Vroom Car Sales Review for 2024

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Last Updated: March 12, 2023

Pros and Cons of Vroom Car Sales

Vroom Car Sales: An Overview

Vroom is a legitimate online car-buying and selling forum headquartered in New York City. The platform is famous all over the United States for its convenient and fair services. Vroom has another headquarter in Stafford, Texas, to refurbish preowned vehicles.

Vroom was founded in 2013, but now it has 1,800+ employees to assist you in selling or purchasing a used car online. The marketplace has established itself as a renowned online car-buying and sale participant within a decade. Vroom claims it has traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol VRM and earned $2.6 billion in revenue.

Although Vroom is a smaller company, it works the same way as larger companies like Shift Auto Sales and Carvana. It has an inventory of used cars, so you can browse online and deliver your order to your doorstep. When purchasing used vehicles, Vroom also picks them up for free from your location.

Vroom claims it has made the car-buying and selling process much more manageable. Instead of haggling over a price and meeting with dealers, the platform allows you directly compare cars and their prices nationwide. Unlike other platforms, Vroom is quite picky about buying used cars. It only accepts vehicles that meet its standards. A professional team at Vroom inspects your vehicle to ensure that it is eligible to be put on the website. For example, you can only sell accident-free cars on Vroom.

Overall, Vroom is an ideal online forum if you:

• Want a simple financing and car-selling process 
• Need more choices when buying a used car
• Have an excellent credit score 
  

Car Selling Process

Fill Out the Form

Visit the official website of Vroom and fill out a brief online form to get a no-obligation. Then, the platform asks you to provide accurate information about your vehicle to determine its maximum value. You must provide your vehicle's exact mileage, license plate number/VIN, history, trim level (LE, XE, SLT), and mechanical and cosmetic condition.

Receive a No-Obligation Offer

Once you've provided all the information about your vehicle, the professionals of Vroom may take some time to determine its accurate value. Then, within 30 minutes, an agent will call you to get more information about your vehicle. Then they will send you a no-obligation offer that will remain valid for seven days or 250 miles from the millage you entered into the online form.

Vroom sends you a non-negotiable offer, meaning you don't have to haggle over price. It also lets you compare their offered price with online car-buying platforms.

Paperwork

If you accept the evaluation of Vroom and decide to sell your car, the next step will be documentation. You need to provide Vroom with some paperwork to complete the transaction and transfer the title to it. You will need a valid vehicle registration and identification number to complete the documentation.

You have seven days to complete the paperwork. Once you have provided all the legal information to Vroom, they will schedule a meeting and pick up your vehicle. Before picking up the car, Vroom's professionals will inspect it to ensure you've provided the exact information.

Receive Payment

When Vroom's professionals load your vehicle, they notify the corporate office to start the payment procedure. It will take 2-3 business days to process your payment. Typically, Vrooms sends a check immediately after loading your vehicle, but it takes 2-3 days to reach your location.

Car Buying Process

Similar to car-selling, Vroom features a straightforward and streamlined car-buying process. Here is a quick guide on buying a car through Vroom.

1. Visit the official website of Vroom and click "Buy."
2. Search your favorite by using make, model, and age features. You can also use a filter to streamline your search. 
3. Once you select a car, click on it to see further details. Below the vehicle's webpage are its history, safety, and quality highlights. 
4. You can also mark the car as "favorite" to save the page or click "Start Purchasing."
5. The next will be how you want to pay for your selected vehicle. Vroom offers three different payment methods to choose from. It also lets you trade your car for trade credit.
6. Once you've selected the payment methods and other conditions, a Vroom agent will contact you. They will ask you to send a photo of your driving license and proof of auto insurance to prove your identification. 
7. You must send a $500 refundable deposit to hold the car you're interested in for 24 hours.
8. Vroom will send you all the paperwork via email within a day. You have 24 hours to examine everything and sign the documents.
9. Once the documentation and payment process are completed, Vroom will schedule a delivery at the delivery vehicle to your doorstep within 10-14 business days.
   

Vroom Reviews

I'm hoping that this will not get me in trouble, but while a lot of other review websites are only focusing on positive reviews on the company, I need to paint the real picture of what I have discovered when researching the company's online reputation. While Vroom is a legitimate online automotive platform its positive ratings online end with app stores. The platform has a 4.6 rating on Google App Store, a 4.7 rating on Apple App Store.

Vroom on Trustpilot: The company has a horrendous 1.2/5.0 stars on Trustpilot, and hasn't replied to any negative reviews in the past 12 months. That's a big factor when it comes down to company's reputation since 1-star reviews make up for 90% of all of the reviews towards the company.

Vroom on BBB: On Better Business Bureau website, Vroom isn't showing good signs either. With a 1.1/5.0 star-rating, the company really doesn't pain a promising picture. BBB Rating is F and the business is not accredited. What's really worrisome, is the fact that Vroom has received 6.169 complaints over the past 3 years out of which 1.958 complaints were from the past 12 months. This seems like there aren't improvements that are being made.

Furthermore, there seem to be a few court cases against the company by the Attorney General of Texas. You can take a look at the lawsuit here: State of Texas vs Vroom Automotive LLC, and Vroom Inc. This lawsuit shows that complaining to the Attorney General's office might be the only way to get your voice heard when it comes to being mistreated by companies.

My Experience With Vroom

I had heard about Vroom's online car sales platform and was intrigued to try it out. As a busy professional, selling or buying a car online was very appealing.

I tried it and started using Vroom's tool to sell my car. I entered the details of my 2015 BMW 535i xDrive with M-Sport package and 80k miles, and within minutes I received a quote of $15K. This was close to what other dealers had offered me, so I was impressed with the evaluation.

Feeling encouraged by the experience, I inquired about a 2018 BMW M5 that I had been eyeing. Unfortunately, Vroom gave me an interest rate higher than CapitalOne was offering by quite a large margin, so I decided not to move forward with the purchase.

Despite not making a purchase, I was contacted by Vroom's very nice representative and understanding. We discussed what I was looking for and why I was not purchasing a car from Vroom. It was clear that Vroom values its customers and strives to provide a positive experience, even if they don't buy a car from the company.

Overall, my experience with Vroom was good, besides the financing part. I appreciated the convenience and transparency of the car-selling process, and I would consider using Vroom again if I haven't read the recent reviews of the company online.

Vroom Vehicle Selection Comparison

I went ahead and put some numbers together to see the variety of vehicles that Vroom has to offer when compared to competitors such as Carvana, CARMAX, or Shift. It comes as no surprise that Vroom has second lowest amount of cars out of the four companies that are displayed below.

Vroom Protection

Vroom provides customers with included protection with every purchase, including a 90-Day Limited Warranty to minimize unexpected costs associated with mechanical breakdown, repairs, parts, and labor. Additionally, Vroom offers one year of complimentary roadside assistance, available 24/7 to help customers get safely back on the road or to a repair facility.

Vehicle Service Protection (VSP)

Vroom's Platinum Vehicle Service Protection (VSP) plan provides comprehensive coverage against unexpected mechanical failures for up to 10 years or 120K miles. With coverage of up to 1,500 parts and labor, the VSP plan offers nationwide repairs and claims handled by all authorized service providers. Additionally, the VSP plan offers rental car reimbursement and 24-hour roadside assistance with enhanced benefits. Customers only pay a deductible selected at the time of purchase for covered repairs.

VSP Coverage Exclusions:

Vroom's coverage exclusions include normal wear and tear, maintenance services, cosmetic and structural items, accidents, natural disasters, neglect, and unapproved usage. A full list of exclusions can be found in the sample contract. Examples of excluded items include spark plugs, batteries, filters, lubricants, hoses, belts, wiper blades, windows, windshields, upholstery, paint, headlights, fuses, body panels, rust, and abuse.

Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)

Vroom offers Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP). This optional product provides financial protection by waiving some or all of the "gap" between the vehicle finance agreement balance and the amount paid by the primary insurer if the vehicle is declared a total loss due to an accident, natural disaster, or theft. GAP can waive up to $50,000 of the "gap" due to a total covered loss, covers vehicle finance agreement terms up to 84 months, covers the amount financed up to 150% of the vehicle's NADA value, and covers the primary insurance deductible up to $1,000. However, limitations and exclusions apply, and any amounts or terms exceeding the program's maximum limits are excluded. The VroomProtect GAP product is not insurance, and coverage and product availability may vary by lender/state.

Vroom Online Reputation vs Shift and Carvana?

Vroom, Carvana, and Shift have received mixed reviews regarding their online reputation across various platforms. So let's take a closer look at how they stack up:

1. Trustpilot: On Trustpilot, all three companies have received mixed reviews, with Shift holding a slightly higher rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, compared to Carvana's 4.0 and Vroom's 1.2.
2. Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB has not accredited any of the three companies, with Shift holding a D- rating, Carvana holding an NR rating, and Vroom holding an F rating. Shift has received by far less complaints than Carvana and Vroom, with Vroom having horrendous reviews with a note about a Government action against the business.
3. Facebook Reviews: On Facebook, Shift has received positive reviews with a rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, while Carvana and Vroom have hidden or not enabled their Facebook ratings.

Shift Auto Sales seem to have a better online reputation than Carvana and Vroom. While all three companies have received mixed reviews, Shift has a higher Trustpilot rating and BBB rating than Carvana and Vroom. Additionally, Shift has received more positive reviews on Facebook. However, it's important to note that online reputation is just one factor when evaluating online car dealers. Factors such as car selection, pricing, and buying process should also be considered.

Final Verdict: Is Vroom Worth It?

If I was asked this question a few years back, I would have possibly said that Vroom is a great car buying and selling platform. But at this very moment after reading countless of online reviews that were written by their customers, I cannot vouch for the company. Hopefully things will start turning around for them and Vroom will sort their customer service issues as well as legal actions that local government have taken against them.

The Car Data Review Methodology for Online Car Dealers

We have developed a comprehensive methodology for evaluating online car dealers at The Car Data. Our methodology involves a multi-step process that takes into account a variety of factors that are important to car buyers. Below is an overview of our methodology:

1. Online Reputation: We heavily weigh the online reputation of online car dealers by evaluating their presence on popular review websites and social media platforms. We examine the overall sentiment of customer reviews and the frequency of negative reviews.
2. Official Complaints: We evaluate official complaints against online car dealers with official agencies, such as the BBB (Better Business Bureau) or Attorney General's Office, and examine their resolution.
3. Car Availability: We assess the availability of cars the online dealer offers and their quality. This includes the selection of models, the variety of features available, and the number of cars in stock.
4. Ease of Use of Services: We evaluate the ease of use of the online dealer's services, including their website's navigation and user interface, and analysis of the convenience of their purchasing process.
5. Other Factors: We also consider other factors such as financing options, warranties, delivery options, and any additional services offered.

By taking into account these factors, we can objectively evaluate online car dealers, helping our readers make informed decisions when purchasing a car online.