Buying a car at auction, from an out-of-state dealer or from an online listing usually means the car is somewhere you are not. We arrange the transport from the seller's location to your door.
What we need from you
The pickup address and its business hours, the lot, stock or VIN reference, and the release details the yard or dealer requires before it hands the car to a carrier (a buyer number, a gate pass or a release form, depending on the seller). Tell us whether the car runs. Auction vehicles are often inoperable, and that determines the truck.
Auction yards
Auction yards release vehicles to carriers against the buyer's paperwork during set hours, and most charge storage once a free period after the sale ends. Book the transport as soon as you have won the car so the carrier can collect inside that period. Payment for the vehicle itself is between you and the auction.
Dealerships and private sellers
Confirm that someone at the pickup location will be present to release the car and sign the Bill of Lading as your agent. For a private sale, the seller usually does this; brief them on the inspection and the signature.
Our Copart guide and our Bring a Trailer guide walk through each platform's release process step by step.
Related questions
- Can you ship a car that does not run?
- Can someone else accept delivery of my car for me?
- What is an order confirmation and what should I check on it?
Go deeper: Copart Shipping: What Actually Happens Between the Winning Bid and Your Driveway.
