Question 1

How does Carviano work?

Accepted Answer

You tell us the exact car you are looking for — brand, model, condition, budget, and location — through a simple request form. Carviano checks our internal dealer listings for a match. If no direct match exists, we search external dealer directories near your location as a fallback. Dealers can view open requests and claim them, then contact you directly through your preferred method (email or phone).

Question 2

Do I need to create an account to search for a car?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You need to register for a free account to submit a car request. This lets us save your request, show it in your dashboard, and notify you when a dealer claims it.

Question 3

Is it free to submit a request?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Submitting a car request and using the platform as a buyer is completely free.

Question 4

How are dealers matched to my request?

Accepted Answer

Dealers who have listed inventory matching your criteria can view your request in their dashboard and choose to claim it. Once claimed, they receive your preferred contact information so they can reach out to you directly. It is a dealer-claim model — dealers opt in to respond, so you only hear from dealers who are actively interested.

Question 5

What happens if no dealer has what I am looking for?

Accepted Answer

If no internal dealer listing matches your request, Carviano searches external dealer directories via SerpApi for dealers near your location that carry the brand you want. These results appear in your dashboard so you can still find relevant dealers, even if they are not yet on the platform.

Question 6

How do I list my inventory as a dealer?

Accepted Answer

Register through the dealer sign-up page. Once approved, you can list your vehicles and view open car requests that match your inventory. You can claim requests and contact buyers directly through your dashboard.

Question 7

Is my information shared with anyone besides matched dealers?

Accepted Answer

Your information (email or phone, based on your preference) is shared only with the dealer who claims your request. We do not sell or share your data with third parties beyond the services that power the platform — specifically Supabase (database and authentication) and SerpApi (external dealer search fallback). See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Verified Dealer Network

For Buyers

For Dealers

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Dealer Network

For Buyers

For Dealers

Frequently Asked Questions