logo
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
866-221-1664
Get Your Free Quote
logo
866-221-1664
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
Get Your Free Quote
Get Your Free Quote

5 Tips for Buying a Car Online That Needs Shipping

50,000+ Reviews
1,000,000+ Customers Helped
Home  |  Car Transport   |   5 Tips for Buying a Car Online That Needs Shipping

The Internet has become the best place to shop for a new or used vehicle. Online car classifieds have made it possible to get the car of your dreams shipped to your home. More dealerships are posting their inventory online. You don't have to visit the dealership if you don't want to. Here are some tips to get you started with your search.

Research the Cars You Want

Due to the increased popularity of online car classifieds, it's easier than ever to shop around for the vehicle you want. You can compare make, model, colors, features, and more. The majority of people who visit a dealership have already done most of their research online. When you're buying a car online, you should do even more research.

Online car resources can help you in the beginning stages of the process. You can learn more about the vehicle you want by watching videos and reading reviews. You'll find out how the car works, and you'll learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the vehicle before you try it out. This additional research will give you an idea of which vehicle is best suited for you.

Narrow Down Your Options

It's important to narrow down your options in the initial stages. Having too many options isn't going to help you make the right decision. You should narrow down your options to around three to five vehicles. This forces you to determine which non-negotiable features you want in a vehicle, and get rid of the things that aren't important to you.

Even having some additional information can help you make a decision. It can lead to questions you never realized. But this can make the decision-making process overwhelming and confusing. If you're having trouble making a decision, a licensed dealer can answer any questions, which will save you time and stress.

Ask All the Right Questions

Create a checklist with all of the questions you have about your vehicle. Keep this checklist nearby when you're communicating with the dealer via e-mail or over the phone. If it's a used vehicle, find out how many owners it's ever had. Find out what the vehicle has mainly been used for?

It's imperative that you ask if it's had any minor accidents or mechanical problems. There's no way to get an honest answer. You can only do what you can by asking this important question. If you know a trustworthy mechanic, have them check out that vehicle to see if it's good.

Take It for a Test Drive

Now it's time to take it out for a spin. Glossy images and tricked out specs are another thing. But you need to see how the vehicle performs. A test drive is going to take you further into your research phase. Sit in the car and notice how you feel. Play around with the controls and take it for a drive to see how it handles traction.

Get a Full Car Report

If you have your eyes on a car or want to cross a few vehicles off your list, get a vehicle history report before you make a decision. This report will give you details about the vehicle's history so you can make the right decision. Most online car classifieds allow sellers to report on the vehicle. Or, you can request that the seller provides you with this additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Honest Answers to Your Car Shipping Questions

Yes, we always ask for your specific pickup and delivery addresses, if the carrier can get right to the addresses you provide, they will. If the addresses that you give us are not safely accessible for a Multi-car carrier, however, you will need to make arrangements with the driver to meet at a nearby location where the carrier can safely get in and out.

People do it all the time (rarely for free) but the official answer is no.

Not what you wanted to hear, we know, but that is the honest answer.

We are not licensed to broker the shipment of household goods and, likewise, no car carrier that operates in the USA is licensed to transport them from state to state either. Despite what you might be being told by other car shipping companies you may speak with.

Remember, at the end of the day we're all salespeople, and the true answer to this question is not a great selling point.

You will hear a lot of companies tell you that you can put up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk, but that is not entirely true. That fact is that items of that amount are fairly common and the department of transportation is probably not going to split hairs and fine the trucker over items of that amount, provided they are not over their weight limit. They could fine them, however, if they see a vehicle stuffed full of personal items so the car carrier will most likely try to negotiate something with you to cover themselves against any costs they could incur. It's not something we can build into your contract though.

We have a short and helpful video on this topic in our user videos.

Only in rare cases and car carriers will usually charge a premium to make it happen.

All dates given by car carriers are typically estimates and projections.

For this reason (and to keep your cost down) we ask that you build in some flexibility and give us the earliest possible date you would be WILLING to release the vehicle, even though it may not be your preferred date.

We'll put you in direct contact with your car carrier and the driver will also typically call you the afternoon or evening before your pick up and delivery (they won't just show up unannounced, and if they do we want to hear about it). However, car carriers are out on the road battling traffic, weather and any number of other factors that can and do throw them off of their pickup and delivery projections from time to time.

If the projected dates we give you come and you are unable to make contact with your carrier, please call our office immediately so that we may help resolve the situation.

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will average 7 to 10 days. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

Yes!

Even better, we do not even ask for payment until we have you confirmed for pickup by a safe, reliable, fully insured, direct car carrier. If for any reason you do not ship your car with the carrier that we arrange for you, there is no fee.

The fees paid directly to the carrier however, (in most cases, their fees are not paid until your vehicle is delivered) are not directly controlled by us, so any requests for a refund of the carrier's portion would need to be addressed with the carrier directly.

Of course! And you are always backed by our Damage Free Guarantee policy.

Part of what you pay us for is to verify that the car carrier that we put you on is covered by the proper amount of insurance and that everything is up to date.

There is never any additional cost to you for this coverage, and their insurance is always primary.

View All FAQs

We’re Loved by Customers

See Reviews by Our Verified Buyers!

shipacardirect.com widget logo
Get Your Free Car Shipping Quote
Get Your Free Quote
  • About Us
  • Quote Calculator
  • User Videos
  • FAQs
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
MC-632461
logo
© 2023 Ship a Car Direct. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Site Map