Amazon quietly turned one of the most stressful errands in American life into something that looks a lot like ordering a new TV. Shoppers can now browse real dealership inventory, pick a specific car, and lock in a price without leaving the couch. Before anyone taps that big “Buy” button, though, it helps to understand what Amazon is actually selling, how the handoff to a local dealer works, and where the fine print could trip people up.
The short version: yes, Amazon is in the car game, but it is not replacing the dealership. It is stitching together online convenience with old‑school test drives, trade‑ins, and paperwork. That hybrid setup can be a win, as long as buyers know what happens on Amazon’s turf and what still belongs to the dealer’s world.
So, is Amazon really selling cars now?
Amazon has built a dedicated car marketplace called Amazon Autos, where shoppers can search for a new, used, or Certified Pre-Owned car, truck, SUV, or electric vehicle. The key twist is that Amazon is not the legal seller of the vehicle. Instead, it connects buyers to participating local dealerships, which still own the cars and finalize the sale. That structure lets Amazon lean on its strengths, like search tools and customer accounts, while leaving titles, taxes, and state regulations to the dealers that already handle them.
On the site, the experience looks familiar: customers can Buy or lease through a shopping interface that feels like any other Amazon category, complete with filters, comparison tools, and saved lists. Behind the scenes, the inventory is pulled from what is actually sitting on partner lots, so when a shopper clicks on a specific SUV or sedan, they are reserving a real vehicle rather than a generic build sheet. That mix of Amazon’s front end and dealership back end is the foundation for everything that follows.
How the click‑to‑car process actually works
The journey starts with browsing, but the important part is what happens after a shopper chooses a specific vehicle and hits the checkout button. According to Amazon’s own Overview, the platform lets people select a car that matches what is on the dealership lot, then submit their order details so the dealer can prepare the vehicle. That means the online choice is not a vague configuration; it is tied to a specific VIN that the dealer pulls and holds for the buyer.
Once the order is in, the dealership takes over the real‑world steps. While the store is getting the car ready, buyers can use the Amazon flow to upload documents and line up financing or confirm how they plan to purchase the car. The actual handoff, including signing the contract, happens at the dealership, where customers pick up the vehicle and, if needed, complete a trade‑in. Industry reporting notes that the physical trade‑in occurs when the buyer arrives to take delivery, even though the trade‑in process is designed to feel seamless from the online side.
Who can use it, and where is it available?
Not everyone with an Amazon login can drive off in a car. The company’s own Notes spell out that buyers must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid driver’s license, and have proof of insurance to order or lease a vehicle through Amazon. Those requirements mirror what any dealership would ask for, but here they are baked into the online flow, so shoppers are not surprised when the dealer asks for paperwork at pickup.
Geography matters too. When Amazon first rolled out its partnership with Hyundai, the service was limited to 48 cities, including major hubs like New York, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and Miami. That footprint has expanded as more dealers sign on, but availability still depends on whether a local store has opted into the program. In practice, that means two neighbors with the same Prime account perks might see very different car options depending on which metro area they live in.
What can you actually buy on Amazon Autos?
Right now, the new‑car side of Amazon’s marketplace is built around a single automaker. Amazon Autos has partnered with the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company for the new‑vehicle program, so shoppers browsing factory‑fresh inventory are looking at Hyundai models. Reporting on the launch makes clear that Amazon Autos is focused on Hyundai for new cars, while other brands may appear only in the used and Certified Pre-Owned lanes.
Those used and Certified Pre-Owned options are where the selection really opens up. Amazon has highlighted that Amazon Autos now offers used and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, letting Customers shop for pre‑owned cars online in a way that mirrors the new‑car experience. In a separate expansion, Amazon Autos now lets Customers browse, finance, purchase, and schedule pickup for thousands of certified pre‑owned Ford vehicles, again through local dealers. Commentary on the rollout notes that for used inventory, shoppers will often be browsing cars supplied by Hertz, which adds another big national player into the mix of sellers.
What the buying experience feels like
From the shopper’s perspective, Amazon is trying to make car buying feel like any other online order, just with more zeros on the price tag. The company pitches the ability to Shop when it is convenient, compare multiple vehicles side by side, and see clear pricing without the usual back‑and‑forth. The Amazon Autos hub emphasizes Transparent pricing, promising straightforward numbers on every vehicle and tools to compare prices across similar models.
That does not mean the entire process is digital. Analysts who have dug into What Amazon Autos stress that Amazon is not selling the car itself, and that the legal transaction still belongs to the dealer. Buyers still go to the showroom to sign contracts, inspect the vehicle in person, and hand over a trade‑in. For many shoppers, that hybrid model is the appeal: they can lock in a price and a specific car online, then keep the in‑person test drive and final gut check before committing.
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