Car financing, explained

Learn what to expect if you’re thinking about financing your next car.

How Does CarMax Work? Your Questions, Answered

All the answers you need to common CarMax questions, right here. From first-time buyers to seasoned sellers, we know there's plenty of curiosity about the CarMax experience. We've gathered common online questions about buying, selling, financing, and more.

FinancingTue, Mar 25, 2025

Understanding Electric Vehicle Financing and Loans

Interested in purchasing an electric vehicle and curious about financing options? Read on to get answers to your top questions about EV financing and loans for new or used electric vehicles.

FinancingTue, May 7, 2024

How to Sell Your Car to CarMax

How you sell your used car is up to you. But at CarMax, we’ll give you a same-day written offer for your car and you don’t have to buy a car from us. Here are tips and pointers for getting a real offer for your car from CarMax.

FinancingMon, Nov 6, 2023

How to Sell Your Car

Whether you want to go with the simplicity of a dealership sale or do the legwork with a private-party sale, this guide will help you get the most out of your used car.

FinancingTue, Jun 27, 2023

How Much Car Can I Afford?

Are you dreaming of driving a new-to-you car but aren't sure what you can afford? We've got you covered. In this article, you'll discover tips and advice on how to determine what you can afford by budgeting for your purchase, thinking about future expenses, and choosing a monthly car payment.

FinancingMon, Jun 19, 2023

How Much Is Electric Car Maintenance?

One of the advantages to owning an electric vehicle is the low maintenance costs, which is true with one important caveat: replacing the battery.

FinancingTue, Jun 13, 2023

Why Your Down Payment Matters

What is a down payment and how important is it when financing a car? In this article, we answer these commonly asked questions, and more.

FinancingFri, Jun 9, 2023

Leasing a New Car vs. Buying a Used Car

We look at the pros and cons of buying a used car versus leasing a new model.

FinancingTue, May 30, 2023

5 Steps to Financing Your First Car

Financing a car for the first time can be intimidating, and it's easy to make mistakes when you're planning your budget. But making monthly payments usually means you can get a nicer or newer vehicle much more quickly than if you saved up long enough to pay cash. Don't worry, Edmunds editor Keith Buglewicz is here to help you get the most from your first financing experience.

FinancingTue, May 16, 2023

Getting Pre-Qualified: Shop with Personalized Financing Terms

If you’re in the market for a used car, getting pre-qualified is a good first step in your financing journey. Learn more about how the process works at CarMax and what to expect.

FinancingWed, Jan 25, 2023

How to Trade In a Car: Everything You Need to Know

Are you looking to trade in your car and want to learn about the process before shopping around? We've compiled useful advice from experts at Edmunds and CarMax to help you maximize your offer.

FinancingMon, Jan 16, 2023

How to Finance a Car: Everything You Need to Know

We interviewed CarMax financing experts to give insight into everything from the importance of down payments to what it takes to get pre-qualified. Get rid of the confusion surrounding used car financing—and read on for answers.

FinancingThu, Sep 29, 2022