Auto Transport FAQ: How Do I Ship A Car I Bought On eBay?

Subscribe November 18, 2013
Auto Transport | FAQs

Eric was beyond thrilled when he won the auction for the vintage 1963 Mustang. It wasn't in mint condition, but it was good enough that it would give him the chance to test his DIY skills. He couldn't wait to get it home and start looking for new carpet and seat covers.

The only problem? He lived in Kentucky, but the car was in Louisiana. How was Eric going to get the car?

Looking At His Options

Neither Eric nor any of his friends had a truck that could handle a car trailer. He called his local moving company and asked about a small car trailer that just hooked up the front wheels, but it ended up being too hard to handle with his SUV. It wasn't in good enough condition yet to drive the vehicle up from Louisiana. His only other option – a car shipping company. What did Eric need to consider in arranging to have his dream car moved to where he lives?

Assessing the Condition of the Vehicle

Before bidding on a vehicle from EBay, the first thing to find out is whether the vehicle is even running and the general overall condition of the vehicle. It could make a difference in how the car transport company has to pick up the vehicle.

If it's not running at all, the vehicle will need special handling from the shipping company. Contact the seller directly and ask the question before you put in a bid; don't just rely on what they say in the EBay ad.

Find out the closest metropolitan area to the seller. If they live close to a large city, there's a better chance they're near a large drop-off lot, which would bring down the cost of transport and lessen the possibility the car would be damaged on pickup.

Once the eBay Auction is Won…

Ask the seller to take detailed pictures of the interior and exterior of the vehicle; a video would be even better. Make sure the pictures show any dings, dents or other issues with the car and are date/time stamped. Although the shipping company will perform a full inspection at time of pick up, it's always a good idea to have your own set of condition photos.

A reputable auto shipper will provide valuation coverage on your vehicle to cover damage that occurs while in transit. It's still a good idea to call your insurance agent as soon as you win the bid to ensure the vehicle is covered from that date forward. If anything happens before the car gets to you, any insurance the seller has on the vehicle would be payable to the seller, not to you. This is especially true if the title hasn't transferred to you by the time the vehicle is moved.

Set the pickup date of the vehicle for after the title has transferred. Again, any damage to the vehicle prior to title transfer will be in the hands of the seller, not you and you could lose your whole investment.

Successful Auto Transport From eBay Auctions

Eric took his time to find the best car shipping company. He asked all the right questions, made sure he had his title in hand and within a month, his Mustang was the envy of the neighborhood. Doing his homework saved Eric the headaches of a bad move and a great start with his new dream machine.

Can you guess which auto transport company Eric selected? We'll give you a hint, their initials are D.A.S. Ship only with the best.

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