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:Dec 18, 2025
Last Updated:Oct 12, 2026
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The bottom line: CarGurus is the place to start if you have a newer truck or SUV in good shape. It offered more than Carvana and CarMax for every car it made an offer on, but there’s no pickup: you drive the car to the dealer that made the offer. Its prices are estimates, though, so you may get less at the dealership.
Carvana is the better pick if CarGurus makes no offer or you want the simplest sale, since it runs everything online and its quote usually holds at pickup. CarMax is the better pick if you’d rather sell in person and leave with a bank draft the same day.
None of the three is the right buyer for a junk car, a car that doesn’t run or a salvage title. Get quotes from all three before you accept one.
Key Takeaways
How we tested: We had all three companies quote the same three clean-title cars in January 2026.
Truck and SUV: CarGurus offered the most for both cars it quoted, with its biggest lead on a 2022 Ford F-150 XL, $24,500 against Carvana’s $22,000.
When CarGurus passes: Carvana offered the most for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 that CarGurus wouldn’t quote, $14,200 against CarMax’s $11,400.
Lowest offers: CarMax offered the least for all three cars, with its widest gap on the F-150, $18,400 against $24,500 at CarGurus.
CarGurus offered $2,500 more than Carvana on the F-150 and $1,100 more on the RAV4 in our tests
Want a fully online process with no hassle
Carvana handles everything from quote to pickup online. CarGurus has you drive the car to the dealer, and CarMax needs in-person visits
Want to compare multiple offers in one place
CarGurus lists bids from several nearby dealers side by side. Carvana and CarMax each give you only one offer
Need cash the same day
CarMax gives you a bank draft the same day at their stores. Carvana hands you a check at the appointment or takes 2 to 5 days for bank transfers, and a CarGurus dealer pays by check or transfer on its own timeline
CarGurus didn’t make an offer on your car
Carvana accepted the Tesla Model 3 that CarGurus rejected. They accept most vehicles, even ones with lower values
Still owe money on your car
Carvana’s loan payoff is typically faster. Some CarMax payoffs took 3 to 7 weeks, and with CarGurus the dealer that buys your car guides you through the payoff
Have a car with branded title, major damage, or very high mileage
Neither
CarGurus may make no offer on these cars, Carvana offers very little, and CarMax won’t buy salvage or flood titles. Try junk car buyers instead
7-Day Offer
Carvana buys newer running cars, with pickup in some areas
Expert AdvisorAsk me anything about selling your car
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Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Carvana vs CarMax vs CarGurus at a Glance
Category
Best For
Newer cars under 10 years old, fully online process
In-person transactions, same-day payment, mainstream cars under 10 years old
Comparing several local dealer offers in one place
Quote Speed
About 2 minutes online
Real offer online in minutes, checked in person before payment
Under 2 minutes, shows offers from several local dealers
Offer Validity
7 days
7 days
7 days or 250 additional miles, whichever comes first
Time to Complete
About 3 to 10 days on average, same day in some areas
Same day at location, paid by bank draft
One visit to the dealer you choose, at a time you book
Payment Method
Check at pickup or bank transfer (2 to 5 business days)
Bank draft only (deposit it, can’t be cashed)
Check or electronic transfer from the dealer, timing set by each dealer
Pickup Fee
May apply where pickup is offered, varies by location (free at vending machines)
Fees may apply depending on location; no fees at stores
No pickup; you drive the car to the dealer
Inspection Type
At home during pickup (about 15 minutes)
In-person at store (30 to 45 minutes)
In person at the dealer
Cars with Loans
Yes, works directly with lender
Yes, but some payoffs took 3 to 7 weeks to land
Yes, the dealer handles the paperwork with your lender
Won’t Buy
Cars that don’t run or can’t be driven safely; built for cars under 10 years old in good condition
Salvage titles; frame or flood damage brings lower offers
May get no offer: branded titles, major damage, high mileage, older or exotic cars, cars that don’t run
Trustpilot Rating
4.1/5 stars (16,239 reviews)
4.5/5 stars (3,519 reviews)
3.3/5 stars (1,191 reviews)
Google Rating
Varies by location
Varies by location, usually 4+ stars
2.8/5 stars (108 reviews)
Negotiation
No
No, offers are firm
Possible with the dealer, but the dealer can also lower the offer
Coverage
Most major U.S. metro areas
250+ stores in 42 states, plus home pickup
All 50 states through local dealers, but not in every area
Main Drawback
Pickup may carry a location-based fee and isn’t offered everywhere, low offers for older cars
In-person offer can come in under the online one
The dealer can offer less than shown, and not all cars get offers
Carvana vs. CarMax vs. CarGurus Offers
We requested quotes from all three companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
Vehicle
Winner
2018 Tesla Model 3
$14,200
$11,400
No offer
Carvana +$2,800
2022 Ford F-150 XL
$22,000
$18,400
$24,500
CarGurus +$2,500
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE
$24,600
$22,400
$25,700
CarGurus +$1,100
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and a clean title:
Carvana: $14,200
CarMax: $11,400
CarGurus: No offer
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and a clean title:
Carvana: $22,000
CarMax: $18,400
CarGurus: $24,500
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE with 61.5k miles and a clean title:
Carvana: $24,600
CarMax: $22,400
CarGurus: $25,700
Carvana vs. CarMax vs. CarGurus: Detailed Comparison
All three give you quotes valid for 7 days. CarGurus adds an extra rule: your offer also expires after 250 additional miles, whichever comes first. If you drive a lot while deciding, that can catch you off guard.
Carvana runs everything online. You get a quote in about 2 minutes and upload a few documents, then book a pickup where it’s offered (it may cost a fee depending on location), and the driver handles paperwork at your door. The whole appointment takes about 15 minutes. They check the car against CarFax and AutoCheck reports, and if something doesn’t match what you described, the offer can change.
CarMax wants you in person at one of their 250+ stores, though they now offer home pickup in most markets. Their inspection takes 30 to 45 minutes. On busy days, the total visit can stretch to 4 hours. They also offer express drop-off if you already accepted an online quote, which cuts the time to under 30 minutes.
CarGurus takes a different approach. They pull offers from thousands of dealers, so you see multiple options at once. You pick the offer you like and drive the car to that dealer. The dealer inspects it there before buying it.
The dealer path means visiting the dealership, and each dealer’s payment timeline varies. Unlike Carvana’s standardized process with convenient home pickup or vending machine drop-off, the dealer experience varies a lot depending on which dealership you visit.
In our tests, CarGurus offered $24,500 for the Ford F-150 and $25,700 for the RAV4 Prime, beating both Carvana and CarMax on those vehicles. But they gave no offer at all on the 2018 Tesla Model 3, a car Carvana valued at $14,200.
Quote accuracy: Carvana’s online quote holds at the appointment if the car matches your answers and the 7 days haven’t run out. CarMax can cut its online offer once it sees the car in person. CarGurus dealer offers are estimates, not guaranteed prices, and many sellers report lower amounts at the dealership.
Pickup fees: CarGurus has no pickup, so there’s no fee, but you drive the car to the dealer yourself. Carvana’s pickup, where offered, may carry a location-based fee, with free drop-off at vending machines. CarMax may charge pickup fees depending on your area.
Payment speed: CarMax hands you a bank draft the same day, which you deposit before spending. Carvana pays by check at pickup or bank transfer in 2 to 5 days. With CarGurus, the dealer that buys the car pays you by check or electronic transfer, and each dealer sets its own timing.
Vehicle restrictions: CarGurus dealers may make no offer on a car with a branded title, major damage, high mileage or exotic specs, or one that doesn’t run. Carvana accepts most vehicles but offers very little for older or damaged ones. CarMax buys most cars but won’t take salvage or flood titles.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
4.8
Scored against junk car buyers only
CategoryScore
Offer amount30%5/5
Quote speed20%5/5
Pickup speed20%4/5
Vehicle acceptance15%5/5
Process ease15%5/5
Scores compare companies within one segment, never across. How we score
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers the most, Carvana, CarMax, or CarGurus?
It depends on your car. In our 2026 tests, CarGurus offered the most on both vehicles where they made an offer: $24,500 for a 2022 Ford F-150 and $25,700 for a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime.
But CarGurus gave no offer on the 2018 Tesla Model 3, where Carvana offered $14,200. CarMax offered the least on all three vehicles. Get quotes from all three to see which values your specific car the highest.
How long does each selling process take?
Carvana completes sales in about 3 to 10 days on average, sometimes the same day. The pickup appointment takes about 15 minutes. CarMax can do same-day at their stores, paying by bank draft that you then deposit at your bank.
CarGurus sales finish in one visit to the local dealer you pick, though each dealer sets when it pays you.
Can I sell a financed car to Carvana, CarMax, or CarGurus?
Yes, all three handle financed vehicles. Carvana works directly with your lender. CarMax also handles loans, but some of its sellers waited three weeks or longer for the lender to be paid off.
With CarGurus, the local dealer that buys your car guides you through the loan payoff. Keep making your payments until the loan shows as fully paid off.
Will the online quote match the final offer?
Not always. Carvana’s quote holds unless they find condition issues you didn’t mention online or the 7-day offer runs out first. They check against CarFax and AutoCheck reports at pickup.
CarMax can lower its online offer at the store when the car’s condition, use or history differs from what you entered. A CarGurus figure is an estimate, and the dealer can change it after the inspection or when the market moves.
Many sellers report the final amount drops once the dealer inspects the car in person.
Which has better customer reviews, Carvana, CarMax, or CarGurus?
Carvana has 4.1 stars on Trustpilot from 16,239 reviews.
CarMax has 4.5 stars from 3,519 reviews. CarGurus has 3.3 stars from 1,191 reviews.
Common Carvana complaints are about late pickup drivers and hard-to-reach customer service. CarMax sellers’ complaints focus on slow or short loan payoffs and offers cut after the in-person check.
CarGurus complaints mention dealer offers coming in lower than what the platform displayed.
Do Carvana, CarMax, or CarGurus charge fees?
Carvana’s home pickup fee depends on your area and local demand, and you see it before you book. Dropping off at a vending machine is free.
CarMax may charge pickup fees depending on your area but has no fees if you visit a store.
CarGurus charges nothing for its offers, and there’s no pickup to pay for because you drive the car to the dealer.
What if my car doesn’t qualify for an offer?
This mainly affects CarGurus. Its dealers may make no offer for a car with a branded title, major damage, high mileage or exotic specs, or when no dealer nearby wants it. In our tests, they didn’t offer anything for the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
Carvana and CarMax will still make offers on most vehicles, though amounts may be much lower for older or damaged cars.
Can I negotiate the offer from Carvana, CarMax, or CarGurus?
Carvana’s offers are take-it-or-leave-it. CarMax doesn’t negotiate, and its sellers report no rise from showing a competing quote.
CarGurus offers come from local dealers, so you might have room to negotiate at the dealership, though the dealer can also go lower.
How do I choose between Carvana, CarMax, and CarGurus?
Start by getting quotes from all three. Choose CarGurus if a nearby dealer makes the highest offer and you can drive the car there.
Go with Carvana if you want a simple online process or if CarGurus doesn’t accept your car.
Pick CarMax if you need same-day payment or prefer handling everything in person at a store.
Article Update History
Updated
New quotes from all three, ratings from Trustpilot and Google, and CarMax's home pickup added.
When CarGurus passes: Carvana offered the most for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 that CarGurus wouldn’t quote, $14,200 against CarMax’s $11,400.
