In a Nutshell
pros
- Get an instant offer for your vehicle online
- Accepts trade-ins with vehicle purchases
- Get your vehicle picked up or drop it off at a Carvana lot
cons
- Pickup is not available in all areas
- Poor customer reviews
Carvana at a Glance
States Served
Car Condition
Sell or Trade-In
Pickup Service
Payment
Carvana at a Glance
Online Offer
✓
Car Pickup Service
✓
Same-Day Payment
✓
Personal Information Required
✓
Trade-In Option
✓
Optional Add-Ons
CarvanaCare car warranty
Gap coverage (pays the difference between your insurance payout and your total loan amount if your car is totaled or stolen)
Deal Exclusions
Vehicles for sale must be newer than 1992
Odometer must be in working condition
Vehicle must be safe to test drive
Carvana does not purchase vehicles with a history of theft, accidents, or frame damage
Not available in Alaska or Hawaii
Carvana Pricing
Carvana uses an algorithm to determine what price to offer for your vehicle, similar to competing online marketplaces. You can get an offer online in less than two minutes. All offers are non-negotiable, and Carvana does not match prices from competitors.
If you are trading in a vehicle as part of a purchase from Carvana, the value of your trade-in is deducted from your purchase to reduce the sales tax you owe. When you drop off your vehicle, a Carvana representative will briefly inspect it and may adjust the sale price if the condition does not match expectations.
How to Sell a Car with Carvana
You can sell a car with Carvana on its own or as part of a trade-in when purchasing a vehicle through Carvana. To get an offer for your vehicle, enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate number online. You must answer questions about your vehicle’s mileage, trim options, and condition, and Carvana will make an offer instantly. Your offer is valid for seven days, and you are not committed to selling when you request an offer. All offers are non-negotiable.
If you decide to sell, Carvana can pick up your vehicle from your home as long as you are located within a market that it serves. If you are out of market, you can bring your vehicle to the nearest Carvana market for pickup or delivery. Carvana will work with you to arrange a meetup location.
If you are selling your vehicle on its own rather than as a trade-in, you’ll receive payment for it by check at the time of pickup or dropoff.
Is Carvana Legit?
Carvana is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CVNA) and was listed on the Fortune 500 list in 2021. The company has physical car vending machines in cities throughout the country and sells more than 200,000 vehicles annually in the US.
Carvana is not rated by the Better Business Bureau. It has a 4.2-star rating on Trustpilot. Most negative reviews focus on Carvana’s car buying experience, but sellers note that Carvana can have poor customer service or offer less than competitors.
What’s Unique About Carvana?
Carvana offers several features that make it unique for selling your vehicle. First, Carvana offers online appraisals quickly. You only need to provide basic information about the condition of your vehicle to get an offer. Once you have an offer in hand, you have seven days to consider it and compare it against other offers before deciding whether to sell.
Another unique feature is that in most areas, Carvana will pick up your car straight from your home. You will get a pickup appointment so you’re not left guessing when your car will be collected. If you live outside of the areas Carvana serves, you will need to drop off your vehicle. Helpfully, Carvana will work with you to choose a meeting location that’s convenient for you.
Help and Support
Carvana offers customer support by phone, live chat, and text message. Chat and text support are available daily from 9am to 8pm ET, while phone support is available daily from 8am to 10pm ET. We got in touch by live chat and were connected to a representative in less than one minute. Carvana also displays the current wait time for each support channel on its website.
Carvana’s website also has a detailed FAQs page with information about the car buying and selling process. A series of short videos explains how Carvana’s process works.
What About the Carvana App?
Carvana has a free mobile app for iOS and Android. The app enables you to get an instant offer for your vehicle and schedule an appointment for your car to be picked up or dropped off. You can also purchase a vehicle through the Carvana app and sell your current vehicle as a trade-in.
Bottom Line
Carvana is an online marketplace that makes it easy to buy and sell used vehicles. You can sell your car on its own or as a trade-in when buying another car through Carvana. You can get an offer online in less than two minutes by providing basic details about your vehicle. All purchase offers made by Carvana are non-negotiable, and the company does not match competitors’ offers.
Carvana can pick up your vehicle from your home in most areas. If pickup is not available in your area, you can drop off your vehicle at a Carvana lot. You are paid for your car by check at the time of pickup or drop-off.
Carvana offers customer support by phone, live chat, and text message. The company has mixed reviews from customers, although negative reviews focus mainly on buying vehicles through Carvana rather than on the selling process.
FAQs
Does Carvana change its offer for your vehicle?
The offer Carvana makes for your vehicle is valid for seven days. The offer will not change as long as your vehicle is in the condition you described when requesting an offer.
Will Carvana buy my car if the check engine light is on?
Carvana will buy most used cars that are newer than 1992, have a working odometer, and can be safely test-driven. A check engine light is not an issue as long as your car can be driven safely.
Can I sell my car to Carvana if I still owe money on it?
Yes, you can sell your car to Carvana even if you still owe money on your auto loan. You can use the money from your sale to pay off your remaining loan balance.
