At a glance

- Availability
- Affordability
- Customer Experience
- Transparency
About Shift
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Loan amount
up to $80,000
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Min. credit score
Varies by lender
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APR from
Varies by lender
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Funds available in
Varies by lender
Loan amount
up to $80,000
Min. credit score
Varies by lender
APR from
Varies by lender
Funds available in
Varies by lender
Like similar online car-buying platforms, Shift simplifies the car buying process by letting you find the perfect vehicle and secure financing from the comfort of your home. If you're comfortable navigating forms online (or perhaps prefer it to a face-to-face application experience), Shift might appeal to you. Buyers also enjoy direct delivery, so there’s no need to spend hours at the dealership. And the registration process is also handled in-house, saving you even more time.
Convenient
Prequalification available
Return period
Non-negotiable prices
Service and delivery fees
Selling not available in every state
Shift does not disclose eligibility criteria for auto loans as it varies by lender. So, you won’t find a minimum credit score or income requirement online. Instead, you’ll need to get prequalified online to view your rates from Shift’s lending partners. The process is simple, takes just 60 seconds and won’t impact your credit score.
Shift does state that it serves customers “of all credit profiles,” including those with poor or minimal credit history.
Carvana is another one-stop shop that simplifies the car buying process and claims to make loans accessible to borrowers from varying credit backgrounds. Also like Shift, Carvana features a seven-day money-back guarantee and coverage options to help protect your investment. But its loan terms range from 12 to 72 months, whereas your options with Shift start at 36 months. And you can avoid delivery fees by opting to pick your vehicle from a Carvana car vending machine instead of having it delivered to your home.
On the other hand, you’ll generally have to make a down payment to purchase a vehicle — while this is an option with Shift, it’s not clear if it’s required.
Vroom also makes it easier to buy a car and secure financing without visiting the dealership. Vroom also offers vehicle delivery; your car will be shipped to a nearby location or delivered to your home. Borrowers can get approved for a loan the same day they apply — not all of Shift’s lenders offer this perk. Furthermore, new cars are available for purchase on the platform. And there’s a 90-day/6,000 mile limited warranty on vehicle purchases — a far more generous offer than the 30-day/1,000-mile powertrain warranty Shift offers. Check out our full Shift versus Vroom comparison for more details.
The convenience of front-door delivery carries some downsides.
Drivers can call Shift customer support at 855-744-3873 from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT. The Shift help center also answers common queries related to buying, selling or financing your next vehicle purchase.
This California-based online dealer does not directly offer vehicle financing for its used vehicles but rather helps drivers match with its partners: Chase Bank, U.S. Bank, Ally Auto, TD Bank, Bank of America and Westlake Financial. Shift will also buy your vehicle, with online offers available in as little as two minutes. This program is only available in certain areas of the country, near the Shift hubs. To determine if you qualify, enter your license plate and state of residence in step one of the online quote process.
Specific rates will vary by chosen lender. Loan terms range between 36 to 72 months based on the auto loan calculator available on Shift’s site. Vehicles can be financed for up to $80,000. Most competitive rates will be offered to drivers with strong credit backgrounds.
The Shift car buying process can be done completely online — from order to delivery.
Shift offers extensive customer support to consumers. You’ll have access to a dedicated financial advisor to assist you throughout the lending process.
Borrowers also have the option to purchase a protection plan to provide coverage beyond the 30-day, 1,000 mile limited warranty. There are four options to choose from:
Each plan also includes 24/7 roadside assistance and free towing, battery jumps, locksmith services, rental car reimbursement, flat tire changes and emergency fuel.
You won’t incur application fees or origination fees when applying for auto loan financing with Shift. And the lenders in the network do not assess prepayment penalties if you decide to pay the loan off early.
However, buyers are charged a service fee and shipping fee. The amount varies by the purchase price, your address and the state where the car is purchased. Also, expect to pay local state sales tax along with the registration and documentation fee to file the required paperwork with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state.
Overall Score | 3.8 | |
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Availability | 3.8 | While Shift shares repayment terms and maximum loan amount, other undisclosed specifics leave it with a middle-tier score. |
Affordability | 3.4 | High potential delivery and service fees and undisclosed APRs lower what would be a high score based on generous acceptance criteria. |
Customer Experience | 3.4 | Shift only offers weekday support during normal business hours. |
Transparency | 4.5 | Shift encourages loan prequalification and discloses some potential fees on its site. |
Bankrate considers 18 data points when selecting top auto loans. Acceptance criteria, whether rates and fees are available and APR range all influence lender scores. These scores are broken up into four categories.