I want to take the guesswork out of selling your car. I analyze market data, decode DMV title laws, and test out online car buyers to give you a straight answer on whether it's worth holding out for a higher price or if you're better off taking the most convenient offer and moving on.
Published:Nov 12, 2025
Last Updated:Apr 21, 2026
✓ Fact Checked
How is this page verified?
Information on this article is compiled from publicly available data, customer feedback and our internal analysis. All our articles are being constantly updated and fact-checked annually to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
The bottom line: CarGurus is a better choice than CarMax for a truck or SUV in good condition, since it offered more for both of those in our tests. You sell at a local dealer, which pays by check or electronic transfer on its own timeline.
CarMax is better for an EV, or for any car CarGurus turns down, since it buys a wider range of cars. You can sell in person at its stores, but it pays by bank draft, so you deposit it and wait for your bank to release the money.
Skip both for a car with a branded title or major damage.
Compare offers from several buyers with Sell Car Advisor before you decide.
Key Takeaways
How we tested: We had both companies quote the same three clean-title cars in January 2026.
Truck and SUV: CarGurus offered more for the truck and the SUV, with its biggest lead on a 2022 Ford F-150 XL, $24,500 against $18,400.
EV: CarMax quoted the car CarGurus wouldn’t, offering $11,400 for a 2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles.
Expert AdvisorAsk me anything about selling your car
Try asking
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
CarGurus vs CarMax at a Glance
Category
Best For
Comparing several dealer offers at once
Newer cars when you want a same-day check
Quote Speed
About 2 minutes online
About 2 minutes online
Offer Validity
7 days or 250 extra miles
7 days from the day of the offer, online or in store
Time to Complete
One visit to the dealer you pick
30 minutes (express) to 4 hours on busy days
Payment Method
Dealer pays by check or electronic transfer
Bank draft only, which you deposit at your bank
Pickup Fee
None offered; you take the car to the dealer
At-home pickup in most areas (fee may apply)
Inspection Type
Dealer inspection in person
Full 30 to 45 minute in-person inspection
Cars with Loans
Yes, through the dealer that buys the car
Yes, but some sellers waited 3 to 7 weeks for the payoff
Won’t Buy
Can turn down branded titles, high mileage, older cars, non-running cars
Salvage titles; a frame- or flood-damaged car gets a reduced offer
Trustpilot Rating
3.3/5 stars (1,191 reviews)
4.5/5 stars (3,519 reviews)
Google Rating
2.8/5 stars (108 reviews)
Varies by location, usually 4+ stars
BBB Status
A+ rating, BBB accredited
Not BBB accredited
Main Drawback
Dealer offers may differ from online estimate
Pays by bank draft, not bank transfer
CarGurus vs. CarMax Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
Vehicle
Winner
2018 Tesla Model 3
No offers
$11,400
CarMax
2022 Ford F-150 XL
$24,500
$18,400
CarGurus +$6,100
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE
$25,700
$22,400
CarGurus +$3,300
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and clean title:
CarGurus: No offers
CarMax: $11,400
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and clean title:
CarGurus: $24,500
CarMax: $18,400
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE with 61.5k miles and clean title:
CarGurus: $25,700
CarMax: $22,400
CarGurus vs. CarMax: Detailed Comparison
Both services give you 7 days to accept their offer. CarGurus adds a 250-mile cap, so if you drive more than 250 miles before accepting, you’ll need a new quote. CarMax’s 7 days start on the day it makes the offer, whether you got it online or in a store. Make sure you have your paperwork ready before getting quotes from either service.
CarGurus has no online sale: you drive the car to the local dealer whose offer you pick. CarMax used to require in-store visits, but they launched at-home pickup in most markets starting November 2025. CarMax also has an express drop-off option that can finish in under 30 minutes.
In our tests, CarGurus offered $6,100 more for the Ford F-150 ($24,500 versus $18,400) and $3,300 more for the RAV4 ($25,700 versus $22,400). But CarGurus gave no offers at all for the Tesla Model 3, while CarMax offered $11,400. The pattern: CarGurus offered more when it accepted a vehicle, but CarMax accepted a wider range of cars.
Here are the key process differences between the two services:
CarGurus shows offers from several local dealers at once. CarMax gives you one offer online, then checks the car in person before paying.
A CarGurus dealer pays by check or electronic transfer. CarMax pays with a bank draft, which you have to deposit before you can spend it.
CarGurus dealers have star ratings on the platform. CarMax service quality varies by location.
CarMax gives a free Lyft ride home within 60 miles. With CarGurus, you drive the car to the dealer, so plan your own ride home.
With CarGurus, you describe the car’s condition on the online form, and the dealer inspects it when you drop it off. CarMax runs a full 30 to 45 minute inspection at the store. Both inspections can result in the final offer changing from the online quote.
Neither service charges a fee for a quote or a sale, though CarMax’s at-home pickup can carry one. Both take financed cars. At CarGurus the buying dealer settles the loan, and a CarMax payoff has taken three weeks or more to reach some sellers’ lenders. If your car has mechanical problems or damage, check other online car buyers that work with those vehicles.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
4.6
Scored against used car buyers only
CategoryScore
Offer amount35%5/5
Process ease20%5/5
Offer validity15%4/5
Pickup / drop-off15%4/5
Payment speed15%4/5
Scores compare companies within one segment, never across. How we score
Want to compare more options? Use our free tool to see who offers the most for your car:
Compare Instant Offers
Compare Instant Offers
0/17
VIN cannot contain O, I, or Q
OR
Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers more, CarGurus or CarMax?
In our January 2026 tests, CarGurus offered more for the Ford F-150 ($24,500 versus $18,400) and the RAV4 ($25,700 versus $22,400). That’s $6,100 and $3,300 more than CarMax.
But CarGurus doesn’t make offers for every car. The Tesla Model 3 got no offers from CarGurus, while CarMax offered $11,400. If your car is a truck or SUV in good shape, CarGurus will likely offer more.
For EVs or vehicles CarGurus rejects, CarMax may be your better option.
How long do CarGurus and CarMax quotes last?
Both offers last 7 days. CarGurus also has a 250-mile limit, so your offer expires if you drive more than 250 miles before accepting.
CarMax’s 7-day window starts when it makes the offer, online or in a store. You can use that time to get quotes from other buyers before deciding.
Which has better reviews, CarGurus or CarMax?
CarGurus has 2.8 stars on Google from 108 reviews, and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot from 1,191 reviews.
Sellers’ most common complaint is that the dealer offers less than the online figure.
CarMax has 4.5 stars on Trustpilot from 3,519 reviews. Google ratings vary by location, usually 4+ stars.
Sellers mention late loan payoffs and in-store offers that come in under the online quote.
Do CarGurus and CarMax change offers after inspection?
Both services may adjust the final offer based on inspection. CarGurus’ online quotes are estimates rather than locked-in prices. When dealers inspect your car in person, the offer may change.
CarMax runs a 30 to 45 minute inspection at the store. Reviewers on Trustpilot mention that in-store offers sometimes differ from the online quote.
Be honest about your car’s condition when getting quotes to keep surprises to a minimum.
Which is faster, CarGurus or CarMax?
It depends on what “faster” means to you. CarMax can complete the sale in one visit, sometimes in under 30 minutes with express drop-off.
But CarMax pays by bank draft, and your bank decides when the full amount is yours to use.
A CarGurus dealer can pay by electronic transfer, though each dealer’s payment timeline varies. If you need access to your funds quickly, CarGurus is the faster choice.
How do CarGurus and CarMax pay you?
Every CarGurus sale goes through a dealer, and the dealer pays you by check or electronic transfer. The timing depends on the dealer.
CarMax pays with a bank draft, a kind of check its issuing bank guarantees. You’ll need to deposit it at your bank, since it can’t be cashed.
What if I still owe money on my car?
Both companies buy financed cars. On CarGurus, the dealer that buys the car handles the payoff paperwork with your lender.
CarMax handles loan payoffs too, but some of its sellers’ lenders were paid only three to seven weeks after the sale. Keep making payments until the loan shows as paid off to protect your credit.
If you owe more than the offer, you’ll need to cover the difference yourself.
Article Update History
Updated
New test quotes, ratings from Trustpilot and Google, and CarMax's at-home pickup added.
