Companies like Carvana in Canada

Online car-buying platforms are gaining popularity, with Carvana leading the way in the US. While there isn’t a Carvana Canada yet, here’s a closer look at some Canadian equivalents. Canadians can browse through a wide inventory of vehicles, make their purchase online and have their car delivered right to their front door with these easy-to-use online car-buying platforms.

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1. Clutch

Available in Ontario and Nova Scotia only

Clutch provides a wide inventory of more than 700 used cars that shoppers can browse through online, so you won’t have to visit a dealership. It also provides delivery straight to your driveway so you can take your new wheels for a spin during a “test to own” trial period of 10 days/750 km.

• Who it’s best for: Car buyers who want a seamless online car-buying experience with the option to apply for financing through the platform. You can also sell or trade in your car.
• Where it’s available: Ontario and Nova Scotia only, including cities like Toronto, Hamilton and Halifax.

• Clutch location details

  Clutch	Address
  Corporate Headquarters	200 University Avenue Toronto, ON, M5H 3C6
  Production and Pick-Up Facility	223 Evans Avenue Toronto, ON, M8Z 1J5
  Warehouse Facility and Vehicle Storage	47 Edinburgh Drive Moncton, NS, E1E 2K6
  Headquarters / Retail Facility (Appointment Only)	20 Duke Street Bedford, NS, B4A 2Z2

Go to site

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2. Dealerhop

Based in North Vancouver, BC, Dealerhop is an online platform where you can buy, trade in or sell a car online. To buy a car, simply fill out its application and then Dealerhop will match you with car and financing solutions. You can get a new or used car through this platform.

This Carvana alternative has a large presence across Canada. You’ll be able to shop online for a car using Dealerhop in cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.

• Who it’s best for: People who want to shop online for a new or used car.
• Where it’s available: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland only.

• Dealerhop location details

  Dealerhop	Address
  Headquarters	233 W 1st St 210, #15 North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7M 1B3

Go to site

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3. CarDoor

Like Carvana in the US and its competitors in Canada, CarDoor brings the car-shopping experience completely online. Look through CarDoor‘s inventory of hundreds of used cars, do a 360-degree walk around and read through the vehicle’s key features completely online. Once you’ve decided on a car you like, click on “Home Test Drive” to set up a delivery date and to finalize your purchase, including whether you need financing.

After your car is delivered, you have a full money back guarantee for 14 days/750 km. If you change your mind during this time frame, CarDoor will pick up the vehicle and issue a refund.

• Who it’s best for: Car buyers prioritizing longer-term warranties, longer return and exchange periods, and solid customer service. You can also sell or trade in your car.
• Where it’s available: Ontario only. Keep in mind that CarDoor’s primary service area is within 300 km radius of Toronto, so if you live further than that in Ontario, contact CarDoor first to see if they are able to deliver a vehicle to your home.

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Are Canadians using sites like Carvana to buy a car?

Businesses like Carvana in the US and Clutch in Canada are bringing the car-buying process into the twenty-first century, allowing customers to do everything online from comparison shopping and choosing a warranty to applying for financing and trading in a vehicle. And it seems like Canadians are slowly warming up to the idea.

According to a 2022 survey from CARFAX Canada, 1 in 10 Canadians say they want to buy their next car completely online and have it delivered. But, interestingly, 1 in 3 Canadians say they can see themselves buying a car entirely online at some point in the future, even if it’s not now.

Similarly, a 2024 CARFAX Canada survey showed that 80% of used car buyers view online listings to search for vehicles they’re interested in, which is a big increase compared to the 60% that were doing so in 2018.

That’s not surprising considering that a Clutch survey conducted by Ipsos in 2022 showed that 84% of Canadians want the car-buying process to be easier than it currently is, and 76% want to spend less time visiting dealerships to shop for a car.

In our increasingly digital age, and with a lot of dissatisfaction around the current car-buying process, it’s not surprising there are so many online car-buying platforms like Carvana being developed in Canada.

How does the buying process work with an online dealer?

As you can tell, there are only slight disparities between these online car-buying platforms. They all allow shoppers 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. And the best part: they all deliver your purchase right to your front door.

You can count on these steps when you’re working with any of the Carvana equivalents above:

Search online inventory for your dream car

Start the process by browsing through 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.

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. You can also apply a down payment or apply for financing.

Arrange delivery or pick up

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

Test drive your vehicle

With your new purchase in your driveway, take your new wheels for a spin for the allocated time provided by the dealer you’re working with. In some cases, that’s 7 days while others allow up to 14 days. If you aren’t happy, make sure you contact your dealer within the designated time frames to set up a pick-up and a refund or exchange.

Compare car loans to buy a used car

Frequently asked questions

• What is Carvana?

  Carvana is an Arizona-based online car-buying and delivery platform, that is only available to US 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 US. However, there are several online car-buying platforms in Canada that are similar to Carvana, like Clutch and Approval Genie.

• 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 US, 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.

• What are some alternatives to Carvana in Toronto?

  Carvana alternatives in Toronto include Clutch, Dealerhop, CarDoor and Approval Genie. They all operate in Ontario with home delivery to Toronto addresses (when delivery is offered).

• What are some alternatives to Carvana in Calgary?

  If you're looking for companies like Carvana that operate in Calgary, check out Dealerhop and Calgary Car Centre.

• What are some alternatives to Carvana in Vancouver?

  While Carvana has not expanded into Vancouver, you can consider alternatives like Dealerhop and Vancouver Car Centre.

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

  Yes, they sure do. These specific parameters will vary, but they generally include no driving the vehicle beyond a set mileage, no modifications to the vehicle's interior or exterior, no accidents, no 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 damages to the vehicle.