Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including, among others, those related to income taxes, the realizability of inventory, stock-based compensation, contingencies, revenue-related reserves, fair value measurements, goodwill, and useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, the macroeconomic environment in the United States and globally, as well as the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to the evolving and uncertain nature of COVID-19, it is reasonably possible that it could materially impact the Company’s estimates, particularly those noted above that require consideration of forecasted financial information, in the near to medium term. The ultimate impact will depend on numerous evolving factors that the Company may not be able to accurately predict, including the duration and extent of the pandemic, the impact of federal, state, local and foreign governmental actions, consumer behavior in response to the pandemic and other economic and operational conditions the Company may face. Comprehensive Loss The Company did not have any other comprehensive income or loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020. Accordingly, net loss and comprehensive loss are the same for the periods presented. Restricted Cash Restricted cash includes cash deposits required under letter of credit agreements as explained in Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies. As of September 30, 2020, restricted cash also includes a $26.1 million cash deposit required under the Company’s 2020 Vehicle Floorplan Facility as explained in Note 7 – Vehicle Floorplan Facilities. Advertising Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Advertising expenses were $14.6 million and $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $34.4 million and $44.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Shipping and Handling The Company’s logistics costs related to transporting its used vehicle inventory primarily include third-party transportation fees. The portion of these costs related to inbound transportation from the point of acquisition to the relevant reconditioning facility is included in cost of sales when the related used vehicle is sold. Logistics costs not included in cost of sales are accounted for as costs to fulfil contracts with customers and are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and were $4.3 million and $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $9.2 million and $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers The Company’s principal financial instruments subject to potential concentration of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable, which are unsecured. The Company’s cash balances are maintained at various large financial institutions. Deposits held with financial institutions may at times exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore, management believes they bear minimal risk. The Company’s cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds that hold investments in highly liquid US treasury securities. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally mitigated by a large customer base. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, no customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s revenues and no customer represented more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Liquidity The Company has had negative cash flows and losses from operations since inception which it has funded primarily through issuances of common and preferred stock. The Company has historically funded vehicle inventory purchases through a vehicle floorplan facility. As further discussed in Note 7 – Vehicle Floorplan Facilities, the Company entered into a new facility in March 2020 which increased the borrowing capacity up to $450.0 million. In October 2020, the Vehicle Floorplan Facility was amended to extend the maturity date to September 2022. Nonemployee Share-Based Payments On May 15, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with Rocket Auto LLC and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Rocket”) providing for the launch of an ecommerce platform under the “Rocket Auto” brand for the marketing and sale of vehicles directly to consumers (the “RA Agreement”). The Company will list its used vehicle inventory for sale on the Rocket Auto platform, but all sales of the Company’s inventory will be conducted through the Company’s platform. Rocket Auto is expected to launch publicly during the first quarter of the year ending December 31, 2021 and, during the term of the RA Agreement, Rocket has agreed to ensure that not less than a minimum percentage of all used vehicles sold or leased through the platform on a monthly basis will be Vroom inventory. The Company issued Rocket 183,870 shares of the Company’s common stock upon execution of the RA Agreement. The Company will pay Rocket a combination of cash and stock for vehicle sales made through the platform. Rocket may earn up to 8,641,914 shares of common stock over a four-year period based upon sales volume of Vroom inventory through the Rocket Auto platform. The Company accounts for the issuance of its common stock under the RA agreement in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, including the provisions that apply to share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. The Company determined that the grant date was May 15, 2020 for both the upfront shares issued and the additional shares that potentially are to be issued based on sales volume through the Rocket Auto platform. The fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date was determined to be $11.57 per share. The grant date fair value of the upfront shares issued was initially recognized as an asset within “Other assets” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, which will subsequently be amortized within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” over the term of the RA agreement commencing on the launch date. The grant date fair value of the potential shares to be issued will be recognized within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” as sales of Vroom’s inventory associated with the Rocket Auto platform occur and such shares are earned. Accounting Standards Adopted In February 2016, the FASB issued, ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends the accounting guidance on leases. The new standard requires a lessee to recognize right-of-use assets and lease obligations on the balance sheet for most lease agreements. Leases are classified as either operating or finance, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The FASB also subsequently issued amendments to the standard to provide additional practical expedients and an additional transition method option. The Company adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings (accumulated deficit) with no restatement of comparative periods. Upon adoption, the Company recognized $18.4 million of operating lease liabilities and $17.4 million of operating lease right-of-use assets. The adoption of Topic 842 did not result in a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit. Topic 842 provides various optional practical expedients for transition. The Company elected to utilize the package of practical expedients for transition which permitted the Company to not reassess its prior conclusions regarding whether a contract is or contains a lease, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine lease terms. Topic 842 also provides optional practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing lease accounting. The Company elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify and the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components of leases. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, related to updated requirements over the disclosures of fair value measurements. Under ASU 2018-13, certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements were eliminated, modified or added to facilitate better disclosure regarding recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020 which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial instruments, Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amends the guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by requiring measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for most financial assets, including trade receivables, and other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020 which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance including the elimination of certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including, among others, those related to income taxes, the realizability of inventory, stock-based compensation, contingencies, revenue-related reserves, fair value measurements, goodwill, and useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, the macroeconomic environment in the United States and globally, as well as the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to the evolving and uncertain nature of COVID-19, it is reasonably possible that it could materially impact the Company’s estimates, particularly those noted above that require consideration of forecasted financial information, in the near to medium term. The ultimate impact will depend on numerous evolving factors that the Company may not be able to accurately predict, including the duration and extent of the pandemic, the impact of federal, state, local and foreign governmental actions, consumer behavior in response to the pandemic and other economic and operational conditions the Company may face.

Comprehensive Loss

The Company did not have any other comprehensive income or loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020. Accordingly, net loss and comprehensive loss are the same for the periods presented.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash includes cash deposits required under letter of credit agreements as explained in Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies. As of September 30, 2020, restricted cash also includes a $26.1 million cash deposit required under the Company’s 2020 Vehicle Floorplan Facility as explained in Note 7 – Vehicle Floorplan Facilities.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Advertising expenses were $14.6 million and $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $34.4 million and $44.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Shipping and Handling

The Company’s logistics costs related to transporting its used vehicle inventory primarily include third-party transportation fees. The portion of these costs related to inbound transportation from the point of acquisition to the relevant reconditioning facility is included in cost of sales when the related used vehicle is sold. Logistics costs not included in cost of sales are accounted for as costs to fulfil contracts with customers and are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and were $4.3 million and $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $9.2 million and $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers

The Company’s principal financial instruments subject to potential concentration of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable, which are unsecured. The Company’s cash balances are maintained at various large financial institutions. Deposits held with financial institutions may at times exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore, management believes they bear minimal risk. The Company’s cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds that hold investments in highly liquid US treasury securities. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally mitigated by a large customer base.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, no customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s revenues and no customer represented more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2020.

Liquidity

The Company has had negative cash flows and losses from operations since inception which it has funded primarily through issuances of common and preferred stock. The Company has historically funded vehicle inventory purchases through a vehicle floorplan facility. As further discussed in Note 7 – Vehicle Floorplan Facilities, the Company entered into a new facility in March 2020 which increased the borrowing capacity up to $450.0 million. In October 2020, the Vehicle Floorplan Facility was amended to extend the maturity date to September 2022.

Nonemployee Share-Based Payments

On May 15, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with Rocket Auto LLC and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Rocket”) providing for the launch of an ecommerce platform under the “Rocket Auto” brand for the marketing and sale of vehicles directly to consumers (the “RA Agreement”). The Company will list its used vehicle inventory for sale on the Rocket Auto platform, but all sales of the Company’s inventory will be conducted through the Company’s platform. Rocket Auto is expected to launch publicly during the first quarter of the year ending December 31, 2021 and, during the term of the RA Agreement, Rocket has agreed to ensure that not less than a minimum percentage of all used vehicles sold or leased through the platform on a monthly basis will be Vroom inventory. The Company issued Rocket 183,870 shares of the Company’s common stock upon execution of the RA Agreement. The Company will pay Rocket a combination of cash and stock for vehicle sales made through the platform. Rocket may earn up to 8,641,914 shares of common stock over a four-year period based upon sales volume of Vroom inventory through the Rocket Auto platform.

The Company accounts for the issuance of its common stock under the RA agreement in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, including the provisions that apply to share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. The Company determined that the grant date was May 15, 2020 for both the upfront shares issued and the additional shares that potentially are to be issued based on sales volume through the Rocket Auto platform. The fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date was determined to be $11.57 per share. The grant date fair value of the upfront shares issued was initially recognized as an asset within “Other assets” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, which will subsequently be amortized within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” over the term of the RA agreement commencing on the launch date. The grant date fair value of the potential shares to be issued will be recognized within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” as sales of Vroom’s inventory associated with the Rocket Auto platform occur and such shares are earned.

Accounting Standards Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued, ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amends the accounting guidance on leases. The new standard requires a lessee to recognize right-of-use assets and lease obligations on the balance sheet for most lease agreements. Leases are classified as either operating or finance, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The FASB also subsequently issued amendments to the standard to provide additional practical expedients and an additional transition method option.

The Company adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings (accumulated deficit) with no restatement of comparative periods. Upon adoption, the Company recognized $18.4 million of operating lease liabilities and $17.4 million of operating lease right-of-use assets. The adoption of Topic 842 did not result in a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit.

Topic 842 provides various optional practical expedients for transition. The Company elected to utilize the package of practical expedients for transition which permitted the Company to not reassess its prior conclusions regarding whether a contract is or contains a lease, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine lease terms.

Topic 842 also provides optional practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing lease accounting. The Company elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify and the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components of leases.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, related to updated requirements over the disclosures of fair value measurements. Under ASU 2018-13, certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements were eliminated, modified or added to facilitate better disclosure regarding recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020 which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial instruments, Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amends the guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by requiring measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for most financial assets, including trade receivables, and other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020 which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance including the elimination of certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.