Ship a Car From a Dealership

Bought a vehicle from a dealership in another state?
No need to fly there to drive it home. We can ship it to you!

J&S Transportation works with dealerships and their customers all the time. In fact, transporting new and used vehicles from dealerships to their buyers in other states is a large part of our business.

Once you book your transport with us, we work directly with the dealership to confirm the purchase is complete, coordinate the pickup, and make sure everything is ready when the driver arrives.

You buy the vehicle. We handle getting it to you.

Buying a Car in Another State? Shipping Makes It Easier

Finding the right vehicle locally isn’t always easy.

Maybe you’re looking for a specific make, model, trim package, color, or option package. Maybe you’ve found a used vehicle with lower mileage or in better condition than anything available near you. Or maybe a dealership several states away simply has a better price.

Shopping online gives car buyers access to dealerships and vehicle inventory throughout the country instead of limiting them to what’s available nearby.

Then comes the next question:

How are you going to get the vehicle home?

You could fly to the dealership and drive it back yourself, but that can mean airfare, transportation to the dealership, fuel, meals, potentially a hotel, time away from work, and hundreds or even thousands of miles added to the vehicle immediately.

Shipping the vehicle allows you to complete the purchase remotely and have the car delivered to you without making the trip.

Even after adding the cost of shipping, buying from an out-of-state dealership can sometimes still make financial sense if you’ve found the right vehicle at the right price.

And sometimes the shipping cost isn’t really the deciding factor. The exact make, model, trim, color, or configuration you’ve been looking for may only be available at a dealership several states away.

Should You Fly Out and Drive the Car Home or Have It Shipped?

For a dealership only a few hours away, driving there with someone and bringing the vehicle home yourself is the obvious choice.

For a longer-distance purchase, however, it’s worth comparing the true cost and convenience of flying and driving it home vs shipping.

Our advice? Compare the full cost and convenience of both options. For a long-distance dealership purchase, shipping can save you the trip, keep unnecessary miles and wear and tear off the vehicle, and make the entire buying process much easier.

We Ship Vehicles From Dealerships All the Time

Shipping a newly purchased vehicle from a dealership is not an unusual situation for us. We do this all the time.

Dealership-to-customer shipping is a significant part of our business. J&S Transportation regularly transports new and used vehicles from dealerships to buyers throughout the country.

And you don’t have to wait until every last detail of the purchase is finished before contacting us. Many customers book their transport while the dealership is still waiting for final paperwork, payment, or another last step in the transaction.

Once you book with us, we’ll keep track of where things stand and begin scheduling the shipment as soon as the dealership confirms the vehicle is ready to be released.

How to Ship a Car From a Dealership

The process is easier than most people expect.

1. Book your transport with J&S Transportation.
Once you’ve purchased a vehicle — or you’re in the final stages of completing the purchase — you can get an instant shipping quote and book your transport with us. We’ll need the dealership name and location along with contact information for your salesperson.

2. We contact the dealership.
We introduce ourselves and let the dealership know J&S Transportation will be handling the shipment. We also confirm that the purchase is complete and the dealership has received the necessary funds and paperwork. We can’t schedule a driver for pickup until the dealership confirms the vehicle is officially ready to be released.

3. We monitor the purchase until the vehicle is ready.
Many customers book their transport before the dealership transaction is 100% finished. If the dealership is still waiting for funds, paperwork, or another final detail, we follow up with them until the vehicle is officially ready to be released.

4. We schedule the driver and pickup.
As soon as the dealership confirms the vehicle is ready, our dispatch team gets to work scheduling a driver. Once we have a driver assigned and a pickup date scheduled, we immediately notify you and the dealership.

5. We arrange the pickup details with the dealership.
We confirm the dealership’s business hours and any days, times, or other restrictions that could affect the pickup. We also make sure the appropriate dealership representative knows when to expect the driver.

6. The vehicle is inspected and picked up.
When the driver arrives, a dealership representative meets the driver. The vehicle is inspected and photos are taken before it is loaded. The condition of the vehicle is documented on the Bill of Lading (BOL).

7. We notify you that your vehicle is on its way.
Once the driver confirms the pickup, we notify you that the vehicle has been picked up and provide updated delivery information. The remaining balance on your transport is also charged to the credit or debit card we have on file, so your shipment is paid in full before delivery.

8. Your vehicle is delivered.
When the vehicle arrives, you inspect it, compare its condition with the original Bill of Lading, and sign the BOL. That’s it — your dealership purchase is home.

You Don’t Have to Coordinate Everything Yourself

Buying a vehicle from another state already involves enough moving parts. You shouldn’t also have to manage communication between the dealership, transport company, dispatcher, and driver.

Once you give us your dealership contact information, we’ll handle the shipping side of the transaction. We’ll work out the pickup details with the dealership and keep you informed as your transport moves forward.

Your job is to finish buying the vehicle. Our job is to get it to you.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car From a Dealership?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all price because every vehicle shipment is different.

Some of the biggest factors that affect the cost include:

• Distance: Shipping a vehicle across the country will cost more than transporting it a few states away.
• Vehicle size and weight: SUVs, trucks, vans, and heavier vehicles generally cost more than smaller cars.
• Pickup and delivery locations: Dealerships and delivery locations near major cities and interstate highways are typically easier and less expensive for carriers to reach than remote locations.
• Open or enclosed transport: Open transport is the most common and affordable option. Enclosed shipping costs more but provides additional protection.
• Time of year and route demand: Carrier availability and shipping demand can change throughout the year depending on the route.

Open or Enclosed Shipping for a Vehicle You Just Purchased?

Most vehicles purchased from dealerships are shipped using open auto transport.

Open carriers are the same type of multi-vehicle transport trucks you’ve probably seen carrying new and used vehicles on the highway. They are widely available and are typically the most affordable transportation option.

For most everyday cars, trucks, SUVs, and EVs, open transport usually makes the most sense.

Enclosed shipping may be worth considering if you’ve purchased a rare or collectible vehicle, restored classic car, or a high-value vehicle you don’t want exposed to weather or road debris.

J&S can arrange either option.

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car From a Dealership?

There are really two parts to the shipping timeline.

First, the dealership has to release the vehicle for transport.

The purchase must be complete and the dealership must confirm that it has received the necessary funds and paperwork. If you’re still finalizing the transaction when you book with us, we’ll stay in contact with the dealership until they confirm everything is ready.

Second, we schedule the pickup and transport the vehicle to you.

The amount of time that takes depends on the route, pickup and delivery locations, vehicle type, season, weather, and carrier availability.

Once a vehicle is picked up, it is usually delivered in approximately 1–7 days. Actual delivery times vary depending on the route. We give you the approximate delivery date when the vehicle is picked up.

When you get a quote from J&S, Transportation we’ll provide estimated pickup and delivery dates so you have an idea of the expected shipping timeframe before you book.

Your Vehicle Is Inspected Before It Leaves the Dealership

One understandable concern when buying a vehicle remotely is what happens when the car leaves the dealership.

Before the driver loads your vehicle, its condition is inspected and documented.

Photos are taken and the vehicle’s condition is recorded on the Bill of Lading (BOL).

When the vehicle is delivered, you have an opportunity to inspect it again and compare its condition with the original pickup inspection before signing the delivery paperwork.

Door-to-Door Shipping From the Dealership to You

J&S provides door-to-door car shipping.

In this situation, the pickup location is the dealership.

We pick the vehicle up directly from the selling dealership and deliver it as close as safely and legally possible to your requested delivery address.

Occasionally, large car carriers cannot access a particular residential street because of narrow roads, low-hanging trees, weight restrictions, tight turns, or other limitations. If that happens, we’ll coordinate a nearby safe and convenient location where you can meet the driver.