How to Sell a Car to Carvana

If you want to sell your car without the stress of haggling over price, selling it to the online used-car dealer Carvana is a good choice.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Carvana is an online used-car dealer that advertises an easy, efficient, and hassle-free way to buy or sell a used vehicle. If you’re looking to offload your old car but don’t want to haggle over price, this company can be a great option.
Getting rid of a used car is rarely a straightforward process. Selling to a dealership usually involves a salesperson trying to talk you into a trade-in, while finding a private buyer can be time-consuming and might lead to tense price negotiations or even scams like fraudulent money transfers. But if you want to sell your car to Carvana, all you’ll need to do is answer some questions about your vehicle online to get a fair quote in just a few minutes.
Selling your car online can feel a little overwhelming, so the top-rated
car insurance
app
Jerry
has put together this useful guide. We’ll go over everything you need to know about selling a car to Carvana—from the steps you need to take in order to sell your vehicle, to the pros and cons of working with this online used car dealer.
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What is Carvana?

Today, there are more ways to sell your car online than ever before, so how do you know which website or app to choose?
Carvana
is an online-only, used car retailer that offers all the same services as a traditional dealership—from buying and selling used cars to trade-ins and financing. But unlike a conventional used-car lot, Carvana promises a stress-free, streamlined process that completely eliminates the need to haggle over price.
MORE: How to sell a car online

How to sell a used car to Carvana

Selling a car to Carvana can be easier than selling it to a typical used-car dealership and faster than working with a private buyer. Carvana buys any car that is newer than 1992, has a working odometer, and runs. If you have an older car or you want to sell your junk car for cash, you’ll need to visit a used-car lot or work with a salvage yard instead.
Before you sell your car to Carvana, it’s a good idea to visit
Kelley Blue Book
and determine your car’s fair market value. This number can help you decide whether or not you want to accept Carvana’s offer for your car.
Now you’re ready to visit the
Carvana
website and begin the process of getting a quote for your car. The first thing you need to do is click SELL/TRADE—which can be found at the top of your screen if you’re using a computer, and in the right-hand menu if you’re on a mobile device—and enter your car’s VIN (vehicle identification number) and license plate number
Next, you’ll need to provide some information about your vehicle, including its:
  • Make
  • Model
  • Trim
  • Mileage
  • Color
  • Drivetrain
  • Engine
You’ll also need to tell Carvana if you still owe payments on your car. Once you’ve filled out Carvana’s questionnaire, which the company says should take about two minutes, you’ll instantly get your quote. Carvana doesn’t always offer top-dollar, but because it is a growing public company that reports to its shareholders, you can expect a fair price.
If you accept the offer, Carvana will ask for pictures of your vehicle’s odometer and title, and a copy of your driver’s license. They will send you a link that will allow you to schedule a pickup at a time that’s most convenient for you. You also have the option of dropping the car off at a Carvana location yourself.
At the time of your scheduled pickup, a Carvana representative will come to your home and inspect your car to make sure it matches the information you provided online. Then, as long as there are no discrepancies, you will sign a bill of sale and Carvana will immediately transfer the money to your account or pay you cash on the spot. If you still owe money on the car, then you’ll get a check for the difference between their cash offer and the amount remaining on your
car loan
instead.
If you’re interested in buying a used vehicle from Carvana after you sell your old one, you also have the option of trading in your car by applying the offer amount to a new-to-you car purchase.

Selling to Carvana: pros

If you think selling your car to an online dealer seems fishy, don’t worry—it’s not! Selling your car to Carvana comes with some major advantages. Let’s break it down:
  • Get quotes (almost) immediately. The whole process from entering your car’s information to getting an offer only takes about two minutes.
  • No need to haggle over price. Carvana always offers the best-possible price, so you won’t have to deal with uncomfortable negotiations.
  • Do the whole thing from the comfort of your home. Carvana offers quotes online and they’ll come to you for inspection and pickup.
MORE: How to decide between market value or agreed value

Selling your car to Carvana: cons

On the other hand, there are some cases where selling to a traditional car lot or private buyer might be a better choice. Here are the downsides to selling a car to Carvana:
  • There’s a short timeline. After you get a quote, Carvana will only honor their offer for seven days. You can still sell your car to Carvana after the seven-day window, but first, you’ll need to re-submit your information and get a new quote.
  • They won’t buy cars older than 1992. Carvana won’t accept any cars older than the 1992 model year, even if they’re in good condition.
  • Their prices aren’t competitive if your car is relatively new. If you’re selling a car that’s only a few years old or has very low mileage, you can usually make more money by selling it yourself.
Key Takeaway There aren’t many downsides to selling your car to Carvana, but if you have a newer car with low mileage, you can get a better price by working with a private buyer instead.

Should I sell my car to Carvana?

Whether or not selling your vehicle to Carvana is the right choice for you depends on a few factors. Using Carvana can be a great option for sellers who want to sell their car fast but don’t want to accept a lowball price. It’s also ideal for people who are uncomfortable with haggling or don’t like working with traditional car dealerships
But if you’re looking to sell a car that’s relatively new or has extremely low mileage, then you should check out your local used car lot or sell it through an online service that allows negotiations, such as
Autotrader
. Additionally, if you’re looking to buy a brand-new car after you sell your old one, you might benefit from trading it to a dealership instead, and putting that money towards your new vehicle.

How to find affordable car insurance for your next new car

Once you’ve sold your old car, it’s time to think about your next ride! Whether you opt for a brand-new vehicle or a new-to-you used car, don’t forget to protect it with the best
car insurance
coverage. Visiting broker offices and dealing with sales calls can feel like a hassle—especially after you’ve just done the hard work involved with shopping for a new car—but don’t worry,
Jerry
can help!
The Jerry app is a
licensed broker
that does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. We’ll handle all the phone calls and paperwork needed to secure your new policy and can even cancel your old one for you!
Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
“I just had to buy a new car, and I needed quick help to get insurance before I could get my plates. Because I work so many hours,
Jerry
was the ideal choice for getting things done without long phone calls and waiting periods.”  —Rosa G.
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FAQs

No! There’s no need to negotiate or haggle when selling a car to Carvana because it always offers its best-available price.
Unlike selling your car to a private buyer or conventional dealer, there’s no need to clean your car before you sell it to Carvana—how clean or dirty your car is won’t have any effect on the offer you get! However, Carvana does ask that sellers remove personal items from the vehicle before pickup.
Yes. Carvana will buy cars with some mechanical issues or body damage, but repair costs will be factored into the offer you get. However, the company doesn’t take cars that don’t run at all or that could be considered junk.
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