Leasing

Does Carvana Lease Cars?

Does Carvana lease cars? Find out the answer and how you can lease a car from practically any brand. You'll also learn about viable alternatives to leasing.

Read time

8 minutes

Date

10.12.2023

Share

The world of buying a new or used car has evolved in the past few years. Online car dealers like Carvana and Vroom have changed how consumers buy and sell cars. Rather than spending hours on a dealership lot, you can shop for cars from the comfort of your home. 


One of the biggest questions that come up with these online-only car dealers is if they offer leases on the vehicles in their inventory. Carvana is one of those dealers. This particular online car dealer gained popularity from its car vending machines, but do those machines let you lease the cars inside? 


If you’re looking for a company that provides more than traditional leasing, look no further than FINN. FINN car subscriptions offer terms for as little as six months. Choose from a range of vehicles—trucks, EVs, SUVs, sedans, and more—and make a single monthly payment, which includes practically everything you need (registration, insurance, maintenance) and the convenience of home delivery for free. 

Does Carvana lease cars?

Carvana does not lease cars. The company only buys and sells used vehicles.  

How Carvana works

Carvana is an online car dealer that offers used vehicles for sale. This online dealer also purchases new and used cars as a standalone transaction or trade-in. You can obtain financing through Carvana or bring third-party financing if you prefer. 


Trade-in vehicles must be 1992 model year or newer with a working odometer. To obtain an instant purchase quote, enter your vehicle’s information, including VIN, mileage, and interior and exterior condition. Your quote is good for seven days.


While Carvana doesn’t offer any test drives, it does have a seven-day return policy. Vehicles for sale must pass a 150-point inspection and have a clean vehicle history report. Carvana provides free reports from AutoCheck and Carfax. 


Carvana's financing requirements are forgiving if you choose to purchase a vehicle. The minimum annual income you must meet is $4,000, and no minimum credit score is required. You must be 18 to finance a car or 19 if you live in Georgia. 


All Carvana vehicles come with a 100-day, 4,189-mile warranty with 100 days of complimentary roadside assistance. You can also purchase Carvana Care, the online dealer’s extended warranty coverage. Choose from three tiers of coverage to suit your needs. 

What is a lease buyout?

Carvana also works with leasing companies to purchase and trade in your leased vehicle. In addition, you can end your car lease early and then sell the vehicle to Carvana as you would if you owned the car outright in the first place. When Carvana offers to pay off your lease, this is called a “third-party buyout” or a “lease buyout.”


The dealership typically negotiates with Carvana on the residual value of the car. However, per the lease contract you signed, some leasing companies do not allow third-party lease buyouts. These companies include


  • Audi
  • BMW
  • MINI
  • Ford
  • Lincoln
  • GM
  • Buick
  • Honda
  • Acura
  • Hyundai
  • Genesis
  • Kia
  • Nissan
  • Infiniti 
  • Toyota
  • Tesla
  • Volkswagen
  • Volvo


Some companies, like Tesla, don’t even allow you to purchase your lease once it has come to term. Check your lease agreement for lease buyout stipulations before contacting Carvana about selling your lease.

How to lease a car with Carvana

Though it’s impossible to lease a car with Carvana, here are a few alternatives to find a lease on your favorite makes and models. Eligibility requirements and lease terms will vary based on your location and which brand you choose. 

LeaseHackr

This website is known for finding and often negotiating lease deals for its audience. You can search for and claim pre-negotiated lease deals or sign up to receive lease deal alerts. The lease hackers behind this site spend hours researching and negotiating lease deals, saving you time and money when leasing a car. 

Local dealerships

Calling or visiting your local dealership is the best way to research what lease deals are out there. Do your research and write down any specific offers to compare them to other brands or dealerships near you. 


  • Nissan: Visit the manufacturer’s main website and enter your location to find Nissan lease deals near you. 
  • Chevrolet: This brand categorizes its lease deals by model. Visit the website to learn more about leases, finance, and featured deals. 
  • Buick: Similar to Chevrolet’s website, you’ll see various lease deals based on your zip code on Buick’s website. You can filter by offer type, vehicle type, or model year.  
  • Mercedes-Benz: In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, current local offers are laid out neatly for review. Listings include new and certified pre-owned vehicles. 
  • Jeep: Leasing a Jeep can help you tackle the challenging roads of life. Check out Jeep deals in your area based on year and model. 
  • Volkswagen: This German car dealer makes searching current offers by model easy. You can also get a quote or contact the dealer through the website. 
  • GMC: If you can navigate Chevrolet’s and Buick’s offers, GMC’s current offers are no different. GMC allows you to view local inventory, request a quote, or build and price your new GMC. 
  • Cadillac: You’ve seen this configuration before with Chevrolet and Buick. Search Cadillac’s Current Offers to see what deals you can use.


Tesla supports leasing in select states only. You cannot lease a Tesla in Kentucky, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Nebraska. 

Online car lease resources

Finding the right car lease for you can be challenging. Many online resources can help you find and compare lease deals to get more out of your lease. 


  • TrueCar: Use this website to search for lease deals based on vehicle make and model. TrueCar displays the average lease payment with a specific lease term or mileage per year. 
  • Edmunds: There are over 7,000 cars listed for lease on Edmunds’ website. Each listing includes details about the vehicle, including your estimated monthly payment and a $1,000 down payment.  
  • SwapALease: Did you know you can often take over someone else’s lease? As long as the lease contract allows it, you may be able to finish out a lease someone else has signed as long as you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. 
  • LeaseTrader: The name sums it up nicely: this website lets you trade leases with someone else. You can either get out of your current lease deal or take one over.  


Leasing isn’t for everyone. If you just can’t make the numbers work in your favor with a lease, consider your other options to get the car you need. You might find there are more alternatives out there than you first thought.  

Alternatives to leasing a car

Lease hackers pride themselves on finding the best car leasing deals on cars most people can’t afford to purchase. If you struggle to find a lease that fits your budget or just want to avoid the hassle of negotiations, you have a few alternatives to consider. 

Car sharing

Most people use car share services to rent a car for a short period before returning it. These short-term rentals last only a few hours at a time. Most car-sharing companies cater to largely populated areas and can be few and far between. Sharing a car for more than a few hours can also drive up your total cost. 

Long-term rental

In contrast to a short-term car lease, a long-term rental can help you solve the problem of needing a car for more than a few days. Rental car companies like Enterprize and Hertz sometimes offer discounts on rental fees for long-term rentals. 


Long-term rentals can be a more cost-effective approach to driving further or longer than figuring out how to get a high-mileage lease. It’s much easier to calculate your costs since you’re dealing with a single per-mile fee. 

Buy a car

Leasing can sometimes be preferable to buying a car, primarily because you can lease and then buy a car once the lease terms have been met. However, buying a car from the get-go can save you money in the long run. 


When you purchase a car, you can drive as far as you want without worrying about penalties and fees. You can also trade in the vehicle, sell it private party, or keep it for as long as you like. Many people also purchase a car because they want to personalize it. 

Subscribe to a car with FINN

Recently, the idea of subscribing to a car has gained popularity. In the discussion of leasing vs. buying vs. subscribing, it's common that subscribing can often cost you less and cause fewer headaches down the road. Car subscription companies such as FINN make it easy and affordable to subscribe to several popular makes and models. 

Final thoughts

Carvana and online dealers like it are great places to sell or purchase a used car. However, Carvana doesn’t offer leases on the cars in its inventory. Instead, you’ll have to seek out more traditional ways of leasing a vehicle, like through a dealership. 


If you want to explore options instead of leasing, you’re limited to renting a car long-term, participating in a car-share program, or buying a car outright. However, FINN offers car subscription services to help you find a six or 12-month solution to your car troubles. 


With FINN, you choose which car you want to drive and for how long. Pick the color and have the car delivered straight to your door. Your single monthly payment includes maintenance, depreciation, insurance, and registration costs, so you’re only left with paying for gas. If you’re looking for a convenient way to drive a car for a short time, check out FINN’s lineup of car subscriptions. 

Does Carvana Lease Cars
Does Carvana Lease Cars

Final thoughts

Carvana and online dealers like it are great places to sell or purchase a used car. However, Carvana doesn’t offer leases on the cars in its inventory. Instead, you’ll have to seek out more traditional ways of leasing a vehicle, like through a dealership. 


If you want to explore options instead of leasing, you’re limited to renting a car long-term, participating in a car-share program, or buying a car outright. However, FINN offers car subscription services to help you find a six or 12-month solution to your car troubles. 


With FINN, you choose which car you want to drive and for how long. Pick the color and have the car delivered straight to your door. Your single monthly payment includes maintenance, depreciation, insurance, and registration costs, so you’re only left with paying for gas. If you’re looking for a convenient way to drive a car for a short time, check out FINN’s lineup of car subscriptions. 

You may also like

Can You Lease a Car for 6 Months?

Can You Lease a Car for 6 Months?

Interested in a short-term lease? Read on to find out if you can lease a car for six months and what alternatives you have, including a car subscription.

Read more
Lease to Own Car: How It Works

Lease to Own Car: How It Works

You've heard of car leases, but what about lease-to-own car programs? Keep reading to discover the pros and cons, how these programs work, and who qualifies.

Read more
What Is a Car Lease Disposition Fee?

What Is a Car Lease Disposition Fee?

Curious about the car disposition fee listed on your lease agreement? Find out more about what a car lease disposition fee is and how you can avoid it.

Read more