Approvals are generous through Carvana, though there may be significantly fewer options and higher down payments for people with a rocky credit history.
Most people start their car search online these days. The Carvana experience enhances that process with detailed inspection reports, high-quality images of features and blemishes, 3D tours of each vehicle in its inventory and strong guarantees that empower you to buy with confidence.
Privacy Policy
What Is Carvana?
Of course, there’s more to the process of using one of Carvana’s vending machines than that. But the rest of the process of buying, selling or trading a vehicle through the national auto retailer is just about as streamlined as the vending machine process itself.
Carvana
Buying a Car Online with Carvana
There’s a bit more to it than inserting a token into a car vending machine, watching your chosen car as it’s dispensed and then signing a contract to finalize your Carvana purchase.
Vehicle Research
Down-Payment Options
Limited Warranty
You can buy online with as much confidence as you would in person.
That’s the fun part, but Carvana has worked to make the rest of the process painless — from researching vehicles and applying for financing to arranging trade-ins and finalizing transactions.
Carvana has two primary ways to research vehicles online. You can explore its search engine to search cars and apply filters like make, model, year, mileage and so on. Or, you can get recommendations from Carvana by answering a few simple questions about what you’re after.
Financing Options
The competition is fierce among online dealerships, but Carvana does plenty to stand out and add value to the car buying process.
Can you test drive a car from Carvana before completing a car purchase?
CARFAX and multi-point inspection
90 days or 4,000 miles
Features
Pickup, Drop-off and Delivery
Pre-qualifying will give you a good idea of what your down payment will be and what interest rate you’ll pay. Pre-qualifying won’t impact your credit score, and your financing offer is good for up to 45 days.
Can you finance a car through Carvana?
You have to be at least 18 years old with an annual income of more than ,000 and no bankruptcies within the last seven years.
Trading or Selling Cars
Money-Back Guarantees
Qualifiers for Financing
What are the downsides to Carvana?
Carvana conducts a full 150-point inspection on each vehicle it sells. And each vehicle listing shows the results of the inspection, along with specifications and feature highlights.
Using a Vehicle Vending Machine
Free CARFAX report and Inspection Reports
If you’re the type of person who prefers spending a day test driving various cars at the car lot, Carvana’s lack of a conventional test-drive arrangement may be a bit of a sticking point.
Carvana contends that its seven-day trial period for vehicle purchases gives buyers a much better idea of what they’re getting than a 20- to 30-minute test drive at a traditional dealership.
In addition to securing financing through Carvana itself, you can also buy your new car with cold hard cash or with a loan from a third party.
Carvana Competitors: Carvana vs. Carmax vs. Vroom
After verifying your identity with a driver’s license, you insert a coin into the vending machine and it delivers the vehicle you choose.
Source: thepennyhoarder.com
In most states, Carvana will complete the registration process for you. A rep will handle the paperwork and submit it to the DMV on your behalf. Their cars come with temporary license plates. After your registration is complete, Carvana arranges to have your plates shipped to you. |
At least ,600 annual income, no active bankruptcies, no minimum credit score | CARFAX, in addition to 150-point inspection | Annoying sales tactics aside, what are the advantages of buying a car totally online? Well, turns out there are plenty. |
The site’s Car Finder tool starts by asking you to rank what’s important to you: fuel economy, performance, features, space, comfort, safety, hauling or value. After selecting a few more preferences, it’ll show you your matches. | You really get the showroom experience online. And yes, you can spot any blemishes a car may have — in fact, Carvana will highlight them for full transparency. | You really get the showroom experience online. And yes, you can spot any blemishes a car may have — in fact, Carvana will highlight them for full transparency. | |
Unpublished. Carmax accommodates “most credit profiles.” | Not in the traditional sense. Carvana gives you seven days to test out your car after buying it. During this period, you can return your vehicle hassle-free if you’re unhappy with it. | You can inspect the interior and exterior of each car in 3D in a browser window, sort of like Street View on Google Maps. And you can pore over high-resolution images of different shots of a car’s exterior or interior, up close and from a distance. | Cash, debit, e-check |
It takes just two minutes to get prequalified for a vehicle from Carvana, and that’s the route 80% of its customers take, according to the online dealership. | 7 Days or 250 miles | Yes | Carvana lets you research automobiles online, have your trade-in appraised, apply for financing and buy used cars without stepping foot on a dealership’s lot. You can even have Carvana deliver your new car to your home or come pick up a car you’re selling. You can also use one of their vehicle vending machines. |
100 days or 4,189 miles |
The online used-car retailer gets its cars from dealer partners, trade-ins and private sellers. Each car added to its inventory undergoes a 150-point inspection before it goes up for sale. Buyers can read the full inspection report on the Carvana website to inform their purchase or a used car. |
If you’re not into the whole vending machine thing, Carvana will come to you. | Carmax |
It sells used cars from trade-ins, private sellers and dealers it has partnered with. All of its vehicles pass a 150-point inspection, have never been in a reported accident, and include a free CARFAX report, so you can buy with full confidence. | 90 days or 6,000 miles |
Yes, Carvana offers in-house financing for vehicle sales. You can also finance through a third-party company or pay cash. Car shoppers can apply for pre-approved financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact to your credit score. And your offer is good for 45 days, unless your finances change during that period. |
What is Carvana? |
Get the Penny Hoarder Daily | Cash, debit, money order or up to 0 on a credit card | Cash, debit, money order or up to 0 on a credit card | Cash, debit, money order or up to 0 on a credit card |
It really is a car vending machine, and it’s as straightforward as it sounds. | Here’s a brief roundup of some of the most frequently asked questions about Carvana from around the web. | Of course, Carvana will have to verify the condition of your car before any money changes hands. But if you did a good job describing the mileage, wear and tear, service history and accident history of your car, you can expect your offer to hold true. | Ready to stop worrying about money? |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gone are the days when you’d have to make a day of driving and inspecting cars at a local dealership as part of the car-buying process.
Carvana offers touchless delivery and pickup services. Just tell them when and where, and they’ll meet you (within reason).
Final Word
Any lingering details from the sale or purchase can be settled at a vending machine, a hub or a location of your choice. And yes, they’re still following their touchless COVID-19 protocols.
7 days or 400 miles
30 Days or 1,500 miles <!–
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Yes