Whether you’re a car buyer excited about your new ride or a dealership trying to deliver vehicles to out-of-state customers, shipping a vehicle from point A to point B doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare. In fact, it can be smooth, affordable, and completely stress-free – if you know what to expect.
The Process: How to Ship a Car from Dealership to Buyer
Whether you’re a small-town dealership or a national auto retailer, the shipping process typically follows these simple steps:
1. Get a Quote
We’ll calculate pricing based on:
- Vehicle size & weight
- Distance to buyer
- Shipping type (open vs. enclosed)
- Delivery timeline
2. Schedule Pickup
We coordinate with your team to pick up vehicles directly from your lot, warehouse, or partner auction location.
3. Provide Required Documents
We’ll need:
- Title or MCO (Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin)
- Bill of Sale or Buyer Agreement
- Dealer license number (for commercial clients)
- Buyer’s contact details for delivery scheduling
4. Choose Transport Type
- Open carrier: More affordable, ideal for standard inventory
- Enclosed carrier: Better for luxury, exotic, or vintage vehicles
5. We Deliver to the Buyer
Door-to-door delivery means your customer gets the full VIP treatment – no terminal visits, no confusion, no damage.
How to Prep the Vehicle Before Shipping
You want the buyer’s first impression to be a great one. Here’s how to prepare the vehicle before the driver shows up:
1. Inspection
Complete a full pre-shipment inspection and document it with photos.
2. Clean Inside and Out
Remove dirt and debris, wipe down surfaces, and vacuum the interior.
3. Remove Dealership Tags & Stickers
Unless branding is part of your delivery experience, strip the promotional materials.
4. Remove Personal Items
While it might be tempting to send extra items, most carriers won’t cover anything not part of the vehicle.
5. Secure Loose Parts
Make sure antennas, spoilers, mirrors, and removable parts are secure or removed entirely.
6. Coordinating Delivery with the Buyer
One of the biggest keys to a great dealership-to-buyer shipping experience is clear communication. Here’s how Bridgetown helps make that happen:
- We contact the buyer 24–48 hours before delivery
- Our drivers provide ETA updates via phone or text
- Buyers receive a digital or printed Bill of Lading
- The buyer signs off once delivery is complete
What Can Go Wrong (and How We Prevent It)
We’re not just here to deliver vehicles – we’re here to avoid costly mistakes. Common pitfalls in dealership-to-buyer shipping include:
- ❌ Vehicles delivered late or to the wrong location
- ❌ Missing documents
- ❌ Undisclosed damage
- ❌ Zero customer support
At Bridgetown Express, our system is built to prevent those issues before they happen:
- ☑️ Verified pick-up & delivery contacts
- ☑️ Pre-shipping inspection with photo proof
- ☑️ 24/7 customer support
- ☑️ Comprehensive auto transport insurance
We care about your reputation just as much as you do.
Conclusion
Whether you’re selling luxury sedans, used trucks, or high-volume fleet vehicles, you need a carrier that understands speed, safety, and customer satisfaction.
We specialize in dealership delivery logistics – we speak both B2B and buyer, and we take care of your cargo like it’s our own. Contact us and get your free quote.