Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Driveo and CarMax seem to have a lot of similarities when it comes to their car-selling process. However, you might find Driveo the better option to sell your vehicle.
Its offer is valid for up to 30 days, giving you plenty of time to consider it and even check out offers from other dealerships. Their payment option is also more convenient since you can get your cash within the same day of selling your car.
Selling to Driveo also promises a faster turnaround time. While it doesn’t have a Trustpilot or BBB page, its Facebook and Google reviews attest to the company’s reliable services.
Best for Older & Damaged Cars
Buys used, damaged or junk cars
Free tow and no hidden fees
Pays by ACH trasfer or check
Top Pick for Junk Cars
Free, no-obligation cash offers
Offers free paperwork service
Pays on the spot upon pick up
Highly Rated by Customers
Excellent customer service ratings
Honors guaranteed offer for 7 days
Can pick up a car within 48 hours
Great for Low-Mileage Cars
Gives a real offer in 2 minutes
100% hassle-free online process
Free car’s Value Tracker available
Driveo vs. CarMax Comparison
| Company | Driveo | CarMax |
|---|---|---|
| Logo | 
| 
|
| Cars accepted | Used and new cars | Cars in most conditions, with exceptions |
| Fees | $0 | $0 |
| Requesting quotes | Online application and in-person appraisal | Online application |
| Offer validity | 30 days | 7 days |
| Payments offered | Check | Bank draft |
| Payout | Same day | Same day |
| Car pick-up | Drop-off | Drop-off |
| Physical locations | Nationwide locations | 240 CarMax locations nationwide |
| Turnaround time | At least 24 hours | Up to 48 hours |
| Customer service | Online form, phone, email, and social media | Social media, online form, chat, or hotline |
| Reviews | 4.5 | 1.6 |
Cars Accepted
Driveo accepts vehicles that are used or new. In addition, your car should meet the following conditions before you can sell it to them:
- No odometer issues
- No salvaged or branded titles
- Not extensively modified
- Not older than 15 years
- Not used a commercial vehicle
- No fire, floor, or severe damage
- Not a rare sports or high-end luxury car
CarMax, on the other hand, has fewer conditions if you want to sell your vehicle to them. It only needs to be free from the frame and flood damage and has no salvage history.
Besides the car condition, you should be able to provide the following when you sell your car to CarMax:
- Payoff information or title, with all the title holders present during the sale
- Valid IDs of all titleholders
- All keys and remotes
- Valid and current registrations
Fees
Selling to Driveo or CarMax is free. You can get an instant offer and have your car inspected without paying for anything.
Requesting Quotes
You can request quotes from Driveo and CarMax through an online process. This typically starts with providing the Vehicle Identification Number or license plate number of your car.
If you don’t have these, you might also be able to get an instant offer by entering your car’s
- Make, model, and year
- Mileage
- Condition
After the online process, you’ll receive the instant offer, and to claim it, you’ll need to schedule an in-store appointment.
These companies will need to inspect the car in-store to finalize the offer. Note that in some cases, the final offer might not be the same as the instant cash offer you received after the online application.
Upon knowing their final offer, you’re free to accept it or decline it. It’s also worth checking with the dealership to see if they’ll give you time to consider the final offer. Once you’re okay with their last price, they can process the sale and hand in your payment.
Offer Validity
Once you accept them, Driveo offers are valid for 30 days, while CarMax instant offers are good for only 7 days.
Payments Offered
Driveo pays in check, which you’ll receive right after finalizing the sale. You only need to cash it in or deposit it in your bank account.
On the other hand, CarMax only pays in bank drafts. This payment method only allows the recipient to deposit it to their bank accounts. Bank drafts are also subject to holding periods, depending on the bank.
Payout
Both Driveo and CarMax will hand your payment within the same day of finalizing the sale with them. You’ll leave their stores with either a check or bank draft in hand.
Car Pick-up
Only CarMax offers a free pick-up option in selected locations. You’ll see if this option is available on the offer page after completing their online application process.
Driveo doesn’t offer pick-up. To claim their instant offer, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of their stores.
Physical Locations
Driveo has several dealerships across the country. You can locate the nearest one through the store locator page on their website.
CarMax has 240 stores nationwide, which you can also find using its store locator on its website.
Turnaround Time
Selling your car to Driveo can be as fast as 24 hours. This is pretty neat, considering that you can complete their online application in minutes, set an appointment at a nearby store, and take your car there within the same day.
Since the company pays in check, you also don’t need to bother with long posting dates. CarMax, on the other hand, processes sales for up to 48 hours. Its payment method tends to take longer to post due to some banks’ holding periods of up to 4 days.
Customer Service
Driveo’s customer service is available through the following:
- Phone: 619-212-1212
- Email: hello@driveo.com
- Online form
To reach the CarMax customer support team, you have the following options:
- Chat
- Phone: 1-913-384-6697
- Online form
- Twitter or Facebook
Reviews
| Company | Driveo | CarMax |
|---|---|---|
| Logo |
|
|
| Trustpilot | N/A | 1.6 |
| BBB | N/A | 1.15 |
| Google Reviews | 4.5 | N/A |
| Facebook Reviews | 3.9 | N/A |
Driveo received relatively good reviews from its customers on Facebook and Google. Some of the compliments the company received are its
- Easy and fast process
- Reasonable offers
- Professional staff
CarMax customers also liked that the company offers a hassle-free way of selling cars. Some also pointed out that the company made them the highest offers compared to other dealerships they visited.
On these review platforms, however, both Driveo and CarMax received complaints from customers who didn’t get the offer they expected. However, it’s important to manage your expectations when selling your car, as offers depend only on the information you provide.