Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Revisions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest											$ (249,980)	$ (199,269)	$ (101,475)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (41,133)	$ (30,088)	$ (20,323)	$ (23,115)	$ (22,426)	$ (16,042)	$ (9,965)	$ (7,043)			(114,659)	(55,476)	(62,841)
Net loss attributable to Class A common stockholders											(114,659)	(61,062)	$ (64,491)
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.56)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.50)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.53)
Accumulated deficit	$ (183,034)				$ (68,375)						(183,034)	(68,375)
Non-controlling interests	93,827				147,742						93,827	147,742
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Carvana Co.	$ 98,112				79,686						$ 98,112	79,686
Error in Allocation of Net Loss Between Reporting Entity and Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ (8,900)	$ (6,300)	$ (5,400)					$ (11,700)	$ (20,700)		(6,300)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent		8,900	6,300	5,400					11,700	20,700		6,300
Net loss attributable to Class A common stockholders		$ 8,900	$ 6,300	$ 5,400					$ 11,700	$ 20,700		$ 6,300
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.13					$ 0.27	$ 0.45		$ 0.21
Accumulated deficit		$ 26,900	$ 18,000	$ 11,700	6,300				$ 18,000	$ 26,900		$ 6,300
Non-controlling interests		(26,900)	(18,000)	(11,700)	(6,300)				(18,000)	(26,900)		(6,300)
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Carvana Co.		$ 26,900	$ 18,000	$ 11,700	$ 6,300				$ 18,000	$ 26,900		$ 6,300