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

Nightmare is a gentle term to use for our experience with Carvana, which still continues! When the car was received, the dashboard VIN had been removed. An oil receipt was in the car, and just out of curiosity, we called that dealer. The mileage was about 100,000 miles more than what the odometer read! It appears Carvana turned it back. There are numerous other problems, however, the ongoing one is that after four months, they will not provide the title and registration. I have exhausted my allowable temporary trip permits and can no longer drive "my" car because I can't get plates. Now my livelihood is affected, and I am unable to provide an income.

There seems to be no end to the go around. Why should they care? They have my money!

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

I bought my car a few months ago (2015 Kia Sorento), and now it's burning oil pretty rapidly. Unfortunately, it is already passed the 100-day warranty window, and now I need a new engine. I don't trust Carvana's inspection at all.

I would have found this problem earlier, but it was misdiagnosed twice. One mechanic said it was the drain plug. After finding the oil low again, I took it to another mechanic, who said it was the oil filter gasket. After finding it low again, I took it to the Kia dealership, who performed an oil consumption test over the next month or so. I'm losing about a quart and a half every 500 miles (The low engine oil light doesn't appear to work either). Shame on Carvana for selling me a faulty car, and shame on me for purchasing from them.

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

My advice is to go to a dealership where you can get more information on the car you're trying to purchase. I bought a car from Carvana and the oil was black, then when I called to tell them about it, they told me to get the oil change and they will reimburse me through a claim. So I got the oil change myself and in four months my engine went out. I purchased the extended coverage and they denied my claim. Now I’m stuck with an $18,000 debt. Please don’t buy from these scam artists, they don’t do inspections on the cars they’re selling! Go to a real dealership, do not buy a used rental car. They don’t take care of those cars, and they don’t have to report accidents either! What a lesson learned!

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

Yeah, the convienance is great, but that’s it. I searched long and hard for weeks to find "the car," and upon finally reserving it, I was rushed the car in like two days. Odd? Especially when the ETA was like 3-10 days. It was 20 degrees, I walked quickly around the car, signed, and went back to bed. Upon waking up, I noticed it had two new tires on it and they were the wrong size as the others and a different break. I walked some more - the bumper was cracked, exhaust hanging, I looked further and this thing had rear body damage (structure issue). So I say I’m going to give it a day to see if anything else is wrong with it. I take it out for a cruise, and not even a few minutes later I noticed it vibrating, which is normally a baring, then I brake it and that does it worse (rotor). Why is a 2016 vehicle with 30k miles on it having wear and tear items going out already? The day goes on and the driver's seatbelt never retracted back after driving. Ok, another safety issue, this car has been so ragged out and mistreated on the interior, a dog or some sort has scratched every panel. And seat.

I was so disgusting that a company would sell a product like this, I told them to come get it, and I wouldn’t be purchasing another. I understand they’re used cars. But this is just outright wrong. And you know good and well they will just turn around and resell it.

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

We previously purchased my BMW from Carvanna. We had an awesome experience.

This time when we bought one, we discovered that we had cruise control issues. We called a Nissan dealership to ask about these and they said that Nissan was aware of the issues and were working to correct them. They said there isn’t an immediate fix and to get a different car.

We love this car and are so bummed it has cruise control issues that Nissan can’t even correct right now.

You can only drive your car 400 miles if you’d like to return it.

Unfortunately, the only other car we want (we really want one similar with the same safety features, which have been surprisingly tough to find) will not be delivered for a couple of weeks.

My husband explained that we do need a car to drive in the meantime and this is obviously an inconvenience for us then asked if we could continue to drive the car we have until we get the new one.

The Carvanna customer service rep said, "you will be charged $1 per mile and since you’ve gone over 400 miles already, you’ll be charged for those too." When we told him since we’d have no vehicle to drive for several weeks, which wasn’t our fault, that we’d like to cancel due to this, he said, "that sounds good."

Jon (my husband) said to cancel the order for the new vehicle and we’ll have this one sitting in our driveway while we rely on one vehicle between the two of us until they pick it up. We are so sad because we planned to only go through Carvanna as purchasing through a dealership is a pain and having it just show up at your doorstep is amazing.

Their customer service reps don’t care even a little if they keep you as a customer. I totally understand if I would’ve just not liked the vehicle but there was an issue that Nissan can’t fix right now and I need cruise control to work so I had no choice but to switch it. We really, really wish we could keep it. Again, if we just wanted to switch it out because we didn’t like it, I’d totally get that rule but when we had issues with it, getting charged $1 per mile until they deliver the new vehicle is really poor customer service.

I wanted to mention too that there were some undisclosed scratches on the vehicle as well but we were just going to let that go until we found out that the cruise control isn’t working either.

Carvanna would have been the only place we bought our vehicles as again, our first experience was perfect. They’ve lost customers in their early 30s who purchase $30k vehicles every few years or so that would’ve been their customers for life and it was very clear they didn’t care.

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

I got my car on the 22nd of March and here it is the 30th of March the check engine light is on, and the car won't accelerate. And when I called in, the rep laughed and said to call roadside, and also sorry, it's past your 7 days. Carvana is some BULL CRAP, they don't care about the customer at all just money.

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

I bought my car on 2/21/19, a Volkswagen CC Sport, and on 2/24 I had to put in the shop due to faulty intake manifold. Then on 2/27/19, I had to have it towed back to the same shop due to smoke coming from under my hood due to a busted radiator. Carvana is blaming me for the damage. Thank God for the guys at Volkswagen who did their due diligence by researching that the parts on my car were faulty pre-purchase. And Carvana has been doing everything in their power to NOT accept and own responsibility for this.

I am shaking furiously as I write this review. I am beyond pissed and I am doing everything my power to make sure that no one else goes through this financial burden and upset. So although the concept of Carvana seems cool and easy, let me be a testimony that it is only easy until they get your money and you drive off. Soon after your car will fall apart and they will call you a million times with "follow-ups" only to tell you that there is absolutely NOTHING they can do. Thanks Christopher for NOTHING!

Please do not subject yourself to this, they are a rip-off. And when you ask for a manager to speak with all the sudden the customer service rep changes their title to the "Executive manager." It’s a crock. Alex, who is supposed to be the "repair specialist," is never available.

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

Too good to be true? Carvana is proving that theory as I type. The easy and user-friendly app had me boasting to friends about a car I bought online. Two days prior to my delivery I get an email asking me to call them to reschedule because the car had received damage while loading it on to a truck. They stated it would require repairs and would be several weeks and we're making sure this would still work for me. Why would I want a car that’s now been in an accident?

Back to the drawing board, I find a similar vehicle but it cost an additional $500 in delivery fees, the prior was free so I asked if Carvana could waive the charge and they refused but offered me a $250 credit towards it…gee, thanks. Two days before delivery I get another request to call and reschedule. Apparently this time the driver had gone over his DOT hours so it’d be another week. Upon my waiting period, I realize a discrepancy. The vehicle was listed as an LX but my own VIN check reported this was a base model with none of the features I was paying for. Carvana recognized their mistake when I called and said they’d correct it.

Back to the drawing board again…During my search, I locate the vehicle that I ordered originally with delivery available in 48 hours (I thought it was at the body shop?). I find the other vehicle still listed under the wrong model (corrected those typos though, right Carvana?). I FINALLY find another car and it’s due to be delivered within a few days. I leave work early to meet the driver and then my phone rings. He’s running late, the delivery truck broke down so he had to drive the car to me (and drive those miles up too). Upon inspection, I notice 1) There were two keys in a photo provided on the listed but I only got one, and 2) There was damage to the bumper that was not described on any photos provided. My delivery man took pictures and submitted the complaints on my behalf before taking off in my trade-in vehicle.

Two days later I get an email that I need to contact a body shop and submit a quote and they’ll "work with me" on what to do. Well, to replace the damaged bumper was $3000. I send the quote to Carvana, no response. Fearful my 7 days is nearing the end, I call. They haven’t finished reviewing and will let me know. The evening before my 7th day…they reject the quote and I need another one. I’ve taken time off work for a late delivery, I’ve taken time off work to get the damage assessed and now I need to do it again? To resolve the key issue, they told me to go to a dealership…an hour away, to wait an hour there to get a key, to drive an hour back! The dealership is only open M-F from 8-4 which means more time off work. I asked Carvana to send me the key they took the photo of instead. Their answer? "NO, go to the Dealership, SilverRock will pay for it." Neato Carvana, they going to pay me for the fuel, the mileage and 3 hours of missed work too? Doubtful. How can I get my car fixed when you deny the estimate? Are you going to reimburse me for my time off work to sit in a body shop to get that quote? And now another? DOUBT IT!

My 7 days have expired (conveniently for them). I can only imagine the sheer horror I will get to endure next when my registration doesn’t come in and I have to take MORE time off work because the car will be illegal to operate like other reviews have stated.

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

The buying process was easy. Car was delivered when they said it would be. Then it came time for my temp tag to expire. Still didn't have my tags. I called them and they gave me a rental car. Wonderful. I called the following week to get a status update. They said that they had been delivered. Um, no. I asked for the tracking number. Looked it up and they had sent my tags to the wrong state. Now, I have to go to the DMV and request new tags or wait three weeks with no car for them to do so. This has been the worst!

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

Yes their websites are wonderful (and better than going to a dealership)...

But their business practices are THE SAME as dealerships have always been DESPITE advertising they save you money by eliminating hidden fees, etc, NO. They play the same games money-wise as the old-type dealers.

I was going to give them 1 star, but gave them 2 since they do offer some exciting benefits to the old way! But they are not any better and since you can't see the car itself, then the customer actually is WORSE off buying from them IMO.

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

I picked up my 2016 Honda Civic on Saturday. I was super excited and I loved the car, but then it goes downhill from there.

One of the main reasons why I purchased the vehicle was because of the remote engine start because I work so early in the morning and would like to warm my vehicle up before going downstairs. Well, the key I received was the secondary key to the car, not the main key. Well, I call Carvana to see about a key since the secondary key does not have the feature I need to start the car with the remote. Well, from there the advocate proceeds to tell me my car does not come with that feature. I called a few Honda dealerships, and I was told yes it does. I also have the original manufacture window sticker that lists all the features as well, and it is clear as day. Well, he says they would look into it.

Well, I called the next day, and the next advocate said he believed that it does have the remote start but that remotes are expensive, like $300. Are you freaking kidding me? I paid $19,500 and you tell me $300 for the right remote is expensive. The car is a little overpriced as well.

They do not care about their customers. Do yourself a favor and buy a car from a dealership so you know what you're getting. If I can’t get the issue resolved, I will be returning within my seven days.

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