Answered: What credit score does CarMax® use? | Join the Discussion Now (2024)

CarMax® is an auto financing company that uses the FICO® Score. It specializes in buying and selling used cars, and you don’t need to buy from CarMax if you sell your car to them. You can get your car appraised by CarMax in person at one of their outlets or online. CarMax has one of the largest inventories of used cars, making it a good option for someone looking to purchase or finance a used car.

You can get the best auto finance options with a good to excellent credit score (670 and upwards) with CarMax. Some people with bad credit have also been approved for a loan from CarMax or one of their partner lenders.

A good credit score is not the only factor CarMax looks at when deciding to approve a loan. The company also reviews your income, down payment (which is not always required), employment status, loan term, car year, and loan-to-value ratio.

CarMax conducts pre-qualifications on loan applications so you can check the rates you may qualify for with your current credit score without a hard credit check, which can pull down your score.

Answered: What credit score does CarMax® use? | Join the Discussion Now (2024)

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Answered: What credit score does CarMax® use? | Join the Discussion Now? ›

CarMax

CarMax
CarMax, Inc. is a used vehicle retailer based in the United States. It operates two business segments: CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. The company began as a side business of Circuit City, opening its first location in September 1993 in Richmond, Virginia.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › CarMax
® is an auto financing company that uses the FICO® Score.

Can you get a car at CarMax with a 550 credit score? ›

There's no minimum score requirement as CarMax's wide range of financing sources allows them to work with customers with different credit profiles.

What is the easiest car company to get financing? ›

After researching the car finance industry, we think that myAutoloan is best for those with bad credit. The company offers auto refinancing, lease buyouts and loans for new and used cars. Additionally, the marketplace only requires a credit score of 575 — making it easier for subprime borrowers to get a loan.

Is CarMax prequalify a hard inquiry? ›

No. For pre-qualification, CarMax's finance sources use soft inquiries, which have no impact on your credit score. Pre-qualification allows you to shop for a car with your personalized financing terms.

Is 710 a good credit score to buy a car? ›

Car loans. A 710 credit score should look acceptable at the car lot. If you're financing a used car, though, you might pay 9.73% in interest while your neighbor with a score north of 780 pays 7.66%, according to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report for the fourth quarter of 2023.

What is the minimum credit score for CarMax? ›

Alternatives to CarMax
CarMaxCarvana
Recommended Minimum Credit Score500500
Maximum Accepted MileageNot disclosed140,000 miles
Maximum Accepted AgeNot disclosedVaries
Maximum Accepted Loan-to-Value RatioNot disclosedNot disclosed
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Aug 22, 2023

What credit score does CarMax use? ›

CarMax® is an auto financing company that uses the FICO® Score. It specializes in buying and selling used cars, and you don't need to buy from CarMax if you sell your car to them. You can get your car appraised by CarMax in person at one of their outlets or online.

What is the minimum credit score for Carvana? ›

Carvana does not have a minimum credit score requirement and considers many factors, in addition to traditional credit score, in determining credit offers.

Can I finance a car with a 450 credit score? ›

In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required with vary from lender to lender. As interest rates increase due to inflation, securing a subprime auto loan may be more difficult — but not impossible.

What can I get with a 580 credit score? ›

What Does a 580 Credit Score Get You?
Type of CreditDo You Qualify?
Unsecured Credit CardYES
Home LoanYES (FHA Loan)
Personal LoanMAYBE
Auto LoanMAYBE
1 more row

How long does CarMax approval take? ›

How do I get pre-qualified with CarMax? You can get pre-qualified online with CarMax in as little as 5 minutes, and your terms are available for 30 days.

Does CarMax deal with credit acceptance? ›

While CarMax has its own in-house lender, CarMax Auto Finance, you could also be matched with one of its third-party partners, including: Ally Bank. American Credit Acceptance. Capital One.

Does CarMax pre-approval mean you are approved? ›

CarMax Auto Finance offers the ability to apply for preapproval for an auto loan. Just keep in mind that preapproval is not a guarantee of loan approval, and your loan terms and interest rate may be different once you complete a formal loan application.

What FICO score do car dealers use? ›

Your FICO score is a representation of your credit worthiness. FICO offers specific products and solutions for car dealers and auto loans. Their product is called Auto Score 8. As you can see here from FICO's promotional materials, Auto Score 8 is meant to help dealers, “Improve accuracy and speed of decision making.

How much money can I borrow with a 700 credit score? ›

You can borrow from $1,000 to $100,000 or more with a 700 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.

What is a good FICO score to buy a car? ›

Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

Can you get a car loan with a 550 credit score? ›

The Bottom Line. If you have a 550 credit score, you may still be able to get approved for an auto loan. In addition to the right documents, a possible cosigner, and a larger down payment, you also need to work with the right lender. The Car Connection is here to help you find financing.

Is 550 a good credit score for a car? ›

Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian. Meanwhile, low-credit borrowers with scores of 600 or lower accounted for only 14% of auto loans.

What can a 550 credit score get you? ›

Credit Rating: 550 is considered a bad credit score. Borrowing Options: Most borrowing options are available, but the terms are unlikely to be attractive. For example, you could borrow a small amount with certain unsecured credit cards or a personal loan with no credit check, but the interest rate is likely to be high.

How much can you get with a 550 credit score? ›

You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 550 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.

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