This warning does not mean every remote sale or shipping charge is fraudulent. Separate the purchase agreement from the transport offer and ask what each payment is for.
Establish the vehicle before buying transport
The FTC warns that phony online car sales can involve a vehicle the seller does not own and later demands for supposed shipping charges. FTC guidance on phony online car sales
If you are purchasing remotely, independently verify the seller, the vehicle identification and the opportunity to inspect the actual car before committing to the purchase. A convincing delivery invoice does not prove that a car exists or that the sender owns it. Do not let urgency replace those checks.
If the car is already yours, confirm who currently holds it and what that person or facility needs to authorize collection.
Decisions to make before having a car shipped to you
| Choice | Re-check before approval |
|---|---|
| Verify the vehicle and seller before paying for transport | For a remote purchase, independently confirm the seller, VIN and actual vehicle. FTC scam guidance is relevant because a convincing shipping invoice or urgent request for transport money does not prove ownership or even that the car exists. |
| Define the place where you can really receive the car | Give the provider the destination property, vehicle condition and access limits. If delivery ends at a meeting point, decide whether the car can be driven home or requires another transport leg. |
| Verify the business that will take physical custody | Understand whether the booking company is the transporter or will assign another carrier. For an interstate move, check the relevant official registration record and resolve any identity mismatch before release or payment. |
| Connect the seller’s pickup evidence to your delivery inspection | Have the releasing person photograph the car and keep the pickup record. Obtain those copies before arrival, inspect against them and authorize a substitute recipient if you cannot attend. |
Turn this plan into comparable transport options
Use the actual vehicle, pickup and delivery details, timing and handling needs so every quote starts from the same scope.
Define where you can receive it
Give the origin and your intended destination street address, vehicle model and condition. Tell the provider if you live in a building with loading restrictions or cannot be present during normal hours. Ask whether the offer ends at your property or another agreed location.
If a meeting point is proposed, decide how the vehicle will get from there to you. A car needing repair may require another transport leg rather than a short drive home. Include that leg in the budget and responsibility list.
Verify the company taking custody
Find out whether the booking business operates the transporter or arranges another hauler. Obtain the assigned business’s details through the verified booking contact before release. For an interstate movement, check the relevant official registration record; a seller’s forwarded invoice is not an independent carrier check.
Read the payment, cancellation and added-work terms for the haul. Resolve identity or scope discrepancies before giving the vehicle or money to a different party.
Connect the two condition records
Have the releasing person photograph the car and retain the pickup record. Get those copies before delivery, inspect the car on arrival and document observed differences. Name an authorized substitute if you cannot attend. A complete arrangement tells both contacts how to verify the carrier, handle a changed window and retain the final paperwork.