A string of viral videos showing Tesla Cybertruck owners taking their trucks to CarMax for surprise appraisals has pulled back the curtain on how the retailer actually values one of the most polarizing vehicles on the road. The offers have ranged from solid to genuinely shocking, and they reveal something useful for any Cybertruck owner curious about resale value: the market has moved a lot since launch, and CarMax appears to be pricing accordingly.
The Appraisal That Started the Trend
According to Supercar Blondie's original coverage, YouTuber EV & Chill took her Tesla Cybertruck, with about 14,000 miles and a distinctive wrap, to a CarMax location purely out of curiosity about its resale value. She estimated she'd receive somewhere between $57,000 and $60,000. Instead, CarMax's offer came in at $66,000, without the company even taking the truck for a test drive. For context, a brand-new all-wheel-drive Cybertruck starts at $79,990, meaning the used offer landed well within range of a new one.
CarMax later responded publicly to the viral moment. According to a follow-up report from Supercar Blondie, the company said: "We're happy to hear this customer was pleased with her appraisal offer. At CarMax, we've designed our appraisal experience to be simple, transparent, and on your terms."
An Even Bigger Offer in Utah
A separate video out of Utah pushed the number even higher. According to Supercar Blondie's report, a YouTuber borrowed a forest-green-wrapped Cybertruck with around 3,000 miles and took it to CarMax expecting an offer somewhere in the range of six figures given the truck's scarcity and custom color. The final offer: $76,000, high enough to leave him "walking away laughing in disbelief," according to the report.
How Do These Offers Compare to Kelley Blue Book?
Supercar Blondie later revisited both stories to check how the offers held up against current market data. As of August 2026, Kelley Blue Book listed a resale value of about $72,400 for a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive, with a trade-in value of roughly $68,700. That means the original $66,000 offer to EV & Chill was actually about $2,700 below the current estimated trade-in value and roughly $6,400 below current estimated resale value, meaning her offer, while it felt generous at the time, would likely be even higher if requested today.
For the Utah appraisal, KBB's excellent-condition estimates put a comparable truck at around $72,240 as a trade-in and $75,750 in a private-party sale, putting the $76,000 CarMax offer roughly in line with, or slightly above, private-sale value, according to the same follow-up report.
Why Cybertruck Resale Values Are Holding Up
Several factors are contributing to stronger-than-expected resale numbers. Reporting from Supercar Blondie notes that used Cybertrucks are currently listed anywhere from $70,000 to $80,000 depending on model, mileage, and condition, and one YouTuber pointed to relative scarcity, claiming fewer than 600 comparable units were available at the time. Tesla has also introduced lower-priced Cybertruck variants since launch, which has shifted the used market dynamics for higher-spec, earlier-production trucks.
How CarMax's Appraisal Process Actually Works
According to CarMax's own explanation reported by Supercar Blondie, the process involves an associate reviewing the vehicle in person, followed by a trained buyer evaluating the collected data to generate a written offer, combining vehicle-specific data with human appraisal experience. Notably, in both viral cases, CarMax did not require a test drive to generate a firm offer.
Should You Get Your Cybertruck Appraised?
If you own a Cybertruck and are curious about its current value, even if you have no intention of selling, an appraisal can be a useful, no-obligation way to benchmark your vehicle against real-time market data. Given how quickly resale values have moved since launch, checking both a CarMax appraisal and a current KBB estimate side by side is the most reliable way to know what your truck is actually worth today.
For more on where EV and gadget prices are heading, see our related coverage on why RAM prices are skyrocketing in 2026 and the best phone deals to grab before prices rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much has CarMax offered for a Tesla Cybertruck?
Reported offers include $66,000 for a 2024 Cybertruck with 14,000 miles, and $76,000 for a lower-mileage, custom-wrapped model in a separate viral appraisal, according to Supercar Blondie's reporting.
2. Do you need a test drive to get a CarMax appraisal?
No. In both widely reported cases, CarMax generated a firm written offer based on an associate's inspection and vehicle data without requiring a test drive.
3. How does CarMax's Cybertruck offer compare to Kelley Blue Book?
As of August 2026, KBB listed Cybertruck resale value around $72,400 and trade-in value around $68,700, meaning CarMax's viral offers landed reasonably close to, and in one case below, current KBB trade-in estimates.
4. Is the Tesla Cybertruck holding its value well?
Based on current listings and appraisal data reported in 2026, used Cybertrucks are commonly listed between $70,000 and $80,000 depending on condition and mileage, suggesting relatively strong resale value retention compared to early market skepticism about the vehicle.
5. Can I get a CarMax appraisal without planning to sell?
Yes. CarMax's appraisal process is designed to give a no-obligation offer, which several Cybertruck owners have used purely to check current market value rather than to actually sell their vehicle.