Driveway vs Carvana: Which Is Better? [2024]

Driveway vs Carvana – If you are looking for a quick and easy way to sell, buy, or trade in your car, you can consider the best car shopping services. 

Driveway and Carvana are such great options that offer an amazing way to buy a new or used car, and sell/trade in your old cars. All you need to do is to create an account with them and start selling or buying. 

In this article, we’ll be comparing Carvana and Driveway and will look at how they work, how selling and buying work, and what are the pros & cons of each service. So, without further ado, let’s get started! 

Driveway vs Carvana: Overview

Driveway:

Driveway is the largest automotive retailer offering expertise and service all from the comfort of your own house. 

It makes buying, selling, financing, or setting up services for your car online with pricing transparency, a 7-day money-back guarantee, and delivery to your driveway. 

Carvana:

Carvana is another popular online car retailer that is known for its multi-story car vending machines. Search over 45,000 used cars for sale, get immediate financing terms, and find a car that fits your budget. 

It offers safe delivery and safe pickup for customers who want to experience the vending machine. And by using the app, you can shop when you want and where you want. 

How Do They Work?

Driveway:

With driveway, you can easily sell or finance your car online, schedule pick up within 2 days after you accept the offer and get paid once the car is sold. 

You can seamlessly engage with buyers as there are no upfront or hidden fees. And it owns its own inventory of vehicles around the country, so whenever you are given an offer from Driveway, you can accept or decline it. 

After you have taken delivery of your car, you’ll get seven days or 400 miles to return it for whatsoever reason. 

If you tend to sell or trade your car through Driveway, you’ll have to provide some basic information regarding it on the website and then, you’ll get an offer, which will be valid for seven days. 

Carvana:

Like Driveway, you can browse, finance, and organize the delivery for a used car or sell a car on Carvana, all from the comfort of your home. Besides selling and buying, you can also trade in. 

You can choose from over 20,000 vehicles and every vehicle undergoes Carvana’s 150-point inspection to ensure that it is in good condition. 

All you need to do is to create an account by entering your personal details, choosing finance or cash, getting the value of your trade-in, and entering your driver’s license info and payment details. 

There is also a protection plan for your car and a pre-qualified financial plan for payment on a monthly basis for budget-friendly customers. 

How Do You Buy a Car?

Driveway:

If you want to buy a new or used car, you can easily find it on Driveway. So, explore thousands of vehicles to find the best car that suits your budget and lifestyle. 

You can filter your search results by mileage, price, make and model, fuel-type, and more, and shop depending on what matters most to you. 

Next, find customized financing options with their online credit application and approval, or just pay cash. Make sure that you get a good deal. 

If you want to purchase a used car, you’ll get to see an estimated monthly payment with a $1,000 down payment. Moreover, you’ll also get to see the price of the vehicle and how many miles are on it.

So, get an instant online competitive offer for your trade-in and choose from vehicle maintenance and protection plans created to save you money in the long run. 

Once it is all done, click on Get Started and fill in your payment and choose the delivery time and location that works best for you. 

Then, take the delivery of your car and it’ll also pick up your trade at the same time. If you don’t like the car, you can send it back within 7 days or 400 miles – whichever comes first. 

Carvana:

Buying process with Carvana is quite simple. Open the selling page and narrow down your search by using several filters, including body type, mileage, color, features, price, year, fuel type, drive type, and more. 

Once it is done, you can view a 360-degree view of the vehicle along with several photos of the interior. You can even highlight hotspots with the 360-degree view, which indicates imperfections or minor issues on the exterior of the car.

After you decide on a vehicle, you’ll have to choose whether you want to pay cash, finance, or trade in your old vehicle. Then, you get to choose the delivery option – delivery or pickup.

If you choose the pick-up option, you’ll have to find the nearest Vending Machine. And if you choose the delivery option, your vehicle will be delivered to your doorstep within a few days.   

There is a delivery fee, which is based on the distance the car is transported. However, free delivery is also available in over 124 local markets across the United States. 

How Do the Prices Compare?

Driveway:

If you want to purchase a car from Driveway, you have the ability to pay in full or finance through your bank, credit union or simply finance the purchase via Driveway. 

Since Driveway is partnered with over 25 different lenders, you can apply for financing in real-time, check out multiple offers, and pick the right financing terms that work best for your budget. 

And to estimate your monthly payment, you can enter the total price of the vehicle, loan term, credit score, and down payment. 

By selling, the amount you’ll get through Driveway is based on your car’s condition, model, and year of manufacture. For instance, Driveway purchased the following used cars for the following amount. 

Car Model	Amount Paid
2020 Nissan Kicks SV	$25,988
2018 Bentley Continental GT (Gen 2)	$6708
2021 Nissan Rouge S	$32,378

Carvana:

Visit this page to see how the prices stack up. Here are the prices of some cars

Car Model	Carvana Price
2017 Toyota Tacoma SR5	$13,590
2014 Toyota Camry SE	$28,990
2020 Chevy Tahoe LT 4WD	$36,590

How Do You Sell a Car Through Them?

Driveway:

To get started with selling cars on Driveway, visit this page and tell them about your vehicle, and get an instant offer for cash or trade. 

You are required to provide your license plate number, VIN, or make and model and select your car’s details including its exact mileage, color, and additional features. 

Then, mention your car’s condition and your contact info to get an estimate. So, upload your paperwork, and find the best deal. 

Once you find the best deal, you’ll receive your payment through bank transfer, check, or trade-in credit. And according to the site, a Driveway Valet will come to pick up your vehicle. 

Carvana:

Selling a car via Carvana is as easy as purchasing. Just provide your vehicle’s information, including ZIP code, mileage, color, premium features, accident history, mechanical issues, general condition, and exterior damage. 

If Carvana tends to buy your car, you’ll get a cash offer which will be valid for 7 days. If you accept the offer, schedule an appointment, and either have a Carvana representative check the car at your home or drop off your car at a Carvana vending machine.

Once the pickup or drop-off of the car is done, payment will be finalized. 

What Are the Pros & Cons of Doing Business with Them?

Driveway:

Pros	Cons
Simple and fast selling process	No extensive research tools to determine a car’s worth
While buying or selling a car, you are directly buying or selling to the company and not a third-party dealership	Possible communication issues with the customer support
Gives a transparent breakdown of how it determines your car’s value
Competitive cash offers

Carvana:

Pros	Cons
Like Driveway, it offers a 7-day period to exchange the car if they don’t like it	Prices are slightly higher compared to private party sales
Its 150-point inspection with CARFAX provides history and reports of the car	No ability to test drive the car upon delivery
Easy to user interface	Free delivery is only available for a certain distance
Everything can be done online at the comfort of your home

Final thoughts:

Both Carvana and Driveway offer an alternative to traditional car dealers, letting you buy a used car completely in the comfort of your home. 

Moreover, both the services offer a 7-day period to return the car if you don’t like it. Even so, both have their pros and cons, so it is up to you to decide which can be the best service that meets your requirements. 

Therefore, do your research thoroughly before simply signing up for any service. Hopefully, this article on Driveway vs Carvana comparison has helped you understand everything you wanted to know. 

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