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CarMax Maxcare Review

Carl Anthony

Content Team

Research Team

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Key Takeaways:

• You can get a CarMax MaxCare extended service plan for up to five years or 150,000 miles. It will cover the engine, cooling, steering, drivetrain, suspension, and more.
• A CarMax MaxCare warranty can cost anywhere from ,559 to ,289 depending on your vehicle type, mileage, and deductible chosen.
• If you buy a vehicle with CarMax, you will have limited car warranty protection for 90 days or 4,000 miles.

CarMax is the largest used car dealer in the United States. Alongside your vehicle purchase, you can also buy the CarMax extended warranty. While all CarMax cars come with a 90-day or 4,000-mile limited warranty, used cars tend to need more TLC than newer models. CarMax’s MaxCare extended protection plan isn’t a bad move in case of unexpected major repairs.

In this article, we’ll review the ins and outs of CarMax’s extended car protection plan, including coverage options, customer satisfaction, and pricing. We’ve reviewed the best extended warranty companies on the market, so we’re well aware of how CarMax stacks up against other providers. 

What Does a CarMax Extended Warranty Cover?

CarMax only offers one coverage plan with standard protection services. Referred to as the MaxCare plan, the CarMax extended warranty can stretch up to five years or 150,000 miles. Here is what’s covered:

• Engine
• Cooling
• Steering
• Drivetrain
• Electronics
• Suspension
• Transmission
• Climate control

In essence, you’re getting more parts and systems covered than a typical powertrain warranty, like the climate control and electronics. Other warranty companies offer additional, comprehensive options that mimic a new car’s bumper-to-bumper warranty.

CarMax MaxCare Exclusions List

The CarMax extended warranty, like any vehicle service contract, has some limitations on covered repairs. Coverage is exclusionary, so CarMax will list everything not protected under warranty in your MaxCare contract. Some of the biggest limitations are:

• Collisions
• Overheating
• Maintenance parts
• Some corrosion repairs
• Repairs caused by misuse
• Aftermarket accessories or equipment

Common maintenance services, such as oil changes will not be covered either.

When you receive your contract, discuss your concerns with a representative. While not an explicit exclusion, the CarMax extended warranty can only be purchased when you buy your car. You must pursue a different option if you want to extend your warranty.

CarMax Benefits

Alongside your CarMax extended warranty purchase, you get a few additional perks. These include: 

• 24/7 emergency roadside assistance 
• Rental car reimbursement up to a day for up to seven days
• deductible discounts depending on where your car is serviced

CarMax Limited Warranty

Every vehicle purchased with CarMax has a limited warranty for 90 days or 4,000 miles, regardless of the car’s existing manufacturer’s warranty. The limited warranty protects your vehicle’s major systems, plus hundreds of parts and labor. CarMax encourages drivers to visit the nearest CarMax dealership to find out exactly what’s covered.

How Much Is the CarMax Extended Warranty?

CarMax provides an interactive tool on its website to gauge what you’ll pay for an extended warranty. You can toggle between car makes, deductible options, and average annual mileage to better understand your expected MaxCare costs.

For example, a 2020 Toyota Camry LE with 30,000 miles on the odometer would cost between ,659 and ,839 for a five-year, 75,000-mile extended warranty if you drive fewer than 9,000 miles per year. This plan includes a deductible. From this baseline, you can switch between the different variables to find a plan you’re interested in.

To cover the cost of your MaxCare extended service plan, you can pay the total cost upfront or through a monthly payment plan, though this will incur interest. If you are financing your car, the MaxCare warranty plan cost can be added to your monthly payments.

CarMax Extended Warranty Deductible

CarMax offers four deductible choices: , 0, 0, and 0. Along with your deductible, your car’s make, model, age, and mileage will all affect your CarMax extended warranty plan cost. Because the provider only sells used cars, you may see higher extended warranty prices than usual.

CarMax Extended Warranty Claims

Unfortunately, CarMax doesn’t provide any public information about its claims process. Ask what this looks like when you speak to a representative. You should also ask how payment looks at the repair shop, and whether they’ll pay upfront, or you need to pay and wait for reimbursement,

CarMax Extended Warranty Reviews

Most auto warranty providers have mixed reviews, including CarMax. From our research, CarMax customer service is hit or miss. Some customers never have an issue after multiple years of coverage. Others wanted to give CarMax zero stars if they could.

CarMax BBB

CarMax has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but this takes all of CarMax’s businesses into account  – not just its extended warranty sector. However, the provider isn’t accredited by the BBB.

CarMax Extended Warranty: Conclusion

The CarMax MaxCare extended protection plan is an affordable choice for coverage. However, the warranty coverage itself is very limited, with only one plan. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive plan, better options are available for a used car warranty.

CarMax Extended Warranty Competitors

With any car, it’s always smart to get quotes from multiple providers before you purchase an extended warranty. Below, we’ve listed our top recommendations with used cars in mind.

Endurance: Best Overall

Endurance car warranty offers some of the best coverage plans in the industry. With six tiers ranging from powertrain to comprehensive, you’re bound to find coverage that fits your needs.

Endurance is also an industry favorite by customers from Trustpilot and the BBB. This provider holds a 3.8-star rating out of 5.0 from Trustpilot and a 3.7-star rating from BBB customer reviews. It also won the top score in our industry review  – a 4.8 out of 5.0  – which won it our Best Overall award.

For more information, our Endurance review dives deep into cost and plan details.

CARCHEX: Best Reputation

In our research, we’ve found CARCHEX to be the provider with the best reputation due to its 25 years in business and its endorsements from industry leaders like Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, and CARFAX. With term limits that extend up to 10 years or 250,000 miles, CARCHEX’s extended warranty is hard to beat. The company offers five different options to ensure you’re choosing the extended protection you want and can afford.

Read more about this provider in our full CARCHEX review.

MaxCare Warranty: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about the CarMax MaxCare extended warranty:

Data accurate at time of publication.

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