Trading In My Car with Driveway.com: A Reddit User’s Deep Dive
So, you’re thinking about trading in your car. It's a jungle out there, right? You’ve got your traditional dealerships, the online giants like Carvana, & then there’s Driveway.com, a newer player that’s been making some waves. I found myself in this exact spot a few months ago, scrolling through endless Reddit threads trying to figure out the best way to get a fair price for my old ride without losing my mind in the process. My journey led me down the rabbit hole of Driveway.com, & let me tell you, it was an experience. Here’s the real-deal, no-fluff story of what it’s like to trade in your car with them, based on my own adventure & a TON of research into what other Redditors have been saying.
The Initial Lure: A Surprisingly High Offer
It all started with a simple quote. I was getting ready to buy a new car & wanted to see what I could get for my trusty old sedan. I’d already gotten an offer from my local dealership, which was, to put it mildly, underwhelming. Then I tried Carvana, & their offer was a little better, a bit more in the ballpark of what I was hoping for. But then, on a whim, I decided to check out Driveway.com. A Redditor on r/rav4prime mentioned they got an offer from Driveway.com that was "$1,200 higher than the Carvana offer," which definitely piqued my interest.
I went through their online form, which was pretty standard stuff – VIN, mileage, condition, the usual. I was bracing myself for another lowball offer, but what came back was… surprisingly good. We’re talking a significant jump from what Carvana had offered, enough to make me sit up & take notice. Another Redditor on r/carbuying had a similar experience, saying Driveway.com offered a "very high trade-in value (30% higher than Carvana & the low-end of KBB private-party value)". It felt a little too good to be true, but hey, money talks, right?
Here’s the thing about Driveway.com – they’re owned by Lithia Motors, a massive dealership group. This gives them a huge network of dealerships across the country to pull from, which, in theory, allows them to offer more competitive prices. As money expert Clark Howard put it, Driveway.com is "building a platform from the ground up to make car-buying clean for new cars.” This scale is likely why they can sometimes offer more than their competitors.
So, with a great offer in hand, I decided to move forward. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of what would be a pretty wild ride.
The Process: A Tale of Many (Many) People
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Driveway.com process is that it’s not exactly a one-person show. In fact, it’s more like a full-blown ensemble cast. One Redditor on r/carbuying perfectly described it: "one person starting the sale who is your main contact, another person doing the contracts, another person doing DMV stuff, and final person organizing delivery makes things confusing". This was my experience to a T.
It started with my initial contact, who was great – super responsive & helpful. But then I was handed off to someone else for the paperwork, & then another person for the vehicle inspection. It felt like I was being passed down an assembly line, & sometimes, it was hard to keep track of who I was supposed to be talking to about what. This seems to be a common theme, with another user on r/UsedCars mentioning they "dealt with roughly 4 people as each one has their own job".
Now, in some ways, this makes sense. Each person is a specialist in their part of the process. But in practice, it can lead to some serious communication breakdowns. There were times when I’d send a document to one person & then get an email from someone else asking for the same thing. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something to be prepared for. If you’re someone who likes having a single point of contact, this might drive you a little crazy.
The Virtual Inspection & The Paperwork Shuffle
Once you accept their initial offer, the next step is a virtual inspection. Driveway.com has a pretty slick app that guides you through taking a bunch of pictures of your car. It’s pretty thorough, & they’re looking for any discrepancies between what you reported & the actual condition of the vehicle. This is where things can get a little tricky. Driveway.com is very clear that their offer is "pending your condition report, verification of ownership, and any lien payoff information". If they find anything that wasn't disclosed, like a scratch or a dent, they can & will adjust the offer.
After the inspection, it’s time for the paperwork. And let me tell you, there’s a lot of it. I had to get some documents notarized, which meant a trip to the bank. A user on r/UsedCars had a similar experience, noting that "Some papers will need to be notarized". This is pretty standard for any car sale, but it’s an extra step to factor into your timeline.
One piece of advice that I can’t stress enough, & that was echoed by a Redditor on r/carbuying, is to "READ THROUGH THE CONTRACT & PAPERWORK!". I found a small error in mine that I had to get corrected. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it could have caused a headache down the line if I hadn’t caught it.
The Waiting Game: Where Patience is a Virtue
If there’s one thing that seems to be a universal experience with Driveway.com, it’s the waiting. After I sent back all my paperwork, things kind of went quiet. I’m not gonna lie, it was a little nerve-wracking. I had a car to trade in & was eager to get my new one, but it felt like I was in a holding pattern. This seems to be a common complaint, with one Redditor on r/carvana noting that "lots of complaints about delays in picking up the vehicle, a long waiting time for contract to be finalized, etc." when discussing Driveway.com.
Another user on the Rivian Forums had a similar experience, saying that after the inspection, "it took a while to get the paperwork". It seems that once you’re in the system, you’re kind of at the mercy of their internal processes. It’s not that they’re not working on it, but the lack of communication can be frustrating. My advice? Be proactive. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your contacts & ask for updates. I found that a polite email or phone call usually got me the information I needed.
This is where I think Driveway.com could really improve. A more transparent and communicative process would go a long way in managing customer expectations. If you’re in a hurry to sell your car, this might not be the best option for you. As one Redditor put it, "I DO NOT recommend them if: A) you need a vehicle ASAP".
The Pick-Up & The Pay-Off: The Grand Finale
After what felt like an eternity (it was probably more like a week and a half), I finally got the call to schedule the pick-up of my old car & the delivery of my new one. This part of the process was actually pretty smooth. A "Driveway valet" came to my house, looked over my trade-in one last time, had me sign a few final papers, & then handed me a check. They then delivered my new car right to my driveway. It was pretty cool, I have to admit.
I opted for a check, but they also offer bank transfers. I’ve heard from some users that the bank transfers can take a couple of days to process, so if you need the money right away, a check might be the better option.
So, Was It Worth It? The Pros & Cons
Now for the big question: would I do it again? Honestly, it’s a tough one. Here’s a breakdown of the pros & cons from my experience & what I’ve gathered from other Redditors:
The Pros:
- Potentially Higher Offers: This is the big one. Driveway.com often comes in with higher offers than their competitors, which can mean more money in your pocket.
- Convenience: The at-home pick-up & delivery is a game-changer. No more spending hours at a dealership.
- No-Haggle Pricing: The price they offer is the price you get (as long as your car is as you described it). This takes a lot of the stress out of the process.
The Cons:
- The Process Can Be Slow & Chaotic: The multiple points of contact & the waiting can be frustrating. It’s not the most streamlined experience.
- Communication Can Be Spotty: There were times when I felt like I was in the dark. Better communication would make a huge difference.
- Potential for Offer Adjustments: That initial high offer isn’t set in stone. If they find any issues with your car, they will adjust the price.
A Quick Word on Prked
While I was going through this whole process, one of the things I had to figure out was what to do with my new car’s parking situation. I live in a city where parking is a nightmare, & my new car was a bit bigger than my old one. I ended up looking into different options & stumbled upon Prked. It’s a pretty cool service that connects people who have unused parking spaces, like driveways or garages, with drivers who need a place to park. It’s like Airbnb for parking.
I was able to find a spot in a neighbor’s garage just a few blocks from my apartment. It’s been a lifesaver, especially on street cleaning days. It’s a simple, affordable solution to a problem that can be a major headache for city dwellers. If you’re in a similar situation, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s a great example of how the sharing economy is making urban living a little bit easier. For those with extra space, it's also a great way to earn some passive income. You can list your unused driveway or garage and make money from it. It's a win-win.
And for those who are downsizing or moving, Prked also offers storage solutions. You can rent out someone's garage, attic, or basement to store your extra belongings. It's a more affordable and convenient alternative to traditional storage units.
The Verdict: A Good Option, But Not for Everyone
So, what’s the final word on using Driveway.com for a trade-in? I’d say it’s a solid option, but with some important caveats. If your top priority is getting the absolute best price for your car & you’re not in a huge rush, then Driveway.com is definitely worth considering. That higher offer can make up for a lot of the process-related headaches.
However, if you value a smooth, streamlined, & predictable experience, you might be better off with a company like Carvana, even if their offer is a little lower. It really comes down to what you prioritize. As one Redditor wisely put it, "I'm just not sure $450 is worth the potential headache and/or significant delays."
My advice? Get quotes from everyone – Driveway.com, Carvana, your local dealership, the works. See who’s offering the best price, & then weigh that against the potential for a more complicated process. And if you do decide to go with Driveway.com, just be prepared for a bit of a journey. It’s not always pretty, but in the end, it can be worth it.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think.
