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Buying a Car Online: A Guide to Safe Delivery and Purchase

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Home  |  Car Transport • Car Shipping   |   Buying a Car Online: A Guide to Safe Delivery and Purchase
A woman buying a car online and having it delivered

Buying a car is exciting, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. It’s even more challenging when you’re wondering, can you buy a car online and have it delivered? Don’t worry, we will help you buy your car online and have it delivered safely.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of how to buy a car online and have it delivered safely. As a company that specializes in car shipping, we’ve seen it all, and we’re here to share our expertise with you.

Research, research, research

Are you asking yourself, can I buy a car online and have it delivered without losing my investment? The answer is yes — if you do your research. There are plenty of websites that allow you to buy cars online, but not all of them are trustworthy.

Start by checking the website’s reviews and ratings on trustworthy platforms. Look for red flags such as negative reviews, no contact information, or unrealistic prices. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is.

Look for cars that have detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, and car history reports. And don’t be afraid to ask questions; before making any purchase, make sure you feel confident and comfortable with the vehicle and the seller.

Take Advantage of Independent Inspectors

Once you find a car you like, it’s time to have it inspected. Committing to buying a new car online and having it delivered means you will want to have someone in-person that can vouch for the car.

The best way to ensure that the car is in good condition is to hire a third party with no skin in the game. These inspectors should be independent and not affiliated with sellers or dealerships. Find one who will perform a thorough inspection and provide you with a detailed report.

With this information, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase the vehicle.

Secure Payment

When it comes to online car buying, nothing is more crucial than secure payment and shipping. Use secure payment methods such as PayPal, credit cards, or bank transfers. Stay away from sellers that ask for cash or wire transfers, which can be fraudulent.

Have Your Car Shipped to You

The safest way to have your car delivered is to use a licensed and insured auto transport company. These companies are experts in shipping cars and have the necessary tools and resources to ensure your vehicle arrives at its destination safely.

At Ship a Car Direct, we source trusted and vetted auto transport companies for you. We can provide door-to-door delivery, different types of transportation, like enclosed or open, and always our iron-clad damage-free guarantee. The last thing you want is to have your brand-new car dinged up on the way over.

Be Prepared for Delivery

Before your car leaves for delivery, make sure you are prepared. If you got an inspection, ask them to make note of any existing damage on your vehicle. Ask them to send photos of the car from all angles, and send them to you.

Upon delivery, inspect the vehicle carefully before signing any documents. In case of any damages, report it to your shipping company immediately. And remember, Ship a Car Direct offers a Damage Free Guarantee policy to ensure safe delivery of your car.

Exercise Caution Throughout the Process

Buying a car online and getting it delivered can be a smooth process if you stay cautious and informed. Always remember to research, use independent inspectors and secure payment methods, use licensed and insured auto transport companies, and be prepared for delivery. If you follow these tips, you’ll be driving your new car in no time.

Professional Services make Buying a Car Online and Having it Delivered Stress-free

Buying a car online and having it delivered can be intimidating, but with the right knowledge and guidance, it can be done easily and safely. By researching trustworthy websites, using independent inspectors, securing payment and shipping, being prepared for delivery, and staying cautious throughout the process, you can purchase your dream car online with confidence.

At Ship a Car Direct, we’re always ready to help you with your car shipping needs. Contact us today for a free quote.

Looking to ship your car? Get a quote at our Ship a Car Direct website today!

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.

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