Shipping a Car You Bought Online or Out of State
Buying a car from another state used to mean a flight and a long drive home. Now it means arranging a carrier to collect the vehicle from a seller you may never meet. The transport part is routine; the part that catches buyers out is the sequence of inspection, payment, title and release. This guide walks through it from the moment you agree a price to the moment you sign for the car at your door.
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- Licensed and bonded brokerMC 1558624USDOT 4091281
- Insured carriers onlyAuthority and cargo insurance verified before every assignment
- Nationwide coverageDoor-to-door across the U.S., plus Hawaii and Alaska
- Real people, two languagesEnglish and Spanish support at (208) 500-0400
Who you are buying from changes the pickup
Private seller
The seller is the pickup contact. They need to be available during the pickup window, be reachable by phone, hand over a working key and sign the Bill of Lading. Agree with them in advance where the truck can meet; many residential streets cannot take a car hauler, and a seller who did not expect to drive to a parking lot may be unhappy on the day.
Dealer
Dealers release vehicles to carriers all the time. We confirm the release contact, the hours the lot is staffed and where the keys will be. Ask the dealer to have the car washed and fueled to about a quarter tank.
Online retailer or auction
Auctions require a gate pass or release document, the buyer number and often a specific pickup window before storage fees begin. Online retailers have their own release procedures. Send us everything the seller gives you and we will coordinate. Details are on our dealer and auction transport page.
The order of events that avoids problems
- Agree the price and verify the car. Ask for the VIN, a history report and recent photos. For a private sale or an older car, consider paying for an independent pre-purchase inspection at the seller’s location.
- Settle payment and title with the seller. The carrier will not collect a car the seller has not released, and will not act as an escrow service.
- Get a transport quote on the calculator with the seller’s ZIP code and yours. Describe the car accurately, including whether it runs.
- Book and give us the seller’s contact details as the pickup contact, plus any release documents.
- Carrier assignment and pickup. The driver contacts the seller, inspects the car, records its condition on the Bill of Lading and loads it. Ask the seller to send you a copy of the signed Bill of Lading and their own photos.
- Delivery. Inspect the car against the pickup report and the seller’s photos before you sign. Note anything new on the Bill of Lading.
- Register the car in your state with the title the seller provided.
The pickup inspection is not a pre-purchase inspection
The driver’s condition report records visible exterior damage so that transit damage can be distinguished from pre-existing damage. It does not assess the engine, transmission, electrical system or anything mechanical. If you want to know whether the car is mechanically sound before you commit, arrange a proper inspection before the carrier is dispatched. Once the car is loaded, cancelling the purchase means paying to ship it back.
Cars listed as not running or project cars
Online listings are not always accurate about running condition. Ask the seller directly: does it start, does it roll, does it steer? A car that needs a winch is a different booking from one that drives onto the trailer, and the most common failed pickup is a car that was booked as running and is not. See our inoperable vehicle shipping page.
Collector and high-value purchases
For a classic, an exotic or anything with low ground clearance, choose enclosed transport and tell us about clearance and modifications so the carrier brings a liftgate if needed. Ask about the carrier’s cargo coverage limit relative to what you paid. Our classic and exotic car shipping page covers it.
Delivery: what to check before you sign
- Compare the car to the seller’s photos and the pickup condition report, in daylight if possible.
- Check that the VIN on the car matches the VIN on your paperwork.
- Confirm the mileage is consistent with the listing plus a short loading distance.
- Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before signing and photograph it.
- Report transport damage to us within 24 hours as our terms require. Our insurance and claims guide explains the process.
Anything that is wrong with the car but was already wrong at pickup is a matter between you and the seller. Transit damage is a matter for the carrier’s insurer. The two inspection reports are what separate them.
Timing
From booking, expect one to five business days for carrier assignment and then transit based on distance, around a week for a coast-to-coast purchase. If the seller or auction has a deadline, tell us so we can set the pickup window accordingly, and see expedited shipping if the window is tight.
Arrange transport for your purchase
Run the seller’s ZIP code and yours through the instant quote calculator, or call (208) 500-0400 with the listing details and we will set up the pickup with the seller.
Frequently asked questions
Can the seller hand the car to the driver without me?
Yes, and that is the normal arrangement. The seller becomes the pickup contact, walks the car with the driver, agrees the condition report and signs the Bill of Lading. You receive the car and do the same at delivery. Give us the seller’s name and phone number when you book.
Should I pay the seller before or after the car is picked up?
That is between you and the seller, but the carrier will not collect a vehicle the seller is unwilling to release. Most private sales settle payment and title before pickup. If you want independent verification of the car’s condition before you pay, arrange a pre-purchase inspection; the carrier’s pickup inspection is a transport condition report, not a mechanical one.
Do I need the title or registration to ship the car?
Not for transport. The carrier needs a vehicle that is released by whoever has possession and a signed Bill of Lading. Title and registration are between you, the seller and your state’s motor vehicle agency. You do need to be the owner or authorized by the owner to book.
What if the car is not as described when the driver arrives?
The driver will record its condition on the Bill of Lading and load it unless it cannot be loaded or differs materially from the booking, for example a car booked as running that does not start. If you want a chance to cancel the purchase based on condition, do the inspection before the carrier is dispatched, not on pickup day.
Can you pick up from an online dealer or auction?
Yes. Dealers release vehicles to carriers routinely; auctions require a gate pass or release and the buyer number. Send us the release details and the location’s hours, and see our dealer and auction transport page for the specifics.
Related guides and services
- Dealer and auction transportPickups from dealers, auctions and wholesalers.
- Insurance and damage claimsThe delivery inspection and what to do if something is wrong.
- Non-running vehicle shippingProject cars and vehicles listed as not running.
- Classic and exotic car shippingEnclosed transport for collector purchases.