CarMax Reviews

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About CarMax

Pros
  • Quick process
  • Transparent pricing
  • Positive vehicle performance
Cons
  • Frequent mechanical issues
  • Poor communication from staff
  • Warranty coverage disputes

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CarMax Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 6
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    Punctuality & Speed

    Reviewed May 23, 2026

    I found a 2017 Corvette with 9500 miles online CarMax. Without any obligation they shipped the car to Shreveport about 100 miles away. I was permitted to inspect and test drive. Still a great car 2 years later!

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    Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

    Reviewed May 5, 2026

    The lady that was helping me was super sweet, super kind. She had this energy when she answered the phone that just made me perk up and be so excited. And then she told me her name was Beyoncé and I knew that I was blessed today. She helped me get an offer online and reschedule my appointment. She was extremely helpful. Very patient and very kind. Would call again for this one of a kind girl!

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      Reviewed April 23, 2026

      I would like to thank Ryan, Andy, and Gus at the CarMax in Plainfield Illinois for treating me like a KING. I sold my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, and it could not have went any smoother. Thanks again to the great bunch of guys at CarMax in Plainfield. Rick

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      Customer ServiceContract & TermsCoverageTechSales & MarketingPricePunctuality & SpeedRefunds & PayoutsMaintenanceStaffRatesFollow-Through

      Reviewed April 5, 2026

      I just got my third car from CarMax. The first two sales and cars were flawless, but this one had a hitch --- The local CarMax dealer (Morse Rd., Columbus, OH) however, bent over backwards to make it good. I was motivated because my prior car had been rear-ended and totaled. I chose a car that needed to be transferred from out of state; a 2022 Hyundai Tucson with just over 30K miles. There was a $99 transfer fee, but I was pretty sure I was going to buy it, so I went ahead and paid it. At the time I was driving a rental car; the first few days were paid by insurance, but for unrelated reasons I wasn't able to get another car quickly, so it was out of pocket.

      The "hitch" came when the final ship date came, and the salesman called to let me know the transfer had fallen apart (3rd party vehicle hauler) and it hadn't shipped yet. I complained and pointed out that this was costing me money. He promised to try to get the shipment expedited with another hauler. A couple of hours later, he called and said that he and his manager were able to expedite the transfer; they would also refund the shipping fee. He also said he would see about some compensation for the rental fees I was accruing. I agreed, but thought this offer would disappear when the car finally got there. Well, the car arrived a few days later, as promised. It was what I wanted, and I went ahead and purchased it.

      The salesman also had me meet with the sales manager there, who reiterated that the transfer fee was being refunded, and wanted some documentation for the cost of the rental, I told him that I figured I spent three extra days in the rental, and gave him the total cost (including taxes and other fees). He asked me to wait a few minutes, and came back and said he would compensate me for that amount, and arranged to do so in cash. In addition, the rental company, which normally would pick up the rental from the dealer couldn't do so as they were understaffed that day. They had an office less than a mile from CarMax, so I mentioned to the salesman I would leave the car there and walk back. He said that wasn't necessary, and arranged a courtesy Lyft trip back at their expense.

      Finally, a few minutes before leaving, the manager came by and said there was a small problem with the vehicle -- a bracket holding the license plate light was broken. He said they would order the part (and did it while I was there) and said to just stop by when it gets in and they would replace it. I was pleased that they were even looking at the small details like this. Overall, I felt that I was treated like a valued customer -- a rarity these days. Given the low mileage (just under 30K miles left on warranty) and flawless appearance of the vehicle (I've never had mechanical problems with cars from there), the price, I felt was reasonable. And the service was excellent. Their willingness to handle the "hitch" to make me whole was a pleasant surprise as well. I'm getting to the age where this might be my last car. However if I do get another one this is where I will go, no questions asked.

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      Reviewed June 20, 2026

      20min. Test drive 20min only and if you're telling the sales person I am going to purchase this vehicle now with cash and the sales person says, "I’m sorry it’s been over the 20min test drive, Car Max policy, I’m going to have to drive it back. You can ride with me back if you like?" So I had waited over 3 weeks for the shipping on a vehicle and when the day came I said it’s ok. The sales person just not too smart, no big deal, as I sit in the back seat on the way back to deliver ship, checkbook in hand, ready to buy my new truck.

      32k cash hard earned money, then they say, "We are sorry we cannot sell this truck to anyone because the title says it has 50k on it and the car reads 47k." so they came up with we can drive it 2k miles then. Sell it or file for a new title for it. So as I was walking out with my heart ripped out and my time, my money, all valued like I was someone trying to get approval or a loan. They did not offer to sell me anything else and they did not follow up with me. I’m taking my money some place else due to the fact

      1. I am going to buy cash now. (Sales person says great however the 20min test drive is over so I know you said you're paying cash and buying it now however car max policy 20min test drive lmao). 2. They had the vehicle as a certified and. Saying on report that all was good. When in reality they wher going to sell me a vehicle with the mileage wrong on title and from car over 2k in miles. 3. They had no value for my money or my time (but definitely did a great job at the 20min test drive give that sales person a raise great job)

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingPricePunctuality & Speed

      Reviewed June 19, 2026

      2022 Honda Hybrid with 30K miles is a premium resale unit. They could have bought it. Maybe sell for a quick profit. Make a clean profit plus the laydown sale.

      Instead, a 60‑year‑old woman at a Customer Service. If you ever buy anywhere, always see what a real customer who bought it says. “Gatekeeper” on a salary or hourly basis. Kill the deal. I don't memorize the VIN, the plate number, or appointment info. Had an appointment at 4:15, I was there at 4:10. She cost her employer thousands, as well as commission to the order taker. They create the illusion of demand: “Acting as booked solid.” "We need your VIN first.” “We need your plate number.” "Others are waiting.” Ha! Ha! All of that is manufactured scarcity. It’s the same tactic as a restaurant claiming it’s full when half the tables are empty.

      I walked out, went into the Show Room, and saw the truth: Three kids laughing at the counter. Two “order takers” sitting together. Two orders were taken on their phones. No greeting. No engagement. No awareness. No urgency, no leadership. That’s not a sales floor. That’s a daycare with car keys. Discipline, accountability, metrics, training, standards, consequences. They had none of it.

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      Sales & Marketing

      Reviewed June 15, 2026

      A 22-yr CarMax customer with 10 sales. I sadly perceived today’s 2026 Carmax as the same as dealer tactics from 1990s. If I need to play games, I’ll go to a dealer and save money. -Marc

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingPunctuality & SpeedStaffHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed June 13, 2026

      To Whom It May Concern, I would like to formally express my disappointment regarding the way I was treated during my recent visit to the CarMax location in Irving, Texas. Prior to arriving, I had already been approved through Capital One and had completed all of the required prequalification steps. When I arrived at the dealership, I realized I had forgotten to complete the Express Pickup process. Ahmed, the salesperson assisting me, was wonderful. He helped me upload my financial documents and pay stubs and proceeded to retrieve the vehicle so that I could test drive it.

      However, while waiting to test drive the vehicle, Ahmed called me back over and informed me that the manager, Nate **, wanted to review my bank statements to verify that my paycheck deposits matched the pay stubs I had already provided. Although I found this request excessive and embarrassing, I complied and logged into my personal bank account to show that my deposits matched my pay stubs exactly. After this was verified, I was once again called back from the test drive process. This time, I was told that my monthly income was off by approximately $200 and that my application needed to be adjusted and resubmitted to Capital One. After carefully reviewing my pay stubs with Ahmed, I demonstrated that Mr. **'s calculations were incorrect. In fact, I had actually reported approximately $200 less income than what my documentation supported. Despite this, my application was rerun again.

      At that point, I was extremely upset and struggling to remain professional. Throughout this process, I received no apology from Mr. ** for his mistake or for the inconvenience and embarrassment I experienced. Instead, I was left with the overwhelming impression that he was determined to prove that I was dishonest, submitting fraudulent documents, or attempting to deceive the dealership. His repeated requests for additional documentation beyond what Capital One had required made me feel as though I was being treated like a thief, a liar, and a scammer rather than a valued customer. To make matters worse, my friend accompanied me during this visit and witnessed the entire interaction. Mr. ** walked past her without acknowledging her presence and never apologized for incorrectly challenging my reported income. The entire experience was humiliating and left me feeling stereotyped and singled out.

      I understand that dealerships have a responsibility to verify information and protect against fraud. However, there is a respectful and professional way to conduct those reviews. The manner in which I was treated lacked professionalism, courtesy, and basic customer service. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with Mr. **'s supervisor or a member of CarMax leadership regarding this matter. I believe customers should be treated with dignity and respect, especially after they have already met the lender's requirements and provided the requested documentation in good faith. I sincerely hope CarMax takes this complaint seriously and addresses the concerns regarding how customers are treated during the purchasing process.

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      CoverageSales & MarketingPriceMaintenanceStaffBillingLoan Process

      Reviewed June 10, 2026

      4 Reasons Why My Family and I Will Never Purchase Another Vehicle from CarMax. My family's experiences with CarMax ultimately resulted in our decision to never purchase another vehicle from the company, never recommend it to others, and never do business with it again. This decision was not based on one isolated event. It was based on four significant experiences involving both my daughter and myself that permanently changed our confidence in CarMax.

      The first reason involved my daughter's vehicle purchase. She purchased a used Volkswagen from CarMax and also purchased the MaxCare extended warranty offered through the sales process. Only months after purchase, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure and required a complete engine replacement. While the warranty covered the repair, I believed this was an opportunity to help her move into another dependable vehicle rather than continuing the loan on a vehicle that had already experienced a major engine failure.

      The second reason involved my own vehicle purchase from CarMax. About six days after purchasing a vehicle, my son noticed a dent near one of the rear reflectors. When I returned to the dealership, I was initially told the damage must have occurred after purchase. However, after reviewing the original online listing photographs, it became clear the dent was already visible before the vehicle was sold to me. Once the photographs were reviewed, the damage was acknowledged and I was offered repairs.

      The third reason occurred after that experience. While returning the vehicle, I visited a nearby Mazda dealership and learned I could purchase a brand-new vehicle for less money, lower monthly payments, and significantly lower financing costs than the used vehicle I had purchased from CarMax. That discovery further reduced my confidence in the value of my purchase.

      The fourth and most significant reason occurred approximately a year and a half after my daughter's first engine replacement. The replacement engine also failed. By that time, the vehicle had exceeded the warranty mileage limitations and the second engine failure was not covered. My daughter was left facing substantial repair costs and ongoing financial obligations associated with the vehicle.

      I understand that mechanical failures can happen and that no dealership can guarantee every vehicle will be problem-free. However, what stands out to me is that both my daughter's situation and my own could have followed a different path had the focus been on doing what was right for the customer rather than simply repairing the vehicles.

      Looking back, these four experiences permanently changed my family's confidence in CarMax. They are the reason we no longer do business with the company and why I share our experience with others when asked about purchasing a vehicle from CarMax. This review reflects my family's personal experience and opinions based on the events described above.

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      TechStaff

      Reviewed June 8, 2026

      I came back to write another review because the truck I bought from this dump is the never ending gift approaching 14k in repair. Now they are telling me I may need an engine and that 11k for OEM. I paid 34k for truck. Add 14k and now if I do engines another 11k. I recommend run from this company and save your money. I could have bought a new truck with what I have into this POS right now and I still owe 26k on it. Only had the POS for 8 months. What crappy company. Wouldn’t help at all. Looked for reasons not to help.

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      CarMax author review by Miranda Weiss

      The prices on CarMax are non-negotiable, meaning there’s no need to haggle. The site exclusively offers used vehicles. However, there are a moderate amount of cars with very low mileage. CarMax spends an average of 12 hours prepping each vehicle for purchase — each car must pass a 125-point inspection and undergo a thorough cleaning before being put up for sale.

      • Store-to-store shipping: CarMax has 200 locations nationwide. If you find a car online that you like, it can be shipped to any of CarMax’s locations for you to pick up.

      • 7-day guarantee: If you are dissatisfied with your car, no matter the reason, you can return it within seven days of purchase, no questions asked.

      • Multiple financing options: Customers can apply for financing through CarMax Auto Finance or several other third-party institutions. Options are available for those with weaker credit.

      • Extended service plans: You can protect your car by purchasing an extended service plan that will help you pay for repairs you may need down the road.

      • Filters to narrow down searches: Find the perfect car by selecting the right price, type, brand, year and location. You can also search using the “lifestyle” option, depending on whether you are outdoorsy, living in a big city or want a family car.

      • Test drive before buying: If you find a car online, that means it’s available at a CarMax location. You can test drive any car before buying.

      Miranda Weiss is a writer and editor who joined the ConsumerAffairs team in 2024. Her background includes writing for law firms, marketing clients and nonprofits. She has an MFA in writing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a B.A. in English from Northeastern State University.

      CarMax Company Information

      Company Name:
      CarMax
      Website:
      www.carmax.com