Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Between We Buy Any Car and CarMax, We Buy Any Car is the better option. True to its name, it accepts cars in any condition. This means that even if your vehicle is not working, you can still sell it to them.
The company is also transparent and forthcoming in how its online valuation tool works, which provides an informational value of vehicles, not an actual offer. As for receiving payments, We Buy Any Car provides a better option by paying in checks.
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
We Buy Any Car vs. CarMax Comparison
| We Buy Any Car | CarMax | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars accepted | In any condition | Cars in most type conditions, with exceptions |
| Fees | None | None |
| Requesting quotes | Online valuation tool | Online application |
| Offer validity | N/A | 7 days |
| Payments offered | Cash | Cash, Trade-in value |
| Payout | Check | Bank draft |
| Car pick-up | Drop off | Drop off |
| Physical locations | 150 locations nationwide | 235 CarMax stores nationwide |
| Turnaround time | Up to 48 hours | Up to 48 hours |
| Customer service | Phone, email | Chat, phone, email |
| Reviews | 4.9 | 1.7 |
Cars Accepted
We Buy Any Car purchases cars in any condition. You can even sell cars to them even if it’s not working anymore. In case your car isn’t listed on their online valuation tool, you can contact them by email to get your car’s free valuation.
Additionally, you can sell vehicles to We Buy Any Car under the following conditions:
- On behalf of a family member or friend
- On behalf of a deceased relative
- On behalf of a company
- Cars with outstanding finance
- Cars with customized aftermarket parts
In contrast, CarMax has several exceptions when it comes to selling cars to them. While they purchase cars in most conditions, note that they don’t accept vehicles with flood and frame damages and salvage history.
Fees
We Buy Any Car and CarMax charges zero fees when you sell your car to them.
Requesting Quotes
We Buy Any Car has a free online valuation tool. According to their website, the value you’ll get here is not equivalent to an offer, as the price may still change after inspection. It only provides information about your car’s current value based on relevant market data.
To use the valuation tool, just go to the We Buy Any Car website and click on the Sell Your Car option. It will load a page where you can choose your vehicle year, make, and model.
Suppose your car’s information is not listed on the valuation tool. In that case, you can send an email to webcustomquote@webuyanycarusa.com and provide additional details on it.
You can include the following in addition to the year, make, and model:
- VIN
- Mileage
- Condition
- Your location
Their representative will reply to you within 24 hours for your online valuation.
CarMax, on the other hand, provides instant cash offers. Using an online form on their website, you can provide the details and the condition of your car. With that information, CarMax will generate an instant offer.
Offer Validity
We Buy Any Car doesn’t equate their online valuation to offers. With that in mind, you still need to bring your car to one of their stores to get an actual offer after inspection.
However, their website doesn’t provide any information on how long store offers are good for.
In contrast, CarMax says on their website that instant offers are good for 7 days. You can set up an appointment at a nearby store to claim it.
Payments Offered
Both CarMax and We Buy Any Car pay in cash, although CarMax also has a trade-in option. You can credit your car’s value to purchase your next car at the CarMax store.
Payout
We Buy Any Car pays in check which they hand out after finalizing the sale at the store. CarMax also pays the same day you bring your car to them. But instead of checks, they pay in bank drafts, which you need to deposit to your bank account.
Car Pick-up
Both CarMax and We Buy Any Car require sellers to bring their cars to a nearby location for selling. Unfortunately, these companies don’t offer free pickup services.
Physical Locations
We Buy Any Car has 150 stores in the US, which you can locate using their online Branch Locator tool. CarMax, meanwhile, has around 235 stores in the US. It also has an online branch locator, so you can visit the ones near you.
Turnaround Time
For both companies, you can sell your car within 48 hours. The process already includes getting an instant quote or online valuation, driving to a nearby branch, getting your car inspected, and finalizing the sale.
Since both companies hand out payments before you leave the store, you don’t need to worry about waiting long to get your money.
To maximize your time at the store, make sure to set up an appointment first. Then, bring all necessary documents, including your proof of identification and ownership. It’s also worth it to bring all keys and the manual if you have those.
Customer Service
We Buy Any Car currently has no centralized customer service channels for general inquiries. Quite preferably, you can use the Branch Locator tool to find a store near you. Then, you can contact that store by email or phone number listed in the Branch Locator.
CarMax also lets you find the contact details of their stores using the branch locator. However, you can reach out to their centralized customer service through the following:
- Phone: (913) 384-6697
- Online form
- Chat icon at the website homepage
Reviews
We Buy Any Car received an impressive 4.9 rating at Trustpilot from over 30,000 customer reviews. At the BBB or Better Business Bureau, the company also received an average of 4.92 ratings.
Many of the reviews are about customers appreciating the quick service at the local branches. Customers seemed to like the honesty and transparency of We Buy Any Car agents at the local stores.
Meanwhile, CarMax received a rather low rating at Trustpilot and the BBB, with 1.7 and 1.14, respectively. Similarly, customers liked that they were able to sell their cars fast with CarMax.
However, there are some customers quite unhappy with the differences between the instant offer they received online and the actual money they received for their vehicles.
| We Buy Any Car | CarMax | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.9 | 1.7 |
| BBB | 4.92 | 1.14 |
| Consumer Affairs | N/A | 3.6 |