Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Nowadays, we don't have to turn to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to sell a car. We no longer have to park a car on the corner with a "For Sale" sign in the window. I'd bet most people don't know what a bulletin board is, either. Today, we're lucky to have online options from places like TrueCar, Cars.com, AutoGuide, and Carvana, selling your car to an online dealer has never been easier (or more reliable). You don't have to worry about people blowing up your phone asking if you'd take a lower price, you don't have to give creepy people your address, and you don't have to deal with the hassle of transferring the title at the DMV.Bloomberg/Getty ImagesIf you were curious about selling your car through an online dealership, here's a step-by-step guide to ensure you get the best possible price without the in-person dealership or private seller headache. Because they want to buy and resell your car as quickly as possible, it's designed to be insanely easy.1. Go to Carvana's website and click "Sell or Trade Your Car"Kristen BrownThis step is, by far, the easiest. Either type "Carvana.com" into your browser or Google it, and then right from the homepage, click "Sell or Trade Your Vehicle." From there, you'll continue onto the next, easy, at-your-own-pace questions that you can save and revisit at any point. To get things started, you'll need either your car's license plate or the car's VIN to be able to start the process. After following the next steps, you'll get an instant, locked-in cash offer for 7 days, without peeping at your credit score.2. Get ready to answer questions about your vehicle (all online, of course)Kristen BrownThis is where you'll need the VIN or license plate number. After Carvana verifies that the car does, in fact, belong to you and you have the legal authority to sell it, they'll ask you a few questions to help them determine the car's history. They'll be on the lookout for anything that may either increase or decrease the car's value, like mileage, accident history, mechanical needs, damage, and equipment specifics. The nice thing about Carvana's application process, too, is that you can save your answers and come back later, if needed. Be ready to answer questions about:AdvertisementAdvertisementExact mileage. As you know, a car with fewer miles tends to be worth more than one with higher mileage. Body/exterior damage. They'll ask about paint condition, dents, scratches, cracked glass, or peeling paint.Trim and options. Because, once again, a Limited, Touring, or Premium trim has more to offer than a base-level trim. Power and drivetrain specifics, like engine, transmission, whether it's AWD/FWD/RWD/4WDAftermarket upgrades or additionsAccident history. Have the airbags ever deployed? Has the vehicle been in an accident, and does it have frame or other structural damage? They will perform an inspection, so don't lie.Title status. Is it clean, salvage, or rebuilt?Do you have spare keys?They'll ask you questions about your car's driving condition, too, so be ready for questions similar to:Is your car safe to drive? Does it run/start?Are any warning lights illuminated (e.g., check engine, airbag, ABS, or tire pressure)Are there any known issues with the transmission, engine, or drivetrain?Does the air conditioning work? Do the windows, mirror, and radio function properly?Are there rips or tears in the interior upholstery? Did you smoke or have pets in the car? Is there heavy staining?And remember, there will be an in-person inspection after this, so be sure to tell the truth to the best of your ability. It will help speed up the process.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: Slate Auto May Add Carvana As Another Major Backer3. Review your cash offerGettyBased on the information you provided, Carvana's AI-powered algorithm instantly analyzes current market trends against your car's specific details to generate a competitive, locked-in cash offer with zero obligations in just two minutes. From there, you simply accept the offer, and the real fun begins. Because the algorithm is so fast and precise, you skip the dealership haggling entirely and get a fair, real-time value for your vehicle without any of the stress. 4. Gather and upload your important documentsThe user interface on a mobile of getting an online offer through CarvanaCarvanaNow that you've accepted your offer, Carvana will need to prove that the vehicle is yours and that you have the legal, proper authority to sell it. So, you'll need to fish out these important documents, scan them, and upload them to your Carvana profile:Vehicle title, with your name and address on it. They need a scanned copy of the physical title. The only states that accept a digital title are Florida, Arizona, and Ohio.Driver's license (front and back)Vehicle registration to verify identity and current addressHave your VIN handy for the upcoming stepsAdvertisementAdvertisementIf your car still has a loan on it, you will need:Loan account information, like lender, account number, and phone number of the lienholder.10-day payoff statement from the lender that shows the exact amount required to pay off your loan in the next ten daysIf you're selling a company car, Carvana will need proof that you have the authorization to sell it. These can be documents like:Business licenseArticles of organization or incorporationProof that you hold a legal title, such as President, CEO, or Manager, on business documentsAssembling these documents before you begin the next step will make your life a lot easier. AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: Carvana Is Testing A Dealership Without Salespeople5. Schedule an appointment for a vehicle inspectionCarvanaAfter answering all the questions and the documents have been reviewed and approved, you'll be prompted to schedule an appointment to have a Carvana employee inspect your vehicle. You can choose between a home pickup, where an employee picks your car up from your house and takes it to the closest hub, or you can take it to your closest location yourself (you can see the vehicle vending machine if you take it yourself, which is a sight to behold).6. Hand over the keys and get paidAs long as your online answers match your car's actual condition, Carvana will honor your initial offer down to the exact penny—no low-balling, no eleventh-hour haggling, and no stress. You'll sign the physical title, hand over the keys, and the employee will hand you a check or initiate an instant direct deposit right on the spot. While Carvana handles the heavy lifting of paying off active loans and transferring the title through the DMV, your job isn't completely done. CarvanaTo protect yourself after the employee drives away, make sure to handle these three quick tasks:AdvertisementAdvertisementFile a Release of Liability. Log onto your state's DMV website within a few days of the sale to submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. This officially informs the state you no longer own the car, protecting you from future parking tickets, tolls, or liabilities.Remove your plates. Depending on your state laws, you may need to unscrew your physical license plates and return them to the DMV to cancel your registration. Cancel your auto insurance policy. Congratulations—your car is officially sold, your payment is in hand, and you skipped the traditional dealership headache entirely. It really is that easy.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.