Ship a Car From a Dealership or Auction

The pickup is your first inspection

Shipping a car you bought means moving it from a dealership, an auction yard or a private seller to your address, often before you've seen it in person. Auto Transport Pros covers car shipping from dealerships, online sales and auctions such as Copart and IAA in all 50 states.

When you buy a car out of state, the driver's walk-around at pickup is usually the first close look anyone on your side gets. Every chip, dent and curb rash goes on the condition report before the car is loaded, so anything new at delivery stands out.

The seller has to be ready to release the car. A dealership needs the deal closed and the car signed out for transport. A private seller needs to be paid and ready to hand over the keys. Have the seller's name, number and pickup address when you call, plus the hours someone will be there.

Delivery is the second inspection, and the one where you check the car against the listing; the Bill of Lading guide covers what to look at before you sign.

Cars won at Copart, IAA and other auctions

Auction cars come with yard rules: a release or gate pass before the car leaves, fixed loading hours, and storage charges once the grace period ends. Have the lot number and the release ready when you call so the pickup can be set inside that window. Many auction cars don't run, and non-running car shipping explains how those get loaded.

Dealer and online purchases

A dealership usually has the car signed out and ready at a set time, with the temporary tag handled on its end. For an online sale from a private seller, settle the money and the title handoff with the seller before pickup day, because the driver can only wait so long at the curb. Registration in your state happens after delivery, at your motor vehicle office.

What to get from the seller

• The seller's name, phone number and pickup address
• The hours someone can release the car and hand over the keys
• The release, gate pass or lot number for an auction yard
• Whether the car runs, rolls and has keys

Questions about shipping a car you bought