The internet has more sites than you can count offering used cars for sale. What’s more, their content ranges from simple listings of vehicles to full blown informational extravaganzas featuring videos, finance calculators, valuation advice, reviews and comparison tools.

With that in mind, here’s what to look for in a used car website.

Selection and Search Capabilities

Larger sites like Autotrader, Cars.com and Craigslist have millions of cars from which to choose. And yes, the broader the selection, the better the odds of finding the car of your dreams. However, along with a wide array of choices comes a serious need for an effective search function. The best ones allow you to narrow your choices by make, model, mileage, model year, color, features and of course — price. They also let you to delineate an area within which to confine the search.

Comparison Capabilities and Ease of Use

“That black one cost less and it had a full leather interior and the sport package, but how many miles did it have on it?” After a while they can all start to run together. This is why the best sites afford you the ability to compare cars to one another to help you figure out which one really is the best deal for you. Within that however (and this applies to the search function too), the tools must be intuitive to use.

Pricing and Value Information

If you’re just starting out on your quest for new-to-you wheels, how can you know if the price you’re seeing is a good one or not? Sites like Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com) will help you find out what a car is worth based on the amount for which similar cars are selling in your area.

Objective Buying Advice

Unbiased reviews of various models can help you determine if a car will really serve your needs and whether or not you should even go looking for it. How can you know what the insurance cost will be, or how much it’ll cost you to run the car for say five years or so?  To be in the running for the best site to find used cars, editorial content to help you learn more about the process and the car(s) piquing your interest is a must-have. They also provide rankings and ratings to help you determine how one car stacks up against the others in its class.

Photography/Video

Crisp, high resolution images from every conceivable angle will go a long way toward helping you determine if subjecting the car to personal scrutiny is worthwhile. It’s also useful to have close up images of any potential damage as well as unique details. And yes, ideally, this includes the underside of the car. Videos of the engine starting cold and seeing and hearing the car move can also be useful in terms of helping judge condition.

Finance and Insurance Calculators

What will the monthly payment be if you need to finance the purchase? Will it fit into your budget? What interest rate can you expect — given your credit score? Where can you find the best, but least costly loans? You’re going to need insurance too. How much will it cost to insure the car(s) you’re considering? Can the site help you find financing and insurance?

These are key features to look for in a used car website. Here’s a word of caution though. Whenever you’re considering purchasing a used car, always budget for a pre-purchase inspection of your final choice. Cars can often have problems only the trained eye can detect. Don’t buy blindly. The wallet you save will be your own.