Looking to buy or sell a used car online but not sure where to turn beyond the well-known Carvana site? With Carvana being one of the first to allow an end-to-end used car transaction online, they paved the way for several competing sites who have followed suit in recent years. In this comprehensive guide, we compare Carvana to 5 top alternative platforms that provide similar services focused on creating digital used car buying experiences.
Whether it be price, selection, service, or features, we break down how these sites stack up against the Carvana model and highlight some of the key distinctions shoppers should know. If you are exploring alternatives to Carvana for buying a used car online, this guide can help narrow your options by showing you the key players in the space.
What is Carvana and why people use it?
Carvana is an online used car retailer that allows customers to buy, finance, trade in, and sell vehicles through their website. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Carvana aims to disrupt the traditional auto dealership model by providing an end-to-end ecommerce solution for buying used cars. Some key features that make Carvana unique include:
- A inventory of over 15,000 vehicles available for purchase on their website
- A 360 degree virtual tour and extensive photos of each vehicle
- Options to get financing, trade-in a vehicle, or sell a car to Carvana
- Contactless delivery or pickup of vehicles at one of Carvana’s patented vending machines
Carvana’s target audience is consumers looking to buy used vehicles online without visiting a dealership. The company has seen rapid growth, selling over 177,549 vehicles in 2018. Carvana has received recognition as an innovator and category disruptor in the used car industry.
Carvana’s three Unique Selling Propositions:
- Large online inventory makes it easy to browse for the desired vehicle
- Transparent pricing and financing options upfront
- Delivery of vehicles directly to buyer’s driveway
Why To Look For Carvana Alternatives?
Even though Carvana has quickly become one of the leading online used car retailers, there are still reasons why consumers may want to consider alternatives and sites similar to Carvana:
- Limited Inventory in Some Areas – Carvana may have a smaller local selection of vehicles versus traditional dealers in certain markets.
- Delayed Deliveries – During high volume periods, Carvana may experience delays in delivering vehicles to customers.
- Strict Return Policy – Carvana has a short 7-day return policy which can be limiting for some buyers.
- Issues with Vehicle Condition – There have been some complaints about the accuracy of vehicle descriptions or conditions upon delivery.
- Higher Prices on Some Models – On certain makes/models, pricing may be higher compared to other used car sites.
TOP 5 Sites Exactly Like Carvana
Here are 5 leading alternatives to Carvana for buying and selling used cars online:
- Vroom – Similar to Carvana, Vroom is an online platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade-in used vehicles. Their entire car buying process can be done online, and they deliver the car to the buyer’s doorstep.
- Shift – Operating in a similar space, Shift is an online marketplace for buying and selling used cars. They also offer test drives and have a 7-day return policy.
- Autotrader – While Autotrader is more of a platform for individual sellers and dealerships to list cars rather than a direct seller like Carvana, it’s a major online marketplace for buying and selling vehicles.
- TrueCar – TrueCar connects buyers with a network of dealers and provides upfront pricing information and a personalized experience.
- Cars.com – It’s another leading online car marketplace where individuals and dealerships can list their vehicles for sale. They also offer a range of tools and resources for car buyers and sellers.
We’ll explore each of these top Carvana competitor sites in more detail coming up.
Vroom
Vroom is one of the closest competitors to Carvana in the online used vehicle space. Like Carvana, Vroom allows customers to buy, sell, finance, and deliver used cars fully online without needing to visit a dealership.
Key features of Vroom include:
- Inventory of thousands of low mileage used cars, trucks, and SUVs
- Virtual 360 tours of vehicles with detailed photos
- Vehicle delivery in as little as 2 days with a 150-point inspection
- 7-day return policy plus a 15-day limited warranty
Vroom’s competitive advantages versus Carvana:
- Wider selection of makes/models and expanded inventory
- Longer 15-day money back guarantee period
- Lower prices on certain models compared to Carvana
However, Vroom lacks the marketing reach and brand recognition of Carvana. Also Vroom currently has fewer vending machine locations for convenient pickup.
For those frustrated with inventory or pricing on Carvana, Vroom is an excellent alternative to find more choice at competitive prices fully online.
Shift
Shift presents another option for buying and selling used cars completely online without having to go through dealerships.
Some key aspects of Shift include:
- An online inventory of used cars available for purchase, with pricing clearly displayed
- Virtual walkarounds of each vehicle from Shift mechanics
- Home test drives for up to 7 days before deciding to purchase
- Concierge delivery of the purchased vehicle within days
Shift’s advantages as an alternative to Carvana:
- Wider selection of used electric vehicles and hybrids
- More flexibility with the 7-day home test drives
- Lower prices on high-demand truck and SUV models
However, Shift has limited inventory in some markets compared to Carvana and Vroom. Also the return process can be more restrictive versus other sites.
For green-focused buyers or those wanting home test drives, Shift is a solid option over Carvana.
Autotrader
Autotrader provides an online used car marketplace connecting buyers with sellers and dealerships around the country.
Key aspects of the Autotrader site include:
- 5 million used car listings from 40,000+ dealers and private sellers
- Search tools to find specific makes, models, prices and options
- Vehicle history reports, price analysis and comparison tools
- Connects buyers to certified dealers through the site or app
Advantages of Autotrader over Carvana:
- Much larger inventory of vehicles to search from
- Helps buyers find the best local market price on models
- Provides transparency into sellers with dealer reviews
However, Autotrader doesn’t sell cars directly or offer delivery. Also, pricing is not as fixed as on Carvana.
For access to the widest selection and buying tools, Autotrader surpasses the inventory of Carvana in many areas.
TrueCar
TrueCar is a car buying site that connects users to a nationwide network of certified dealers to help them find pricing discounts on both new and used vehicles.
Here are some of TrueCar’s key features:
- Guaranteed upfront pricing on used car listings after entering your zip code
- Access to over 10,000 trusted TrueCar certified dealers
- Average savings of $3,279 off MSRP on new cars based on user data
- Tools to get pre-qualified for financing at competitive rates
TrueCar advantages compared to Carvana:
- Provide guaranteed discounted pricing visible upfront
- Much larger used car inventory available through their dealer network
- More flexibility in financing and trade-in options
However, TrueCar doesn’t sell cars directly or offer delivery like Carvana does. Also, dealers ultimately set final pricing.
For those wanting expansive inventory and guaranteed discounted pricing, TrueCar outperforms Carvana.
Cars.com
Cars.com is a leading online automotive marketplace connecting buyers with sellers and dealerships. As an alternative to Carvana, Cars.com offers:
- 2.5 million new and used car listings from 40,000 trusted dealerships
- Advanced search filters to pinpoint exact vehicle match
- Tools to compare pricing, configurations, and determine value
- Virtual dealership experiences to purchase locally
Compared to Carvana, some benefits of Cars.com are:
- Significantly larger used car inventory and selection
- Helps buyers negotiate optimal pricing through data
- Dealership reviews provide transparency into sellers
However, Cars.com doesn’t sell directly or provide delivery like Carvana does. Also, pricing isn’t fixed upfront in all cases.
For the widest selection of inventory and buying tools, Cars.com surpasses Carvana’s capabilities in many respects.
