Internet-based car "buying" services are all free to the consumer and they work with established dealers to get good prices for their customers. Getting a car quote from each of these companies is a good strategy for smart consumers.

There is a common misconception that these online services actually sell or lease cars. They don't. State laws require that all cars must be sold by traditional dealers. What they do, however, is get dealers to lower their prices for the services' customers based on providing the dealer with lots of business. Dealers pay a fee to the service for each potential customer it sends them. It works.

When you specify the kind of car you want, the service will find a dealer in your area who will offer you a pre-arranged price and provide you a car quote. If you like the price, you can visit the dealer and sign your lease or loan papers based on that price. They can do this because it eliminates the normal sales process and salespeople who would normally have to be paid commissions.

Do these car quote services get you the absolute best prices for your lease or purchase? Sometimes, sometimes not. If you're a skilled negotiator and are willing to spend a lot of time haggling, you might get a better price — maybe. But most people find the prices satisfactory and like not having to waste time arguing the deal.

Canadian viewers can get Canadian car price quotes from CarCostCanada .

The following are the top buying/pricing services on the Internet. We especially like InvoiceDealers and Edmunds because they'll have already worked out agreed-to low prices with local dealers. We also very much like CarsDirect for their direct service — no need to visit a dealer until you pick up your car. For best results, get car quotes from them all, compare their offers, and select your best deal.

InvoiceDealers is a no-nonsense auto pricing service that lets you simply specify the vehicle you want and request your price quote — fast and easy. If you don't need to do a lot of research and know what you want, this site works great. Their vehicle configurator is incredible, showing MSRP and dealer invoice prices on each option you add to the vehicle. Since they work with dealers for all brands of vehicles all over the country, you're pretty certain to get a competitive price from them.

Edmunds is the recognized leader in online car pricing information. Their web site is one of the most frequently visited by automotive consumers who are doing research before they buy or lease a new or used car. On this one web site, you can get all the information you need about the vehicle you are interested in, and get free price quotes from dealers in your area that work with them.

CarsDirect is unique in that they show you their quote price right on the website. They also have a low-price guarantee, which may explain the fact that many of the people we've talked to seem to think this service offers the best prices (see Epinions.com for actual customer reviews of the company). They also handle the paperwork of your lease or loan via mail so that all you have to do is go pick up your vehicle at a local dealer.

Automotive.com provides competitive, no-haggle, price quotes for those who want to see the real prices up front — an instant actual price for the car of your choice. And because they don’t have commissioned sales representatives, you’ll get actual vehicle prices that reflect the true invoice price. Automotive.com has one of the strongest sourcing networks of any car buying website, you don’t need to compromise on important factors like color or sub-models. Just choose your model and color and they’ll deliver pricing direct to you from a local dealer.

Yahoo! Autos is a complete car shopping and research site. We like the side-by-side car comparison feature that compares everything about up to four vehicles, including prices, dealer incentives, gas mileage, warranties, and even owner ratings — everything. When you ask for their free dealer price quotes, make sure you select multiple dealers in your area, if given that choice.

When you lease, the dealer makes the financial arrrangements, on your behalf, through a bank or "captive" finance company such as Ford Motor Credit. You don't have to lease through a dealer any more than you have to finance a purchase through a dealer. Dealers only sell cars; they don't lease or finance purchases.

Since the dealer expects to make an additional profit on the lease deal he selects for you, you may be better to arrange the lease yourself with an outside lease company. The exception would be if the captive finance company is offering special promotional lease deals to help move vehicles.

Therefore, if you're not taking advantage of a car maker's special promotion, it's well worth your time to shop and compare lease deals online so that you'll have something to compare with the dealer's deal. Most of these companies don't directly finance leases, but work to find you the best deals from major financial firms and national banks.

There a number of these companies out there, but we know the following are top-notch, have good reputations, and are worth your consideration.

The following companies specialize in lease transfers (sometimes incorrectly called "subleasing"). They provide a valuable service for people who want out of a lease by matching them with other people who are looking for bargain short-term leases on late-model low mileage vehicles. "Sellers" often offer great incentives to make their deal more attractive.

There are some fees involved but the cost may be significantly less than other methods. Just be aware that not all lease companies allow such transfers, but you'll be told this by the service. We recommend the following services.

For maximum exposure, use more than one service to list your car. This helps get your listing in front of more people and reduces your wait time before you find a buyer.

MyFICO.com is the web site for the Fair Isaac Corp., the company that all three major credit reporting agencies use to create consumer credit scores. In order to know your credit score, it's actually necessary to know all three scores. Even though the scores are based on the same rules, the credit history data from each agency will be different. You can get your scores here, and they'll explain how the scores were derived.

Equifax lets you actually see your BEACON credit score with their "Score Power" online report. Your score determines if you're "prime" or "sub-prime." Many lenders and lease companies only work with "prime" consumers. Find errors in your report that may be pulling your score down.

Insurance.com is a free car insurance insurance shopping service that allows you to compare rates from multiple carriers by simply filling out one online form. By matching your profile with multiple car insurance companies, their detailed application form ensures you will receive only quotes that best fit your particular situation. We particularly like the wealth of educational articles they provide that answers questions you may have regarding auto insurance, including how to save money by selecting the right coverage.

Esurance is one of the most recognized car insurance companies due to their clever TV commercials. They are a relatively new company, formed in 1998, but have since become one of the fastest growing insurance companies in the country. They are innovative, value their customers, and work hard to provide excellent service. Get a quote from them to find out for yourself.

InsureMe is an established and popular car insurance company, having been around since 1993. They have a network of thousands of participating insurance agents and companies across the United States, including in your neighborhood. Once you complete their online form, they match your profile to as many as five companies, who will provide you free rate quotes that you can compare and choose from. Remember, you are not obligated to accept any of the offers.

21st Century Insurance Company is a well respected car insurance company serving California, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Pennslyvania, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.They insure over 1.4 million automobiles and have an annual renewal rate of over 93%, which says something about how satisfied their customers are with the company.

We recommend Edmunds.com as having the most complete and reliable car research data. They are recognized for their comprehensive vehicle reports, new-car reviews, comparison data, MSRP prices, invoice prices, TMV prices, manufacturer incentives information, and free dealer price quotes.

Below are convenient links to Edmunds' pages for research on specific vehicle makes and models:

Acura	GMC	Lexus	Pontiac
Audi	Honda	Lincoln	Porsche
BMW	Hummer	Mazda	Saab
Buick	Hyundai	Mercedes	Saturn
Cadillac	Infiniti	Mercury	Scion
Chevrolet	Isuzu	MINI Cooper	Subaru
Chrysler	Jaguar	Mitsubishi	Suzuki
Dodge	Jeep	Nissan	Toyota
Ford	Kia	Oldsmobile	Volkswagen
	Land Rover		Volvo