BOUGHT IT ONLINE? LET’S GET IT HOME.
Car Shipping for Online Buyers & Resellers
Buying or selling a car online? Onyx Auto Transport coordinates pickup and delivery between private sellers, dealerships, homes, and business locations nationwide. Choose open or enclosed transport and get a quote for your running vehicle. No charge is processed until a carrier is assigned.
No payment until a carrier is assigned.
Instant Car Shipping Quote
Calculating Your Quote
We’re checking your route, vehicle details, and current transport rates to provide you with an accurate estimate.
Buying from Copart, IAA, or another auto auction, or shipping a damaged or inoperable vehicle? Call (800) 808-0176 before booking for a shipment-specific quote.
Private & Dealer Purchases
Shipping from private sellers and dealerships to your chosen delivery location.
Open & Enclosed Options
Choose suitable transport for the vehicle and your protection needs.
No Charge Until Assignment
Book without a charge. Payment follows carrier assignment.
Your Next Vehicle Does Not Have to Be Nearby
Online listings give buyers a wider choice of vehicles, prices, and sellers. They also create a practical question: how will the car get from the seller to you? A long trip to collect it can require travel plans, time away from work, and miles added to a vehicle you have just purchased.
Car shipping gives you another way to complete the move. Onyx coordinates with the pickup and delivery contacts, reviews access, and helps arrange a suitable carrier. You remain responsible for the purchase itself, including checking the seller, vehicle history, condition, payment terms, and paperwork. Transportation should be planned alongside those steps so the vehicle is actually ready when pickup is scheduled.
Shipping a car bought from a private seller
A private seller may be handing a car to a transporter for the first time. Before booking, explain the plan and confirm that the seller or an authorized person can meet the driver. Provide a reliable phone number, the pickup address, and the date the vehicle can be released.
Ask the seller to describe the vehicle’s operating condition accurately. Tell us about mechanical issues, modifications, low clearance, oversized tires, or anything that could affect loading. A listing that says the engine runs does not necessarily confirm that the vehicle can be driven safely onto a carrier.
Keep the seller involved until pickup is complete. The vehicle should be available with its keys, and the person releasing it should review the pickup inspection record. If the purchase or paperwork is delayed, notify Onyx promptly so transport scheduling can be reviewed before the carrier arrives.
Buying online from an out-of-state dealership
When buying from a dealership, the sales or delivery department is usually the starting point for transport coordination. Confirm who can authorize release, whether the purchase paperwork is complete, and what hours the vehicle can be collected.
Give Onyx that contact information when requesting shipping. If the dealer needs advance notice, an appointment, or specific instructions for the transporter, share those details early. Vehicles awaiting repairs, accessories, inspections, or paperwork may not be ready on the date the online purchase is completed.
Our dealership and auto auction shipping service also covers dealer-to-customer deliveries. Use that page when the shipment involves auction pickup, special handling, or business inventory transfers. We can review the request by phone and direct you to the appropriate booking process.
Vehicle Shipping for Resellers
Reselling vehicles across state lines involves two sides of the move: the location releasing the car and the customer receiving it. Onyx coordinates vehicle shipping for resellers buying inventory, delivering a completed sale, or moving vehicles between business locations.
Provide a separate description for every vehicle and make sure both contacts know the transport plan. Tell us whether the destination is a home, dealership, repair facility, or another business. Receiving hours, available space, and equipment can be as important as the distance between locations.
For recurring shipments or several vehicles, call with the routes, unit list, and readiness dates. We can review how those moves might be scheduled. Avoid promising your customer a guaranteed arrival date based only on an initial quote; timing should be coordinated with the assigned carrier and the shipment’s actual readiness.
Selling a Vehicle to a Buyer in Another State
If your buyer cannot collect the vehicle locally, shipping can help complete the sale without a long handoff trip. Decide who will arrange and pay for transportation before booking, and agree on when the vehicle can be released.
Confirm the buyer’s delivery contact and address, and make sure someone can receive the vehicle. Remove personal belongings, provide the keys, and communicate any condition details that affect loading. Take clear photos for your own records and participate in the carrier’s inspection at pickup.
Onyx arranges transport; we do not act as an escrow provider, verify the buyer’s payment, or complete title transfers. Finish the sale and release arrangements through channels you trust before handing the vehicle over. If your plans change, contact us so we can review the shipping schedule.
Open or enclosed car shipping for an online purchase?
Open auto transport suits many ordinary running vehicles and is often the more economical choice. Cars travel on an open trailer and remain exposed to weather and outdoor road conditions. It is a practical option for daily drivers and many routine buyer-to-seller shipments.
Enclosed auto transport provides additional shelter from weather and road debris. It may be appropriate for a rare, restored, luxury, or collectible purchase where protecting the finish is a priority. Discuss clearance, dimensions, and any special handling when requesting a quote.
Compare our open auto transport and enclosed auto transport services before deciding. If you are buying a classic car, our classic car shipping page explains additional preparation considerations. The right choice depends on the particular vehicle, route, protection needs, and budget.
Door-to-door delivery and pickup access
We coordinate pickup and delivery as close to the requested addresses as the carrier can safely and legally reach. A transport trailer needs space to approach, load, unload, and turn. Narrow streets, low branches, steep drives, gated access, and parking restrictions can affect the meeting point.
Tell us about those conditions at both addresses. If the truck cannot use the original location, the driver will arrange a suitable nearby meeting place with the contact. Do not assume a small residential driveway will accommodate a large carrier just because a passenger car can enter it.
For an apartment complex or workplace, check access rules before scheduling. For a business delivery, provide operating hours and the name of the person who can accept the vehicle. Read our door-to-door auto transport page for more information about address access and coordinated meeting points.
How Shipping an Online Purchase Works
A clear pickup plan starts with accurate details. Follow these three steps to coordinate the shipment.
Get a quote with accurate details
Enter the route, vehicle information, condition, and transport preference in the quote form. Standard online quotes are for shipments that fit the service’s requirements. Call for auction purchases, damage, inoperable vehicles, unusual dimensions, or special handling.
Confirm readiness and coordinate pickup
Make sure the seller can release the vehicle and has the keys and required authorization ready. Onyx coordinates carrier assignment and pickup communication. No payment is charged until a carrier is assigned.
Receive the vehicle and review its condition
Be available at the agreed delivery location. Inspect the vehicle with the driver, compare its condition with the transport records, and note any concerns before signing the delivery paperwork. Follow the agreed payment terms for your booking.
What affects the price of shipping a car bought online?
Shipping cost depends on distance, route demand, vehicle size, transport equipment, condition, and timing. Pickup and delivery access also matter. A large pickup truck, low-clearance sports car, and ordinary sedan can require different arrangements even when traveling between the same cities.
Flexible dates can help when reviewing carrier availability, but they do not guarantee a lower price. Busy periods, remote locations, or a narrow pickup window may affect scheduling and cost. Provide the real first available date rather than a preferred date when the seller still cannot release the car.
Use the quote form for an ordinary running vehicle with accurate shipment information. For special requirements, speak with us before relying on an online figure. Our car shipping cost page explains the main pricing factors without treating an illustrative range as a quote for your specific purchase.
Before the seller hands over the vehicle
- Complete the purchase and agree on release arrangements.
- Confirm the seller’s and recipient’s names and phone numbers.
- Make sure keys are available and disclose the actual vehicle condition.
- Remove personal belongings and loose accessories.
- Tell Onyx about modifications, clearance issues, or special loading needs.
- Check carrier access and any facility appointment requirements.
- Take clear condition photos and review the pickup inspection record.
- Keep the delivery contact available during the arrival window.
Give the seller enough time to prepare. A vehicle should not be scheduled for pickup while it is still awaiting a release approval or repair completion that could change its readiness. Contact us promptly if any information changes.
Auction Purchases Need a Different Quote Process
Buying online from an auction is different from collecting a running car from a private seller. Auction release procedures, facility appointments, vehicle damage, and loading requirements may affect the transport plan.
For Copart and IAA purchases, call (800) 808-0176 for an accurate quote. Do not book those shipments through the standard online quote form. Call for other auction vehicles or special handling as well. See our dealership and auto auction shipping page for the information to have ready.
If an auction vehicle is inoperable, the customer must arrange suitable unloading equipment at delivery. Explain the vehicle’s condition and receiving arrangements before scheduling; loading assistance at the auction does not guarantee equipment at the destination.
Online Car Buyers & Resellers FAQs
Can you ship a car I bought from a private seller?
Yes. Provide the seller’s contact, the pickup address, the actual vehicle condition, and the release date. The seller or an authorized contact must be available for pickup.
Can I arrange shipping before finishing the purchase?
You can discuss a quote while planning the purchase. Pickup requires the vehicle to be ready and authorized for release. Tell us when the transaction and paperwork are expected to be complete.
Do you ship vehicles for resellers?
Yes. We coordinate transport for resellers buying vehicles or delivering them to customers. Call about multiple vehicles, recurring routes, and unusual handling needs.
Is the online form suitable for Copart and IAA purchases?
No. Call Onyx at (800) 808-0176 for those shipments. We need to review the auction location, condition, and handling arrangements before providing an accurate shipping quote.
Can the seller release the car while I am not there?
An authorized pickup contact can meet the driver. Confirm that authorization and release arrangements with the seller, and provide accurate contact details to Onyx.
When is payment charged?
No charge is processed until carrier assignment. The discounted cash option involves a partial payment after assignment, with the carrier balance due at delivery. The full-card option is one payment after assignment.
Is the vehicle insured during transport?
Carrier cargo coverage applies subject to the assigned carrier’s policy, limits, and exclusions. Ask about coverage for your specific vehicle, especially if it is valuable or requires special handling. Personal items generally are not included.
Do I need enclosed transport for a car bought online?
It depends on the vehicle and your protection needs. Open transport is suitable for many daily drivers. Enclosed transport may be preferable for a valuable, restored, rare, or collectible vehicle.
Found the Right Car? Plan Its Delivery.
Get a quote for your ordinary running vehicle using the form above, or speak with Onyx about the seller’s location, readiness, and transport needs. Buyers, sellers, and resellers can all start with the same goal: a clear pickup plan and an informed receiving contact.