You’ve decided that it’s time to get rid of your old ride and trade up for a new car. The good news is, you have no shortage of options—in 2024, there are more ways to sell your car than ever before.
If you have a trade-in, the most obvious solution is simply to go to your local dealership. Or you could do a deal with one of the many third-party retailers like CarMax. So, which is the right call?
Both dealerships and CarMax offer their own set of perks, and the decision will ultimately boil down to your unique situation. Let’s go through the ups and downs of the dealership vs. CarMax debate to see where you might get the best deal.
Dealership vs. CarMax: Which Gives the Highest Trade-In Value?
When you’re trading or selling a car, experts agree that you’ll generally get the highest price by selling it privately because you’re able to cut out the middleman. Most people choose not to go this route because of all the extra legwork and potential headaches, though.
Just a few short years ago, third-party places like CarMax would probably be your best bet if you were just looking to sell outright, but recently, dealerships have been closing the gap in an effort to stay competitive. The important thing to remember is, when selling a car (or anything else of value), it’s a good idea to shop around and get quotes from multiple sources.
It’s a little different when you’re trading in, because trade-in value can be different than selling value. Dealerships can often still offer the best value for your trade because they allow you to negotiate, whereas CarMax is famous for their hardline no-haggle policy.
Dealership vs. CarMax: Which Has the Best Selection?
Unlike most online retailers, CarMax has a lot of brick-and-mortar locations around the country, and these will give you about the same selection of used cars as our Toyota dealership near Camden, SC. However, CarMax will have a larger selection of used cars online because they have a larger network.
If you’re looking for a new car, it’s a different story. CarMax has some nearly new models on their website, but they’ll still have a couple thousand miles on them, and they may be difficult to find. At the time of this writing, they have less than 100 units of 2025 models on their website.
So, shoppers wanting to buy new or almost new will have much better luck at a dealership, while folks looking for something used may have more choice at CarMax.
Dealership vs. CarMax: Which Has the Best Financing Options?
Both dealerships and CarMax have access to multiple lenders, but financing options at CarMax may be much more limited.
Dealerships have a wide range of lenders that they work with, and this allows us to find some of the most competitive rates on the market regardless of your credit situation. We also offer special promotions and finance offers for qualifying customers, which means extremely low interest rates and monthly payments.
Dealership vs. CarMax: Which Offers the Best Warranty?
All CarMax cars come with a 90-day/4,000-mile limited warranty. They also offer extended coverage called MaxCare®, which covers all the usual things like the engine, drivetrain, transmission, and electrical systems. It may not be the best aftermarket warranty, though—when choosing whether to buy an extended warranty, it’s a good idea to shop around a bit, because you may be able to find another third-party warranty company that offers you a better rate.
Dealerships have the advantage of offering manufacturer warranties, which are often some of the best in the business. All new cars come with a factory warranty, and we also sell certified pre-owned cars that may be eligible for additional coverage. You’ll have the option to use a third-party warranty company when buying a used car as well.
Dealership vs. CarMax: Which is Easiest?
One of the main perks of selling to a company like CarMax is that the process is relatively simple compared to other methods. Unfortunately, trading for a new vehicle may get a little more complicated because you may have to wait some time before your new vehicle is delivered.
On the other hand, trading at the dealership is easy because the whole process is done under the same roof—you give us your old car and drive away with a new one the same day. You can also value your trade online before you visit us, which streamlines the process even more.
Visit Jim Hudson Toyota Sumter
If you’re looking to get the most out of your trade and the best deal on a new ride, our Toyota dealership near Florence, SC is your one-stop shop in Central South Carolina. We also offer a wide range of deals on new cars, including a military rebate and a college grad program.
Contact us online or give us a call at (803) 715-2100 to learn more.
