Vroom vs. Carvana
Online used car shopping made easy — but Carvana wins on transparency.
While Carvana and Vroom offer similar products on the surface, it’s difficult to compare the two — largely because Vroom isn’t upfront about the cost of its loans. A Vroom representative quoted us a slightly lower APR than Carvana when we called, but it will depend on the bank you receive financing from and your credit.
Loan terms also aren’t clear with Vroom. You won’t know the terms of your loan until after you apply. And because Vroom does a hard credit check, you won’t be able to compare it with other lenders before you submit a full application.
Carvana is much more upfront about the terms of its loans and the cost of borrowing. It also receives much higher ratings than Vroom. When you’re dealing with an online car buying service, reports of positive customer service and clean vehicles are a big plus.
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Simple financing process — but no preapproval option. | |
Best for borrowers who want a streamlined finance process backed by banks. | |
Not stated | Not stated |
Not stated | Varies by lender |
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Not stated | Fixed |
Not stated | $599 |
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Bottom line
Like Carvana, Vroom offers a seven-day return period. But its test drive mileage is much lower. Beyond that, Vroom falls short in a variety of ways. It isn’t transparent about costs, it doesn’t receive good customer reviews and it requires a hard credit check just to see rates.
On the surface, they’re about equal. But if you want an established car-buying service, Carvana is likely the better choice.
Whichever option you choose, compare more car loans so you know exactly how much car you can afford.
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