I was really hesitant to purchase a car here. I have heard great stories from several people about CarMax in general, however the reviews on here are terrible. Honestly, my experience was ok. Have had my car for a bit over a month and everything seems to be working great. It was a prior leased vehicle so it was in pretty great condition! I decided not to buy the extended warranty because of all the reviews I saw on here stating that people were unable to book appointments until months out. This further damaging the car and people not receiving their car back until months later. If I had to return I would not want to deal with Mia Jane again. She was snarky, made passive aggressive comments about my appearance and somewhat disrespectful. Her attitude seemed like she didn't want to be there. I would have preferred to go through the process with someone else. This is a dealership where you walk around and no one is constantly pressuring you, which is nice to feel it out. You may test drive up to 3 vehicles. My car has been great, so I am grateful for that, thank you :) read more

The "Express" Pickup is a Total Sham - They Chose a Bot Over a Serious Buyer I've never experienced a more tone-deaf sales process. I am a 100% committed buyer with approved financing. I even went as far as sharing my private insurance settlement documents ($11,500+) with my associate, Maria, just to prove I wasn't wasting anyone's time while waiting for the check to clear. Despite this, CarMax Kearny Mesa has been a logistical nightmare. I live in Carlsbad, and after making multiple trips down there (a 45-80 minute haul each way), their 'solution' to a minor insurance delay was to send me an automated Salesforce threat stating they would release the car if I didn't show up for a third time on Monday. Maria is 'off' on Monday, and management is apparently content letting a bot handle their business. They are willing to blow up a guaranteed, funded deal over a 48-hour administrative window. If you want to be treated like a person--especially if you've done the work to prove you're a serious buyer--go literally anywhere else. This isn't 'Express' service; it's a 'computer-says-no' bureaucracy that doesn't care about your time, your commute, or your business. read more

I purchased a vehicle with extreme excitement as I am 8 months pregnant and needed a reliable vehicle. After 13 days of purchase, my vehicle started violently shaking, jerking when attempting to accelerate and felt like it was going to turn off when driving. I took the vehicle in for service and it was found that there was coil replacements needed and the engine mount collapsed and leaking fluid. Since this was a major mechanical failure, I requested an exchange as the car has safety and drivability issues. I spoke to service team members, service manager, business manager and sales manager all noting that since I was 3 days past the 10 day period, I could not exchange and am forced into keeping the vehicle with repairs or appraising it and paying off the loan. I really am not wanting to fight or be difficult. I am simply asking for a resolution beyond just a repair and would like an exchange. I am expected to uphold the legal document of understanding the return window but what about their responsibility to deliver a car that is safe and drivable? I also requested a recap of my conversation with sales manager Esteban Rudolfo my options other than just a repair and the sales manager said he is unable to put in writing my options he recapped with me. read more

Once I found what car I was looking for on the CarMax website, I then realized it was actually located in Sacramento. So I was really interested in this car, a 2025 Mercedes Benz AMG CLA 35. Only 8,000 miles. All of the others in similarity, had way more miles or color and rim combinations that I didn't like as much. The trick was to get it here, which resulted in a $199 non-refundable shipping fee. The car arrived on the very first day of expected delivery period. It wasn't long before I had them calling me up to take a test drive. I obliged and set it up for the next day. Impressed with the vehicle, I mostly had my mind made up to buy it. However, I was flying to Ohio the following day and told them to hold it for 7 days. They kinda squirmed on this even though it is plainly stated on their website and told me that it needed managers approval.. Fast forward 7 days later I set up the time to purchase and honestly it was a smooth, quick experience. The only snag I had was I was only given 1 key, and photos on post showed 2. So I had to pay upfront and have them reimburse me. How much? $1260 for that key! They sent me a check in the mail for this amount, with no hassles. Well, I really was cheap bastard with myself for many years and decided now this is for me. And I love this lighting fast car! I guess my midlife crisis hit me kinda late.. All that's missing now is the sugar baby right??!! read more

CarMax - My AMG - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I went in on President's day. They were packed since open and it was raining like crazy. Miajane helped me get in and out, including a trade-in, in just over 2 hours. Very professional and considerate throughout the process. Painless process. They also let me do my test drives solo. I highly recommend Carmax. read more

CarMax - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California

My wife and I had a very positive experience selling our car here. We filled out the online questionnaire about the condition of our car as best and honestly as we could, and got an inital quote. We then made an appointment to take it in within the week on a Saturday. A few days before, we got the car cleaned inside and out, and took out all of our belongings. When we got to this CarMax we were able to quickly find parking in the customer parking garage and walked into building where some folks directed us to the business center space where we needed to check in. There were two people ahead of us in the checkin line, but it only took a few minutes. Once we checked in, we waited in the room for about 15 minutes before we were called in to sign papers. We thought the wait would be much longer with the packed waiting room, but we figured most of the other people were walk-ins. When we were seated, we were told that someone had already inspected our car and that everything looked good to them. We were surprised since we thought they would try to nitpick and lower our online quote. However, once we signed a few papers and the title away, they gave us a check for the original quote amount. The person who helped us was very friendly and they even called us a lyft back home. Our entire visit lasted 40 mins. We deposited the check into our account the same day. Everyone is happy! read more

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I didn't end up buying a car here but our salesman Nikolay was extremely helpful and attentive when it came to our experience. I would definitely recommend going to him if you want a good honest experience. I did end up going somewhere else for my car since you can't negotiate prices here but Carmax's customer service definitely beat the other place I went to. read more

Zero customer service skills from the manager Ku. I was excited to ship a car from Sacramento, but when the car arrived, it smelled like someone had been smoking pot in it every day. I understand the shipping fee is non refundable, HOWEVER something like an awful odor should be disclosed in the listing & it was not. Ku said the smell was not a marijuana smell, but a "chemical smell" and refused to refund my shipping fee. Regardless of what we're calling it here, there is no denying the car had a terrible odor, even my salesman acknowledged it. Instead of engaging in an argument about it, Ku can keep the $199. I just won't step foot in a CarMax ever again. If you're reading this review, I would steer clear of CarMax Balboa. read more

Since I was paying outright for my car, I didn't need a loan, so things regarding payments were easy going. I was only there for two hours. I docked stars due to a recent discovery. When I pulled my Owner's Manual out of the glove compartment, I noticed that the previous owner had left their last oil change information there. In the lower left-hand corner, where the results of the battery test are posted, that section was torn out by someone. During my time there, I inquired twice about the battery, as the car was three years old. I've blown through 2 batteries on my 2020 Fit, so I know it happens. I find this to be very unethical and slimy. Also, they left some boot in the back of my car. I may drive up and return it, or I may recycle it. I haven't decided. Otherwise, Aiden is patient and professional when answering my questions. As a woman who has bought her cars for the past 30 years, I am used to salespeople talking down to me. They took my beloved Honda Fit as a trade-in and offered me a decent deal. They offer excellent online service and are very good at following up. I would have done it all online, but I wanted to see the car before committing to buy it. NO haggling here; the price is the price, that's it. I question their 12-point inspection since the info about the battery was torn out of that paper. As always, when dealing with these used car places, whether it's Carvana or CarMax. Buy beware. read more

Awful experience, go to any other CarMax! These people are unprofessional and extremely rude! They didn't provide the wheel lock for the car I purchased with them and so when my tire went flat I could not get the tire off and when I kept trying for help they refused to help me and would just hang up the phone. If you buy a car make sure everything is there like the wheel lock that is supposed to be there because after they get your money they will treat you like crap! read more

What an easy car buying experience! Found a unicorn of a car with ridiculously low mileage (a third of what it should have been), clean history and title, fully loaded, fair price. We completed 90% of the work online, answered a couple questions on the phone, did the test drive, noticed some damage that had not been listed (looks like someone bumped something in the lot or on a test drive), signed the title and walked out the door. They're repairing the dinged pieces, no pushback, and we have a car that will last us 15+ years. 11/10, will be back. read more

I have two daughters, and when it came time for them to buy their first cars independently, CarMax was the only place they could go. I purchased a car from them several years ago, and Jackie Ramsey was my sales pro. She's since moved on to Realtor fame, but thankfully, her husband, Rick Ramsey, is still there. Rick has been at CM for over ten years and is the easiest-going salesperson. For years, I have loved the no-hassle pricing at CarMax, but having the right sales pro is the most critical aspect. It all starts with calling Rick and having him walk you through setting up a profile, and then the fun begins. Both my girls could have cars reserved and take their time test driving. Rick is a calming factor for a huge decision, especially considering this was both their first car purchases. It's a big step! Rick is patient, upfront about the process, and does not try to my daughters bought the extended warranty, and the other opted at care to get the cars shrouded up, push additional products. One of my daughters opted for the extra warranty, and the other declined, but both my girls left with huge smiles. Proud Dad with grown-up girls. read more

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I just bought my car from Carmax in Kearny Mesa, and the experience was on-par with my experience buying at Encinitas Ford: awesome. Jay Ross was my sales person. He was extremely personable; didn't feel rushed. My trade-in was within range of my anticipated offer. We were in and out of there in a timely manner. Would recommend. read more

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT --- ??? Yes, someone may consider starting a class action lawsuit. Yesterday was the second time I visited CarMax for an appraisal. I also came here 9 years ago and experienced the exact same scenario. I listed my car for sale and received an email from CarMax suggesting that they'll offer me X amount of money. It seemed like a fair price, so I agreed. They then said you have to come in and let them do a final in-person inspection, and they'll pay you out. My car was exactly as listed with pictures and all. But the scam is they never intend to pay you what they originally say they will. Both times this happened. They couldn't find anything different than my online posting and all a dozen plus pictures provided, so they claimed a frame weld looks suspicious and can't offer me what they originally quoted. It didn't and even when they pointed it out the guy had a hard time keeping a straight face. However, they claim they still want the car but have to drop $2,000 from their original price. I am sure there is some type of bait-and-switch law out there, and I'm hopeful this posting spurs a lawyer to consider looking into this sham of a business model. read more

Service station sucks worse than worse. They were super helpful when it came to the car sale. But if you need some servicing don't go here or you won't get your car back for another month. Had a scheduled drop off appt for May 20th. Was told if the car is brought it earlier, the car could be serviced as a walk in (even though not guaranteed). Cool, understandable. Decided to drop off the car on May 5th. BARELY got a call saying the car is ready today on the 30th. I get it if it was busy and service was communicative of that. But no, they gave the most infuriating run around, no available part it'd be order the next day. &that it'd be the 1st car on the lift. Was told those excuses like 4xs in 1 week. To top it off, the rental they gave was a joke! Limit of 100miles per day. 1st of all a MERCEDES GLE was dropped off &they gave a lil Nissan Altima or whatever. Least give me a compact SUV! TWO whole trips had to be cancelled because of this limit. A whole month of basically being car-less. Paid for the extended warranty on top of it, should've gone to Benz. This "service" department doesn't really serve much but false hopes. Which definitely ain't a funny joke. No accountability. No sincerity. No professionalism. GET IT TOGETHER YA'LL! &the car when purchased had some dinks&dents that wasn't noticed at first. I let that slide, but this, I can't overlook! read more

We bought a 2024 Toyota Sienna from CarMax Kearny Mesa in July and the liftgate hasn't worked since day one. After multiple service visits with no fix, we went to Toyota because CarMax couldn't get us in. Toyota found undisclosed prior repairs, misaligned hinges, aftermarket wiring, and paint work -- and said the warranty is void under 36k miles because of those repairs. CarMax still claims they "see no damage." The liftgate now opens while driving, and we refuse to drive the van because it's unsafe for our family. This is a major safety issue that CarMax has continually brushed off. We were told several managers (Lupe, Koo, Dewit, Thelma) would contact us -- none did. Communication has been delayed, inconsistent, and full of broken promises. CarMax even took back the buyback/appraisal options they originally offered. Now they want to appraise the van $14k less than what we paid in cash, even though they sold it with undisclosed damage and safety problems. We are moving forward with legal action and filing with the BBB. Our biggest concern is that CarMax could resell this unsafe van to another family without disclosure. read more

We originally posted our concerns back in July when we purchased our 2024 Toyota Sienna from CarMax Kearny Mesa with the rear liftgate already malfunctioning. Unfortunately, after months of service visits, calls, and escalations, our situation has deteriorated even further. Since July, we have been in and out of service trying to resolve the same liftgate issue. CarMax could not provide timely appointments, so we took the vehicle to Toyota, who performed the inspection and uncovered serious concerns CarMax never disclosed: * Paint imperfections and evidence of prior repair work on the liftgate and bumper * Aftermarket wiring on the rear lamp assembly * Striker and hinge misalignment consistent with a prior rear impact * Warranty voided due to undisclosed prior repairs * All of this found under 36,000 miles Toyota's findings directly contradict CarMax's in-house inspection, which continues to claim they "see no damage," leaving us stuck between two companies pointing fingers while neither will honor the warranty. This is not just an inconvenience--it is a serious safety concern. The liftgate continues to malfunction to the point where it opens on its own while the vehicle is being driven. We now refuse to drive the van due to the danger it presents to us, our children, and others on the road. This is a major safety liability that CarMax has repeatedly minimized or dismissed. We were told multiple times that senior leadership and Operations (Lupe) would contact us, but that never happened. Instead, we were continually routed to service-level staff such as Andre and Travis, who did what they could but had limited authority. We also worked with managers Koo, Dewit, and Thelma, but the commitments made were not upheld. Communication overall has been inconsistent, delayed, and contradictory for months. CarMax initially discussed two possible solutions--an appraisal or a late buyback--but both were later retracted without explanation after internal discussions. The best they now say they can offer is an appraisal valuing the van nearly $14,000 less than what we paid in cash, despite the warranty-voiding prior repairs that we did not cause and were never disclosed at purchase. With both Toyota and CarMax voiding warranty coverage under 36k miles, a continued safety hazard, and no meaningful resolution provided by a dealership that advertises a "125-point inspection," we have been left with no choice but to pursue legal representation. We will also be filing a detailed complaint with the Better Business Bureau, particularly regarding the failed inspection and handling of this case. Our biggest concern is that if this van is not properly addressed, it may ultimately be sold to another family--unknowingly putting them at risk due to a malfunctioning liftgate and warranty-voiding undisclosed prior repairs. We hope CarMax takes accountability and prevents similar situations from happening to other customers who trust their inspection process and the CarMax name. read more

I sold my truck yesterday. It went so smoothly and quickly despite so many people there! Everyone was so helpful and nice. I would go back there again. I may even buy my next car from them! read more

I have bought and sold cars through Car Max since 2018. Big Jeff was always very honest and help full. This time I spent over $60,000 on a vehicle that didn't come with a spare key nor Owner Manuel's. Their key referral never followed through after multiple attempts. Now forced to order a spare key through the Dealership at an outrages price. Is it unreasonable to get a spare key and owner manuals when you spend that type of money for a car? I don't care if the seller didn't provide these items to Car Max, when they sold it or traded it in. Do the right thing, and provide those important items to the new Buyer out of common decency. read more

Was greeted by Preet and helped by Na'im. I came in with the internet quote for my car. Went in without an appointment and CarMax inspected the vehicle , paperwork and process took about 45 minutes. It did help that I called the finance company as I was coming in and had Preet write down the 10 day payoff. So highly suggest calling the lien-holder. CarMax ordered me a Lyft to take me to a dealership 10 minutes away. Super nice people and easy process. Highly recommend. read more

The correspondence after CarMax reached out in regard to my review. Sweep it under the rug with your claim of sharing "internally" with "appropriate teams". Thanks, but no thanks. read more

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We sold a second car here two weekends ago and it could not have gone smoother. We got the online appraisal in about one minute, than made an appointment online for several days later. We were in and out of the store within one hour and payment cleared one day after being deposited. This place has been great for my last two experiences and would definitely return. read more

I was disappointed with three aspects of my car buying through Carmax. 1. The car that I wanted was in Norco, CA and had to be transferred in one or two days. I started calling twice (your call goes to headquarter) and they said it was still in transit and be someone would call me when it came in. After fives days I went into the Kearny Mesa branch and found out my car was there three days ago and nobody called me. 2. When I went in and found out my car was there the salesperson wanted to start the buying process without me even seeing the car. When I asked to see it, he did not want me to drive it and wanted to rush me into the paper work. (He had another appointment with someone who had an appointment 15 mins after I came in). There were other sales people there. He let the other client do a test drive and rushed me through the paperwork and was working with both of us at the same time. He told me we could do Express Check-Out the next morning and all I had to do was to do was to bring a certified check at a certain time. (Most the paperwork would be already done). 3. When I brought in my check, I waited one and a half hours before I could leave. They gave me the keys and did not ask if I had any any questions. I would have given them fewer stars, but the car (so far) seems like it works well and my son recently had a good experience with Carmax. read more

Bought a vehicle for my son and a couple days after their return policy ended the check engine light came on. I took it back in because it was still within the 30 day warranty. It's been two weeks and every time I get someone on the phone after hours of trying to reach someone I'm told their waiting on a part and attempting to duplicate the issue. The first week Angelique girl would call to give me the same exact update. A week ago was the last I heard from her and she the part was in and would be replaced the following day. I never heard from her again! After trying to get someone on the phone for an update for a full week I get Angelique on the phone and she gives the same update from the week prior. She also tried to tell me she had called me and left me a message which was a complete lie. She had no update to provide! Either my car is sitting there with no one working on it or they sold me a piece of crap and don't know how to fix it. DO NOT BUY FROM CARMAX! I'll have to drive 30 min to go in person and find out what is going on. read more

Lowball offer when they said my Mercedes had a transmission issue. Took it straight to dealer and everything checked out. Sold it for 8x the CarMax offer Felt lied to by the appraiser Won't be back read more

They sold me a car after 5 years paying for it I still owe so much money that I even can't get out of it so much trade negative

Bought a civic here a few years back and it was a terrible experience. They knew the AC was faulty but just filled it with Freon so the cold air would last a few weeks. Just long enough to outlast the 10 day coverage for free repairs. I brought it back anyways to see what they could do (huge mistake). I also mentioned I noticed one of the speakers was crackling so they offered to look at that as well. 2 hours later they tell me they found no issues with the ac or the speaker and charged me $700! They pumped the faulty ac with more freon and turned down my subwoofer in the audio settings. Something I could have done myself for about $12. Its a scam read more

I am a first buyer with Carmax. It has been a great buying experience and wanted to mention how appreciative i am of the Service team at Carmax Balboa. I actually bought the car from carmax Murrieta during a weekend when service department are close. When back home in San Diego I had to take the car in for a few minor fixes. There was an issue with the paint and I was told that if the issue got worst they would take care of it. Well they actually keept their word and fixed it. I was extremely pleased with the service manager Lupe and the service guy Anthony (Ant) was fantastic. He called me daily just to keep me informed on the progress ! read more

Went in to purchase a vehicle on Saturday, DO NOT recommend working with Ashley, she was awful to deal with and didn't seem like she knew what she was doing almost like it was her first day but her name tag said she's been there since 2021. She entered incorrect information on the credit app and duplicated incomes, she clicked through all the paperwork super fast and we actually had to tell her to go back because she wasn't going to offer gap. We got there at 5pm and did not get out until 8. Getting our hopes up of being approved for a vehicle then when submitting the credit app our down payment MORE THAN QUADRUPLE!! Mind you when we decided not to get the MAXCARE she got a nasty attitude and seemed offended. I've bought a car here previously and even recommended my cousin to purchase here, I will only work with JOE he gets 5 STARS he truly goes above and beyond, when working with him I was in and out within a couple hours he didn't make any mistakes and always kept me in the loop. JOE IS AMAZING TO WORK WITH HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

The buying process at CarMax was definitely quick and easy. They have an option for express pick up which will get you in and out with a new car within an hour. There was no pressure from sales, smooth paperwork, and they make the whole transaction pretty painless. However, that's where the positives end. I've bought two cars from them now and both experiences with the actual condition of the vehicles have been disappointing. I spent a decent amount of time finding the perfect car and about a month after owning it, I took it into service who told me it had frame damage and made me surrender the car (obviously to avoid a major lawsuit). This is something that should have never slipped past their supposedly "thorough" inspections. That alone should have been a red flag. Because of this I was given a short amount of time to rush into buying another Mini Cooper from them which is the fourth one I've now owned and it's the only one I've had constant problems with. It's clear the previous owner didn't take care of it, but CarMax didn't seem to care either. The car was filthy when I received it. Stains everywhere, sticky drink spills, and just a general lack of cleanliness. It looked like it hadn't been detailed at all even though it went through an alleged 2 inspections in both Sacramento and Kearny Mesa. In just three months of owning it, I've already had to spend nearly $1,000 in repairs -- things that should have been caught or disclosed before the sale. I will give the service manager credit for doing my oil change for no charge but I shouldn't have been inconvenienced with that only a month out of owning the car. I'm now sitting in a service lobby due to my tow alignment being completely off. Even the service member at this shop said it's so bad he doesn't know how Carmax didn't catch this. Prior to bringing it to a third party, I contacted service again (and with no surprise) they said they wouldn't cover it. I expect more attention to detail from a company that claims to inspect every vehicle thoroughly with their 125 point inspection. If you're just looking for convenience and speed, CarMax delivers. But if you're expecting a well-checked, clean, reliable car -- look elsewhere or bring a mechanic and a detailing team with you. I suggest buying from a certified pre-owned dealerships. read more

CarMax - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I wasn't sure what to expect buying a car from here. Did some research and of course some good and some bad things from what I saw on YouTube. My brother said it was easy for him. I did get a car almost two weeks ago. Nate was very helpful and professional. He answered all the questions I had, was patient, and never seemed like he just wanted to sell me a car and on to the next person. My experience was great! Hopefully this helps someone else looking to buy a vehicle. Ask for Nate! read more

Honestly a standard Carmax. Very clean and professional, but a lot of bureaucracy to deal with. What stood out though was my dealer Andy. Andy is professional, funny, friendly, and explained every single step well. He was very personable and made the process of buying my first car super easy. read more

Car max was the best! No pressure! this is the only way to shop for a car! Great selection. found a car online they shipped the car to a dealer near us . it wasn't the car for us. Not a problem they text when they had a different car.. such polite employees and NO PRESSURE! Love my old new car! read more

Excellent customer service kind friendly with no pressure! Vehicles are Clean and plentiful

Our first visit (Kearny Mesa) was to get an assessment and a price for our car. We were greeted by a very nice man who told us how the process works. He guided us to another area where we had to wait about 10 minutes to get to the front of the line. We were told it would take 20 minutes to assess our vehicle, but 45 minutes later we were finally called. Not a good place to go on the weekend. Everyone was polite. But the wait was difficult. Our second visit (Oceanside), when we actually engaged in selling our car was much better. We were greeted quickly and given an associate to help us. The whole transaction took less than half an hour because they had all of our records from the first visit. We actually went to two different carmax locations. The good thing was that it didn't matter that we did that. The associate who helped us was kind and efficient. When we walked away from there, we had a check in our hands with instructions on how long it would take to clear. Overall, our first experience was a good one. We would use them again and recommend them. read more

I bought a car from this dealership in late August, and it has continued to randomly shut off during operation, creating a serious safety issue. When I contacted the dealership, the response was disappointing. Instead of working toward a solution, the conversation focused on defending why the issue would not be covered, with little concern for the customer experience or safety implications. There was no sense of ownership or urgency to help. Unfortunately, after reading other reviews, my experience does not seem unique. I will not be returning, and I strongly recommend potential buyers do thorough research before purchasing here. read more

I had a five star experience here. Customer service was excellent. My paperwork was efficient and on time. Cannot thank them enough it was a pleasant and time efficient experience. read more

CarMax - Balboa Street Car Max location. - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California

I didn't end up buying a car here but my saleswoman Mia was extremely helpful and attentive when it came to our experience. I would definitely recommend going to her if you want a good honest experience. read more

I had a wonderful experience here! Celyn was my sales consultant and she was nothing short of amazing. The process was so smooth in trading in my car. I loved I was able to do most of the work online before coming in, it saved a ton of time. Everyone was so friendly, even one of the girls wished me and my girlfriend happy pride :). I love my new car and would definitely recommend this carmax location! read more

CarMax - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Joe Stein was the best salesperson! He made buying our 2016 Toyota Highlander super fun and easy. I highly recommend you ask for Joe at Carmax :) read more

CarMax - Used Car Dealers Near Me - San Diego, California