Buying a car from CarMax is a relatively straightforward process. Like most online dealers, the company offers an advanced search engine and filters for you to choose from over 50,000 vehicles.
Once you select an option to take a look, similar to Carvana, CarMax offers 360-degree views of its vehicles for you to look at both the interior and exterior. You’ll also be able to see additional details about the previous ownership of the car, features and even videos explaining certain functions.
Options will also be available for you to choose to reserve a test drive, buy and pick up the car or purchase and get delivery — which may or may not be free.
CarMax has a plethora of cars to sell in its inventory, as it sold over 810,000 used vehicles and 590,000 wholesale cars at auctions during the fiscal year that ended in February 2023. With CarMax’s search filter, you can narrow down your search by make and model, or be as granular as looking at the transmission and drivetrain.
Each option shows the selling price of the car and the mileage. Also, if you’re between two options and can’t decide, CarMax offers a comparison tool where you can compare the specifications of up to six different cars at once.
If you choose to finance your car with CarMax, you’ll start by getting a pre-qualified offer through its estimate tool. From there, the company will aggregate lending options from its network that includes auto loan providers such Ally Financial to find you the best car loan rates and terms for you. Then, you’ll receive an offer online and can choose to accept or reject it.
Within the window for looking at an individual car offer, CarMax also offers a car loan payment calculator to find how much car you can afford. When you enter your credit score range, down payment and loan length, you can get an estimate of your auto loan interest rate and monthly payment.
A CarMax limited warranty is included in a purchase, and covers you in case of a mechanical breakdown. Additional options, such as the CarMax MaxCare warranty, may also be purchased as an add-on. This extended car warranty option offers more comprehensive coverage than its included limited warranty, which only covers you up to 30 days or 1,500 miles.
If you want to trade-in your vehicle before moving forward to purchase, you can do that with CarMax. After you choose a particular car offering and enter your information, you’ll be able to select the trade-in option for your vehicle. You’ll be redirected to wait for your information to be processed before moving forward. You’ll be notified when you can move on through the phone number you provided.
CarMax’s Love Your Car Guarantee gives you 30 days and up to 1,500 miles to decide if the car you buy is right for you. As long as the condition is consistent with when you purchased it and you’ve driven fewer than 1,500 since your purchase, you can bring it back within 30 days for a refund. Any refunds due back are mailed within two weeks of your return date.
Every mile you drive contributes to the wear and tear of a car, so mileage can act as a rough estimate of a car's longevity. Under normal circumstances, a vehicle with 40,000 miles may be considered relatively new, even if it's several years old. A younger vehicle with 140,000 miles would be considered significantly older, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's in bad condition. When buying a used car, consider all aspects of the car's condition, including its accident and maintenance history, age, wear and tear, repair needs, and more. Learn more about what to look for when buying a used car.
That ultimately depends on a vehicle's condition, motor vehicle history, and the car make and model. Look into hiring a professional mechanic to inspect the used car you're considering, especially if it's odometer reads close to 100,000 miles or more. Many well-maintained cars can go a much longer distance without extensive repairs, and a mechanic can give you their perspective on the car's overall condition, beyond just its mileage.
Learn how car mileage impacts insurance.