Experience Carvana

In Blue is the Carvana shopping experience if you are not interested in the story part. 

In November of 2010, my mom gave me her car. At that point in time we only had one car that Josh took to work. I needed a way to get Zach around. So, she gave me her 2006 Ford Focus and for her 60th birthday treated herself to a 2011 Ford Focus. 

When the car Josh had at that time broke down, my dad gave him HIS 2001 Buick Regal. I forget the exact year for that one. In 2018 the starter stopped working and it was time to turn that into a Buick Cube. My mom got herself another new car and gave him that 2011 Ford Focus after that. But, it's 10 years old. It is still drivable, just not all day everyday drivable. It had already gotten a bunch of repairs and needed some more. We sold it, story below. 

You might remember August of 2019 when we sold that 2005 Ford Focus to Josh's boss (who's mom is still driving it) and my parents treated me to an early birthday gift of a 2016 BLUE Ford Focus from Carvana. Why is the "blue" part important? Because my mom LOVES the color RED and I HATE red and BLUE is my favorite car color. I STILL love looking at is as I look into the parking lot!

Home With Mommy: Carvana....Tell Me More (homewithmommy-fran.blogspot.com)

Last year when we did Vacation at my parent's house the only problem was that the starter in that 2011 Focus needed to be replaced. We borrowed my Dad's car for that vacation. In early February, I had said that Josh will make sure his car works this time. A couple of weeks later, my dad asked what the mileage was. He told Josh to start looking at Carvana. On March 2nd, it was ordered!

Josh spent a week addicted to the Carvana website. He knew he wanted a 2018 Ford Escape and red was definitely NOT the color! I had called the insurance company to get things started. I had sent my mom a picture of my license (front and back) and had the bank account information ready. We had already deposited the money and it was available for that day. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. A BEIGE 2018 Ford Escape with AWD and low mileage in the right price range. While my mom and Josh were entering in the rest of the information, I was on the phone when Ahmed from my Allstate office adding the car and getting the proof of insurance. I had pre-provided everything they needed to get this done!

I highly recommend buying your car this way. Especially, if you know what you want! But, here are some insider tips: 

1. You have to have the full amount of what they will be charging on the day of purchase in your bank account and fully available. Don't even look on Carvana until the money is available. They hold a car but, it is still shown in case others are interested during this time. It's not yours without this and they only hold it a few days. The account has to be in the name of the person who will be on the registration. 

2. You will see the right car the first time on Carvana. Plan on being ready to hit the "make it your own" button when you go to look. We weren't even going to buy a car at the time for my car and found ourselves looking at the perfect car for me. We decided to go for it! The interesting story is in that link above. For Josh, he saw it the first time and was lucky it was still there on purchase day. Some cars go quickly!

The website shows pictures of imperfections, the car fax report, details on the vehicle, their inspection including what they fixed, plenty of pictures, and many other details on each car. 

2. Pre-take a picture of the front and back of the driver's license for who the car will be registered for. Do this before even looking. as well After hitting that "make it your own" button, they require you to upload those pictures. Have them already on the device you are ordering from!

3. After hitting that button, call the insurance company ASAP with the mileage and VIN number. They can email the proof of insurance to be downloaded under "documents" to the Carvana website. They still show the car on the site until they have this paperwork as well. 

4. You choose a delivery date. It takes a few days before they can deliver it. On that day and approximate time an "Advocate" brings the car on a "Carvana" tow truck. Be ready early. BOTH of our cars came early. They do call when they are on the way. During the pandemic they wanted a picture of my holding my license and a picture of the regular insurance card texted to the advocate who contacted me. I had pre-taken those pictures as well with my phone so that went quick and easy too. 

NOTE: NJ requires plates on the front AND back. Not all states do. My car only had a plate on the front. I had to get screws for the back plate before it arrived. If you are in a state with both plates required, get a second set of license plate screws before the car arrives! Luckily, Josh's car did have screws in both places. 

5. It's AWESOME! The advocate shows you how the car works and you can take a test drive with up to 2 people. After that, if you like it, you sign the paperwork to start the waiting. You have a temporary registration during that time and can start using the car.

Recommendation: Have the advocate sync your phone with the car if the car has that feature. 

6. Okay, car is delivered, paperwork signed, what is next? A 7 day window to return the car if you change your mind. They call to see if you are keeping it. After that 7 day window, they file the registration paperwork through a 3rd party. They wait the full 7 days no matter what. It could take 10 business days. Josh's took 10 actual days from the day the car was delivered and the paperwork signed. 

7. The DMV sends you the plates through Fed Ex. Put those plates on right away and get to the inspection station the next morning! You have a short window for inspection after the plates were mailed. I believe it's a 10 day window but, you receive the plates quickly. They were sent March 23rd, that's when the 10 days started, But, arrived on March 25th. The inspection is really quick anyway. It might be a late to work day though. Josh was even on time for work the morning of March 26th. 

8. We are still waiting on the title. Once a month an employee in each state takes all the paperwork for sold cars to a DMV in that state. That day is when the titles for all cars registered in that state are made. For Josh's car we were give a 5 - 10 WEEK window for the title arriving in the mail. I'll get it through Fed Ex from the DMV before Memorial Day. 

We sold that 2011 Ford Focus to a County Sheriff with a teenage son. He has a family member who will fix what needs to be fixed at a great price and his son will have a nice car. He showed up with his own plates and insurance ready. All he needed was the VIN number. We were able to bring the plates to a DMV drop box the next morning. I felt so good dropping the plates in the drop box. My mom was with me. Present from start to finish. She helped me put those plates on the car the day she gave it to me for Josh. 

I am so glad that car went to someone who is right for it! A Coworker (well...off and on) of Josh's as a side business buys cars and either fixes them and sells them or sells them to junk yards where they salvage parts then turn it into a cube. That coworker had listed this for us and within a few hours the buyer was there. He got a small portion of the sale price but, it was reasonable!

Carvana is the best way to go when you know what you like. It's becoming VERY popular for a reason. Those advocates are exciting to see and smile handing the customer the keys.