The bottom line: Carvana offered more than CarMax, by $2,200 to $3,600, for each of the three cars we quoted at both.
Carvana is the buyer for a car like those, under 10 years old and in good condition. For an older car, try CarMax, which wants to make an offer on almost any car, though it asks to see some in person first.
Carvana and CarMax are separate companies, and neither will match the other’s offer: Carvana doesn’t price match, and CarMax doesn’t negotiate.
Get an offer from each, and see what other buyers offer for the same car before you accept one.
Key Takeaways
- What our tests found: For a 2022 Ford F-150 XL, Carvana offered $22,000 and CarMax $18,400; for a 2018 Tesla Model 3, $14,200 and $11,400; and for a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, $24,600 and $22,400.
- Still owe money on it: Both pay your lender directly out of the offer, but the payoff can take days to post, so keep making payments until your lender shows the loan paid off.
- Owe more than the offer: You pay the difference at the sale, at Carvana by certified check, while a CarMax store also takes cash or a debit card.
- How long the offer lasts: Both offers last 7 days, and Carvana’s 7 days keep running while it checks your photos and documents, so send them the day you accept.
- Watch out for: Home pickup from either may cost a fee depending on where you live, but dropping the car off at a Carvana hub or one of its car vending machines is always free.
- Ratings: BBB gives Carvana and CarMax the same A+ grade; on Trustpilot, Carvana rates 4.1 from 16,239 reviews, mostly from sellers it invites, and CarMax 4.5 from 3,519, mostly from people who bought a car there.
- What Carvana sellers report: Deposit Carvana’s check with a bank teller rather than a phone app, as Carvana requires, since some of its sellers had a check reversed after a mobile deposit.
- What CarMax sellers report: Enter the car’s exact trim, options and condition on CarMax’s form, since a dispute over trim, options or condition is behind many of the store cuts its sellers report.
- How you’re paid: CarMax pays by a bank draft that you deposit rather than cash, and Carvana by a check at the appointment or a direct deposit taking up to five business days.
- How fast you can sell: In some locations Carvana can buy the car the same day you get its offer, and CarMax buys the same day you bring the car to a store.
Compare Instant Offers
Where to Sell Your Car?
Better option when you- Want the highest offerOffered $2,200 to $3,600 more on all three test vehicles
- Want to sell from homeHome pickup in some areas (a fee may apply); CarMax’s is newer
- Limited time for the sale15-minute pickup vs. CarMax’s 30 mins to 4 hours in-store
- Want fewer documentsRequires title, registration, and ID only
- Need same-day paymentGet paid the same day at the store; Carvana buys the same day only in some locations, and about 3 to 10 days on average
- Need ride home after sellingFree Lyft ride home within 60 miles
- Prefer in-person experienceOver 250 stores nationwide with staff assistance
Neither, for a salvage title, frame, or flood damage. CarMax won’t take a salvage title and prices frame or flood damage into a lower offer; Carvana is aimed at cars under 10 years old in good condition. See buyers that take salvage titles.
Carvana buys newer running cars, with pickup in some areas
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
CarMax inspects and buys your car at 250+ stores
- Buys your car even if you don't buy one there
- Offer holds seven days and is not negotiable
- At-home pickup, though not everywhere and a fee may apply
- Quote in about 2 minutes online
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Offer amount 35% 3/5
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Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 2/5
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: Detailed Comparison
| Category |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Newer vehicles under 10 years old in good condition | Popular, mainstream cars under 10 years old in good condition |
| Quote Speed | About 2 minutes online | About 2 minutes online (sometimes requires photos or store visit) |
| Offer Validity | 7 days | 7 days |
| Time to Complete | Same day in some locations, about 3 to 10 days on average; paid at the appointment | Same day (in-store visit takes 30 mins to 4 hours) |
| Payment Method | Printed check or ACH transfer (2 to 5 days) | Bank draft at the store; deposit only, no cash |
| Pickup Options | Free drop-off at a Carvana location or vending machine, or home pickup in some areas, with any fee set by location ($0 to $600 in our test offers) | At-home pickup at most locations (a fee may apply) or bring to store; free Lyft ride home |
| Inspection | 15-minute verification at pickup | 30 to 45 minute inspection with test drive |
| Cars with Loans | Yes, payoff in 7 to 10 business days | Yes; some payoffs took three to seven weeks |
| Won’t Buy | Cars from 1992 or older, cars not safe to drive, or a broken odometer | Salvage titles; frame or flood damage cuts the offer but isn’t a refusal |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.1/5 stars (16,239 reviews) | 4.5/5 stars (3,519 reviews) |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Main Drawback | Pickup only in some areas, and a fee may apply depending on location; customer service can be hard to reach | Final offer based on inspection; slow loan payoffs |
Note: Honda Financial does not allow third-party lease buyouts, so neither Carvana nor CarMax can buy out a Honda Financial lease. Toyota Financial blocks CarMax too, but Toyota Financial Services is one of the 13 leasing companies Carvana works with.
Carvana vs. CarMax Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and clean title Carvana +$2,800
$14,200
See both offer screenshots
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and clean title Carvana +$3,600
$22,000
See both offer screenshots
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE with 61.5k miles and clean title Carvana +$2,200
$24,600
See both offer screenshots
How each offer can change
- Carvana: the quote is instant and holds if the car matches what you entered. The 15-minute check at pickup can still lower it if it finds something you didn’t mention.
- CarMax: it sometimes asks for photos or a store visit before it confirms the number, and the final offer comes after a 30 to 45 minute inspection with a test drive.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Its sweet spot is cars over ten years old
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
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Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 5/5
-
Payment speed 15% 5/5
- Instant offer online, valid for 7 days
- Photo inspection on your phone, no download
- Free pickup from anywhere in the U.S.
- Pays by bank transfer after pickup, or by check
- Buys cars with a loan or lease, in most cases
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Buyer reach 25% 4/5
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Safety features 25% 4/5
-
Listing cost 20% 5/5
-
Time to sell 15% 3/5
-
Ease of listing 15% 4/5
- Free listing at your own asking price
- Instant dealer offer, valid for 3 business days
- Caramel handles payment and DMV paperwork
- No obligation to buy a car from the dealer
- You do the inspection photos on your phone
CarGurus and TrueCar quote newer cars too. When we tested Carvana and CarMax against CarGurus on the same three cars, CarGurus offered the most for the truck and the SUV, though you drive the car to the dealer that made the offer. TrueCar doesn’t buy cars itself but sends you to local dealers who each make their own offer, as our Carvana, CarMax and TrueCar comparison explains.
Want to compare more options? Use our free tool to see who offers the most for your car:
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carvana or CarMax offer more money?
In our January 2026 tests, Carvana offered more on all three clean title vehicles. The difference ranged from $2,200 to $3,600 per car.
We tested a 2018 Tesla Model 3, a 2022 Ford F-150, and a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime.
Carvana offered $14,200 on the Tesla vs. CarMax’s $11,400, $22,000 on the Ford vs. $18,400, and $24,600 on the Toyota vs. $22,400.
How long do Carvana and CarMax quotes last?
Both companies give you 7 days to accept your offer. After that, you’ll need to get a new quote. Market conditions can change, so the new offer might be different.
Which has better customer reviews, Carvana or CarMax?
Carvana has 4.1 stars on Trustpilot from 16,239 reviews.
CarMax has 4.5 stars from 3,519 reviews.
Sellers’ complaints about Carvana center on payments that arrived late and loan payoffs that went wrong, followed by offers that came back lower after the 7 days. Some CarMax reviewers mention the experience varying by location.
Does the offer change at pickup?
Both companies can adjust your offer if they find issues during inspection. Carvana’s 15-minute verification checks your car against what you reported online.
If they find damage or mileage you didn’t mention, the price can change. CarMax does a more thorough 30 to 45 minute inspection with a test drive. The final offer is based on what the inspection finds.
Which is faster, Carvana or CarMax?
It depends on what “fast” means to you. CarMax can pay you the same day if you bring your car to a store, though the process takes 30 minutes to 4 hours.
A Carvana sale can close the same day in some locations and takes about 3 to 10 days on average, but the actual pickup only takes about 15 minutes. If you need cash today, CarMax is faster. If you want less time spent on the sale overall, Carvana wins.
How do Carvana and CarMax pay you?
Carvana offers a printed check at pickup or ACH bank transfer that arrives in 2 to 5 business days. CarMax pays only with a bank draft, a check you deposit and can’t cash. When you can use the money depends on your bank. If you need the money right away, Carvana’s bank transfer won’t help, since it takes days to arrive.
What if I still owe money on my car?
Both companies buy cars with loans. Carvana typically pays off your lender in 7 to 10 business days. At CarMax, a few sellers waited three weeks or more, up to about seven, for the payoff to reach the lender.
Keep making your payments until the loan shows as paid off to avoid credit problems. If your loan balance is higher than what they offer, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Can I sell my leased car to Carvana or CarMax?
It depends on your leasing company. Carvana buys out leases only from 13 approved leasing companies, Toyota Financial Services among them. The lease also needs more than 30 days left. Honda Financial doesn’t allow third-party buyouts at all. CarMax can’t buy a car leased through any of 21 companies, among them Toyota Financial Services, Ally, BMW, Ford Credit, GM Financial, Nissan and Volkswagen.
Put your lease details into the quote process and Carvana or CarMax will tell you if they can work with your specific situation.
Article Update History
New quotes from both, with ratings from the BBB, Trustpilot and Google.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
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