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Car shipping guides
Short, practical guides from our dispatch desk. Dealers will find what to send for trades, auction pickups and store-to-store moves. Individuals will find how to prep a car, what the bill of lading is and what to check at delivery. Have a question these don't answer? Call (980) 552-1101, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, or read the FAQ.
Guaranteed Delivery Rate for Dealers: What's in Writing
What the Guaranteed Delivery Rate actually puts in writing, what happens if the window is missed, how theft coverage works, and the conditions a dealer has to meet. All from the terms on our Dealer Guarantee page.
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Dealer Car Transport Between the Carolinas and Florida
Florida to the Carolinas is one of FCT's busiest dealer lanes, and most of it runs north. What our 2026 orders show, and what to send so a Florida unit loads on the first try.
Read the guideState-to-State Car Transport for Dealers: What to Send
A state-to-state dealer move goes wrong at the two ends, not in the middle. What to send your transport company before a unit leaves the Carolinas, and what the receiving store needs to know.
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How Dealers Pick a Vehicle Transport Company: What to Ask First
Before a new transport company touches your inventory, ask four things: who hauls the car, how carriers get checked, who you call, and what is in writing.
Read the guideWhy Every Dealership Needs a Backup Car Hauler
Your regular hauler will be booked, slow or out of range at some point. Here's why a second transport company belongs in every desk's phone and how to set one up before you need it.
Read the guideBooking Dealer Car Transport on a Weekend or After Hours
A lot of deals get done on Saturday. Here is how weekend and after-hours transport orders work, and what to send so the car moves first thing.
Read the guideMoving Off-Lease and Retired Fleet Units: What the Carrier Needs
Twenty returns at one lot, a few that won’t start, one with a wrap still on it. Here is what the carrier needs from you before anything gets dispatched.
Read the guideMoving Inventory Between Your Own Stores: A Dealer Group Guide
Multi-rooftop groups move cars between their own stores all the time. Here is how to set that up as one-off transfers, bulk moves or a recurring schedule.
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Bought a Car Online? How to Get It Picked Up From Another Dealer
Online buys sit wherever the seller left them: an auction lot, another store or a private driveway. Here is how to get that car to your lot and what to send.
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Delivering a Sold Car to the Customer: Dealer Home Delivery
Sold a car to an out-of-state or VIP buyer? Here is how dealer-to-customer delivery works, what to send, and what your buyer checks and signs at the door.
Read the guideSeveral Cars From One Auction? Get Them Home on One Order
A good sale can mean four or five units leaving the same lot. Send them together and get them home on one order, with one person tracking every car.
Read the guideMoving Non-Running Dealer Units: What the Carrier Needs to Know
A car that will not start can still ride a truck. The key is telling the carrier before dispatch so the right equipment shows up. Here is what to send.
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Open or Enclosed? When a Dealer Unit Should Ride Enclosed
Open carriers move most dealer inventory every day. Here is when a unit should ride enclosed instead, and what to send so the right trailer shows up.
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Checking In a Car From a Carrier: What to Look at Before You Sign
Walk the car with the driver, compare it to the condition noted at pickup, write any new damage on the bill of lading before you sign, and take your own photos.
Read the guideDealer Trade Transport Checklist: What to Send Before the Truck Rolls
Both store addresses, a contact at each, every VIN, whether it runs and when it's ready. The short checklist that gets a dealer trade on a truck without back-and-forth.
Read the guideAuction Gate Passes and Releases: How to Get a Car Off the Lot Without Delays
Why a carrier can't load a car until the auction releases it, what to send your transport company with an auction buy, and how to keep a unit from sitting in storage.
Read the guideHow Dealers Can Stop Carrier Fraud at Vehicle Pickup
Learn how carrier fraud works at dealer and auction pickups, the warning signs to watch for, and the simple 5-point check that stops a car being released to the wrong truck.
Read the guideWhat Is a Bill of Lading When You Ship a Car?
The bill of lading is the condition report for your car. Learn what is on it, how to inspect your vehicle with the driver, and what to do before you sign at delivery.
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Open vs. Enclosed Car Transport Guide
Open trailers carry most everyday cars. Enclosed trailers are for classic, exotic and high-value cars. Here is how to decide which one your car needs.
Read the guideComplete Guide to Car Shipping Insurance
Who covers the car while it is on the truck, what to ask a transport company about insurance, and how the condition report at pickup and delivery fits in.
Read the guideSeasonal Car Shipping Strategies: A Complete Guide for Snowbirds and Savvy Shippers
Snowbirds move cars south in the fall and north in the spring, and so do a lot of other people. Here is how the seasons affect booking and why it pays to plan ahead.
Read the guideHow to Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipping: A Step-by-Step Guide for Smooth Transit
Wash it, photograph it, take out personal items and toll tags, and note anything that doesn't work. A step-by-step list for getting a car ready for pickup.
Read the guideBuying a Car Out of State? Here’s Why Shipping It Makes Sense
Found the right car a few states away? Here is how shipping an out-of-state purchase works, what the seller needs to know, and what to check when it arrives.
Read the guideWhy Flexibility and Planning Matter in Car Shipping
A pickup window gives a carrier room to fit your car on a load. Here is why booking early and leaving a little room in your dates makes a move go smoother.
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What Influences the Cost of Shipping a Car? A Complete Breakdown
Distance, route, vehicle size, whether it runs, open or enclosed, and the time of year. What goes into a car shipping quote, explained in plain terms.
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Why Choosing an Auto Transport Broker Makes Sense for Individuals and Dealerships
A broker finds the carrier, checks it out and stays on the phone with you until the car is delivered. Here is what that looks like and the myths that get in the way.
Read the guideWhy Dealerships and Multi-Car Owners Rely on Professional Auto Transport Services
Moving several cars at once? Here is how multi-car orders work for dealers and families, what to send for each vehicle, and how one contact tracks them all.
Read the guideTop Reasons to Ship Your Car During a Move (And Why It Makes Sense)
Driving a car across the country during a move adds miles and takes days out of the move. Here is when shipping the car makes more sense and how to time it with the move.
Read the guideEverything You Need to Know About Auto Transport: Process, Benefits & What to Expect
How auto transport works from start to finish: the quote, the carrier, the pickup inspection, the time on the road and the delivery check-in.
Read the guideHow to Avoid Auto Transport Scams and Choose the Right Car Shipping Company
Quotes that jump after booking and no real person to call. The warning signs of a car shipping scam and what to ask before you hand over your keys.
Read the guideShould You Ship Your Car or Sell It? Plus Tips for Shipping High-Value Vehicles
Moving and not sure the car is worth taking? How to decide between shipping it and selling it, plus what to do differently for a high-value or one-of-a-kind car.
Read the guideWhat to Expect After Booking Auto Transport: Tracking, Services, and Payment
What happens after you book: the carrier gets assigned, the pickup window gets confirmed, and you hear from us if anything changes on the road.
Read the guideHow to Get a Quality Auto Transport Quote You Can Trust
What to give a transport company so the quote is accurate, what a quote should spell out, and the bait-and-switch tactics to watch for.
Read the guideHow Many Cars Fit on a Car Hauler? Trailer Types Explained
How many cars fit on a car hauler depends on the trailer and the vehicles. A plain look at the common trailer types and what each one carries.
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