topic Re: Carmax? in Auto Loans

Carmax?

CJIII29 — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 23:14:12 GMT

I am wondering do Carmax have a program for people like with limited credit history. And are they a good place to shop?

Re: Carmax?

pizzadude — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 00:21:21 GMT

I'm sure they could work with you, but other factors will matter including credit history, downpayment, amout borrowed, previous installment loans, income, etc...

If it's your first loan you might get a higher APR but you could hopefully refi to a better rate after a while.

Re: Carmax?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 00:40:40 GMT

Aside from those "buy here, pay here" (and don't buy there) type car lots, if CarMax can't get you financed, no one can. They are a high-volume used car selling machine, and they work with numerous lenders. They will know how to get it done for you. The downside is, on an apples to apples basis, you'll pay a little more for a used car at CarMax than buying the same car elsewhere. And with your limited credit history and credit scores, you are going to pay higher then average interest. So you have to consider if you really need to go into debt to buy a car, or could get by waiting, saving, and paying cash for more basic transportation. Life's choices...

Re: Carmax?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 00:41:19 GMT

Yes, they will work with you. Typically they are easier to work with than the dealers based on their "no negotiation" and "no hidden fees/agenda". Your credit score will have an impact on your financing options with them. Discuss your options with them, but also recommend looking into finance options with other institutions (banks, credit unions, etc.). Good luck!

Re: Carmax?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:15:42 GMT

My dad got a car from carmax with not the greatest of credit history. I know they do work with people and they have a lot of lenders to choose from.

Re: Carmax?

CJIII29 — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:42:57 GMT

My credit score is in the 600's but I need to save up for a downpayment. I need a truck for me to start a future part time carpentry business.

Re: Carmax?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:45:33 GMT

I have just shy of a year of credit history FYI. A new-file is actually a pretty wonderful thing.

Re: Carmax?

Creditaddict — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:53:14 GMT

I happen to LOVE CARMAX... just bought my 3rd car from them couple weeks ago being a Prius.

The awsome thing about carmax and financing is the sales person does the application in front of you and hits submit and it's like watching a 60 second credit application come back but you NEVER get further processing required... they all come back decisioned in under 60 seconds usually... sometimes some of them get manually done at each bank and that can push you to like 5 minutes but as each one comes in they can show them to you approved or denied and terms approved so far... they send to like 6 (at least here in CA)

Carmax own dealer financing (they seem kind of rare to back a loan but when they do seem to be great terms

Wells

Santander

Exeter or something rather (worse than Santander)

Ally (they financed us)

Capital One

if you change the car you are looking to finance it pulls credit again (not a big deal if you are doing all within a couple weeks) but if you change down payment it doesn't.... we actually put in the request with no money down and got the terms and approvals and then tried it with money down to see if it would greatly effect the rate... it didn't so we put $0 down.

The other fab thing about Carmax is when the approval comes over they list any continginsees and that's it... they don't later come back for more info... I only saw 1 out of all our offers want income proof and that was on the exeter which is the worst financing anyway... the most others wanted was proof of bank if we put a deposit down and address (if they want address proof you go over to another program that will pull security questions from public record and if you answer those correct done!

I would not buy into the carmax extended warranty unless you are buying a brand that is known to have issues and I would suggest you don't since you can choose that now!!! they push it hard but you don't need it. just say no!

otherwise as far as paying more than at a dealership for same car.... that's a toss up... you don't have to haggle, you don't have the stress of trying to get a good deal, did you get a good deal, and the stress of financing and if they come back later asking for more info or something like that.... I really don't think I paid to much more if any more for our prius than at a local dealership and I bought it in under an hour and most of that was back end... financing offers came in 5 minutes, I clicked the one I wanted... then they had to get paperwork setup and took car for cleaning... signing takes about 20-30 and then you are off!! that is worth $500 in my book to not go to dealership and haggle.

Re: Carmax?

barbaralee — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:19:17 GMT

Wow, Creditaddict, that was interesting. I have owned my car for the last 6 years, so it has been a good while since I financed a vehicle. I'm lucky in that my '06 Grand Vitara has less than 82,000 miles on it AND she is a trooper, so hopefully I will get another 6 years (minimum!) out of it.

Back in the day when I was financing I vaguely recall going to a Carmax in the town I lived in, but at the time someone steered me away from it. IIRC they said that with Carmax you had to either pay weekly or biweekly, and that the interest was high. Have they changed that policy since then or am I thinking of another dealership??

Re: Carmax?

Creditaddict — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:28:34 GMT

I don't think carmax has ever been weekly bi weekly payments that I know of and the fact is I think you hear high interest rates coming out of carmax a lot because they are starting to be known for the quick and easy financing all the way down to terrible terrible credit so it washes out that they carry cars all the way up to Mercedes s550 for $80k and can get financing down in the 2% if you qualify!

Re: Carmax?

CJIII29 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:34:48 GMT

I am planning on getting a Chevy Silverado from them.

Re: Carmax?

Creditaddict — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:43:17 GMT

@CJIII29 wrote:
I am planning on getting a Chevy Silverado from them.

They also pulled our EX and a few of the lenders pulled a 2nd report too but on the cost of credit that we got when we signed the loan docs they gave us each EX scores (which was plus for both of us, ex are best!)

Re: Carmax?

CJIII29 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:50:30 GMT

Would a downpayment of $2800 to $3000 get something from Carmax?

Re: Carmax?

Creditaddict — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:58:30 GMT

When I bought my car from them the day after my bk updated to dismissed on my credit report, I put $1k down which covered the taxes on what I bought.

last month when we bought our prius we put $0 down... we carried $2k negative equity and $2300 in taxes and such over...

if you can put it down sure... but most likely you probably don't even need to put that much down if anything down... just depends... but of course more is always better but don't be thinking you can't buy until sort of thing.

Re: Carmax?

CJIII29 — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 23:09:08 GMT

I am going to save a downpayment just in case I need it.

Re: Carmax?

Chrisla2077 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 07:43:28 GMT

Personally, I have to say I love CarMax. Yea, they are higher priced that most dealers, but if you don't like dealing with all that negotiating and blah, blah,...they are a relief. To me..the extra money is worth the convenience of not getting the run-around. As I struggled with my credit...I went to CarMax w/ a Roadloans pre-approval...they still ran an application to see if they could beat it..sadly they couldn't...but I have to say ...the process was transparent and D*MN quick..compared to the hours and hours you sit at traditional dealers. I say give them a try..they can probably work something out for you.

Re: Carmax?

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 19:51:35 GMT

@Chrisla2077 wrote:
Personally, I have to say I love CarMax. Yea, they are higher priced that most dealers, but if you don't like dealing with all that negotiating and blah, blah,...they are a relief. To me..the extra money is worth the convenience of not getting the run-around. As I struggled with my credit...I went to CarMax w/ a Roadloans pre-approval...they still ran an application to see if they could beat it..sadly they couldn't...but I have to say ...the process was transparent and D*MN quick..compared to the hours and hours you sit at traditional dealers. I say give them a try..they can probably work something out for you.

just curious, what apr did u end up getting with roadloans?

Re: Carmax?

Chrisla2077 — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 21:25:54 GMT

20.49...crappy...but in my situation it's all I could do.

Re: Carmax?

CJIII29 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:07:02 GMT

I am going to try save around $3000 to $4000 for a downpayment.

Re: Carmax?

Unplug — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:07:42 GMT

Know this thread is old but happened to see it, being I recently purchased a car at Carmax. I have to say I was very impressed with the process, and I too walked in pre-approved with Roadloans for a near similar interest rate. Wasn't sure I was going to "pull the trigger" and actually use it until the sales rep told me they gerenally beat Roadloans in interest every time. And they did for me ,too by 3% points(with Santander ,of all lenders!). Sorry to learn they couldn't for you. You you did buy,you may want to look into joining a credit union(if you already don't belong to one) and refinance when your credit improves. I belong to one and that's my intent(they wouldn't touch me with my scores right now...).

Best to ya...