Carvana Reviews - How It Works, Warranty, Financing, Returns

Great way to purchase a car, unfortunately, everything after clicking the buy button was a nightmare. I found a car that I liked and the purchase process was straightforward and easy. I was then able to schedule a time for delivery.

My first delivery date was canceled and postponed over a week. A couple of hours before the second delivery time Carvana called and said that it would be delayed again until the next day. I had plans to go out of town the following morning. Finally, the delivery driver (the only competent Carvana employee I've dealt with) said that he would be able to deliver the car several hours later that the original time. It ended up being almost midnight before he showed up.

The car had numerous chips in the paint that were not documented in the sale listing. In fact, the sale listing said that there were no cosmetic issues with the car. The delivery driver apologized for the issue and said they Carvana would have this fixed. The repair team contacted me and said the paint would not be fixed.

Upon the second delivery delay, the local manager said that I would be compensated $25 per day from the original delivery date. He said that a check would be mailed after the 7-day trial period was over. I'm writing this review almost 2 months later and that check has yet to come. I contacted Carvana again and was told that they have no record of this promise.

Stick with CarMax if you want a better experience. I've bought several cars from them and never had any issues.

To be sure, this should be a 1-star review. Carvana as a whole deserves 1 star. The delivery driver, Will T, is the sole reason for bumping it to 2 stars.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I received my vehicle on July 3rd. Almost 3 months later and I have yet to receive my license plate and registration card. My temporary license plate expired in August. I have to drive out of town for a conference in a week and I am worried that it will not arrive by then. I have called so many times for information and never get an answer. I’m at my wit's end. This is a nightmare.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I do NOT see how this is easier, quicker or better than going to a traditional dealer? The only advantage I could find was there is no "dealer fee" that's tacked on at the end that we ALL hate. Unfortunately, I can NOT recommend using Carvana until they get the stuff together, they are very disorganized, different departments have no idea of what documents have been sent, and they NEVER call you, only email. I called the customer service line twice, the first time I got a message that my wait time was 8 minutes and I could either wait or have a rep call me back in approximately 8 minutes, the message said I would NOT lose my place by choosing that option which I did. It's now been 3 days and I still have yet to hear from ANYONE at Carvana. Sadly the call was about trying to finalize my pending deal that was stalled due to them not being organized.

About a day later I tried it again and this time it was a 15-minute wait and the same thing, no phone call back again. You don't have to enter anything when choosing that option so it wasn't my error, they pick your number via caller ID, repeat that number to you and then ask if this number is correct. I would love to know how many deals and/or customers Carvana has lost because of such POOR service, according to several recent professional reviews Carvana still has yet to turn a profit, uh-duh, really, that's a no brainer. I have owned an eCommerce business for several years and when you're an online ONLY business you had better make your number one priority that the customer is quickly and constantly contacted until the sale is finalized! If you do not do this simple task "potential customers" will walk, find another online seller or in this case another online seller or traditional dealership, find a different color, model, etc. they like better. With every traditional dealership have expensive websites advertising their cars and with there being 2-3 other "valid" online-only car dealers operating, staying in constant contact until the sale is finalized is just common sense Carvana...come on!

Carvana lost out on $36,000 with my sale plus whatever they would profit off my trade (BMW X5 M-Sport) simply because they couldn't find the payoff my bank faxed to the number THEY provided with the requested info attached. I received an email stating my time had elapsed and because I did provide that document the car is back for sale. I could have fixed the issue by calling in a 3rd time I'm sure and WAITING to speak with someone this time and not select the "callback option," but I had already wasted 4 days doing this crap when I do NOT have to do it at a traditional dealership. So I guess I'll just find my new car at a traditional dealership and screw the online crap, because in my opinion that's what it is, you shouldn't expect to get your vehicle quickly even though they tease you with it! With a traditional dealership, I simply drive there, do a little negotiating which isn't a big deal to me, pay for it and then drive home WITH the new vehicle all within about 2.5 hours and won't have to waste 4 days talking to a damn computer chat rep!

There are plenty of great books out there that explain the "must do's" when running an online-only business, I might suggest a little research, respectfully...

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I cannot begin to describe how horrible this company has been, but I will give it a try none the less. I bought a vehicle (2013 WRX with 25k miles one it) back in March of this year. I got a call on the delivery date informing me that there had been a delay in shipping, and that the vehicle would be a week late, and no explanation was given. After a week, about 2 hours before the vehicle was suppose to be delivered, I got another call informing me that they had damaged the vehicle, and had to replace the front bumper. I was assured that the damage to the vehicle would not show up on a Carfax, and that the repair work was guaranteed, in addition, they would also take $250 off the sticker price. The fact that only $250 was offered after they damaged the vehicle I was buying was a joke in the first place. Well that $250 never came off the sticker price. When I asked about it later, I was told that they couldn't do the change to the sticker price because I had already signed a contract, and it would be too much work to rewrite the contract, so they offer to just send a $250 check. I attempted to explain that the difference between $250 off the sticker price was considerably more than just a $250 check when you take interest paid on the car into consideration. I was told, there is nothing they can do except send the check. I said fine, and accepted the check. The bumper that was also "replaced" started so slip, creating a large gap between the corner panel, and the bumper flaps any time I get on the highway. They said they would submit the repair, and a shop would reach out to me...

Fast forward to today. I still have never seen a check, nor have I heard from a shop. So when I called today, I was told, "Sorry, they never submitted the check for approval, but we will do it now, and the repair center said there are many reasons why the bumper could be loose, so they will not accept, or fix the bumper."

In summary, Carvana has dropped the ball in every step throughout this process, and on every single occasion, I, the customer, has been on the short end of the stick with no regard whatsoever on their behalf. If I had the option to void the loan, and just give the car back I would, but seeing as how Carvana seems to genuinely not care, I have resorted to complaining about every last website that will listen. BEWARE...STAY AWAY...YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Searched for weeks for AWD vehicles only and decided on a Genesis. Purchased one through Carvana, their ad specifically stated AWD and New Tires. All went smoothly until the day of delivery when they said they heard a noise when they loaded it on the truck which they would take care of but it would be another week. Received vehicle and it looked and worked great. Had it several weeks before it rained and it seemed like tires slipped from a dead stop on acceleration. Thought it was a fluke but it happened every time the pavement was wet. Took the car into the dealer after two months and 3K miles for an oil change and tire check. The tech told me the tires on the front were new and a different tire on back with half the tread depth. I asked if the different tires would cause the slipping. They asked if I had AWD or RWD, I said AWD. The Tech looked at it again and said you have RWD! Called Carvana that Friday and Serena said she would get back to me. She never did. Called them again the following Wed. Mary said it was past the seven days so all they could do was buy back my car and sell me another one. But their offer was $5K less than I paid for it. And they wanted a larger down payment than the first car. Together Mary and I looked at other Genesis and found two more that had ads of AWD but the sticker said RWD. I am heading into winter in WI with a useless vehicle and they could care less!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I tried to purchase a 2016 BMW 428i convertible. Had everything set to go. The day before my pick up date they contacted me to tell me there was a mechanical issue with the car. How does a car that goes through a 150-point inspection just prior to being listed found to have a mechanical issue? Even better the following day, which would have been my intended pick up. I receive a call saying that the car is delayed due to shipping. Nothing is mentioned about the mechanical issue. When I press for details, the rep scrambles for lies and excuses. At this point, they have already lost me as a customer. However, I decide to play along. I ask for a rescheduled pick update and it is scheduled for the following weekend. Sure enough, the night before, I get a call telling me that the car has a mechanical issue and will not be able to leave the inspection center. At this point, I canceled the order.

This company is as shady as they come. They do not deliver on anything they promise! Don't be foolish like I was. I figured it wouldn't happen to me and I was wrong. You will be wrong too! I am so thankful that this experience turned out this way because I am certain that I saved myself years of regret and agony. All the signs are there. Junk cars, non-existent inspections, crappy repair work and tons of lies and excuses. Go to a dealership. While I agree it is a hassle to deal with a dealership, it will be how I continue to conduct my car buying ion the future.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Worst experience with them! Thoroughly disappointed! I ordered a vehicle and after making me do all the paperwork, and after making me wait for a week a person from Carvana calls and says this vehicle has a problem on the day of delivery. I thought this is a one-off issue and ordered another vehicle, after making me do all the paperwork again and making me wait for another week. On the day of delivery they sent the pictures of a car with heavy rust and asked me if you want it to be delivered. I was shocked. They didn't do the checking earlier which wasted three weeks of time and money (I was doing uber to work). I specifically requested them to check earlier given my first experience. There is something seriously wrong with these guys. I don't know what the hell is their 150-point inspection.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Carvana seems like a great idea and business model. Indeed, the car we got is nice and I like it very much. However, it has been over two months since I "bought" my car and they still haven’t registered it. Took a month for delivery. Four reschedules.

The headaches and stress to get the car are not worth it. Plus, since they delivered a month late, and still haven’t registered my car 45 days after delivery, it has cost so much more than a dealer. I have a lovely car that cannot be driven because their third party vendor in my state never actually did anything to register the car. I contacted my state’s DMV with the VIN to find out and they told me. Carvana tried to blame me for the delay. They have 20 days to register in my state and as of 40+ days after the sale, NOTHING had been submitted for registration.

I feel like such a chump having been ripped off by these guys. Between the rentals, time off of work, and stress I have easily paid over a $1,000 more than I would have at a dealership.

RUN. Do not do business with Carvana.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

The biggest thieves! Please read carefully!

This company doesn’t care about you, they will do anything in their power to steal from you. Facts: They will deliver the car to you, they will take the money from the bank account if you approved BUT the other side is that they will do anything to repossess the car from you! I have paid more than 60% of the car. Never missed a payment...and I woke up today and my car was gone because of none registration. I have sent the documents for them TWICE! And today they just took it away! FINAL repossession and no negotiation! Zero refunded, so basically I have lost more than $13k for those people. DON'T MAKE BUSINESS WITH THEM. I was so desperate to buy that car...and definitely didn’t consider such a thing! Believe it or not, it is the worst decision in my life.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

What a horrid customer experience. I read all the negative reviews on Carvana, but thought I would be fine given all the great reviews on Carvana’s website. I should have known better. I’m not going to drone on and on, but basically, here’s what happened:

1. Ordered 2013 Porsche Boxster online via their website. Easy breezy! Got approved for financing through Capital One Auto.

2. Set up a delivery date and got excited!

3. At the time of delivery, I get a call from the delivery guy saying he couldn’t figure out how to get gas into the car so he can deliver it to me.

4. Carvana took the Porsche to a local car shop here in Atlanta. The car shop couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it and said there wasn’t anything wrong with it. I had to make the phone calls to Carvana for status updates.

5. Three days later, no updates from Carvana, still don’t have the car I ordered, no clue what’s going on. Was told by one of their customer service managers that they would personally see to it that I was "taken care of". Never heard back from anyone.

6. Bought a nicer Porsche Boxster from a local Atlanta Porsche dealership today at a lower price, with a two year Porsche certified unlimited mile bumper to bumper warranty, that’s in better shape with more options.

7. Took one hour to get in and out with my new Porsche using the dealer.

8. Carvana SUCKS. I’ll never give them another chance to earn my business. STAY AWAY!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I bought a car from Carvana in 2018. The process was easy and everything was good. I had 2 cancer scares during this time and my grandmother was murdered there shortly after so handling the tagging process was not at the top of my priority list. Cut to October 2019. I get a letter from Carvana stating they are going to repossess my car. I called them to see if there was something I could do. I'm currently on disability and don't drive it and can't afford to tag it. They told me there was nothing I could do and they were going to repossess the car anyway. During this time I'm not getting a paycheck and figured I had some time to figure it out. The car payments are up to date and the car is fully insured. They took the car last night. I called the police to report it stolen and called Carvana to inquire as to how they can take a car without notifying local authorities and how this was legal as my contract states nothing of the sort. They state that it's Kansas law, which I looked up and there isn't a law that states they can repo a car that's being paid for. They also lied to the police and said that I was issued an extension when on both calls that I have recorded they told me that if I got the car tagged they were going to repossess it anyway. I'm currently in a mental health crisis which I explained to them also and it seems I have no recourse at this time.

I've looked them up on BBB and it seems they are having issues all over the country with not getting new buyers their titles on time if at all. I think this needs to be known that way people will steer clear of the "easy car buying process" and not get taken as Carvana owns the finance company so they are letting people pay and coming up with garbage excuses to repossess cars that are being paid for. Not to mention the car was thousands over Bluebook.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend