When selling your car, Carvana works like this: you enter your vehicle details online to get an instant estimate, schedule a home pickup if you accept, the representative inspects the car and confirms or adjusts the offer, and you get paid at pickup by check or direct deposit. The whole process takes a few days from submission to payment.
Here is the full breakdown of each step and answers to the questions sellers most frequently ask about the process.
Step 1: Get the Online Estimate
Go to Carvana’s website and enter your vehicle’s VIN or license plate. You will then answer questions about mileage, condition, accident history, and whether you have the title. Carvana’s pricing system uses this information along with current market data for your region to generate an instant estimate.
This number is an estimate based on the information you provided. It is not a guaranteed purchase price. The final offer is confirmed at the time of pickup after a physical inspection of the vehicle.
The estimate is valid for seven days. You are not committing to anything by generating it.
Step 2: Schedule Pickup
If you decide to move forward, you schedule a pickup time through the Carvana platform. Available slots vary by location but are typically within a few days. Before the representative arrives, have the following ready:
- The vehicle title (or both titles if there is a co-owner)
- A valid government-issued ID
- Your loan account information if there is an outstanding balance on the car
- All sets of keys and any accessories included in the sale
Step 3: Vehicle Inspection at Pickup
The Carvana representative inspects the vehicle in person when they arrive. They check exterior and interior condition, verify the VIN, review documentation, and confirm the car matches what was described during the online submission.
If the car matches the description, the offer holds. If the inspection turns up undisclosed damage, a mechanical issue, or a discrepancy in the vehicle history, Carvana may adjust the offer. Common triggers for an adjustment include cosmetic damage not mentioned during submission, an accident that did not appear in the initial disclosure, or significant mechanical issues that affect the vehicle’s value.
You can accept the adjusted offer or decline it and keep the car. There is no penalty for walking away at this stage.
Step 4: Finalizing the Sale
If you accept the offer, you sign the paperwork and hand over the title. Carvana handles the title transfer and any registration cancellation. Payment is issued at pickup by check or direct deposit, depending on what you arranged in advance.
If there is an outstanding loan on the car, Carvana coordinates the payoff with your lender. The lender receives the loan balance from the sale proceeds and you receive the remainder, if any. If you owe more than the car is worth, you cover the difference at the time of sale.
How Accurate Is the Carvana Offer?
The accuracy of the online estimate depends heavily on how accurately you described the car during submission. Sellers who provide honest, detailed condition information and disclose any known issues tend to see the online estimate confirmed at pickup. Sellers who overstate the condition, leave out damage, or do not disclose relevant history are more likely to see the offer reduced at inspection.
The online estimate is a good-faith number based on the data Carvana has. It is not a blank check. Treat it as an expectation subject to verification rather than a guaranteed price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Carvana process take?
From generating the estimate to receiving payment, the typical timeline is three to seven days. The estimate takes minutes. Scheduling pickup usually gives you options within a few days. The pickup and inspection itself takes under an hour in most cases. Payment is issued the same day as pickup.
Does Carvana come to your house?
Yes. Carvana picks up the vehicle from your home or another location you specify. You do not need to travel to a lot or dealership.
Can you back out after scheduling pickup?
Yes. You can cancel the pickup before the representative arrives, and you can decline the offer at pickup if the final number is different from what you expected. There is no financial penalty for either.
Does Carvana buy cars with loans?
Yes. Carvana handles lien payoffs as part of the transaction. If your car is worth more than the loan balance, you receive the difference. If you owe more than the car is worth, you pay the gap at the time of sale.
Is Carvana a good place to sell your car?
Carvana is a legitimate, well-run operation. The process is convenient and payment is reliable. The key limitation is that their offer is one data point from one buyer. Before accepting, it is worth knowing what the broader market would pay. Getting competing offers through Clairvo takes minutes and gives you that context immediately.
Free to use. No obligation to accept. Licensed dealers only.
