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Wednesday, October 9th
2024 Used Car Site Reviews
CarMax
- Prices from $10,998 to $74,998
- Sells their own cars
- Long-distance delivery
- Free in-home delivery
- "A+” rating from the BBB
Carmax is a well-known used car retailer in the United States. The company operates in two main areas: Carmax Sales Operations and Carmax Auto Finance. Originally a side business of Circuit City, Carmax opened its first location in Richmond, Virginia, in September 1993. Known for introducing "no-haggle" prices, which made car buying and selling a straightforward and stress-free experience, the company is a favorite among many online shoppers. The company offers several key features, including 24-hour test drives, home delivery, and express pickup to make your online car buying experience even simpler.
Impressive shopping options and filters
To get started shopping for cars, you've got a couple of different options. If you know what you're looking for, you can start by using the search bar on the landing page to look up your ideal car. If you want a more general starting point, you can begin by selecting a body style, a brand, a price, or your lifestyle needs. And, if you still can't decide, you can click "Shop all cars” to see Carmax's entire inventory. From here, you can narrow your search using filters like body style, price, year, mileage, fuel type, car size, colors, and more.
Only 1,388 vehicles nearby
When we searched, the number of cars in inventory was pretty disappointing. In a 50-mile radius of our local area, Carmax showed only 1,388 cars in total. This is thousands of cars fewer than other sites in our review. We tried setting our Carmax store to different locations and got similar results. However, as Carmax operates as its own type of "dealership”, you are missing out on inventory sold by regular dealerships around your area. This is completely different from most competitors we reviewed who offer inventory from multiple dealerships rather than just one company.
Carmax rates the cars for you
Carmax makes up for its low inventory with its extremely detailed product pages. You get an overview as well as a full suite of photos including 360-degree views of the exterior and interior of each car. You then get a lowdown on the car's specs. Carmax offers a scoring system for how "well equipped” a car is. For example, a Mazda Miata we looked at had a "5” score, which was a middle-ground score out of 10. This Miata was labeled "well equipped” and noted to have a few extra features compared to a base model.
Prices from $10,000+
At Carmax, you can find used cars priced between $10,998 to $74,998. The least expensive option is a 2014 Ford Focus, while the most expensive is a 2024 BMW X5. To understand how Carmax's prices compare to other sites, we examined the pricing of four specific cars: a standard sedan (Toyota Corolla), a crossover SUV (Nissan Rogue), an electric vehicle (Tesla Model 3), and a luxury sports car (Jaguar F-Type). Here's how Carmax's prices stack up against those at Carmax.
- Toyota Corolla: $13,998 (2013 with 97,000 miles) - $22,998 (2023 with 14,000 miles)
- Nissan Rogue: $12,599 (2015 with 104,000 miles) - $28,998 (2021 with 29,000 miles)
- Tesla Model 3: $27,998 (2019 with 37,000 miles) - $36,998 (2023 with 6,000 miles)
- Jaguar F-Type: There were no F-Types available at Carmax
Free home delivery
Carmax stands out from the pack by offering free test drive reservations, free pickup, and free home delivery options for their vehicles. Some Carmax locations prefer that you test drive at the sale location, while others allow for 24-hour test drives at home to really get to know the car. In general, the free delivery is the most exciting feature, and it will help keep costs down if you can find a car at Carmax.
Not a favorite with customers
Currently, Carmax holds an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau, but that's where the good news ends. According to Carmax's page on the BBB, it has received well over 2,000 complaints in the last three years. On top of that, the company's reputation isn't great off the BBB either. Customers on Trustpilot rated Carmax an average of 1.8 stars out of 5 and Consumer Affairs showed a similar average of 1.7 stars. Customers left a range of complaints including issues with cars after purchase, undisclosed accidents on vehicles, customers finding the company "invasive” and hard to work with, and difficulties reaching customer service across the board.
Room for improvement
Carmax has some impressive features, such as free delivery and easy in-person access to their cars. However, they also struggle with a number of issues: they don't have a high enough inventory, and customers report a less-than-satisfying experience. Overall we give Carmax a less-than-average rating in our review.
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Where Can You Find the Best Used Cars?
Buying a car can be one of the most exciting moments in your life. Whether you're picking up your first set of wheels with Mom and Dad, or replacing your old reliable with something new-to-you, buying a car is exciting. But it's also expensive. That's why many people decide to start by looking at used cars rather than something fresh off the lot.
The options open up significantly when you start looking at used cars (and some of them are even better than new ones). Looking for something low-cost but with modern safety features? Finding a low-mileage used car is a perfect way to score a deal. Looking for a classic car that isn't manufactured anymore? The used car market is where you want to start. No matter what you're looking for, you can find millions of used cars out there that fit the bill, and they'll come out much cheaper than buying something new from the dealership.
Continue reading below
Used Car Site FAQ
They say that a new car depreciates, or loses value, the second you drive it off the lot. That's true! When you buy a used car, you're getting a better value: not everyone can afford a brand-new car, but there are plenty of affordable "pre-owned” vehicles within most budgets.
There are pros and cons to each one. When you buy from a dealership, you usually get certain assurances: that the car has been inspected from top to bottom, maybe some fixes for minor items or even bigger ones like new tires or brakes, and the ability to return it within a certain timeframe if you don't like it or something malfunctions. However, you're paying for those perks: comparing apples-to-apples, a private sale will almost always be cheaper than getting the same car through a dealership.
Absolutely! There are many services that make it easy to find the car you want, and some of them will even bring the vehicle to you for a test drive and/or let you buy it online and have it delivered to your home. It's a great idea to do your research before you buy a used car, even if you're planning on going to a dealership.
As a buyer, you absolutely want an inspection before buying a used car from a private seller. Most private sale contracts are "as-is”, so unless you have a lot of automotive expertise, we don't recommend you try to determine for yourself if a car is road-worthy. A professional inspection can save you a lot of time and hassle if things aren't as they appear - or give you the peace of mind that you've found a great vehicle. If you're selling a used car, it may not be worth it to provide an inspection: your buyer(s) will probably want to have one done by a mechanic they trust, rather than taking your (mechanic's) word for it.
Yes! Selling your car online is a fantastic way to reach more potential buyers. You can add photos, provide a detailed description and contact information, and voila: you should have no shortage of interested customers, without having to put a "for sale” sign in the car window.
That depends on the site. You can often list your car for free, with premium "upgrades” if you want to add pictures, a car history report, or have your vehicle featured above others in your category.
Most sites serve as a go-between and don't guarantee that the car will sell - or that the car you buy will be problem-free. Be sure to read customer reviews of any used car service you're considering, and see if the Better Business Bureau has anything to say too.
There are almost too many to list! Any used car site that offers easy navigation with useful filters, tools that help you accurately gauge a vehicle's fair market value, and simple (and non-intrusive!) ways to connect with the vehicle sellers is a good choice. For extra reassurance, you can see if the BBB has given the used car service high marks for excellence.
Continued from above...
Used car shopping can be as frustrating as new car shopping if you have to go in person. Haggling for prices and trying to talk with dealership salespeople can easily turn your excitement into frustration. But with online auto sales, you can dodge all the unpleasantness of dealership sales tactics and shop for used cars from the comfort of your own home. Plus, you won't lose out on opportunities to try out the vehicle, as most places allow a test drive period when you select something. You can fully research your vehicle online, and most retailers allow you to have the car delivered directly to your home. Today's used car buying process is completely different from what it was even ten years ago.
Getting your next used car through online services is a breeze. You can browse through different makes, models, colors, and years. Like the look of the Ford Mustang before the 2020 update? Check out used vehicles online. Online auto sale platforms give detailed information about each car, such as safety ratings, features, detailed photos of the interior and exterior, and prices (with monthly payment or lease calculator tools). For safety and mechanical features, you can see details and trim levels with advanced driver assistance systems, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane assist. By browsing the inventory of many dealerships and sellers, finding a top-level model is much easier than shopping locally.
One of the biggest advantages of buying a used car online is access to a wider array of options than shopping in person. Most online auto trading sites have a larger inventory from dealerships across the country, allowing you to find the exact model and color you want, depending on how far you want to go to get your dream car.
With so many places to buy used cars, it might be hard to know where to start. Don't worry - we've put together this list of factors to consider when looking for a used car online, to make sure you get the best deal and experience:
- Resources. Look for sites that have details about each vehicle. This includes photos of the car, details about mileage, the CarFax report, location, dealer, pricing history, and any past fender benders. You want to make sure your used car isn't going to need more maintenance than it's worth.
- Selection. Choose a platform that has a wide variety of used cars in the style you're looking for. Are there a range of makes and models? Do you have access to older and newer cars?
- Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings to see what other car enthusiasts say about a particular auto sales site. Look for feedback on how trustworthy the platform is, how it handles customer service, and the overall buying process (including test drives, delivery, and returns).
- Cost. Ultimately, cost plays a major role. Which site has the car you like at the desired trim level for the best price? Does the price include extras like home delivery? Can you find extra deals through financing or other avenues offered at the auto sales site?
To help you find your next used car, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best online car shopping options available today. Whether you need a new family car, a vehicle for towing, a first-time car for a college student, or the dream classic car you've been saving for, we hope our research will help you save time in the car-buying process and connect you with a vehicle you'll love to drive.
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