The bottom line: In our own test quotes on six cars, Carvana offered more than Driveway for both EVs and for the car with the most miles. Driveway offered more for two of the three newer trucks and SUVs, and matched Carvana on the third.
If you need the car gone fast, Carvana finishes the sale in days, though pickup can cost a fee depending on where you live. Driveway picks up for free and can pay you by instant bank transfer, but the sale takes weeks.
Neither is built for a car with a salvage title. Six cars is a small sample, so get a quote from both, then compare more offers before you accept one.
Key Takeaways
- What our tests found: On our latest three test cars, Driveway offered $1,050 and $1,450 more for two and Carvana $3,200 more for the third, before any Carvana pickup fee.
- Watch out for: Have every owner named on the title at Carvana’s appointment, and sign and return the documents Driveway mails you, in its prepaid envelope, before pickup.
- How fast you can sell: Carvana’s sale averages 3 to 10 days, and the same day in some locations, while Driveway’s sellers report one to four weeks.
- What Carvana sellers report: Give Carvana a checking account in exactly the name on the title, so its deposit arrives within two days instead of a mailed check.
- What Driveway sellers report: Some sellers call Driveway’s the best offer they got, while others saw it cut, or the car turned down, after they had accepted.
- What they buy: Carvana prefers newer cars in good condition, Driveway cars up to 20 years old, so quote both for a newer car and Driveway for an older one.
Compare Instant Offers
Where to Sell Your Car?
Better option when you- Selling an EVOffered $1,000 to $3,200 more for EVs in our tests
- Need to sell fastAbout 3 to 10 days on average, same day in some areas, vs 1 to 3 weeks for Driveway
- Car with high milesOffered $750 more for our 97k mile Jeep
- Want drop-off optionFree drop-off at vending machine locations
- Newer truck or SUVOffered $1,050 to $1,450 more for two of our three trucks and SUVs
- Want free pickupDriveway offers free pickup anywhere; Carvana’s pickup cost $0 to $600 in our test offers and isn’t offered everywhere
- Need instant paymentInstant bank transfer at pickup if your bank accepts real-time payments; Carvana takes 2 to 5 days for ACH
Neither, for a car with a salvage title, over 20 years old, or 180k+ miles. Carvana is built for cars under 10 years old in good shape; Driveway passes on salvage titles and on cars over 20 years or 180k miles. See buyers that take salvage titles.
Carvana buys newer running cars, with pickup in some areas
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
Driveway buys cars online, collects them and pays into your bank
- Offer valid for 7 days
- Photo inspection on your phone
- Paid by bank transfer after pickup
- Picks up anywhere in the U.S.
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 5/5
-
Payment speed 15% 5/5
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Carvana vs. Driveway: Detailed Comparison
| Category |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best For | EVs, fast sales | Late-model trucks and SUVs with clean titles |
| Quote Speed | About 2 minutes | About 3 minutes |
| Offer Validity | 7 days | 7 days |
| Time to Complete | About 3 to 10 days on average, same day in some areas | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Payment Method | Check at pickup or ACH (2 to 5 days) | Instant bank transfer (RTP) or ACH |
| Pickup Fee | $0 to $600 in our test offers, only in some areas (drop-off free) | Free nationwide |
| Inspection Type | 15-minute check at pickup | AI photo review plus a walk-around and test drive at pickup (about 30 min or less) |
| Cars with Loans | Yes, pays off lender directly | Yes, pays off lender directly |
| Won’t Buy | Non-running cars; it targets cars under 10 years old in good condition | Cars over 20 years or 180k miles, salvage titles |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.1/5 (16,239 reviews) | 4.3/5 (4,365 reviews) |
| BBB Status | Not accredited | Not accredited |
| Main Drawback | Pickup only in some areas, sometimes for a fee set by location; hard to reach customer service | Slow process (1 to 3 weeks), document system loses paperwork |
Carvana vs. Driveway Offers
We requested quotes from both companies for several vehicles. Here’s what each one offered:
2026
2025
2018 Tesla Model 3 with 73k miles and clean title Carvana +$3,200
$14,200
See both offer screenshots
2022 Ford F-150 XL with 72.5k miles and clean title Driveway +$1,450
$22,000
See both offer screenshots
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime with 61.5k miles and clean title Driveway +$1,050
$24,600
See both offer screenshots
2023 Ford F-150 with 37k miles and clean title Tie
$38,800
See both offer screenshots
2022 Chevrolet Bolt with 36k miles and clean title Carvana +$1,000
$19,200
See both offer screenshots
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 97k miles and clean title Carvana +$750
$13,600
See both offer screenshots
How each offer can change
- Carvana: its offer stays the same for its 7 days if you describe your car honestly. Its driver checks your car against CarFax and AutoCheck data right at pickup, and if they find issues you didn’t mention, your price drops.
- Driveway: it uses AI to review your photos first, then does a final check at pickup, and it can still change its offer if the CARFAX report shows an accident you didn’t know about.
Alternatives to Sell a Car
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Its sweet spot is cars over ten years old
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
-
Offer amount 35% 3/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 2/5
- Buys your car even if you don't buy one there
- A firm offer, valid for 7 days, not negotiable
- Handles the loan payoff with your lender
- Pays with a bank draft on the spot
- Home pickup in some areas, and a fee may apply
-
Offer amount 35% 4/5
-
Process ease 20% 3/5
-
Offer validity 15% 3/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Offers compared side by side
- Star ratings for each dealer
- Handles your outstanding loans
- Dealer pays by check or transfer
To see what different buyers offer for your car, get quotes from several at once:
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carvana or Driveway offer more money?
It depends on your car. In our tests on six cars, Carvana offered more for both EVs (up to $3,200 more for a Tesla Model 3) and the highest-mileage car ($750 more for a 2020 Jeep with 97k miles).
Driveway offered more for two of the three newer trucks and SUVs (up to $1,450 more for a 2022 Ford F-150), and the 2023 F-150 was a tie. Get quotes from both to find your best offer.
How long do Carvana and Driveway quotes last?
Both services give you 7 days to accept their offer. After that, you need to get a new quote. Market changes can affect your new price.
Which service is faster, Carvana or Driveway?
Carvana is much faster. A Carvana sale takes about 3 to 10 days on average and can close the same day in some areas, and the whole pickup takes about 15 minutes.
Driveway takes 1 to 3 weeks because their process involves multiple departments and more paperwork steps.
Do Carvana or Driveway change their offers at pickup?
Yes, either one can. Carvana keeps its original offer for 7 days if your car matches what you described. It checks your car against CarFax and AutoCheck data during its 15-minute inspection.
Driveway uses AI to review your photos first, then does a quick check at pickup. It can lower its offer if the photos or the CARFAX report show something you didn’t list, even an accident you didn’t know about. Some sellers say it cut the price at pickup or turned the car down after they accepted.
Which has better reviews, Carvana or Driveway?
Carvana has 4.1/5 on Trustpilot from 16,239 reviews.
Driveway has 4.3/5 from 4,365 reviews.
Carvana sellers’ complaints center on late payments, loan payoffs and offers that dropped after the 7-day window ran out. Some Driveway sellers complain that the sale was slow and that they were asked again for documents they had already uploaded.
How do Carvana and Driveway pay you?
Carvana gives you a printed check at pickup or sends an ACH transfer that takes 2 to 5 business days.
Driveway starts payment once it picks up the car. If your bank accepts Real-Time Payments (RTP), the money arrives right away; if not, an ACH transfer takes 1 to 3 business days. If you need cash fast after pickup and your bank takes RTP, Driveway’s payment is quicker.
Can Carvana and Driveway buy financed cars?
Yes, both services buy cars with outstanding loans. They pay off your lender directly and send you the difference. At Driveway, the lender gets its money within 3 to 5 days of pickup, so keep paying the loan until your lender confirms it’s paid off.
Article Update History
New quotes and a table comparing this year's prices with last year's, plus Driveway's instant payment and Carvana's pickup fees.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Found this useful? Show Sell Car Advisor first when you search on Google.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
