Car Transport Services for Dealerships
Dealer-friendly auto transport — multi-vehicle quotes, vetted carriers, auction-to-lot delivery, all 50 states.
Online Car Buyers Snapshot
The Service
You bought the car online. We get it to your driveway.
Door-to-door auto transport for online vehicle buyers — pickup coordinated with sellers on eBay, Carvana, Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, Facebook Marketplace, AutoTrader, Hemmings, and other marketplaces. Vetted carriers, all 50 states.
Buying a car online has gone from rare to routine in the last decade. Carvana ships vehicles to your door. eBay Motors handles enthusiast and rare-vehicle sales. Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids have created a serious enthusiast auction market. Facebook Marketplace has replaced craigslist for private-party sales. And dealer inventory aggregators like AutoTrader, CarGurus, and Cars.com mean most car shoppers find their next vehicle online before they ever set foot on a lot. The question that comes next is the same in every case: how do you get the car from where it is to where you are?
For most online buyers, three options exist. You can drive to wherever the vehicle is and drive it home — fine for short distances, painful for cross-country buys. You can use the seller's in-house delivery service if available — Carvana and CarMax offer this but with slow timelines, limited geography, and shipping fees that are often higher than third-party brokerage. Or you can use an independent auto transport broker like Navi who coordinates pickup with the seller, dispatches a vetted carrier, and delivers door-to-door. For most cross-country and inter-state online purchases, the broker option is faster, cheaper, and less stressful than the alternatives.
This page covers the platforms we routinely ship from, how seller coordination actually works (you don't have to play middleman), what to verify before booking, how to handle auction-win deadlines on Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids, and what to do at delivery if you spot damage the listing didn't disclose. For time-critical pickups — like 7-day auction removal deadlines — see express auto transport.
Seller coordination · Vetted carriers · Door-to-door
Quick Decision
Ship the car or pick it up yourself?
The decision most online car buyers face once the purchase clears
Head to Head
Drive yourself vs ship with Navi
Real-world comparison on a 1,500-mile online purchase (e.g. buying a vehicle in Texas, you're in New York)
For most cross-country online buys, shipping costs roughly the same as flying + driving home once you account for the flight, fuel, hotels, and time — without the mechanical risk of driving 1,500 miles in an unfamiliar vehicle you bought online. For sub-500-mile buys where the drive is a single day, picking up yourself can be the right call.
Platform Guide
Shipping from the major online car marketplaces
Each platform has its own pickup logistics. Here's what we've learned shipping from them.
Before You Book
Online buyer pre-shipping checklist
6 things to verify before you book the carrier — saves headaches later
The Process
How online buyer car shipping works
4 steps from quote to door delivery — we handle the seller coordination
Transparent Pricing
What online buyer car shipping costs
Real pricing by distance for online purchase shipments
What changes the price on an online purchase shipment
- Distance. Cross-country lanes have better per-mile economics than short hops. The longer the route, the lower the cost per mile.
- Vehicle type. Sedans price at baseline. SUVs add 15–25%. Trucks add 20–30%. Vans, trailers, and oversized vehicles need specific carrier types.
- Transport type. Enclosed transport adds 40–60% over open. Standard for BaT wins, Cars & Bids wins, Hemmings purchases, and any vehicle worth $75K+ retail.
- Auction deadlines. 7-day BaT/Cars & Bids removal windows may require express auto transport (30–50% premium) if standard pickup windows won't fit.
- Pickup accessibility. Major metros are cheaper than rural addresses. Sellers in remote areas may add $50–150 for carrier deviation.
- Vehicle condition. Non-running vehicles (auction projects, accident purchases) require inoperable vehicle shipping — winch-equipped carriers add $150–250.
- Seller cooperation level. Sellers who give us 1–2 day pickup windows price better than sellers who can only do a specific 2-hour slot. Schedule flexibility helps carrier supply.
Carrier Vetting
How we vet every carrier — especially when you can't be at pickup
6 checks. Especially important when the carrier is meeting a seller you've never met.
Online buyer shipments add a layer of risk most carriers don't see on consumer moves — the buyer isn't at pickup. You can't watch the carrier inspect the vehicle, can't watch the seller hand over the keys, can't verify damage didn't get missed in the rush. That's why every carrier handling online buyer shipments goes through the same six-point vetting we apply to every load. No shortcuts because the buyer won't be there.
The driver's pickup photos and Bill of Lading are your protection. If you spot damage at delivery that wasn't in the pickup photos, you have documented proof and a claim path. Navi Track 360™ sends you the pickup photos automatically as soon as loading completes.
Honest Take
When picking up the car yourself makes more sense
Honest cases where the shipping cost isn't worth it
Customer Reviews
What online car buyers say about Navi
Recent reviews from buyers shipping from major online marketplaces
Bought a car online? Let's get it home.
From $399 · Seller coordination handled · Vetted carriers · All 50 states
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the most common online buyer shipping questions
How do I ship a car I bought from an online marketplace?
Get a quote with the seller's pickup address and your delivery address. Once you book, we contact the seller directly to coordinate the pickup time. The carrier picks up from the seller, documents the vehicle condition with photos and Bill of Lading, and delivers to your address. You don't have to play middleman or coordinate with the seller yourself.
Do you ship cars from Carvana and CarMax?
Yes. Both Carvana and CarMax offer in-house delivery, but timelines run 2–3 weeks and fees often exceed third-party brokerage. Pickup from a Carvana hub, vending tower, or CarMax lot is standard auto transport — usually faster and more flexible than the platform's own delivery option.
I won a Bring a Trailer auction — how fast can you pick up?
BaT auction wins have a 7-day post-win removal deadline at the seller's address. Book within 48 hours of winning to meet the deadline comfortably with standard shipping (2–3 day pickup, then 3–6 day transit). For tighter windows, express auto transport offers 24–48 hour pickup at a 30–50% premium. Most BaT cars need enclosed transport.
Do I have to be present at the seller's address for pickup?
No. The seller (or their authorized representative) needs to be at the pickup address to sign the Bill of Lading and hand over keys — you don't have to be there. The driver will photo-document the vehicle's condition at pickup and you'll receive those photos through Navi Track 360™ as soon as loading completes.
When should I pay the seller — before or after pickup?
Before. Almost no seller releases their vehicle to a carrier without payment confirmed first. Wire transfer, cashier's check, or escrow service (recommended for higher-value vehicles) should clear before pickup is scheduled. Buying through a platform with buyer protection (eBay, BaT, Cars & Bids) adds an extra layer of security.
Can the driver inspect the vehicle for me?
The driver performs a standard pickup inspection — exterior walkaround, photo documentation of any pre-existing damage, signing the Bill of Lading with the seller. This is condition documentation, not a mechanical inspection. For a real pre-purchase inspection (PPI), hire a local independent mechanic or mobile inspection service near the seller before booking the carrier.
What if I find damage at delivery that wasn't there at pickup?
Note it on the delivery Bill of Lading before signing. The pickup photos taken by the driver document the vehicle's condition at loading — any new damage between pickup and delivery is the carrier's responsibility, covered by their cargo insurance. Don't sign the delivery BoL as "clean" if you spot anything. Our claims team can help you walk through the process.
Can I track my car during transport?
Yes. Real-time GPS tracking via Navi Track 360™ is included on every shipment. You'll see when the carrier picks up, every checkpoint along the route, and the delivery window. Status notifications via SMS and email as the vehicle moves.
Is my vehicle insured during transport?
Yes. Every shipment is covered by the carrier's cargo insurance during transit. Open carriers carry $100K–$250K cargo coverage per vehicle. Enclosed carriers carry $250K–$1M. Active coverage is verified before every assignment. For high-value purchases (BaT wins, exotics, classics), confirm the specific carrier's policy limit at quote time.
What about title transfer — does that happen before or after shipping?
Title transfer happens between you and the seller, separate from the carrier. The seller signs over the title at sale (often via mail or in-person with the buyer's agent). The title usually travels with the vehicle in transit. You complete the title registration at your local DMV after delivery — most states allow 30 days from purchase. The carrier doesn't handle title paperwork.
Can you ship a non-running vehicle from an online purchase?
Yes. Inoperable vehicle shipping requires winch-equipped carriers (most carriers in our network are) and adds $150–250 to the standard rate. Common for auction project cars, salvage purchases, and Bring a Trailer wins that need restoration. Tell us the vehicle's condition at quote time — running, non-running but rolls/steers, or completely seized.
How do I get a quote for an online purchase shipment?
Use the instant quote calculator with the seller's pickup ZIP and your delivery ZIP. For high-value purchases or unusual situations (auction deadlines, non-running vehicles, enclosed needs), call (302) 278-4298 and we'll quote with the specifics. Have the platform name (eBay, BaT, etc.), vehicle year/make/model, and your timeline ready.