Shipping a Car after Buying It Online: What You Need to Know

Online shopping for vehicles has made car buying easier than ever before. Millions of customers screen new vehicle/purchase options from the comfort of their homes.

Platforms like Carvana, eBay Motors, and dedicated dealership websites often provide comprehensive listings of vehicles for sale across the country. By eliminating the need to travel to visit inventories in person, customers usually have better purchasing options for their car of choice and enjoy savings compared to local purchases.

However, once you finalize the online transaction, another critical concern awaits you: how to ship a car bought online to your front door. Most people don’t realize that purchasing the vehicle itself is the easy part.

Depending on the seller, preparing for the long-distance transport of an online vehicle purchase can lead to delays, additional fees, and risk to the car and the buyer. Whether through a website or a dealership, you need to use a reliable website for car purchases.

Professional carriers, such as Preowned Auto Logistics, take the worry out of vehicle transport after online purchases, ensuring your vehicle arrives in great shape and on time. Want to know how it works and what to look for? Read on.

How Does Shipping Work After an Online Car Purchase?

Online vehicle transport refers to the process of transporting a vehicle purchased online, involving the buyer, seller, and auto transport company from contract signing until delivery. Let’s go through the basic process step-by-step.

Step 1: Secure your purchase details

After confirming the transaction on a digital sales platform or online shopping site, the buyer must gather the necessary documents before contacting an auto transport company. These documents include a purchase receipt, VIN, pick-up point, location of delivery, contract copy, and possibly another contract variant, plus one or two other necessary documents.

Online retailing companies, such as Carvana or Vroom, where the buyer purchases the unit,,will have all the information in one file ready to be downloaded on the buyer’s device post-transaction confirmation. If the purchase was from a private seller, the buyer may not have a copy of the VIN and/or the pick-up point address yet. The buyer will need to touch base with the seller again to obtain this information and confirm whether a specific version of the contract is required for pick-up.

Step 2: Choose and book your transport company

Contacting multiple licensed auto transport companies to compete for a quote is generally not advisable. The buyer must provide all relevant vehicle information, including locations for both ends, a preferred pick-up date, and their preferred transport option, to a single transport company. Transporting vehicles bought through digital sales platforms is basically all Preowned Auto Logistics does for a living, and they do it well. They know precisely how to handle everything between buyer and seller to get the car to online buyers safely.

Just reach out to the transport company first to get a quote. After discussing the options, a call will be made to book the service, followed by a quick call to the seller to finalize the necessary details. The booking will start with a full unit description including recommended best practices for providing info, pick-up and drop-off addresses, exact date or date range, and preferred transport option(s).

Step 3: Pre-transport inspection and documentation

At pick-up, the auto transport service provider’s representative will thoroughly inspect the vehicle’s exterior, interior, and undercarriage, capturing every scratch, dent, and blemish using photos, handwritten notes, and version-specific reports. This process is essential for both seller and buyer to prevent liability disputes over pre-existing vehicle damage.

Depending on the owner’s specific situation, they may have to arrange for the inspection and sending of photos. The driver will prepare a Bill of Lading, which includes information about the vehicle, shipping route, transport option, and Latin-spoken terms, serving as a receipt, shipping contract, and condition report.

Step 4: Transit and tracking

A reputable auto transport company will regularly provide tracking information and shipment updates. To avoid being surprised due to incorrect place estimates, transport companies use satellite tracking technology to provide real-time updates. They will also have communication tools to offer buyers accurate information regarding the location of a car at any time.

Transit duration typically ranges from one to ten days, depending on the origin and destination states and whether the transport route covers multiple states. Understanding the time frame may be crucial for buyers, as occasionally digital marketplaces offer promotions that discount transport fees to specific resale markets.

Step 5: Delivery and final inspection

 Upon arrival, you conduct a final inspection comparing the vehicle’s current condition to the pre-transport documentation. Any discrepancies get noted on the Bill of Lading before you sign for receipt. Professional companies carry comprehensive insurance to cover potential transport-related damage.

The coordination between buyer, seller, and transport company requires clear communication and proper timing. Online sellers familiar with shipping arrangements often streamline this process, while private sellers may need additional guidance to ensure smooth pick-up logistics.

Choosing the Right Shipping Method: Open vs. Enclosed Transport

Your choice of transport directly affects the cost and level of protection you receive when buying a car online. Knowing what makes each option different can guide you in determining what best suits your car’s condition and value, as well as your budget. Weigh your priorities.

Open transport: The most popular choice

In an open vehicle transport, cars are loaded on an open-air, multi-level car carrier – the same trucks that transport new vehicles to dealerships. This option moves around 90% of all car transport shipments in the United States because they are more readily available and easier to book.

Advantages of open transport:

• Cheaper (generally 40-60% less than enclosed)

• More carriers available, making it faster to schedule

• Shorter shipment times for the busiest routes

• Works for most vehicles in good, drivable condition

Downsides of open transport:

•    Vehicles are exposed to the elements and road debris

•    No cover from dirt, rain, snow, or dust during transit

•    No extra security features beyond strapping cars down

•    Not suitable for luxury, vintage, or exotic cars

Enclosed transport: premium protection

In enclosed car shipping, vehicles are loaded into a fully covered trailer that protects them from the weather, debris, and prying eyes. In 2023, the U.S. revenue-based market size of the vehicle shipping services industry was $9.9 billion. While only a small fraction of all vehicle shipping, there is a steady demand for enclosed shipping among people who own classic, luxury, or exotic vehicles.

Advantages of enclosed transport:

•    Complete protection from wind, rain, snow, and road debris

•        More security and protection from theft

•    Opportunities for climate-controlled transport

•    Preferred shipping method by insurance companies for high-value cars

Considerations for enclosed transport:

•    More expensive (typically 40-60% higher than open transport)

•    Fewer carriers available, especially for cross-country or rural routes

•    Requires more lead time to schedule

•    Generally increases actual shipment time

Making the right choice

Use enclosed transport for high-value or unique vehicles worth $50,000 or more, such as classics, exotics, or those with special finishes or alterations. Open transport is generally sufficient for ordinary, reliable vehicles, vehicles under manufacturer warranty that may require transport, and offers the most economical solution for remote or long-distance shipments.

Key Considerations before Shipping Your Online Purchase

Car shipping after an online sale requires several critical considerations to ensure a smooth transport process. Addressing these issues before finalizing transport arrangements will help you avoid delays, surprise costs, and unexpected complications.

Verify seller location and pick-up logistics.

Before arranging for transport, confirm the actual pick-up location with the seller. Many online vehicle sales platforms deliver purchased units to a central hub for distribution rather than to the premises of an individual seller. Knowing whether the seller actually has a vehicle on-site will aid in determining appropriate pick-up timeframes and available carrier options. Sometimes, private sellers have the car stored at a location other than the address advertised, which can jeopardize the pick-up if that location becomes known to the transport carrier.

Additionally, rural or out-of-the-way pick-up or drop-off locations may incur extra fees or necessitate special arrangements, such as using a local place to accept or drop off the vehicle. Carriers generally drive large transport trucks that cannot maneuver down narrow residential streets or through areas with low overpass clearances. Address these issues upfront to prevent delays when the car arrives, as company policy may not allow carrier drivers the latitude to make changes and adjustments once shipments are en route.

Prepare the vehicle for transport.

Before your transport company drives away with your vehicle, you must meet specific requirements regarding vehicle condition. New vehicle deliveries require the car to drive, with working brakes, steering, and lights, for transport pick-up to occur. Inoperative vehicles require special tracking and have additional transport fees ranging from 25%-50%.

Most transport companies require that fuel tanks be at or below 1/4 full to reduce weight and fire hazards. No additional fees are assessed for this option, but the same may not apply with other shipping firms. It is in your best interest to ensure that fuel tank levels and staffed ground guides assist with all loading and unloading.

Select licensed and insured transport companies.

You can verify a transport company’s licensing and ensure it has adequate insurance by checking with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration www.fmcsa.dot.gov. With over 2 million registered carriers on file, the FMCSA has a well-established organizational infrastructure for any carrier service, from a private household move to an entire auto dealership shipment. You can check a company’s operating authority under its DOT number and MC authority.

Legitimate transport companies will provide you with their two-letter code, which identifies the type of transport service and the current status. Inquire about the transport company’s active insurance certificate, including liability and cargo insurance limits. Quotes that come in suspiciously lower than the norm, such as $599 versus the average of $899, are troublesome.

Coordinate timing with your schedule.

Be flexible with all timing issues involved in transport, including pick-up, delivery, and potentially some follow-up. Popular routes, such as California to Florida, may have trucks running almost daily, while less-traveled areas may need a 1-2 week lead time from the entry order date of the vehicle in question. Carriers may offer options for you to choose pick-up and delivery dates, either as soon as possible or within a timeframe that suits you. However, shipping times are rarely guaranteed.

With certain exceptions, the preferred ‘no holds’ time frame may be close to the usual time that it takes carriers to navigate traffic. To comment further, avoid holding times around the beginning and end of the month and holiday schedules.

Prepare for additional costs.

The quoted pick-up and delivery quote is not the final total amount you may face. Be prepared for additional costs like these:

•    For urgent delivery, plan to pay 25%-50% premium to expedite transport. Most carriers offer door-to-door auto transport, with transit times varying based on the total mileage and the time required for different load/unload locations.

•    Remote location pick-ups/drop-offs incur extra fees. Expect anywhere from $50.00 to $200 if your transport pick-up or drop-off locations are expected to incur travel frustration.

•    Carrier drivers may need to wait for you at pick-up or drop-off locations if your vehicle is not ready or if nobody is there to take a delivered vehicle or drop it off. In these cases, you may expect additional charges at the hourly rate after a 10 or 15-minute wait.

Pros and Cons of Shipping a Car Bought Online

Understanding the pros and cons of shipping an online vehicle purchase can help you figure out how to move forward, prepare for the shipping process, and set realistic expectations about what will happen in transit.

Pros: Why using a professional auto transport service may make sense

 Convenient door-to-door service

Using a professional auto transport service means you don’t have to go on a cross-country road trip to pick up your new car. You don’t have to spend time on the road driving thousands of miles to get your vehicle. You won’t have to take time off work or spend money on flights and hotels for the round trip. And you won’t have to hire someone to drive the vehicle. The car gets delivered to your home or office, which can be a massive benefit if you can’t take a few days off work to make the trip.

Avoids long-distance travel risks

Driving an unfamiliar vehicle for days through thousands of miles presents a lot of potential stress and danger: mechanical problems, accidents, mishaps, getting stuck in bad weather or traffic, and more. While around 55-60% of car buyers begin their shopping journey online, a significant amount of in-store shopping still takes place. For those making a substantial investment in their new acquisition, using a trusted car carrier service can alleviate the worry. It offers professional handling and insurance coverage.

Professional handling and insurance protection

Transport companies are licensed and bonded. The drivers are trained professionals accustomed to safely loading and unloading vehicles, managing temperature changes, tying down cars properly, distributing weight evenly, and driving carefully. You will also benefit from the transport carrier’s insurance coverage against damage while the vehicle is in transit. This coverage doesn’t extend when you drive the car home yourself. Professional transport drivers are trained to follow loading, tie-down, and weight-distribution methods that help avoid shipping-related damage. It reduces wear and tear on your new vehicle.

Reduces vehicle wear and mileage

Using an auto transport company can help you save wear and tear by avoiding the thousands of miles you’d otherwise drive your new vehicle. This could be particularly desirable for luxury cars, collector cars, or low-mileage vehicles where each additional mile takes away a bit of value. It can be worth spending money to ship the car home instead of piling up miles, and the savings in wear and tear on tires, brakes, and mechanical work may offset a good part of the shipping cost. It enables you to shop more broadly. Using a professional shipping service means the market for car buying is no longer limited to a 150- to 300-mile radius around your home.

Cons: Downsides to keep in mind

Additional cost to purchase price

Shipping a car can add anywhere from $500 to $2,500 (or more) to your total out-of-pocket cost, depending on the distance and method of shipping your new car. It’s vital to factor shipping costs into your overall budget to ensure it’s something you can afford and makes sense before proceeding with your purchase.

Requires multi-party coordination

Once you’ve arranged to ship your car, you must ensure that the buyer, the car dealership, and the transport company are all on the same schedule. Any issues with coordinating schedules among the buyer, seller, and transporter can lead to delays if one party isn’t informed or cannot meet expected time frames. A private seller may not be as savvy about the transport process and may need more hand-holding to ensure arrangements go smoothly.

Limited control over timing

Transport companies have a schedule to keep that includes picking up and dropping off multiple vehicles in multiple locations. Your pick-up and drop-off schedule may not align with that of the carrier you choose, especially if demand is high, if there is no demand for that route, or if adding on an extra stop is not possible. In addition, various factors – including high or low demand, extreme weather, mechanical issues, road conditions, etc. – can impact the timing of loading and unloading your vehicle.

Potential for transport-related issues

Although damage and delays are unlikely, they can occur when using a transport service, even with a professional driver. Damage may occur, and contractors may delay pick-up/drop-off times. Dealerships and car sellers often prefer in-person pick-ups because they believe it ensures their cars are handled more carefully. They hand customers the keys, and the customers drive their new vehicle away. If things change, such as weather, road conditions, or your car not starting, the customer is forced to deal with it.

Why Choose Preowned Auto Logistics for Your Online Car Shipping

When buying a car online, the auto transport service provider you choose can make or break your purchase. Choose wisely, and your vehicle arrives on schedule and in the same condition it was picked up. Choose wrong, and you may find your online purchase spiraling into a logistical nightmare of delays and lack of communication. Preowned Auto Logistics has the knowledge, experience, and reliability needed to meet the unique shipping needs of online car purchases.

Specialized online purchase expertise

At Preowned Auto Logistics, we understand that online car purchase shipping presents specific challenges. That is why we have longstanding relationships with major online retailers, dealerships, and private sellers across the country. More importantly, we recognize that many sellers have no prior experience with transport logistics. By assuring your seller that we will manage the pick-up process, we ensure smooth coordination, detailed communication on the status of your shipment, and a stress-free experience.

Comprehensive Service Options

Whether your newly purchased vehicle requires the protection of enclosed transport or not, Preowned Auto Logistics offers both to meet your logistics needs. Enclosed transport is available for vehicles that need the extra protection of climate-controlled service. This service is ideal for luxury vehicles, classic cars, or those that require additional protection during transport.

Because Preowned Auto Logistics car shipping includes door-to-door service as standard, you do not need to worry about either dropping off or picking up your vehicle at a transport terminal. Our professional drivers will speak with you about preferred delivery times and will do everything they can to accommodate them. 

Fully licensed and insured

By law, you, as the shipper, have to book transport services with either a carrier or a licensed broker. When booking with a carrier, you may find that the driver is not the owner and that the owner is not listed in the carrier’s insurance policy.

Similarly, when booking with a broker, insurance may not cover the vehicle’s full value, and in the event of a problem, the process for filing a claim may be unclear. Preowned Auto Logistics only books transport jobs with licensed carriers. We have complete federal licensing and bonding and carry an insurance policy that fully covers the value of your vehicle during transport.

Preowned Auto Logistics will explain our policies and the process for filing a claim, should one be necessary, before booking your job.

Honest pricing and communication

Detailed quotes are provided that explain all potential fees. There are no hidden costs, and you will never be ambushed by additional amounts due at delivery. This truth in pricing is an integral part of our business model, which seeks the highest level of customer service available. We will clearly explain the “what ifs” regarding the time of pick-up and delivery of your vehicle, as well as what it all means.

Once your shipment is booked, drivers will call with updates on their estimated arrival times, and you will also receive an estimated time for delivery. Dispatchers change routes based on the latest weather, road conditions, and potential problems. We keep you informed of any delays and what they are attributable to. Given how many days your shipment is projected to take, the pushback in time will usually be minor adjustments.

Comprehensive U.S. coverage

Preowned Auto Logistics can transport your vehicle to all 50 states. Regardless of where in the country you purchased your vehicle or where it is going to be delivered, we can handle the job. Our network of professional cross-country carriers enables us to service even the most challenging destinations that other companies may struggle to reach.

Because we only book your shipment with a reliable transport company, you don’t need to worry about being transferred between different companies. Preowned Auto Logistics has built a strong reputation for reliability and excellent customer service. Our ability to provide marketing and advertising contacts to sellers and dealerships makes us the transport service of choice for many. Their trust in us often translates into less hassle in confirming and coordinating shipments.

Conclusion

With the internet, buying a car no longer means heading to a local showroom. Now, it’s possible to buy a vehicle from thousands of miles away and have it dropped off right at your home. Professional auto transport services fill that gap, turning an online purchase into a delivered reality without the expense, time, and hassle of making a long-distance unintended retrieval trip.

Shipping your online vehicle purchase requires the assistance of licensed and experienced transport companies that understand the essentials of a digital transaction. From navigating a strange seller to uncertainty about the proper documentation and insurance, professional transport services help streamline the logistics of an online car purchase, making it possible, safe, and straightforward.