Should I Sell My Car to Carvana?
Selling your car to Carvana is as easy as submitting an online application, scheduling a pickup, and letting the Carvana member take your car right from your driveway. So considering the ease of selling your car, selling a car to Carvana is definitely worth it.
Carvana is a car retailer that allows people to purchase used cars online. The company launched in 2002 in Tempe, Arizona, and has since launched several other services, including car financing, buying, and trading used cars.
If you’re looking to sell your car, you should definitely check out Carvana. Through their online platform, you can get an offer within two minutes. Here’s how:
Best for Older & Damaged Cars
Buys used, damaged or junk cars
Free tow and no hidden fees
Pays by ACH trasfer or check
Top Pick for Junk Cars
Free, no-obligation cash offers
Offers free paperwork service
Pays on the spot upon pick up
Highly Rated by Customers
Excellent customer service ratings
Honors guaranteed offer for 7 days
Can pick up a car within 48 hours
Great for Low-Mileage Cars
Gives a real offer in 2 minutes
100% hassle-free online process
Free car’s Value Tracker available
How to Sell Car to Carvana?
Step 1: Get an Online Offer
Visit the Carvana website and enter either your license plate and state or the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). From there, the website loads to another page where you’ll need to provide the following:
- Zip code
- Color
- Mileage
- Transmission
- Drivetrain
- Engine
Additionally, the Carvana website will ask for the vehicle features. These include any entertainment and instrumentation, safety and security, and wheels and tires. At this stage, you can simply tick the checkboxes to confirm your answer.
Carvana’s online process to get an offer gets more serious at the Condition and History stage. Here, you’ll need to be as accurate as you can since your answers will determine the offer you’ll receive. Also, make sure to provide an active email address.
After completing all previous steps and clicking on the “Get an Offer” button, the website directs you to another page. This time, you’ll finally see the offer and when it will expire.
If you scroll down through the Offer page, you’ll see some specific details, like how Carvana came up with the price. It also confirms whether the offer is higher than what you can get with KBB or the Kelley Blue Book.
Step 2: Verify Details and Ownership
After getting an online offer, your next step is to decide whether to accept it. The offer expires in seven days, though, so you still have time to check out offers from other buyers.
On the other hand, you might want to accept the offer right away. In that case, make sure to click the Save and Continue button on the Offer page. This will pop out a smaller window where you need to enter your:
- First and last names
- Preferred password
- Mobile number
This information allows you to create an account with Carvana. From there, you can further verify car ownership and if there are any, loan details. You’ll need to upload the following documents on your login page at the Carvana website:
- Odometer photo
- Vehicle title
- Photo ID
After submitting these documents online, you can choose your preferred payment method. You can choose from the following:
- Printed check provided when they pick up your car
- ACH direct deposit to your checking account (posting time is within one to two business days after Carvana received your car)
- Instant payment to your debit card
Step 3: Scheduling PickUp or Dropping Off
After you select a payment method, you can schedule for Carvana to pick up your car. You can pick out a time and place for them to arrive. Once they come, they will inspect the car to confirm the details you provided online and pay you on the spot.
You can also choose to drop off the car at a Carvana vending machine or hub. Similarly, they’ll inspect the car before finalizing the sale.
How Much Does Carvana Pay?
Every time Carvana makes an offer, many factors are considered. First on their list are the details you entered during the online process.
The company also has access to service history records and trusted pricing guides. Furthermore, Carvana conducts market analysis to help them gather data. Based on their website, Carvana also uses data from the following third-party providers:
Just to give you an idea, Carvana has offered $9,802 for a 2010 Honda Element EX that reads 100,000 miles on the odometer. This specific sports utility with 4D is in perfect condition.
What Types of Cars Does Carvana Buy?
Your car needs to meet the following requirements before you can sell it to Carvana:
- At least 1992 model
- With a working odometer
- Can safely perform a test drive
Except in California, Carvana accepts cars with expired registration.
How Long Does the Sell to Carvana Offer Last?
Carvana’s offers are only valid for seven days. This allows them to make the most accurate offer based on the current market value. When you complete the online process, you’ll see the offer’s expiration date right under the amount.
Seven days is a reasonable duration, as you can still check offers from other car buyers. Some car dealerships also offer an online process to sell your car. In a couple of hours, you can even collate several offers to help you decide where to sell your car.
How Long Does it Take to Sell Your Car to Carvana?
Selling to Carvana can take 48 hours at most. The online process takes minutes to get an offer. Once you have that, you only need to provide some photos to confirm your ownership.
Assuming you have these on-hand, uploading these lets you quickly proceed to schedule for pickup. Carvana allows next-day pickup, making the process more efficient.
Does Carvana Inspect Your Car?
Carvana will inspect your car when they come to pick it up. This is mainly to confirm the details you provided during the online process. After which, you’re good to receive the offered amount.
In some cases, Carvana needs to change the offer it posted through the online process. This is mainly because the inspection found some issues not disclosed through the online steps.
Besides the inspection, Carvana will ask you to complete some paperwork when they come to pick up your car. And suppose someone besides you is listed on the title. In that case, they’ll also need to be present when Carvana comes to get the car.