Loss Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Numerator:
Net loss		$ (64,419)	$ (39,769)	$ (168,341)	$ (117,078)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		48,377	35,389	135,291	104,232
Dividends on Class A convertible preferred stock		(1,230)	0	(3,950)	0
Accretion of beneficial conversion feature on Class A convertible preferred stock		0	0	(1,380)	0
Net loss attributable to Carvana Co. Class A common stockholders, basic and diluted		$ (17,272)	$ (4,380)	$ (38,380)	$ (12,846)
Class A
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock to compute basic and diluted net loss per Class A common share (in shares)	[1],[2]	34,655	15,045	26,927	15,024
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ (0.50)	$ (0.29)	$ (1.43)	$ (0.86)
Restricted Awards
Denominator:
Nonvested weighted-average restricted stock awards (in shares)		(269)	(475)	(331)	(230)
Class A Common Units
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding (in shares)		34,924	15,520	27,258	15,254

[1] Amounts for periods prior to the initial public offering have been retrospectively adjusted to give effect to 15.0 million shares of Class A common stock issued in the initial public offering and the Organizational Transactions described in Note 1.

[2] Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding have been adjusted for unvested restricted stock awards.