The AutoMax Story

In March of 1989, two brothers named Phillip and Curtis White had a vision. After owning and operating a successful tire and wheel business for several years in Henderson, North Carolina, they realized that folks in the Raleigh area - especially those with credit challenges - had a need for affordable pre-owned vehicles along with financing to pay for them. There weren’t many dealerships serving this need at that time. As a result, the brothers started AutoMax, selling and financing reliable pre-owned vehicles to residents who live in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding areas with dealerships in Henderson, North Carolina.

Much has changed at AutoMax over the years, including the addition of a second dealership in Youngsville, and the expansion of our footprint to include customers all over Central North Carolina. We now proudly serve customers in Raleigh, Wake, Durham, Orange, Franklin, Vance, Granville, Person, Nash, Johnston, Warren, and Halifax counties.

In spite of this expansion, our core values haven’t changed. We’re still based in Henderson, and you’ll still find our dealership in the same building on the same downtown corner where it all started in 1989. Most importantly, AutoMax is still a family-owned and -operated business. It’s now run by the second generation of the White family. Mike, Allen, and Jeff share the same passion their fathers had for helping people buy pre-owned vehicles at reasonable prices with payments that fit their budgets. Our buy here pay here business model makes it easy for people to find and purchase reliable transportation for themselves and their families.

The AutoMax Mission

Our mission at AutoMax is the same as it was 30 years ago when Phillip and Curtis first got started in the auto industry. We want to make it easy for North Carolina residents to buy reliable vehicles. We do this with in-house financing. For many people, especially those who’ve had credit challenges, buying a car is out of the question because they’re not able to qualify for a conventional bank loan to pay for it. At AutoMax, we have the solution.

Your Buy Here Pay Here Dealership in North Carolina

When AutoMax got its start in 1989, the term buy here pay here was unfamiliar to most consumers. The concept of purchasing a new vehicle with funds loaned by the dealership was a new one. Many dealerships that operated this way used terms like in-house financing or tote the note. Today, the term buy here pay here is commonly used. For some, it means the difference between owning a car and having to walk or rely on other means of transportation to get to work, school, or church.

Buy here pay here financing started as a simple handshake between two individuals - a seller and a buyer. The deal was based on trust. While governmental rules and regulations have come into play over time, AutoMax still embraces the spirit of trust and friendship when it comes to buy here pay here financing. We work with every customer on their car needs regardless of whether their credit is good, bad, or nonexistent. We can offer loans to everyone. If you have a bankruptcy, charge-off, or repossession in your past, don’t let that stop you from visiting us. We don’t worry about your past. We want to work with you on building the present and your future.

At AutoMax, we don’t consider our customers just customers. We like to think of them more as friends. We focus on building relationships, not only on selling cars. And that attitude comes back to us when our customers refer their friends and family to us. That’s the AutoMax difference.

Certified Pre-Owned and Warrantied

We have a wide selection of Carfax-certified pre-owned cars on our lots to satisfy nearly every need or lifestyle. Every vehicle comes with one of the best warranties in the business, and our competitive financing terms and friendly staff make the car buying process quick and painless.

If you live in Raleigh or the surrounding area and you’re ready to experience the AutoMax difference, check out our inventory online or stop by one of our dealerships in Henderson or Youngsville. Then fill out our simple form to get pre-approved. From our family to yours, we have your auto needs covered!