Found vehicle at distant dealer - better to DX to local?

[ShadowsPapa]

It sounds like some people on here have had a good experience with Carvana but I wouldn't touch Carvana with a 10ft pole. They have been sued multiple times for not transferring titles and people getting stuck with a vehicle that they have a loan on or have paid off but can't get the title to it because Carvana never transferred the title and they can never get a hold of anyone at Carvana.

Carvana Lawsuit

Before my gladiator I worked with the same sales person for over 20years and I would find the vehicles I wanted and he would do transfers or whatever he could to get them for me. He always told me that if I found a vehicle at another dealership to not contact them about it if I wanted him to get it for me as it would mark the vehicle in the computer as people were interested in it and then the dealership wouldn't trade on it. There are always exceptions but he said that was the general rule. If you are thinking about having your dealership do a trade for it then I would try that route first as if you go the other route your dealership may not be able to trade for it once you have already shown interest in it.

I wonder why the reviews on THEIR website are so great, while others - not so much

Of course, "review sites" are where people go to complain, not praise, but still, the thousands of 0 to 1 star reviews is rather spooky.

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[MaximusTX]

I wonder why the reviews on THEIR website are so great, while others - not so much

Of course, "review sites" are where people go to complain, not praise, but still, the thousands of 0 to 1 star reviews is rather spooky.

I have never used them but have seen multiple news stories about them not transferring the title to the new owners.

Carvana Title Issues Videos

Here is just a few of the screenshots from the videos

Just me personally I wouldn't trust Carvana. If you google Carvana Title Issues you get a whole list of issues and lawsuits filed against them for it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have never used them but have seen multiple news stories about them not transferring the title to the new owners.

Carvana Title Issues Videos

Here is just a few of the screenshots from the videos

Just me personally I wouldn't trust Carvana. If you google Carvana Title Issues you get a whole list of issues and lawsuits filed against them for it.

A couple of people got into trouble when they found out someone ELSE had the title. And one woman got the car, no title, no registration, and it was taking months. She lived where you can't park an unregistered vehicle on your property so was at risk of having it towed away and impounded.
Title stuff is so very simple these days, makes me wonder if they are getting clean titles to all vehicles they get, or are going through the processes of getting new titles.
You should always get the title right away. I'd never accept a car or truck from them unless they handed me the title then and there, signed and ready to transfer or a form showing it was being handled electronically through your DMV.

No way in hell I'd accept a vehicle and let them take my money and have no title! No way.

 

[Quickstep192]

It’s my understanding that you pay for the Carvana Car up front. If for some reason, you don’t like the car they will refund your money and I’ve read complaints that it can take a while.

I sold a car to Carmax a while back and they didn’t re-title it.
It was evidently stolen and abandoned. Since I was the last owner, I got a letter from the city impound that they had my car and to pay the fine and come get the car. Luckily, I had documented the tag return and was able to straighten it out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I sold a car to Carmax a while back and they didn’t re-title it.

In some places, it's illegal not to follow-through with a transfer within so many days. Another reason to not trust them - might leave YOU hanging.
You documented things - always document things, make a copy of the title where it's signed and DATED (never sell a vehicle without DATING the title.

 

[JT_RHINO]

Both wife and I bought from out-of-town, JLU and JT respectively.

Northeast (VT) vehicles get crusty quick and locals dealers didn't want to haggle.

Got my 21' JT with low miles in PA, was super clean, flew in, Ubered did the deal and drove home. Saved $$$$.

My wife's 19' Moab was in NC, low miles, clean, drove down with trde in and drove back with new Jeep. Stayed overnight - made it fun...

Both places were great to work with....

Best of luck!

 

[smlobx]

I have a hard time believing that trading in your vehicle will save you money.

As a recent example, my wife was getting a new vehicle and we were debating trading vs. selling privately (we always check anyway). Two different Jeep dealers offered us $14,000 and $14,500 for her Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel…

I sold the GC for $19,500 to a guy in TX who flew up and drove it home.

That’s a $5000 difference. Now in N.C. the sales tax on a new vehicle is 3% which on a $14,500 trade in would only save me $435!

So my NET savings by selling it my self was $4565.00! Not even close! Of course being a car guy the GC was in great shape and I had full documentation of all the maintenance done which helped in this private sale but didn’t make a bit of difference to the dealer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have a hard time believing that trading in your vehicle will save you money.

As a recent example, my wife was getting a new vehicle and we were debating trading vs. selling privately (we always check anyway). Two different Jeep dealers offered us $14,000 and $14,500 for her Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel…

I sold the GC for $19,500 to a guy in TX who flew up and drove it home.

That’s a $5000 difference. Now in N.C. the sales tax on a new vehicle is 3% which on a $14,500 trade in would only save me $435!

So my NET savings by selling it my self was $4565.00! Not even close! Of course being a car guy the GC was in great shape and I had full documentation of all the maintenance done which helped in this private sale but didn’t make a bit of difference to the dealer.

It can happen. I've shown the math here before. Depends a lot on the dealer and your location, of course. Dealers here aren't going to allow much on diesels, and that's a big variable in yours example. You don't see diesel jeeps on lots here, or even on the roads, so a dealer here doesn't really want one. But they'll sometimes trump the offers from carvana and such. Then there's the taxes ....

 

[gamesjamy]

Personally, I think that the dealer who still has the 2024 model on his lot will be the most motivated to get rid of it. Your local can help with the takeover but it will have less margin to negotiate. If I were you, I would contact the seller of the 2024 directly and I would compare the two offers.

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