  • 10-speed harsh shiftingCritical
  • Plastic oil pan leakHigh

Maintenance coming up

This engine's next service items, costed in the report.

NowTransmission fluid
SoonSpark plugs
WatchCam phasers

A price to negotiate

The market value and costed arguments to put to the dealer.

$26,263$29,963− $3,700

Inspection checklist

  • Rattle on a cold start
  • Harsh or late 10-speed shifts
  • Oil around the oil pan

Taxes and fees

Sales tax, title and registration fees, estimated for this car and state.

Recalls

Official NHTSA recalls for the model, to check against the car's VIN.

See the full sample report

What to watch on Autotrader

Medium risk

Dealer fees

Doc fees, add-ons and dealer packages can add hundreds or thousands to the listed price.

What to do

Ask for the out-the-door price in writing before you visit.

High risk

Sold “as is”

Many used cars are sold as is: once you drive away, repairs are on you. The Buyers Guide on the window says which applies.

What to do

Read the Buyers Guide and check this engine's known problems before you sign.

Low risk

Trim and engine

The same model can come with very different engines and transmissions.

What to do

Carvizia identifies the exact powertrain from the listing details.

Frequently asked questions

About checking an Autotrader listing.

Another question?

Write to us and we'll reply by email.

Contact us

Does Carvizia work with the Autotrader app?

Yes. Tap share on the listing, copy the link and paste it into Carvizia, on your phone or computer.

Does the report include recalls?

Yes. The report lists recalls from the official NHTSA database for the model. Check open recalls for this exact car with its VIN on nhtsa.gov.

Does the dealer know I've analyzed their listing?

No. Carvizia only reads the public listing; the seller is never contacted or notified.

Before you go, read our guides

Guide 01 · 8 minInspection checklistTitle, VIN, body, engine, transmission and test drive: everything to check when you look at a used car, from a dealer lot or a private seller's driveway.Read the guideGuide 02 · 5 minVIN and recallsWhere to find the VIN, what its 17 characters mean and how to check open safety recalls for free on nhtsa.gov before you buy a used car.Read the guideGuide 03 · 6 minSalvage titlesTitle brands, why salvage and rebuilt cars are cheaper, how title washing hides them, and how to check a title's history before you pay.Read the guideGuide 04 · 5 minFlood-damaged carsAfter every hurricane season, flooded cars reappear in listings far from the storm. The smells, stains, rust and electrical signs that give them away.Read the guideGuide 05 · 5 minOdometer fraudDigital odometers can be rolled back too. The paperwork, records and wear signs that reveal fake mileage, and what the federal odometer disclosure rules require.Read the guideGuide 06 · 6 minBuyers Guide and as isEvery used car on a dealer lot must display a Buyers Guide. What “as is” really means, how warranties and service contracts differ, and what to check before you sign.Read the guideGuide 07 · 6 minOut-the-door priceDoc fees, add-ons, reconditioning and dealer packages: how to get the out-the-door price in writing and negotiate with costed arguments instead of haggling.Read the guideGuide 08 · 6 minBuying from a private sellerSigned title, lien release, bill of sale, sales tax and registration: the paperwork for a private used car sale, step by step, and the traps to avoid.Read the guideGuide 09 · 8 minEngines to watchFord PowerShift, early Nissan CVTs, Hyundai and Kia Theta II engines, GM AFM lifters and EcoBoost cam phasers: well-known problems and what to check before you buy.Read the guideGuide 10 · 6 minUsed car scamsCurbstoners, fake escrow, deposits for cars that don't exist and title fraud: the most common used car scams and how to buy safely from a private seller.Read the guide

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