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Which is Better for Selling the Car?
Selling your car with Shift and CarMax is a similar experience in many ways. Both companies offer you a free online quote and give you 7 days to consider your offer. With both companies, you can sell your car and receive your payment within 24 hours.
However, there are some differences that set these two companies apart.
Overall, Shift is the better car-buying company to sell your car to. Shift offers free pick-up for your car and offers to pay you by a direct bank transfer while CarMax pays you with a bank draft that can take 1-4 days to show up in your bank account. Shift also has much higher customer ratings and reviews in comparison to CarMax.
Shift Summary
- Quick 24 hour payment processing time
- Extra $200 bonus for selling your car
- 2 options for evaluating your car
- Up to 7 days to consider Shift’s offer
CarMax Summary
- Instant online offer in under 2 minutes
- Online offer is valid for up to 7 days
- 2 options for selling – online or in-store
- Get paid within 30 minutes on the spot
Shift vs. CarMax Comparison
| Shift | CarMax | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars accepted | Used and new cars | Used and new cars |
| Fees | No fees | No fees |
| Requesting quotes | In-person and online application | In-person and online application |
| Offer validity | 7 days | 7 days |
| Payments offered | Secured Automated Clearing House (ACH), or a direct bank transfer | Bank draft |
| Payout | 24 hours after sale | Same day payment |
| Car pick-up | Free pick-up | No car pick-up |
| Physical locations | 183 store locations | 235 store locations |
| Turnaround time | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Customer service | Email, phone | Online chat, phone, email |
| Reviews | 4.4 | 1.7 |
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via online form or call on (855) 925 4302
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
CarBrain
Get an offer within 2 minutes and sell your damaged car within 24 hours
Free vehicle towing and no fees to getting rid of your damaged car
The tow truck driver will arrive with your check (nationwide service)
Cars Accepted
Shift and CarMax both buy used cars that are in drivable condition, as well as cars that are leased. With Shift, you can sell your leased car in nearly the same way as any other financed car. Shift will evaluate your car and require a copy of your lease buyout packet.
Carmax will appraise the car, contact the leasing company for a payoff quote and process any equity you have. CarMax does have a list of vehicle companies that it cannot purchase leased cars from.
Fees
Neither Shift, nor CarMax charge any fees for selling your car. Both companies offer a free evaluation and quote for your car.
They both make money by reselling the cars they buy from users for profit.
Requesting Quotes
Both Shift and CarMax offer free instant quotes after you submit an online application form.
Information you will need to include in a Shift or CarMax application:
- Make and model of your car
- Year of manufacturing
- License plate or Vehicle Identification Number
Offer Validity
Once you receive your offer from Shift and CarMax, your offer is valid for 7 days. You can consider the offer within this timeframe and either accept or decline it.
Payments Offered
After your car passes the final inspection with Shift, you will be notified by email, and Shift will request your bank account information to make an ACH transfer.
When you sell your car with CarMax, you can leave with your payment in hand on the same day of making your sale. CarMax pays with a bank draft which must be deposited at a bank and can take 1-4 days to show up in your bank account.
Shift and CarMax both offer a trade-in option and require you to drop off your car at an in-person store location.
Payout
With Shift, once the payment has been initiated the processing time can take up to 3-7 business days, depending on your bank.
With CarMax, you will leave with payment in hand the same day you sell your car. Once you receive your bank draft, you can head to your local bank to make your withdrawal. Make sure to check with your bank to see if they have a specific holy policy on deposits.
Car Pick-up
Shift offers car pick-up services, as well as the option to drop your car off at one of their store locations. You can also receive an evaluation of your car done at your home by a Shift associate.
With CarMax, you are required to drop off your car at one of their store locations for evaluation, and to complete a sale.
Physical Locations
You can deliver your car to one of Shift’s 183 store locations.
With CarMax, you can deliver your car to one of their 235 physical locations across the United States.
Turnaround Time
Both Shift and CarMax offer a very quick turnaround time to sell your car. It usually takes up to 24 hours to sell your car with both companies.
Customer Service
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Shift customer service by:
- Phone: +1 (855) 744-1445
- Email: [email protected]
You can contact CarMax customer service by:
- Online chat
- Phone: (716) 243-4850
- Email (each store location has an individual email address)
Reviews
Shift has a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot, while the overall CarMax rating is 1.7 stars on Trustpilot. Shift has a 3.3-star rating on BBB, while CarMax has a 1.1-star rating on BBB.
Customers have praised Shift for providing excellent customer service, providing fair prices for those selling cars, and having a quick turnaround time. Some customers have raised complaints about not being able to contact customer support, sales being delayed, and not receiving payments on time.
CarMax customers have praised the dealership for providing a quick turnaround time, friendly customer service, and offering good prices for cars. Customers have complained about CarMax changing their price offers, not disclosing damages to cars, and providing poor customer service.
| Shift | CarMax | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | 1.7 |
| BBB Rating | 3.3 | 1.1 |
Shift & CarMax Alternatives
Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
Similar to Shift and CarMax, Peddle offers you an instant quote after you submit an online application form through their website. After receiving an offer, you will have 7 days to accept the offer just like with Shift and CarMax. Peddle offers to send a Peddle representative to pick up or tow your car for free.
Like with CarMax, Peddle will hand you a check on the same day of the sale. In comparison to Shift and CarMax, Peddle is a more trusted car-buying company with a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot, and a 4.7-star rating on BBB.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
Like Shift, which uses a proprietary algorithm, Wheelzy uses AI to provide an estimated value of your car using the information you submit using the online application form.
Wheelzy accepts cars that are damaged or considered to be junk, while CarMax and Shift accept cars that are used and in drivable condition. Once you accept an offer, a Wheelzy representative will pick up or tow your car for free.
Wheelzy has a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot, and a 3-star rating on BBB.
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