CarMax vs Cars.com:Which is searched more?
In August 2026, CarMax had more branded searches than Cars.com among car marketplaces worldwide. CarMax was estimated to have 4.1M branded searches compared to Cars.com’s 450K, and held a 32.1% Share of Search versus Cars.com’s 3.5%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, CarMax or Cars.com?
Compare the sites people buy and sell cars on. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for CarMax, Cars.com. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | CarMax | Cars.com |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 32% | 3.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.8% | 4.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 34% | 3.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 34% | 3.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 32% | 3.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 32% | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 32% | 3.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.2% | 4% |
| Jul 2026 | 34% | 3.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.1% | 3.5% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — |
How has the CarMax and Cars.com comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- CarMax was ahead of Cars.com in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, CarMax’s estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces worldwide moved from 34% to 32.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.1M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Cars.com’s estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces worldwide moved from 3.7% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for car marketplaces worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, CarGurus overtook CarMax to take the highest estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces worldwide, at 32.1%.
In August 2026, CarMax lost estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces worldwide, from 34% to 32.1%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CarMax’s and Cars.com’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.