The CarMax Car Buying Experience - No Fuss, No Muss, No Negotiating, Few Hassles

What's it like to buy a car from CarMax? Over the past decade, my wife and I have bought four cars from CarMax and accompanied relatives while they also bought a car at CarMax. Our vehicles have included a Chevy Cavalier, a Ford Explorer, a Toyota Camry, and a Toyota Highlander. All of the cars were used with less than 30,000 miles on their odometers. Our purchases were made a locations in Georgia and Northern Virginia. Overall, we've found the CarMax buying experience to be easy and straightforward.

Even before you step onto the premises, the CarMax buying experience is different. You can easily examine the entire CarMax inventory on-line at CarMax.com and get complete photos, reviews, prices, and options. Once you get to CarMax, you can't just saunter onto the lot. CarMax lots are secured by a metal perimeter fence. In order to look at the cars, you have to walk through the building. You are immediately greeted by a customer service representative. But, unlike the dreaded sales people at a conventional dealership, you can actually give them the brush off with ease. They'll simply wish you well in your browsing and let you know that they'll be glad to open any cars you like or take a test drive.

Once you are on the lot, you'll find the cars neatly arranged by category and make. For example, in the small cars, all of the little Hyundais might be clumped together next to all the little Hondas. The CarMax inventory is divided into two types of vehicles: CarMax cars and ValuMax cars. CarMax cars are typically newer with fewer miles. ValuMax cars have higher mileage (60,000 miles+) are older (6 years or older). The inspections and warrantees are different for the two types of cars. ValuMax cars typically cost less.

Each car has a uniform CarMax sticker on the window, with a basic listing of the car's features, and a non-negotiable fixed price that is lower than the Bluebook price for the vehicle. The sticker is easy to read, but provides a basic description of features. For example, the sticker might read AM/FM/CD stereo without revealing whether the car has an optional high end stereo system or other special stereo features.