Follow us today...
Buying a pre-owned Rivian should feel like a shortcut to ownership, not an endurance test, yet one recent account in the Rivian Electric Vehicles Discussion group reads more like a cautionary memoir than a shopping experience.
The post is not written in anger so much as exhaustion, a month-long attempt to hand over a very large sum of money that ultimately collapsed under the weight of process gaps, opacity, and time.
The most jarring revelation is how little a buyer is allowed to know up front.
Pre-owned Rivians are listed with stock photos only, meaning the actual condition of the vehicle remains a mystery until after a deposit is placed or the buyer physically arrives for pickup. Scratches, dings, and wear are not disclosed beforehand.
For a premium vehicle, that lack of transparency immediately puts the buyer on uneven footing, especially when travel is required just to see what was purchased.
“LEARN FROM ME. Pre-owned buyers, may you learn from my many mistakes. After all this, I (oddly) still hope to one day own a Rivian, but after a *month* of begging them to take my money, it was nearly impossible to close any deal. People who live near dealerships seem to fare better.
CONDITION: You will not know the condition of the pre-owned until it's shipped from wherever it is to wherever you pick it up. You will only know about any cosmetic (scratches, dings, etc) after your deposit or arrival for pickup. Every pre-owned photo is stock.
AS-IS SALE: The "Rivian 137-point inspection" is not for you. You are not allowed to see the inspection report. They will not disclose any issues they find in the inspection report. You are allowed to hire an independent inspector, but they cannot drive the car anywhere. They will not make repairs. You must take possession, discover any existing issues, and then drive it to your service center to have it fixed. For me, a 13-hour drive from Miami to home, then 2.5 hours one way to a service center. They also don't clean the vehicle - you have to ask, and it's not a detail.
TIME: Leave plenty. Wherever the website says it is, it's not there, and the person you're talking to has no idea where it is. A week after putting a deposit on a pre-owned in Miami, I was told it's actually in Atlanta, and they had no idea when it would get to Miami, so I had no way to book flights/travel from NC. Leave 4 weeks bare minimum.
SHIPPING: You have to be in person to take possession of pre-owneds. They will not allow shipping unless you pitch a fit, but see #2 for risks associated. They will not ship pre-owns to different Rivian sites even if you pay. Whatever is listed on the website is where you have to travel to.
COMMUNICATION: No one likes a car lot, but at the traditional dealership, you can walk in and out in a day. Rivian is very siloed. After you talk to a "Guide," you will be passed off to a number of people who don't know what the last said. Communication is 100% text, which can become overwhelming when you need to travel far or just need a simple answer.
PICK-UP: Roll the dice. This is common, no matter whether new or used, but stories abound of people traveling far for pick-up and it still not being ready. So add plans for overnight stays if you're coming from a distance.
Ultimately, for me, it became so stressful trying to buy a pre-owned that I switched to a lease and finally found a "Guide" who was truly helpful, but even he couldn't make it happen. Another deposit and a week went by without Financing ever touching my file to approve me. The next day, I was having surgery and was out of time. I was truly disappointed that I didn't start 2026 with the car I wanted so bad, but I also couldn't ignore the many red flags - enough to knit a sweater. If it was this hard to give them $80,000 cash, I can't imagine what it would be like after I drove off the lot.
Rivian, I'm still rooting for you. I genuinely hope you get your act together. Being an industry disruptor is not an easy job, but if you are going to subtract out convenience, you can't erase the human element of the entire process with it. There is far too much competition in a struggling auto economy to make a customer beg to buy.
Maybe 2027 will be my year, and I hope any part of this saves the next person from some grief. This page has been invaluable in getting a behind-the-scenes look at ownership.”
That imbalance deepens with Rivian’s “as-is” policy. The much-touted 137-point inspection exists, but not for the customer. The report is not shared, issues found are not disclosed, and Rivian will not preemptively repair anything identified. Buyers may hire an independent inspector, but that inspector is prohibited from driving the vehicle. In practice, this means the buyer must accept the car first, then discover problems later, then schedule service separately. In this case, that would have meant a 13-hour drive home followed by a 2.5-hour trip to the nearest service center. The inspection becomes symbolic rather than protective.
Rivian R1T: Storage Features & Interior Design
- The R1T’s footprint sits between midsize and full-size pickups, making it easier to place on narrow roads while limiting bed length and rear-seat space compared with traditional crew-cab trucks.
- Air suspension and independent rear geometry prioritize ride comfort and stability on pavement, though the setup feels less suited to sustained heavy payloads.
- Unique storage features like the Gear Tunnel and frunk enhance everyday usability, but introduce additional mechanical and sealing complexity over a conventional pickup layout.
- The cabin blends rugged materials with a clean, screen-focused interface, emphasizing durability and design cohesion over extensive physical controls.
Time, or more accurately, the lack of reliable timelines, proved to be another breaking point. Vehicles listed in one city may actually be located in another, sometimes only revealed after a deposit is placed. In this instance, a car listed in Miami turned out to be in Atlanta, with no clear estimate for when it might arrive. That uncertainty makes planning flights, hotels, or time off work nearly impossible. The poster advises leaving at least four weeks of buffer, a remarkable ask in an era when traditional dealerships can often complete a sale in a single day.
Shipping, often assumed to be a simple paid option, is tightly restricted. Rivian generally requires in-person pickup for pre-owned vehicles and will not ship them between Rivian locations even if the buyer offers to cover the cost. Exceptions reportedly require significant escalation, and even then come with added risk due to the inability to inspect or test-drive the vehicle beforehand. The buyer is effectively locked into whatever location the website lists, regardless of distance.
Communication style compounds the friction. After initial contact with a Rivian “Guide,” buyers are often passed between departments, each siloed and seemingly unaware of prior conversations. Communication is largely handled via text, which works for simple updates but becomes frustrating when complex travel logistics, financing questions, or timing issues arise. The lack of a single accountable point of contact makes the process feel fragmented and impersonal.
Pickup day itself is described as another gamble. Even after traveling long distances, buyers may find the vehicle is not ready, forcing unplanned overnight stays. While this is not unique to Rivian, the stakes feel higher when the entire process has already been stretched thin. By this point, goodwill is often depleted.
The poster abandoned the pre-owned route and attempted to lease instead, only to encounter further delays. Another deposit was placed, financing stalled for over a week without action, and then life intervened in the form of scheduled surgery. With time exhausted and red flags piling up, the deal collapsed entirely. The most telling line may be this: if it was this difficult to give Rivian $80,000, what would ownership be like after delivery?
Responses from the community show that experiences vary widely. Some owners report smooth, fast transactions with real photos, free in-state shipping, and clear communication. Others suggest bypassing Rivian entirely and purchasing through experienced third-party dealers who allow inspections and even home delivery. That inconsistency may be the core issue. A process that works beautifully for some and disastrously for others is not yet a mature one.
What lingers is not bitterness, but disappointment paired with hope. The buyer still wants a Rivian and is still rooting for the company. The criticism is not about the vehicle, but about the erosion of trust caused by friction, opacity, and poor coordination. In a crowded and competitive EV market, asking customers to beg to buy is a dangerous strategy.
For prospective pre-owned Rivian buyers, this story serves as a realistic counterweight to glossy listings. Go in with time, flexibility, and backup plans. Consider third-party dealers and independent inspections. And understand that until Rivian’s used-car process becomes more transparent and predictable, the biggest challenge may not be affording the truck, but navigating the road to ownership.
Image Sources: Rivian Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
Follow us today...
