AutoBuy vs. CarMax Comparison: Fees, Features, Reviews, and More

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Which is Better for Selling the Car?

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Between AUTOBUY and CarMax, AUTOBUY is a better option to sell your car to.

First, the company offers two ways to request a quote – online and over the phone. Being able to request a quote by phone is a great option if you prefer to talk to a human instead of filling out the online form.

What’s more, AUTOBUY lets you choose how you want to get paid. It can pay you by check or give you instant cash. Meanwhile, the only option CarMax offers is a bank draft.

One of the most convenient things about AUTOBUY is that it will pick up your car from your driveway at no additional cost. In contrast, CarMax also offers a pick-up service, but to be eligible for the service, you’ll need to be within 30 miles of selected stores that offer free pick-ups.

AUTOBUY vs. CarMax Comparison

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Company	AUTOBUY	CarMax
Logo
Cars accepted	Used, damaged, or broken	Cars in most conditions with exceptions
Fees	$0	$0
Requesting quotes	Online application or over the phone	Online application
Offer validity	5 days	7 days
Payments offered	Cash or check	Bank draft
Payout	Immediately	Up to 48 hours
Car pick-up	Pick-up	Drop-off and pick-up service in selected areas
Physical locations	16 locations nationwide	240 CarMax locations nationwide
Turnaround time	24-48 hours	Up to 48 hours
Customer service	Phone, email, online form	Social media, online form, or hotline
Reviews	4.9	1.6

Cars Accepted

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AUTOBUY accepts any cars, whether they’re slightly used, damaged, or broken. 

Meanwhile, CarMax accepts cars in almost any condition with some limitations. CarMax will buy your car even if it has a “check engine light” on or any engine issues. It will also accept a junk car.

When you decide to sell your car to CarMax, you’ll be required to prepare the following paperwork:

• Valid IDs of title holders, who should be present during the sale
• Valid and current registrations
• Title or payoff details
• Keys and remotes

Be aware that CarMax will perform a thorough inspection and check your car history reports. It won’t buy a car if it turns out to have flood damage, frame damage, or salvage history.

Fees

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AUTOBUY and CarMax don’t charge any fees. It’s entirely free to request a quote and get your car inspected. Both companies offer free pick-up services as well.

Requesting Quotes

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Both AUTOBUY and CarMax let you request a quote using an online form. You’ll need to provide information about your car, such as your car’s make and model, age, mileage, and current condition.

Additionally, if you prefer to talk to a person instead of filling out the form, AUTOBUY lets you request a quote over the phone (888-203-2131).

Offer Validity

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AUTOBUY’s offer is valid for 5 days, while CarMax’s offer is good for 7 days. During this time, you can request quotes from other companies as well to accept the best deal for your car.

Payments Offered

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AUTOBUY will give you either instant cash or check payment upon picking up your car. CarMax will issue a bank draft.

Payout

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Both AUTOBUY and CarMax pay you on the spot. If you accept instant cash from AUTOBUY, you’ll obviously have the cash right away. If you opt for check payment, you’ll need to visit the bank to cash out your money.

Meanwhile, the bank may take up to 48 hours to clear the bank draft from CarMax.

Car Pick-up

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AUTOBUY will pick up your car right from your driveway with no exceptions. Meanwhile, CarMax only offers free pick-up services if you’re located within 30 miles of selected stores. If you’re not eligible for the pick-up service, you can drop your car off at one of its 240 locations nationwide.

Physical Locations

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While AUTOBUY picks up the cars itself and doesn’t require you to visit them, its physical locations are limited to 16. CarMax has 240 physical locations nationwide, so you can drop your car off at the nearest outlet.

Turnaround Time

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Overall, it takes 24 to 48 hours to sell your car to AUTOBUY and up to 48 hours to sell it to CarMax.

Customer Service

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AUTOBUY and CarMax offer multiple channels for you to contact their customer service teams when you have any inquiries.

You can contact AUTOBUY customer service by:

• Phone: 888-203-2131
• Email: [email protected]
• Contact form

You can contact CarMax customer service by:

Reviews

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Most customers who sold their cars to AUTOBUY are happy with its services. They praised the following:

• Efficient and convenient process of selling cars
• Reliable and helpful customer service
• Competitive prices offered

As for complaints, some AUTOBUY users reported inconsistencies and errors the company made in appraisals. However, you can make sure you get a fair offer by getting your car appraised by multiple car-buying companies. This way, you can accept the highest offer to get the most out of your sale.

Happy users praise CarMax for providing an easy way to sell a car and for high-quality customer service. On the other hand, negative reviews come from people who bought cars from CarMax outlets. They reported that the cars they bought turned out to be faulty. But it can be fixed by simply inspecting the car before buying it from the dealership.

AUTOBUY & CarMax Alternatives

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Peddle

Peddle is among the best sites like AUTOBUY and CarMax to sell your car conveniently. It’s a car-buying company that accepts cars in any condition and will pick up your car from your driveway when you accept the deal. It’s entirely free and takes 24 to 48 hours to sell your car to Peddle. Unlike AUTOBUY, Peddle’s offer is valid for 7 days.

CarBrain

CarBrain is one of the great alternatives to AUTOBUY and CarMax. Just like the two companies compared in this article, CarBrain will also give you an instant quote when you submit an online application. Alternatively, you can get the quote over the phone. If you accept the deal, the CarBrain representative will come to your driveway to pick up your car for free. They will also pay you on the spot by check.

Wheelzy

Similar to AUTOBUY and CarMax, Wheelzy will also give you an instant quote after submitting an online application. If you’re happy with the price offer, the company will send its representative to your driveway to pick up your car and hand you the check payment.