CarGurus vs CarMax:Which is searched more in United States?
In September 2026, CarGurus and CarMax were level on Share of Search among car marketplaces in United States, with an estimated 3.4M branded searches each, at 26.5% estimated Share of Search each.
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Which is more popular in search, CarGurus or CarMax?
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 CarGurus, CarMax. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Carvana | CarGurus | CarMax | Carfax | Cars.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 12.6% | 3.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 24.2% | 29.6% | 29.6% | 13.3% | 3.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 12.6% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 26.5% | 26.5% | 32.3% | 11.9% | 2.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 12.6% | 3.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 12.6% | 3.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.3% | 24.9% | 30.3% | 11.1% | 3.3% |
| May 2026 | 30.3% | 24.9% | 30.3% | 11.1% | 3.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 26.5% | 26.5% | 32.3% | 11.9% | 2.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 30.5% | 25% | 30.5% | 11.2% | 2.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.3% | 24.9% | 30.3% | 11.1% | 3.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.3% | 26.5% | 26.5% | 11.9% | 2.9% |
How has the CarGurus and CarMax comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- CarGurus was ahead of CarMax in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CarGurus’ estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces in United States moved from 28.1% to 26.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3.4M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CarMax’s estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces in United States moved from 28.1% to 26.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3.4M.
How did search popularity change for United States car marketplaces in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Carvana overtook CarMax to become the leader among car marketplaces in United States, with 32.3% estimated Share of Search.
In September 2026, CarGurus overtook CarMax to rank 2nd among car marketplaces in United States, with 26.5% estimated Share of Search.
In September 2026, CarMax lost estimated Share of Search among car marketplaces in United States, from 30.3% to 26.5%.
Other head-to-heads among car marketplaces
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CarGurus’ and CarMax’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.
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