Auto Auction Shipping Services: What You’re Shippingvehicles at an auto auction

Auto auctions are a big thing these days. Like with so many other products bought online, automobiles have seen a sharp increase in the number of ones bought over the internet. This is especially true for auto auctions. Many people search auctions for vehicles they want, even if the auction is hundreds or even thousands of miles away!

Because of this, auto auction shipping services are on the rise. Whenever you buy a car from an auction, you have the chance to ship it if you cannot pick it up yourself. This is why it’s important when searching for auto auction transport services to understand what type of vehicle you’re buying. Auto auctions that take place online should post pictures of the vehicles you’re bidding on, and if they don’t — we wouldn’t trust them. You can buy many different vehicles from online auto auctions, from junkers to project cars to expensive, high-end vehicles.

It’s important to find the right auto auction transport carrier for the specific type of vehicle you’re shipping, and not all vehicles will need the same type of carrier. If you are going to get car shipping services for a vehicle that doesn’t run, you’ll need a truck with a winch. Winches are required to load and unload vehicles unless there is a forklift at both pickup and delivery. Auctions often have forklifts, but private domiciles usually don’t. This is why you need to let us know if your vehicle is running or not when you book your shipment.

Auto Auction Shippers

You can ship a vehicle from any auction. Some auctions even provide their own auto auction transport service for cars you buyHoweverchances are you’ll probably wind up shipping with a nationwide car shipping company that provides auction auto transport, as they’re typically easiest to find.

There are hundreds of different car auction locations across the United States, and some – like Mannheim and Copart – like to host auctions both online and in person. If you’re shipping to or from such an auction, and you’re not shipping locally, your best bet would be to find an independent broker that provides auto auction transport, as they’ll probably be cheaper for you in the long run.

Open vs. Enclosed Auto Auction Shipping

You can find both open auto transport and enclosed auto transport services when shipping to or from an auto auction. Some auctions sell high-end or luxury vehicles that would be best handled by an enclosed auto shipper, but for most online auto auctions chances are that open auto shipping would suit you just fine.

A good rule of thumb when deciding between open and enclosed car shipping is to look at your car. If you drive it daily, to or from work, haul the kids around, or just use it as your commuter, chances are open auto shipping is safe enough. Though your car is exposed to the weather and elements of the interstate highway system, you expose a commuter car to the same conditions every day, so there’s really no need for enclosed shipping.

Enclosed car shipping is more expensive, even when it comes to enclosed auction car transport services, and you should only utilize this if your vehicle is a car that you don’t normally drive, you know, something that you take on a jaunt up the coast when the weather’s perfect, or else keep in a garage because you don’t want it to get rained on or whatever. It’s worth the price you pay for enclosed auction car transport services if you worry about the state of your vehicle when you leave it outside for more than an hour.

What we’ll need from you when shipping from an auction

Every auction will have several pieces of information that you’ll need to supply to your shipping company. This information will come from the auction itself, usually in an email after you’ve won the auction. This information includes, but may not be limited to:

  • Lot Number: a lot number is the number of the lot the vehicle is physically located in. Every auto auction will have a lot number, even if they don’t call it a lot number. This information will be needed so the carrier can inform the auction house which vehicle it is they are there to load.
  • Buyer Number: a buyer number is a unique number assigned to a buyer of a vehicle at the auction. Each buyer number is different and is used to identify the buyer of a specific vehicle. This, combined with a lot number, is usually enough to satisfy an auction’s requirements to release a vehicle to a carrier. This may also be called a customer number or something different, depending on the auction, but they’re all the same thing really.
  • Release form: most major auctions only need a lot number and a buyer number to release a vehicle. Some smaller auctions, however, may require an actual form to be presented in order to release a vehicle to a carrier. The auction house you buy your vehicle from will provide this to you if it is necessary.

This information will need to be provided to us when you book your order. If we find a carrier for you and schedule your vehicle for pickup at an auction and they don’t have the information they need to get the vehicle, the auction house simply will not release the vehicle to them. This can result in delays, canceled dispatches, and even dry run fees imposed by the carrier for having to leave empty-handed. Be sure to get all relevant information over to us before we find a driver for you.

Use American Auto Shipping For All Your Auto Auction Shipping Needs

If you’re looking to ship a vehicle, take a minute to fill out our free car shipping quote request form. It takes only a minute and will get a free, no-hassle price to ship your vehicle. We offer quality auto auction transport services to or from any auction in the U.S. You can also contact us any time at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our friendly representatives. They can answer questions, give you a quote, and even book your order right over the phone.

Dave Armstrong
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