Buying or selling a car can be a bit overwhelming, but it can also be a lot of fun. Because so much of the world is moving online, buying and selling cars is no exception. If you want to buy or sell a car online, one of the top ways to do this is through Auto Trader. This online web site provides easy information about several types of cars, and allows you access to cars all over the US, from the comfort of your own home. So, whether you are buying a car or selling a car, you will be using Auto Trader differently. Let's take a look at both sides.

First, buying a car on Auto Trader.

Before you ever open a webpage to Auto Trader you need to have a general idea of the year, make, and model of car you are considering, as well as a good idea of what price you are willing or able to spend on a car. If you need to use financing to buy a car, it is a good idea to get your financing set up and in place before you ever open a website. Your bank, or the lender you use, will tell you how much car you can qualify for, any stipulations they have on the loan (such as how new the car must be) and the amount your monthly payment will be.

Then, log on to Auto Trader and click the link that says "Find Your Car," this will pull up a page where you can fill in specifics about what you are looking for. The website will sort through all of the cars listed, and pull up the ones that fit your criteria and price range.

The next suggestions are tips for anyone buying a car, whether they buy through Auto Trader or not, but offer specific advice for how it applies to using Auto Trader:

Don't trade in a car if you owe money on. Although Auto Trader offers car loans, and can help you with a trade in, it is never a good idea to trade in a car you owe on. Too often the place you trade it into does not pay it off, or does not include the payoff in the loan contract, and you get stuck with double payments.

Check your credit report before you go and buy a car. If your credit score is below 680, you are at a greater risk for paying higher interest rates, or being denied a loan. Some places will tell you they can get you approved, but it is important to realize that you may be paying an insane interest rate, making the car not really worth it. Auto Trader has a loan center and will set you up with four different lenders to help you find the one that works best for you. If you have poor credit it is a good idea to use their suggested lenders, but also check on your own to make sure you can't get a better deal elsewhere.

Run a vehicle inspection report. Auto Trader will search over 3 million listings for you when looking for a car, but before you buy a car, you need to know where that car has been. Auto Trader can line you up with cars from dealerships or cars from private sellers, so it is a good idea to run a report to ensure the car has not been in an accident, or does not have a poor maintenance history. This is information a dealer should provide you with, but if you are buying from an independent seller, you should pay to have a vehicle report, it is going to be worth it.

If you find a car through Auto Trader that is at a dealership it is important to recognize that while not all salesmen lie, that you still want to take careful notes and pin them down on specifics so that if the information they give you is incorrect you can recognize it.

Check the blue book prices. Unless you are an expert of the value of cars, it is smart to see what the expert has to say about the value at the condition, mileage and age the car is at. If you think someone is marking up their car, check the blue book price to see what the average cost is for that car. Just because a lot of cars of similar make or model are around that price does not mean it is set right, take a few minutes to look up the right price.

When buying a car using Auto Trader be as specific as you can be so that you do not have to sort through cars you are not interested in to find the ones that you are. They offer a lot of criteria you can specify, or you can put "any" in the box. The fewer boxes you mark with "any" the faster it will be.

Don't be afraid to walk away from a car, even if you have spent a lot of time on it, or think it is great. Sometimes letting a seller sit on your offer for a couple of days will soften their asking price, or improve the incentive offered.

To sell a car on Auto Trader:

If you want to make the most off a used car, do not trade it in, instead try to sell it yourself. You can use Auto Trader to get your car out to a lot of people. The following are the steps for how to get it out on the web, and some tips to get it the most exposure and best results.

Here are the steps you need to follow if you are going to sell your car on Auto Trader:

First you will need access to the internet, which you can check on a daily basis. Using the library or something is not going to work well because people send emails if they are interested in your car, and you will want to be able to get back to them as quickly as possible.

Once you have accessed the Auto Trader website you are going to click on the tab on top that reads "Sell Your Car".

From there you will fill out a form that asks you to do different things, like enter your zip code and select your ad format. Auto Trader offers different ad packages to choose from, and each cost different amounts. For example, a standard ad package will include your ad in the Auto Trader magazine and on the web site. You can upload a single photo and an e-mail link. The ad will run for 2 weeks and will provide a detailed description about your car.

You can upgrade, or purchase the Enhanced Package for a little extra. This package includes all the same features, but it will run until your vehicle sells and allows you to post up to 9 extra pictures of your car.

Lastly, you can upgrade and purchase the Deluxe Package. The Deluxe Package includes everything, plus bold lettering of your online ad and will include a thumbnail picture of your car in the listing.

For the best results it is best to post more than one photo, so if you are serious about selling your car, it is best to choose the Enhanced Package at a minimum. However, having a thumbnail will get you more clicks on your ad, so if you want to sell faster, consider the Deluxe Package.

After selecting your ad package, you will fill in forms to provide a detailed description of your car; input your contact information and all the information about the car including the VIN #. Where possible be as descriptive as you can, the more information for potential buyers the better.

Next, you will want to preview your ad and then select the print venue you want your ad posted in.

At this point you will upload pictures of your car. To make the most of the photo space you have, make sure your car is clean, and that the photos show off the best sides of your car.

Now you want to check all the details of your car to ensure they are accurate, and then make any additional changes.

Once you have filled out your ad, you will be asked to pay for it, so you will enter payment information and click "submit order".

Once you have posted your ad on Auto trader you want to check in frequently. If you are not getting a very good response, consider changing your ad some, making it more interesting, or adding better photos.

Now you just have to wait to get an offer on your car.