Dealer car shipping can help buyers move a newly purchased vehicle from a dealership to their home or another destination without traveling to pick it up themselves. It can be especially useful when purchasing from an out-of-state dealer or finding the exact vehicle you want several hundred miles away.
The process is easier to coordinate when the dealership, buyer, and transportation provider all have accurate pickup, release, vehicle, and contact information.
How Does Dealer Car Shipping Work?
Dealer car shipping typically begins after the purchase is complete and the dealership confirms that the vehicle can be released.
Transportation planning usually requires:
- Year, make, and model
- Dealership name
- Pickup address
- Delivery location
- Dealer contact information
- Operating condition
- Preferred pickup dates
- Open or enclosed carrier preference
The transportation provider should also know about modifications or other vehicle characteristics that could affect loading.
What Information Is Needed for Dealer Vehicle Transport?
Accurate information makes dealer vehicle transport easier to coordinate.
Before scheduling, confirm:
- Correct dealership address
- Appropriate dealership contact
- Vehicle location
- Vehicle identification information
- Release status
- Available keys
- Pickup hours
- Delivery information
Large dealerships may have separate sales, service, storage, and vehicle-delivery areas. Make sure the carrier receives the correct pickup instructions.
How Should You Arrange Dealer Car Shipping?
Before arranging dealer car shipping, make sure the purchase and vehicle-release process is sufficiently complete for transportation.
Confirm with the dealership that:
- The vehicle is ready for release.
- Required paperwork has been completed.
- The appropriate employee knows about the pickup.
- Keys will be available.
- The carrier can access the vehicle.
- Pickup hours are known.
Clear communication can prevent a carrier from arriving before the dealership is prepared to release the automobile.
Can a Dealer Ship a Car to Another State?
Vehicles purchased from dealerships can often be transported across state lines depending on the transportation arrangements.
This can be useful when a buyer:
- Finds a better vehicle selection elsewhere
- Purchases from an out-of-state dealer
- Buys a specialty automobile
- Locates a particular trim or configuration
- Purchases remotely
For interstate dealer vehicle shipping, provide accurate origin and destination information when requesting transportation.
Open vs. Enclosed Dealer Car Shipping
Carrier selection is another consideration when arranging dealer car shipping.
When Does Open Auto Transport Make Sense?
Open carriers are widely used for vehicle transportation and may be appropriate for many dealership purchases.
They commonly transport:
- Sedans
- Crossovers
- SUVs
- Pickup trucks
- Minivans
- Other passenger vehicles
Automobiles on open carriers experience normal outdoor weather and road exposure during transportation.
When Should You Consider Enclosed Auto Transport?
Enclosed transportation places the automobile inside a covered trailer, reducing direct exposure to outside weather and normal road conditions.
A buyer may consider enclosed transportation for a:
- Luxury vehicle
- Exotic automobile
- Collector car
- Classic vehicle
- Specialty automobile
- High-quality restored car
Carrier choice should be based on the particular automobile and the buyer’s priorities.
What Should the Dealership Do Before Pickup?
The dealership should know that a transportation provider will be arriving for the automobile.
Before dealer car shipping, make sure the appropriate dealer contact has:
- Vehicle information
- Expected pickup arrangements
- Buyer information when required
- Keys
- Release authorization
- Transportation contact information
The automobile should also be accessible when the carrier arrives.
Should You Request Photos Before Dealer Vehicle Shipping?
If you’re buying remotely, recent photographs can provide useful documentation before dealer vehicle shipping begins.
Ask for images showing:
- Front
- Rear
- Both sides
- Roof
- Wheels
- Windshield
- Interior
- Existing marks or damage
For a used automobile, condition photographs can be especially helpful when you haven’t inspected the vehicle personally.
Keep those images available until delivery.
Does Vehicle Size Affect Dealer Car Transport?
Yes. Vehicle dimensions and weight can affect transportation planning.
A compact sedan requires different carrier space than a full-size pickup or large SUV.
Tell the provider about:
- Oversized tires
- Lift kits
- Roof accessories
- Suspension modifications
- Custom body components
- Other significant changes
Accurate vehicle information helps with dealer car transport before pickup.
Can a Used Car Be Shipped From a Dealership?
Yes, depending on the transportation arrangements. The basic planning process is similar whether the automobile is new or pre-owned.
For a used vehicle, however, condition documentation can be particularly useful.
Confirm the:
- Current condition
- Operating status
- Existing exterior damage
- Available keys
- Pickup contact
- Release status
This information can make dealer car shipping easier to coordinate for a pre-owned purchase.
What If the Vehicle Doesn’t Run?
Tell the transportation provider before scheduling.
Instead of simply saying the automobile is non-running, determine whether it:
- Starts
- Rolls
- Steers
- Brakes
- Has inflated tires
- Has damaged suspension
A vehicle that doesn’t start but rolls normally presents a different situation from one with locked wheels or significant mechanical damage.
How Does Dealership Access Affect Vehicle Shipping?
Dealerships generally have vehicle-access areas, but the carrier still needs the correct location and instructions.
Large dealerships may have:
- Multiple entrances
- Separate storage lots
- Service departments
- Off-site inventory
- Restricted loading areas
Make sure the transportation provider knows exactly where the automobile is located.
Accurate instructions can prevent unnecessary delays during dealer vehicle transport.
How Much Does Dealer Car Shipping Cost?
There isn’t one universal price for transporting a dealership purchase.
Pricing can depend on:
- Transportation distance
- Route
- Vehicle size
- Operating condition
- Pickup and delivery locations
- Carrier availability
- Open or enclosed transportation
- Seasonal demand
The actual automobile and requested route should be used when obtaining a transportation quote.
How Does Distance Affect Dealer Vehicle Shipping?
Distance affects transportation, but mileage isn’t the only factor determining timing.
Schedules can also depend on:
- Route
- Carrier availability
- Dealership pickup hours
- Delivery location
- Weather
- Traffic
- Construction
- Other scheduled stops
Long-distance dealer vehicle shipping generally requires more transit time, but mileage alone shouldn’t be used to promise an exact delivery date.
What Happens When the Carrier Arrives?
The dealership should have the automobile accessible and ready for release.
The appropriate employee should know about the pickup and have the necessary keys and information available.
If the buyer won’t be present, make sure the dealership and transportation provider have accurate contact information for each other.
Good communication is one of the simplest ways to make dealer car shipping easier to coordinate.
Can Weather Affect Dealer Car Transport?
Yes. Auto carriers travel on public highways and can encounter rain, snow, ice, severe storms, high winds, traffic, accidents, construction, and road closures.
These conditions can affect transportation schedules.
Weather and highway conditions should therefore be considered when planning dealer car transport, especially for longer interstate shipments.
What Should You Check at Delivery?
When the vehicle arrives, compare it with available pre-transport photographs and applicable transportation documentation.
Inspect:
- Body panels
- Wheels
- Glass
- Roof
- Exterior accessories
- Existing marks
- Previously documented damage
If you purchased remotely, delivery may be one of your first opportunities to inspect the automobile in person.
Keeping dealership photographs available can provide a useful reference.
How Do You Choose a Dealer Car Transport Provider?
Price is important, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration when arranging dealer car shipping.
Make sure the transportation provider has accurate information about the automobile, dealership, release status, pickup location, destination, and preferred timing.
Consumers can research motor carrier information through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and transportation information through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Webster Hauling also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Dealer Car Shipping FAQs
Can a Dealership Release My Car Directly to a Carrier?
Depending on the dealership’s procedures, the automobile may be released directly to the transportation provider. Confirm the dealer’s requirements before pickup.
Can I Ship a New Car From Another State?
Depending on the purchase and transportation arrangements, an out-of-state dealership purchase can be transported to your requested destination.
Can a Used Dealer Vehicle Be Transported?
Yes, depending on the arrangements. Confirm the automobile’s condition, release status, keys, pickup contact, and accessibility before scheduling dealer car shipping.
Do I Have to Be at the Dealership?
Not necessarily. Depending on the dealership’s procedures, an authorized employee may be able to release the automobile without the buyer being physically present.
Should I Get Photos Before the Carrier Arrives?
Recent photographs can provide useful condition documentation, particularly when buying a used vehicle remotely.
For additional answers about transportation, visit Webster Hauling’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Plan Your Dealer Car Shipping
Successful dealer car shipping starts with coordination between the buyer, dealership, and transportation provider.
Confirm the vehicle’s release status, pickup contact, operating condition, carrier access, destination, and preferred dates before transportation begins.
Webster Hauling helps customers coordinate transportation for vehicles purchased from dealerships and other sellers.
Having complete pickup and vehicle information ready can make an out-of-state dealership purchase much easier to coordinate.
