If you’re in the car business, you know how important it can be to get your cars advertised online. With so many people using social media to learn about and shop for new cars, it’s essential that you have a website designed for selling cars that you can update frequently with new content.

Luckily for car dealers, there are several free platforms where they can build a basic online store.

Here are four of the best online marketplace websites for car dealers.

Autotrader

If you’re a car dealer looking for an online platform to build your dealership website, you should consider looking into Autotrader, which was designed by Neurons Inc. in 2013. While the service provides a basic online store to sell cars, it also has features that make it a one-stop-shop for car shoppers, including live chat support, email notifications when a new car arrives, and a mobile app that allows buyers to access vehicle information anywhere.

What makes Autotrader unique is that it allows users to browse local listings and compare cars in their area using smart filters. According to the company, as of September 2014 it had 4.9 million registered users and over 300,000 businesses. That’s a lot of potential buyers who could be using your dealership website to learn about your cars or place an order.

Cars.com

Another excellent option for online car dealers is Cars.com, which was also designed by Neurons Inc. and launched in 2014. Similar to Autotrader, Cars.com provides a basic online store for car dealers to sell their vehicles; however, it also provides a forum where car shoppers can interact with dealers through chat rooms, email alerts, and photo galleries.

According to the company, as of September 2014 it had 4.4 million registered users and over 315,000 businesses. It’s still a relatively new site, so it may not have the same user base as its competitors, but it’s definitely worth a look for a potential car buyer.

Craigslist

Whether you sell cars or not, Craigslist is one of the best places for general information about cars. It was started in 1995 by Craig Newmark and is now one of the largest classified ad websites in the world. Thanks to Craigslist, finding information about cars is now easy. Simply type in what you’re looking for and browse through the results.

Though classified ads are mostly free, you do have to register to use the service. However, the pros definitely outweigh the cons: You can find any type of information about cars, including prices, without having to spend a dime.

DontPayFull.com

If you’re looking for an online platform to sell your cars, you have several options, including DontPayFull.com, which is the largest online store for credit card rewards programs. Launched in 2005, the website connects cardholders with coupons and discounts. It’s mainly used for online shopping, but it also provides a basic online store for car dealers.

What makes DontPayFull.com different is that it will negotiate with major credit card companies to get you the best price possible. If you decide to use their services, it’s usually because you’re looking for the best possible deal rather than a simple online store.

TheCarFinder.com

Another great option for online car dealers is TheCarFinder.com, which was launched in 2011 and is currently the largest online marketplace for finding and purchasing cars. Similar to cars.com, TheCarFinder.com provides a basic online store for car dealers to sell their vehicles. It also provides users with an easy way to locate cars in their area using a GPS-based auto-tracking system.

What makes TheCarFinder.com stand out is that it’s entirely based on feedback from real users. To utilize this service, simply create a free account and start browsing the classifieds or visit local dealerships to see what cars they have in stock.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re a car dealer looking for a free, easy-to-use platform to build your website, you should consider going with the tried and tested options. Of the four platforms listed above, Cars.com, Autotrader, and Craigslist are the three most popular choices. Though DontPayFull.com and TheCarFinder.com are newer platforms, they have already managed to gain a lot of traction among car dealers who want to build a presence online.

In terms of functionality, all of these platforms do a great job of allowing users to search for cars, compare them, and place orders. Whether you decide to use one or all of these platforms, make sure that you host your website on a secure server to ensure that your clients’ personal information is kept private.