Earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, I might have by no means thought of shopping for a automotive on-line with out seeing and touching it first. However 60 days into staying dwelling, necessity outweighed hesitation, and I bought a 2017 Honda Match on the Carvana app. Every week later, the automotive was delivered contact-free, and the expertise exceeded my expectations.
I reside in Brooklyn, NY, and whereas I do not use a automotive each day, I prefer to get out of the town pretty typically with my canine. Earlier than shelter-in-place went into impact, I used to be out there for a brand new automotive: mine was 20 years previous, it wanted a brand new windshield and a brand new aspect mirror, and I wasn’t prepared to place any extra money into it.
I had been researching my subsequent automotive for just a few months, and whereas I had sat in a Honda Match, I wasn’t comfy test-driving one after COVID arrived. I used to be fairly positive the Match was the automotive I needed and wanted, however I figured I would wait a bit longer to make a purchase order.
That’s till I drove two hours to go to my companion’s mother. Shortly after we hit the highway, two dashboard warning lights got here on. After months of dialog that went one thing like “wait, can we actually simply purchase a automotive on-line?” I took out my cellphone and began looking Carvana from the passenger’s seat.
My expertise with the corporate was really seamless, and I might undoubtedly use Carvana once more. This is every little thing you want to know in regards to the course of.
How Does Carvana Work?
Carvana affords touchless supply of licensed preowned automobiles in main markets; see an inventory of markets the place Carvana operates right here. Utilizing the Carvana app or the Carvana web site, you’ll be able to search the corporate’s stock utilizing filters for make, mannequin, 12 months, value, and extra. I used to be very impressed with the quantity of stock, even inside my slender parameters. Each itemizing features a free CarFax report as properly.
As soon as I had registered with the app, a customer support rep reached out through textual content to ask if I wanted assist and answered my many questions inside minutes.
After you have chosen the automotive you wish to purchase, the app walks you thru a multistep however very easy-to-follow shopping for course of the place you select your fee methodology (money or financing), present proof of insurance coverage and your driver’s license, and choose a supply window. You may also get a quote for a trade-in, if in case you have an older car you wish to commerce.
Is Carvana Cheaper Than a Supplier?
Carvana isn’t essentially cheaper than a seller; its automotive costs are in keeping with Kelley Blue E-book values. Actually, we in all probability ended up spending a bit greater than we’d have at a seller, however the larger price ticket contains contactless supply, and Carvana handles the registration course of for you. Not having to go to the DMV throughout a worldwide pandemic was priceless.
Is Carvana a Good Technique to Purchase a Automobile?
I discovered the Carvana expertise completely seamless. The automotive arrived on a truck on the chosen supply date, and whereas our drop-off was delayed by an hour or so, the motive force communicated that he could be late, so no points there. From purchasing to buy to supply, customer support reps had been remarkably attentive and useful. The automotive arrived with non permanent seller plates, however Carvana registered the automotive for us in New York State and organized for our new plates to be mailed to us. The automotive additionally arrived glowing clear (word: it’s now not clear).
The very best half about utilizing Carvana is that it affords a money-back assure inside seven days (or 400 miles) of shopping for the automotive, which is definitely higher than a take a look at drive. Though Carvana says all its automobiles undergo a 150-point inspection, I needed to be further cautious, so we used our seven-day window to get our automotive inspected by an area mechanic – and located zero points. Carvana even texted to remind me when the seven-day deadline was approaching, which was a pleasant contact.
Carvana might not be proper for everybody, and it is best to clearly do your analysis earlier than you resolve if it is best for you. I approached the method skeptically, however ultimately, my expertise was solely optimistic.