You will need to setup delivery of the purchased vehicle if it is not within a distance to pick it up yourself. I have had friends fly out to pick up the car and drive it back, but you need to be careful if you do this. Make sure beforehand that the vehicle is in driving condition for that distance, the vehicle has proper title work and current state licenses, AND make sure you have auto insurance setup for the ride back. You may also want to invest in AAA or some other road side service before the trip. Some classic auto insurers offer road side assistance for a small fee also.
If you will not be flying out to drive the vehicle back, transportation service will be required. You need to do your homework on finding the shipping company to use. Your main options will be an enclosed trailer or an open trailer. If finances are tight, the value and condition of the vehicle should be your main factor on which to choose.
Open Trailer Shipping
Open trailer shipping is cheaper than enclosed shipping. Because the trailer is not enclosed, your vehicle will be susceptible to the environment and other road debris. If the condition of the car is only fair or you are not too concerned about possible minor issues, you should choose the open trailer option. Budget $700 to $1100 for coast to coast delivery, and probably $700 to $900 for anything shorter. These are only ballpark figures. Exact pick up and drop off locations can alter the price drastically, especially if you are in a remote area.
Another drawback to open trailers is the insurance coverage the carriers likely have, which only covers the vehicle up to the “blue book” value. This leaves a lot of room for a severe loss if the vehicle is truly a collectible model as “blue book” values are considerably less than a true collectible value. Truck drivers may also stop overnight to sleep if the haul is long, leaving the carrier unattended where vandalism and theft could happen.
Enclosed Trailer Shipping
Enclosed trailers generally cost about twice as much money as an open trailer, but there are some real benefits. Besides protecting your vehicle from the environment and other road debris, an enclosed trailer will likely insure your vehicle to the full market value. Enclosed trailers are marketed for classic and collector vehicles, which is why there is no limit on the insurance payout like there is on an open trailer. As always you should confirm with the shipper these details rather than just assume.
If you are at all concerned about receiving the vehicle in the same condition as it was shipped, you should not think twice about using an enclosed trailer shipper. Why spend all the money on buying the vehicle, but save a few hundred dollars on the last step, and risk damaging or losing the vehicle?
There are MANY shipping carriers out there offering services. If you are buying from a classic car dealer they will likely have a preferred carrier they use and you should be fine using them. The dealership will likely handle the setup and delivery without any hassle from you. If you will be buying from a private seller, you need to follow some precautionary steps to protect yourself.
1) AVOID CARRIER BIDDING SITES for lower cost carriers. There are many sites on the web that allow you to post a shipping request, and truckers and other shipping companies bid on your request, allowing you to choose the cheapest carrier. I have read hundreds of horror stories of vehicles never delivered, delivered weeks after promised, or even delivered damaged. Most often the buyers cannot do anything about it because the scammers cannot be found, or the carrier was not properly licensed for interstate commerce, making it very difficult to go after the carrier legally.
2) Try to have the seller setup delivery with the carrier of your choice - It won't always work, but you should attempt to have the seller setup delivery with the carrier you choose. You can send the extra money for delivery to the seller with the payment, or better yet use an escrow service while sending just the shipping amount needed to the seller. The main reason why you want the seller to initiate this is because as long as the seller has signed the contract with the delivery company, any unforeseen damage or other issues are dealt with by the seller. If you setup the delivery as a buyer and signed the contract, you would have to deal with the transportation company. You can approach the seller by stating the shipping company will need to visit them first on their schedule, so it may be easier for them to initiate the delivery.
3) Don't be cheap on delivery - The last thing you want to do is spend your hard earned money on a perfect condition vehicle, only to have it lost or damaged because you tried saving a few hundred bucks on the final detail. Cheaper is not always better.
4) Check carrier insurance coverage and licensing certification - Make sure that the carrier that transports your vehicle has 100% coverage for accidental damages or theft. You should request a copy of their certification and policy details. Pay special attention to any deductibles on the policy.
Overseas Shipping
Over the last few years, exporting American classic cars to Europe has been happening on a larger scale thanks to favorable exchange rates. I saw multiple American built Buick’s when I was in Amsterdam a few years back. Using an international shipper that deals with cars is important as there are customs to go through, and there could be added tax needed. A qualified international car shipper will have the knowledge in this area to provide a smooth shipment.
I have not used a delivery service so I cannot say anything out of experience, but eBay does also have a preferred shipper. FedEx also has delivery in limited areas, enclosed and open trailers. There are many reputable shippers, use the Better Business Bureau and other resources to confirm if you are interested in using another service.
http://www.transportreviews.com - Although not a shipping company, this is a great site to check out reviews of shipping companies you may choose to use.
http://www.dasautoshippers.com - This was once a preferred eBay shipper, with real time online tracking capability. They seem to have great reviews online.
Chapter 9 - Purchasing a Classic Car