Non-controlling Interests - Narrative (Details) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended	5 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 12, 2018 USD ($) shares	Dec. 05, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018 shares	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) shares	May 03, 2017 shares
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversion ratio					1.25
Carvana Group
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by Carvana Co.			25.50%		25.50%
Ownership percentage by existing unitholders			74.50%		74.50%
Class A
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversions of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock (in shares) | shares					3,800
Class A Convertible Preferred Stock
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversion ratio		0.8
Conversions of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock (in shares) | shares					75
Convertible Preferred Units
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Stock canceled and retired during period (in shares) | shares					75
Non-controlling Interests
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests				$ (333)	$ (13,203)
Non-controlling Interests | Class A Convertible Preferred Stock
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					51,289
Non-controlling Interests | Follow-On Public Offering
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					132,375
Additional Paid-in Capital
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests				$ 333	13,203
Additional Paid-in Capital | Class A Convertible Preferred Stock
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					(51,289)
Additional Paid-in Capital | Follow-On Public Offering
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					$ (132,375)
Class A Common Units
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversion ratio			0.80		0.80
Number of shares issued to former stockholders (in shares) | shares	500
Class A Common Units | Carvana Group
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Convertible preferred stock, shares issued upon conversion (in shares) | shares			4,800		4,800	43,100
Car360
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Number of shares issued to former stockholders (in shares) | shares					500
Fair value, equity interested issued	$ 10,000				$ 10,000
Car360 | Non-controlling Interests
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					(1,300)
Car360 | Additional Paid-in Capital
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adjustments to non-controlling interests					$ 1,297