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Dealer Relocation Services

Dealer Relocation Services

Simplify Your Logistics & Connect with Out-Of-State Clients

Dealer car shipping services

Expand Your Reach with the Dealership Car Shipping Experts

New and used car dealers across the country rely on RoadRunner for the safe delivery of their vehicles every day. Whether you need to connect with an out-of-state customer or you require dealer-to-dealer auto transport, RoadRunner can streamline your long-distance logistical needs.

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Gain access to our convenient dealer dashboard - calculate new quotes, schedule pickups, and track shipments all from one central dashboard.

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Dealer car shipping services

Expand Your Reach with the Dealership Car Shipping Experts

New and used car dealers across the country rely on RoadRunner for the safe delivery of their vehicles every day. Whether you need to connect with an out-of-state customer or you require dealer-to-dealer auto transport, RoadRunner can streamline your long-distance logistical needs.

Register Your Dealership Today and Experience the Difference

Gain access to our convenient dealer dashboard - calculate new quotes, schedule pickups, and track shipments all from one central dashboard.

Over 30 Years of Reliable Dealer & Auction Shipping Services

Here's why dealers trust RoadRunner with their transportation needs:

Dedicated Shipping Coordinator

When you register your dealership, you will be assigned an account manager to ensure a clear line of communication.

Nationwide Door-to-Door Service

Complete nationwide coverage, direct door-to-door service to and from anywhere in the United States.

Convenient Centralized Dealer Dashboard

Your dashboard enables you to calculate new quotes, schedule pickups, and track existing bookings all from one centralized page.

Exotic car transport

Understanding Dealership Car Shipping

Transporting cars for dealerships refers to moving new, used, or traded-in vehicles between dealership locations or facilities like auctions, distribution centers, or auto manufacturers. This facilitates vital inventory management, reduces local overstock situations, and supplies dealers with the specific makes and models that customers want to purchase.
Dealerships may need to relocate vehicles for many reasons:
  • Transporting new cars from distribution hubs, ports, or factories to retail sales locations
  • Shuffling used and certified pre-owned vehicles between dealership locations to balance local inventory and meet market demand
  • Moving trade-in vehicles to centralized reconditioning facilities, auctions, or wholesale partners
Most car dealership groups manage transportation logistics in-house, particularly for routine inventory shuffling. Others enlist specialized car transport businesses, rental car haulers, or third-party logistics firms to handle large-scale relocations or one-time events.
The frequency of transport needs ranges widely — from weekly load shuffling to fill gaps and improve CPO selection to one-time store openings, closures, or inventory rebalancing projects.
Careful coordination ensures vehicles arrive safely, on time, and ready to be bought — protecting profitability. Understanding the logistics of shipping cars helps dealers better manage margins and sales velocity.

Costs of Dealership Car Transport

Transporting automobiles is one of the largest variable costs in operating multi-location dealership groups. Carefully evaluating and budgeting for relocation expenses is key to preserving profit margins across a dealer network. Key factors determining auto transport prices include:

Distance

Long-haul, cross-country relocations cost exponentially more than local in-town shuffling. Industry averages range from $1-3 per mile for each vehicle transported, with 500-mile moves often starting around $800 per car.

Distance

Long-haul, cross-country relocations cost exponentially more than local in-town shuffling. Industry averages range from $1-3 per mile for each vehicle transported, with 500-mile moves often starting around $800 per car.

Number of Vehicles

Full truckloads with 8+ units achieve maximum economy of scale, with per-vehicle costs ranging from $800-1500. Shipping only a portion of a truckload means much higher per-car freight bills.

Timing

Vehicle transport rates fluctuate seasonally and are also driven up by weather delays, rush orders, or repositioning for one-way drop-offs only. This complexity requires flexibility in budgeting.

Insurance

Bumper-to-bumper policies that fully protect vehicle value are non-negotiable requirements for dealers. Typical premiums range 1-1.5% of asset value for the cars shipped.

Fuel, Tolls and Fees

These routine but variable operating costs inevitably get passed through to dealers in final transport bills. Expect ancillary fees to add 10-20% on top of base hauling rates, depending on route.

The Different Methods of Transporting Cars for Dealerships

Car dealerships primarily rely on three main methods to relocate vehicles between locations:

Truckload Shipping

This leverages specialized auto hauler trailers to move multiple vehicles on open or enclosed carriers. Open trailers can fit around 10 cars, while enclosed versions hold 6-7 for higher security. Ideal for frequent, high-volume inter-dealer transfers and efficient new inventory deliveries from distribution hubs.

Towaways

Single vehicles get transported via a tow hitch or flatbed pickup truck. Drivers can directly move cars to final destinations without consolidation, best for on-demand relocations and one-off trades.

Rail Shipping

Large trains equipped with multilevel auto racks transport new vehicles over long distances. Models at factories get driven directly onto specialized rail cars for mass movement. The most cost-efficient option for high volume but has limited flexibility.

How to Transport Cars for Dealerships

Arranging smooth car dealership transport involves:

Picking Vehicle Transport Partners

Get quotes from multiple approved auto shipping services or brokers with experience and expertise in transporting cars. Ask about routes, capacity, vehicle type expertise, and timetables.

Prepping Vehicles

Used cars may need mechanical certification or cosmetic reconditioning beforehand. Check fluid levels, tire pressure, brakes, and batteries.

Scheduling Logistics

Confirm timelines, pickup/dropoff specifics, vehicle condition reports, and staff coordination at both ends. Build loading/unloading time buffers into the schedule.

Securing Cars

Disable alarms, unlock doors, and leave a spare set of keys if transporting trades, rentals, or sensitive models. Engage antitheft devices.

Inspecting Units

Do walkaround checks for any damage before loading and unloading. Document via photos and condition reports signed by drivers and staff.

Following Up

Verify all dealership vehicles arrived safely at the final destination. Get copies of routing forms and submit them with invoices to streamline payments.
By understanding dealership vehicle transport processes, costs and contractors, finance managers can effectively oversee inventory moves between markets and stores. Careful planning and protection keep cars moving to where buyers want them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


Expect to pay an average of $1-3 per mile for each vehicle moved, depending on distance, number of units and other factors. Enclosed trucking and expedited transport increase costs.

Auto manufacturers deliver new vehicles to dealers via specialized rail shipping and large truckload carriers. Models get driven directly onto multilevel auto racks and secured for long-distance rail transport.

For individual trade-in vehicles needed at other locations, consider using towaways attached to pickup trucks instead of full auto haulers. Single-unit towing costs less than consolidated transport.

Before shipping pre-owned models, dealerships should complete any needed reconditioning, check fluid levels, inflate tires properly, disable alarms, and provide spare keys. This protects vehicle value in transit.

Enclosed transport carriers provide the highest protection but move fewer cars per load, making them the priciest shipping method. Expedited urgent orders also increase vehicle transport bills substantially.

While practices vary by organization, many large dealer groups shuffle vehicles between stores weekly or every few days to balance inventories. Larger periodic relocations tied to sales or inventory strategy changes may occur quarterly or seasonally.

No, dealerships should never entrust car hauling to regular drivers. A reputable, reliable, and insured auto transport company has the equipment, licensing, and skills to safely and efficiently move dealer inventory even at lower negotiable rates.

Accurate vehicle condition reports, pickup/delivery receipts, and routing forms with each driver clearly identified are vital paperwork for dealers to track inventory and confirm safe auto transport services. Retain copies for at least 6 months.

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars, and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent who can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.
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