CarMax vs Cars.com:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, CarMax had more branded searches than Cars.com among used car marketplaces worldwide. CarMax was estimated to have 4.1M branded searches compared to Cars.com’s 450K, and held a 19.8% Share of Search versus Cars.com’s 2.2%. 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 used car marketplaces drivers choose between. 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 | AutoScout24 | CarGurus | CarMax | Carvana | Cars.com | Carwow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 42.5% | 19% | 19% | 15.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 45.9% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 40.8% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 2.5% | 2% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.4% | 19% | 19% | 15.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.4% | 19% | 19% | 15.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 41% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 2% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| May 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.2% | 17.6% | 21.4% | 17.6% | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.7% | 16.9% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.2% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| 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 used car marketplaces worldwide moved from 19% to 19.8%, 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 used car marketplaces worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for used car marketplaces worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, CarGurus overtook CarMax to rank 2nd among used car marketplaces worldwide, at 19.8%.
In August 2026, CarMax lost estimated Share of Search among used car marketplaces worldwide, from 20.6% to 19.8%.
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.