DollarBreak is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation. Disclosure.
The content is for informational purposes only. Conduct your own research and seek advice of a licensed financial advisor. Terms.
Should I Sell My Car to Carvana?
Carvana Summary
- Get an online quote within 2 minutes
- Free pickup wtihin 100 miles of a hub
- Offer valid for 7 days or 250 more miles
- Haggle-free process to sell your car
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 allowing people to purchase used cars online. The company launched in 2002 in Tempe, Arizona, and since then, has launched several other services. These include 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:
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via online form or call on (855) 925 4302
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
Wheelzy
Quick car evaluation without the hassle – sell your car within 30 min
Choose a convenient date and time for free pick-up, as soon as next day
Get cash in hand the same day the Wheelzy agent picks up your car
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 take it or not. You have seven days until the offer expires, though. Considering that, 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?
There are many factors considered every time Carvana makes an offer. 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 they posted on the online process. It’s 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.
Alternative Places to Sell Your Car
Considering the hassle-free way of selling your car to Carvana, it certainly makes the list of your top options. Additionally, you might want to check out other Carvana-like platforms where you can sell your car. Here are some:
Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
Compared to Carvana that also sells cars, Peddle mainly buys cars from private owners. This Texas-based company also covers all fifty states in the country, allowing you to sell your car wherever you’re from.
Based on their website, the company has already bought more than two million cars. These cars go to their partner dealers for repurposing and reselling.
Get an instant offer
The process to sell your car to Peddle is quite similar to Carvana. You can start through the Peddle website and provide the VIN. If you don’t have the VIN, you can also enter the year, make, and model.
Additionally, you can sell your car to Peddle even if you don’t have the title. They also offer assistance in case you want to obtain it. Note, however, that selling your car without a title requires the system to recalculate the offer.
What Peddle buys
Peddle buys varying types of vehicles, such as cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans. They’re also not very specific on the year, make, model, or condition. Because of that, you can sell a car most of the time.
On the other hand, Peddle doesn’t buy campers, trailers, motorcycles, scooters, and other types not mentioned above.
Peddle payment methods
The payment process may depend on the local carrier in charge of picking up your car. However, in many cases, you can choose whether to receive the payment in check or cash.
How long does the process take
The online process to get an offer usually takes a couple of minutes as you need to answer some questions about your car. Once you receive the offer, you have seven days to accept it.
If you’re ready to accept the offer, your local carrier will contact you, usually within 48 hours to schedule a pickup. You can also contact them through their hotline, usually listed on the Offer details you received from Peddle.
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
Wheelzy is another company where you can sell your car. Like Peddle, it’s also exclusive to buying cars. It has a nationwide reach, making it a good alternative to Carvana.
Selling your car to Wheelzy
Wheelzy offers an online process to sell your car. Through the Wheelzy website, you can simply enter your car’s information and your phone number. Another option to get an offer is through calling Wheelzy’s hotline (855) 294-0940.
What Wheelzy buys
Wheelzy buys cars regardless of make, model, and year. It even purchases damaged, wrecked, junk cars, and company cars.
How long Wheelzy honors the offer
Compared to Carvana and Peddle, Wheelzy can keep the offer amount as long as they can. After all, you can simply give them a call if you’re ready to take the offer.
Wheelzy payment options
Wheelzy partners with local towing services to pick up your car when you’re ready to sell it. As such, how you receive payment may depend on the local towing service. Although, most of them pay through cash or check.
How long does it take to sell a car to Wheelzy?
From the online process to pick-up, the fastest you can expect is within 48 hours. If you need Wheelzy to pick up your car ASAP, you can simply contact them through their hotline.
