5 Companies like Carvana in Canada

Carvana is a popular U.S. website that Americans can use to buy and finance used cars online. Unfortunately, it isn’t available in Canada, but there are several Carvana alternatives worth checking out instead. Here are companies like Carvana if you want to buy a car online and have it delivered to your door.

1. Clutch

Clutch provides an inventory of 3,000+ used cars that shoppers can browse online, with no need to visit a dealership. You can get financing pre-approval before you start shopping, and Clutch provides delivery straight to your driveway. There’s also a “love it or return it” trial period of 10 days/750 km, so you can take your new wheels for a spin and make sure it’s the right car for you.

Who it’s best for: Car buyers who want a seamless online car-buying experience without having to leave home.

Where it’s available: ON, NS, NB and PE

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2. Vancouver Car Centre, Calgary Car Centre and Kelowna Car Centre

This network of used car dealerships in British Columbia and Alberta offers a 100% online car buying experience. You can browse its inventory of cars, SUVs, vans and trucks to find the vehicle that’s right for you, then apply and get pre-approved for financing online even if your credit history is less than perfect. The Car Centre group can then deliver the vehicle to you in BC or Alberta.

Who it’s best for: Car buyers with all types of credit.

Where it’s available: BC, AB

3. The Auto Providers

The Auto Providers is an online vehicle-matching and auto financing platform for buyers across Canada. Once you’ve chosen the style of vehicle you want, it only takes a minute to fill out a financing application with your personal details, contact information, and details of your employment situation. The Auto Providers will then contact you within 24 hours to connect you with the best deals near you from its network of partner dealerships.

Who it’s best for: Anyone looking for a quick and easy way to buy a car from home.

Where it’s available: Free delivery across Canada

4. Autoloans.ca

Autoloans.ca is an online platform for financing a new or used vehicle. All types of credit are welcome, and Autoloans.ca has an inventory of 5,000+ vehicles to choose from. And for added convenience, the vehicle you buy can be delivered to your door.

Who it’s best for: Drivers in ON who have less-than-perfect credit.

Where it’s available: ON.

5. CarEvo

CarEvo is an online used car dealer that serves the Atlantic provinces. You can browse its inventory of hundreds of used vehicles online, then work with a CarEvo agent to arrange financing. Your car is then delivered to you for a test drive, and if you’re happy it’s right for you, you can sign the paperwork and complete your purchase.

Who it’s best for: People in Atlantic Canada who want a quick and easy online car buying process.

Where it’s available: NS, NB, NL, PEI

How does the car-buying process work with an online dealer?

The process of buying a used car from an online dealer is simple: dealers allow you to browse vehicles online, play around with payment calculators to help you find the sweet spot for your budget, and make your purchase (including securing financing) completely online. The best part? They deliver your purchase right to your front door.

While the exact steps vary between platforms, you will generally need to do the following when shopping on sites like Carvana.

1. Search online inventory for your dream car

Start the process by browsing cars on each competitor’s platform. You can sort vehicles by year, make, model, colour, kilometres and more. You can “favourite” your top picks or place them in a virtual garage, then zero in on the detailed specs for your top choices.

2. Select the vehicle you want to purchase

When you’re ready, proceed with your purchase. At this stage, you can even get a quote on your trade-in if you have a vehicle you’d like to sell.

3. Get financing

The next step is to apply and get pre-approved car financing online. Once you provide details such as your personal information, contact details and down payment, you can get pre-approved for in-house financing from the dealer or from its network of lending partners. A dealership representative will usually contact you to talk through your financing options and help you choose a car loan.

4. Arrange delivery or pick-up

Once your payment is sorted out, work with your dealer to select a date and time for vehicle pick-up or delivery to your front door. You’ll need to provide your driver’s licence and insurance details.

5. Test drive your vehicle

You will now get a chance to inspect the vehicle and make sure its condition is as described. Many dealers will also allow you to take a test drive before completing the purchase, and in some cases you may have a 7–10 day trial period to make sure the vehicle is right for you.

Bottom line

If you don’t want the hassle of haggling over prices and visiting multiple dealerships when buying a used car, online car dealers offer a convenient alternative. Compare these companies like Carvana with other online dealers that offer online buying and home delivery in your province, then start shopping for your next set of wheels.

Frequently asked questions

• What is Carvana?

  Carvana is an Arizona-based online car-buying and delivery platform that is only available to U.S. residents. The platform allows you to shop for a vehicle with 360º inspection, apply for financing, make your purchase and arrange for delivery or pick-up all online from the comfort of home.

• Is Carvana in Canada?

  No, Carvana is not available in Canada. Currently, Carvana is only available in the U.S. However, there are several online car-buying platforms in Canada that are similar to Carvana, like Clutch and CarEvo.

• Is Carvana available in any of Canada's major cities?

  No, Carvana is not available in any of Canada's major cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Quebec City. You may come across used cars for sale in "Ontario, CA," but this is for Ontario, California, and not Ontario, Canada.

• Does Carvana ship to Canada?

  No. Carvana does not ship outside of the U.S., so it does not ship cars to Canada.

• Can I sell my car or trade it in with an online dealer?

  Yes, you can. Canadian online dealers accept trade-ins if you're making a purchase. Simply provide your car's specs to get an estimate on how much each dealer will pay you for your vehicle.

• Do online car dealers' trial periods come with conditions?

  Yes, they do. These parameters vary between dealers, but they generally include not driving the vehicle beyond a set mileage, no modifications to the vehicle's interior or exterior, no accidents, not involving the vehicle in an encumbrance (such as using it as security on a loan beyond the financing you've set up for it) and no major cosmetic damage to the vehicle.