About
About CarGurus
Learn how we help drivers and dealerships make confident decisions through transparent pricing, smarter search, and trusted listings.
Company Origin & Mission
CarGurus was founded in 2006 in Massachusetts, USA, by Langley Steinert — one of the co-founders of TripAdvisor. Our mission is to use data-driven technology to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the car-buying process.
We help consumers find great deals through intelligent comparison tools while supporting dealers with digital marketing and analytics solutions to improve performance.
Business Model & Core Products
CarGurus operates as an online automotive marketplace that connects buyers and sellers through advanced search and pricing intelligence.
Key features include:
- Comprehensive Listings: New and used vehicle inventories from dealerships and private sellers.
- Deal Rating Algorithm: Proprietary technology evaluates listings by market price, mileage, condition, and dealer reputation to provide transparent deal ratings.
- Dealer Services: Subscription-based advertising, analytics, and digital retail tools that improve lead generation and sales conversion.
CarGurus creates a two-sided marketplace where both consumers and dealers benefit from data and trust.
Milestones & Key Developments
- 2006: Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- 2010: Launched the “Instant Market Value” tool to improve pricing transparency.
- 2014–2015: Expanded internationally to Canada and the United Kingdom.
- 2017: Listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CARG.
- 2019–2020: Acquired PistonHeads (UK) and Autolist (US), expanding reach and service portfolio.
- 2020s: Focused on digital retail innovation for smoother online car shopping and dealer-to-consumer connectivity.