# Tell me about Carvana, please! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464 "2022-05-15T22:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/1 "2022-05-15T22:07:23Z")
I’m looking for a good used car, and I found a Prius I like. The only problem is, it’s Carvana. I’m a little wary of using the online dealers, and I don’t know what kind of problems I might run into. Has anyone had any experiences with Carvana? Are they shady and scammy, or do they give a fair deal? Should I go with a Mustang from a local dealer instead? 🕶 Thanks for any advice! ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/2 "2022-05-15T22:14:41Z")
I have a friend who bought a car from Carvana and said it wasn’t a horrible experience, especially compared to dealing with a car dealership. He did, though, say you have to read the fine print on everything you sign so you know what you’ve agreed to. Most online dealers have guarantees with a full money-back guarantee if you choose to return it within a certain number of days. I don’t know if Carvana has that, but I would want some way to back out of the deal if it turns out to not be what I expected. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/3 "2022-05-15T22:17:56Z")
I purchased a 2 year old Toyota Avalon from them and it was a very smooth and painless experience. The car that I bought had some fairly minor cosmetic blemishes, and one scrape was bad enough that I pointed it out and Carvana’s insurance company paid to fix it. I would use Carvana again. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/4 "2022-05-15T22:19:28Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Most online dealers have guarantees with a full money-back guarantee if you choose to return it within a certain number of days. I don’t know if Carvana has that They do. [7 days with caveats.](https://www.carvana.com/help/purchasing-a-car/what-are-the-limits-of-the-7-day-money-back-guarantee) ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/5 "2022-05-15T23:30:13Z")
Be aware that several online car sales outfits have had issues getting paperwork (ie title) to the new owners in a timely fashion. Carvana just laid off 2000 people. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/6 "2022-05-15T23:41:17Z")
I bought a car from Carvana last year. Totally painless experience, and the car was just as advertised. They weren’t able to schedule delivery on the day I wanted, so I went down to the vending machine it was in and they gave me a giant coin to put in the slot and start the delivery. It was a gimmick, but a fun one. I no longer remember the details of their guarantees, but I recall that I could return the car for a refund or to get a different car for any reason in the first 7 days, then they had an additional 3-ish months of warranty after that. Their in-house financing had crap rates, but no early payment penalty, so I went with that and took my time finding the best possible loan later, since the car I was looking for would have a very rare combo of options, and the one Carvana had was close by and had less than 10k miles. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/7 "2022-05-15T23:54:14Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Be aware that several online car sales outfits have had issues getting paperwork (ie title) to the new owners in a timely fashion. Carvana just laid off 2000 people. > **[Atlanta Carvana customers say they can’t prove they own the cars they bought](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/metro-carvana-customers-say-they-havent-received-titles-cars-they-bought/YWJND4W3QZCYFAG3LZSRYXDACA/)** > > Because he doesn't have the title, one man can't get the registration or tags and says he was almost arrested. > **[Carvana offers to buy back vehicles after failing for months to fork over titles](https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/better-call-behnken/carvana-offers-to-buy-back-vehicles-after-failing-for-months-to-fork-over-titles/)** > > When Carvana could no longer legally issue a Florida temporary tag to Johnston after 30 days he was sent a temporary tag from Arizona. That got him pulled over twice by law enforcement who issued h… > **[Florida threatens to pull Carvana’s dealer license over ongoing title issues](https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/better-call-behnken/florida-threatens-to-pull-carvanas-dealer-license-over-ongoing-title-issues/)** > > The State of Florida is threatening to pull used car company Carvana’s dealer license for its ongoing title issues, 8 On Your Side has learned. > **[Illinois Is Latest State to Sanction Carvana Over Registrations](https://www.barrons.com/articles/illinois-suspends-carvana-dealers-license-51652475179)** > > The suspension makes Illinois the latest state to penalize Carvana over practices that include providing out-of-state temporary license plates to customers and failure to get their vehicles permanently registered in time. > **[Carvana Found A Way To Fail At Selling Used Cars In 2022](https://jalopnik.com/carvana-found-a-way-to-fail-at-selling-used-cars-in-202-1848858518)** > > Shares have fallen 83 percent in the past year, and the company has turned to desperate measures to complete the acquisition it set its sights on. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/8 "2022-05-16T00:00:24Z")
There was a story on one of the auto-oriented sites about someone who bought a car from Carvana or a similar service. They would only let him test drive it in the parking lot and he was too excited to properly inspect it, so he missed obvious flaws. And then he had all kinds of problems getting them to correct the issues. So to avoid that, I recommend bringing a disinterested friend to go with you, ideally someone with enough experience to inspect the car properly. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/9 "2022-05-16T00:13:55Z")
Thanks for the quick responses! The title issues are a red flag. The big issue for me is, you have to pay a fee for Carvana to bring the car to you, and if you end up not liking the car, you’re out that money. I don’t have enough money to waste it like that, which is why I’m buying a cheap car. 😉 If anyone else is buying a car and needs a support group, please feel free to post here! I like cars, but I don’t like the shady side of the used car business, so I’ll be glad when I find a car and this can all be over. Also, it’s May in North Carolina, and the AC in my current car is very broken, so I need a car with working AC now. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/10 "2022-05-16T00:38:37Z")
Is the air conditioning the only real problem with your current car? If so, getting it fixed might be the best option. Right now, you’re not going to find bargains in used or new cars, so if you can wait a year or two, you might just live with what you have. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/11 "2022-05-16T01:48:57Z")
The most important thing is, I want a backup camera. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and I don’t want to wait a long time for that. The air conditioner is probably going to cost a lot to fix. They did the leak test and didn’t find anything, so it’s not a quick and cheap repair. For a car this old (2010/118K miles), at this point I’d rather put the money into a new car. It has a big scrape down the side, the trunk is leaking, and the trim is starting to come off, so it’s looking really sad. I want a car that’s quieter and has a smoother ride. It’s a little rough on the highway. I have a few long trips planned this summer, and it would be nice to have a more comfortable car. And premium sound! 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/12 "2022-05-16T01:52:33Z")
Well, I certainly do not want to come across as a Carvana fanboi, and no doubt their star has fallen in the past few months. I chatted with a lot of people online last year about their purchase experience when I was buying though, and I couldn’t find anything that indicated that they weren’t dead serious about their 1 week return policy, and their three month warranty was through a reputable 3rd party. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/13 "2022-05-16T01:53:35Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > I don’t have enough money to waste it like that, which is why I’m buying a cheap car. 😉 Yeah, my only beef with Carvana has been that I can’t afford them. But I’ve always loved finding “diamonds in the (very) rough” on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or sites like Autotrader. I’ve never paid more than $3000 for some really fun cars (like the very first hybrid, for less than $2k). Everything I’ve seen on Car-Wanna is too recent, and ten times what I’ve paid… ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/14 "2022-05-16T02:10:43Z")
**digs** , I have to pay someone else to do car maintenance, so I can’t buy those really cheap cars. I’m a little jealous of people who can do that! I don’t have an expensive car, but I still end up spending too much money on car expenses. I can’t go car-free, because where I live, it’s hard to get where you need to go without a car. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/15 "2022-05-16T02:50:45Z")
You need a boatload of quarters to use that car vending machine. Don’t tell anyone, but If you shake it when you put the last quarter in sometimes two cars come out! ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/16 "2022-05-16T03:02:57Z")
Backup camera can be done easily for $75. This is a horrible time to be buying a car. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/17 "2022-05-16T03:38:24Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > **digs** , I have to pay someone else to do car maintenance, so I can’t buy those really cheap cars. I’m a little jealous of people who can do that! I don’t have an expensive car, but I still end up spending too much money on car expenses. This is hilarious…you think I know the SLIGHTEST thing about fixing cars! No, I just found a great “car guy”. When I find a car on Craigslist, I show him the listing. If he doesn’t veto it on the spot, I ask the seller if I can get a quick inspection done. Car Guy will usually say “Ok, this is a great car, and here are the things you’ll be fixing in the next year, _but_ here are two things you need to fix before you drive it out of town.” On the hybrid I mentioned (2000 Honda Insight), it was $1800 for the car, $700 for the “rightaways” (brakes, a hose, and front tires), and another $500 in the first year (a bearing and the other two tires). Oh, and my wife wanted a backup camera ($95). The car was well worth it[… it’s cute!](https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1261912/2000-honda-insight-for-sale-in-seattle-washington-98105) ---
**Author:** ![Nayna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ebca7d/32.png) [@Nayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nayna)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/18 "2022-05-16T04:02:42Z")
The property management company I work for recently bought a pickup through Carvana for our maintenance guy. The whole experience from start to finish was easy, and every employee I dealt with was friendly. We got the title fast. We didn’t have a trade-in, and we paid cash. The battery died in about a week, and Carvana paid for a new one. I’d absolutely use them again. As an aside, I have a 2017 Prius. Also highly recommended! It may be a terrible time to buy a car, but it’s a wonderful time to buy a hybrid! ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/19 "2022-05-16T18:20:55Z")
Not directly related to the OP, but I _sold_ my used to car to Carvana one year ago and it was very quick and easy, they came to pick up the car, and they paid me 40% more than the dealership offered me on a trade in. 10/10 would sell to them again. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464/20 "2022-05-16T18:38:21Z")
[This is a story](https://www.theverge.com/22923871/carvana-pandemic-used-car-prices-sold-online-chip-shortage) from The Verge about someone who sold a seven-year-old car to Carvana in December for slightly more than he paid for it in 2014. The reason is the shortage of new and used cars and also the algorithms that these online services use to price offers to purchase cars. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-carvana-please/964464.md?page=2)