Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Aug. 10, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38839
Entity Registrant Name	Shift Technologies, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	82-5325852
Entity Address, Address Line One	290 Division Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94103-4893
City Area Code	855
Local Phone Number	575-6739
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	SFT
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		16,999,021
Entity Central Index Key	0001762322
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023