Get a quote for your car from CarMax and carvana before trying to trade it in at the dealership. They may lowball you at first but will typically match another offer.

Anonymous wrote:I would assume you aren’t trying to buy a 10 year old used car. As long as you are buying 1-3 year old used car, you should have nothing to fear. The car should still be under the manufacturer warranty. That’s peace of mind.

Carmax and Carvana would be more expensive but you’ll have a smooth and straightforward experience. No haggling. No car salesman trying to trick you.

Personally, I would buy at a local car dealership because I actually like haggling. Also car dealerships have certified pre-owned cars. Carmax and Carvana don’t.

“Certified pre-owned” is just three words for “used” pp.

I actually love the CoPilot app. I’ve posted about it before.

I've never bought from Carmax, but the few people who I know that have, have had nothing but good words to say about their vehicles and their experiences.
My previous vehicle was used from a Chevrolet dealer, but I might have got a better deal if I had tried Carmax first.

I've had two good experiences with Carmax-one in 2013 and one in 2023. They're very straightforward, vs a few dealerships who really just won't give a straight answer. Also, Carmax has the 7 day return policy. And they were transparent about 'fees', and they were quite a bit less than I had been quoted from certain dealers (looking at you Subaru).

I bought a used phev (my first foray into ev's) from Carmax, the salesperson was really knowledgeable in this case, they also gave me a new in sealed box charger cord and reimbursed me for a new owners manual I ordered. The car was not higher priced than other places near me (it was lower than one at least). I did not have a trade in so I can't comment on that aspect.

Carmax also gave us top dollar on our trade ins.

This is ten years ago but Carmax had both a better price, better selection, and easier buying experience than the local dealerships. I shopped around to all of them and the dealers were all so slimy. They wouldn’t honor the USAA car buying prices quoted online and tried to tack on nonsense fees even after negotiating.

I would assume you aren’t trying to buy a 10 year old used car. As long as you are buying 1-3 year old used car, you should have nothing to fear. The car should still be under the manufacturer warranty. That’s peace of mind.

Carmax and Carvana would be more expensive but you’ll have a smooth and straightforward experience. No haggling. No car salesman trying to trick you.

Personally, I would buy at a local car dealership because I actually like haggling. Also car dealerships have certified pre-owned cars. Carmax and Carvana don’t.

We found Carnac easy to deal with—more straight forward then the dealer.

If the price is similar then carmax by a mile. You get a 24 hour take home test drive and a 90 day warranty.

One more thing....when buying a used car, your ideal used car is one that was locally owned and has a maintenance record (via Carfax) that you can see.

Cars that were from other locations (especially bad weather places like FL, TX and sometimes NY) should raise a little flag.

Carfax is a good "guide" and what is on a Carfax is usually correct. The problem is what is NOT on a Carfax.

Not one of the three options is guaranteed to have a "better" car. Used cars are very individual. You really need to see each one in person as one "2022 Accord LX 24k miles" might be completely different than a similar "2022 Accord LX 24k miles".

My info might be a little dated with Carvana but I remember reading that there might be timing issues with your money if you don't decide you want car. If you need a car asap and your money is tied up for a few weeks, that will be an issue.

Carmax. You kind of know what you get. You will pay top dollar for the convenience of no haggle. Plus your return options are friendly. Just know that their cars aren't any "better".

Dealer. You can always negotiate with a dealer and I would bet they are always cheaper on a car vs Carvana and Carmax. 14 years is a long time. I'd reconsider.

No matter which route you choose, ALWAYS get a Pre-purchase inspection on a used car. If the car passes your test, take it to another brand dealer (i.e. If you're buying a Ford from Manassas Ford, take it to Fairfax Ford). The inspection is usually around $150 and it will give peace of mind.

Used car conditions are all over the map, especially since Covid as that made used car supply small as owners kept their quality used cars.

Good luck!

I would use cargurus. You find better deals there. With caravana you pay for the convenience, and I have no idea why anyone buys from carmax.

IMO, you always overpay with Carmax, and especially Carvana, all else being equal.

The car, model, trim that I am looking for is available at Carvana, Carmax (needs to be shipped) and a local VA dealership.
I purchased a new car from that dealership 14 years ago and it was such a negative experience that I dread going back - but they are the only local place that has what I am looking for.

I have read mixed reviews on carvana and hesitant.
Carmax has the car is "coming soon".

Thoughts on either Carmax or Carvana? For a variety of reasons, I have always purchased new so this whole transaction has me a bit overwhelmed for decision making.

Thanks