Gone are the days when you have to walk into a local dealership to purchase a car. Nowadays, you can go online, search for car dealerships anywhere in the world, select your preferred car, and have it delivered to your doorstep. But we don’t want to have you confused when trying to figure out what to do to have your car delivered safely. So, here are a few things you need to know about shipping your car from a dealership;
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Pick a Good Shipping Company
Some dealerships might already have pre-existing arrangements with their preferred car shipping company, which they would most likely persuade you to use. However, it is better to carry-out research into affordable and reliable vehicle delivery services you can contract. This gives you more autonomy over scheduling and transport methods. And it saves you the cost of paying extra after the car dealership might have factored in the shipping costs into your car purchase agreement.
When selecting a good car shipping company, you must ensure you check for their registration, insurance coverage, and customer reviews, and if they have any complaints leveled against them.
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Select Your Preferred Shipping Method
Most car shipping companies will offer you two shipping methods; open and enclosed shipping. Either one of these methods is good. But if you are looking for something affordable, open shipping is your best bet. With open shipping, your vehicle will be transported on an open carrier but will the exposed to the elements, which can cause harm. However, open shipping allows your car to be delivered much faster.
Enclosed shipping is more expensive and used for more exotic, or expensive vehicles. So, if your vehicle is pricey and you don’t want it exposed and damaged during shipping, you are advised to use this shipping method. However, unlike open shipping, this method is more expensive and takes longer.
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Coordinate Arrangements Between the Car Dealership and the Shipping Company
After choosing your preferred shipping company and getting a quote, you need to coordinate the arrangements between the shipping company and the car dealership. This includes agreeing on a suitable time, date, and location for picking up and ensuring the dealership provides everything the shipping company requires, such as all the car documents, insurance, car keys, etc.
You should also ensure that the dealership signs a Bill of Landing contract from the driver of the shipping company. This contract is crucial as it contains information about your shipping and the condition in which your car was picked up. Every reliable shipping company must have a bill of landing for the dealership to sign. If you are purchasing a used car, you should make arrangements with the car dealership to prepare the car by getting it cleaned and having pictures taken so that you can compare it after your car is delivered.
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Cost of Shipping a Car from a Dealership
You have probably already spent a lot of money on your newly purchased vehicle. You wouldn’t want to spend so much more on transporting it. But shipping quotes vary, and the cost of transporting depends on some factors. The first factor is the size of your vehicle. If your vehicle is heavy or oversized, your shipping company might not be able to fit it on any of their carriers, which would require them to use special equipment for you, thereby costing you more. The pickup and delivery locations and the distance might also cause you to have a higher quote because some areas might be a bit more difficult for the haulers to access than others. And since shipping companies charge per mile, the farther the distance, the higher the cost.
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Await the Arrival of Your Car
Once everything above is sorted, all that is left for you is to sit back and wait for your vehicle to arrive. When it comes, you must inspect your car thoroughly for any dents, cracks, scratches, bumps, etc, to the interior and exterior. You must also ensure all appropriate documents, such as car registration, license, bill of landing, etc, are intact.
Getting your vehicle transported to you is easy when you have all the information on how to go about it and a reliable shipping company to provide you with a seamless experience. This is why you can rely on Ship A Car, Inc to provide stress-free services when shipping from your car dealership. Call us at (866) 821-4555 to get a free quote.
1. Does my car require a license plate before it can be shipped?
Your car doesn’t need a license plate before it can be shipped. You only need to provide your shipping company with your license registration.
2. Can I pick up my car from the dealership myself?
Yes, you can pick up your car from your dealership, but you run the risk of using a lot of miles. It will probably save you money also. But shipping your car saves you time, stress, and miles.
