CarMax Costa Mesa Cos

“Do not go here! Terrible service. After purchasing a vehicle they put a “ceramic coat” on it and never completed it so my truck has swirl spots all through out the vehicle and they refused to fix it even after I purchased the vehicle. Sales manager Antwan was extremely rude and hung up on me when I asked them to correct it. When I’m spending that much money on a vehicle you would expect them to do a good job. I went to a professional detailer and they quoted me $1700 to repair. Unbelievable.”

“Their business office was very professional and helpful. Sonny did an excellent job finalizing the transaction. Even friendly enough to share stories and experiences while waiting. Great experience.”

“Sold my car. Prefilled the application for a quote and set an appointment. When I got to CarMax I was greeted and taken care of and in and out in less than an hour. I was also given a complimentary Lyft ride home. The whole process was so easy and smooth and was the easiest and most convenient car selling experience. I would do it again and recommend my friends and family to go to CarMax for their car needs.”

“I recently sold my car to CarMax and the experience was surprisingly fast, smooth, and completely stress-free. The whole process was transparent with no hidden fees and zero pressure, which is very different from traditional dealerships. The staff was professional from start to finish. They inspected my car and gave me the final offer in less than 30 minutes — and the offer was actually higher than what I expected. What impressed me most was that CarMax doesn’t play games or lowball you. They don’t nitpick small flaws to push the price down. Everything they check is clearly explained, and the price you see is the price you get. Once I accepted the offer, I got the check right on the spot. The entire process was extremely smooth. I used to think selling a car would be a hassle, but CarMax made it feel almost as easy as trading in a phone — simple, honest, and fast. If you want to sell your car quickly without wasting time negotiating or dealing with uncertainty, CarMax is hands down the most reliable and hassle-free option I’ve found. Highly recommended!”

“I’m highly disappointed with this location. I wanted to like my experience, but the negatives have far outweighed the positives. Positives: 1. The sales team was great. 2. They did cover a radiator leak. But here’s what really happened: 1. The service department is disorganized and unreliable. 2. I paid $42,000 cash for a truck that had been in an accident (this was disclosed and shown on the Carfax), and I was told all repairs—including paint—had been fully handled and the truck was back to street-legal condition. Not even close with the paint job. The paint is now torn and peeling down the side. Since it’s past the 90-day mark, they refused to do anything. 3. There are water stains on the interior roof—backseat area I’ve never even sat in. This is what broke my trust completely: I paid $3,700 for the extended warranty. The service center said my alternator was about to go out (not that it had failed). They told me it wasn’t safe to drive, so I had to leave the truck there. It sat on their lot for 3 months while the part was on backorder (which I understand isn’t there fault). When it finally came in, it was an aftermarket part—and it didn’t work. I asked to take my truck back while waiting on the correct part—they said no. They gave me a loaner, but it couldn’t leave the state or tow anything. I had to rent my own vehicle for work—cost me $1,800. CarMax reimbursed $600. The service manager kept telling me to send in receipts and said I might be reimbursed for the rental, but after weeks of trying to get through—and my calls not even being answered by the front desk anymore—I escalated it to corporate. Only then did Julio finally call to say I’d be getting reimbursed. Even after that, it took weeks and another follow-up call before I actually received the check. After I moved to Utah, I called the Costa Mesa CarMax to get an update on the part. They told me it was still backordered. I asked them to update my address so the part could be shipped to Utah once it arrived—they said there was nothing to update. Then, the very next day, they suddenly claimed the alternator was in stock and had already been shipped to Utah. When it arrived, it was the same exact faulty aftermarket part they had already tried months earlier. CarMax in Utah had the correct alternator installed within a week. Julio Garcia, the service manager, dragged this process out for 8 months. I couldn’t get a return call until I went to corporate. Then it took weeks just to get a partial reimbursement check that barely covered a quarter of what I had to spend out-of-pocket—while they had my truck. I would’ve saved time, money, and 8 months of stress if I hadn’t bought the extended warranty at all.”