Enclosed Car Shipping for Online Buyers
A sight-unseen purchase has one core problem: you cannot watch over a car you have never seen. CHD sends a covered carrier to the seller, documents condition with photos and a Bill of Lading, and delivers to your driveway.
- Covered trailer protects a purchase you have not inspected in person
- Pickup typically within 1-3 days after the seller releases the car
- Origin photo inspection and Bill of Lading on every pickup
Enclosed car shipping for online buyers solves the core problem of a sight-unseen purchase: you cannot watch over a car you have never seen. CHD sends a covered carrier to the seller, documents condition with photos and a Bill of Lading, and delivers to your driveway under $2M cargo coverage, typically 40 to 60 percent over open transport.
Reviewed by Mike Fergusson, EVP Operations, Car Haul Direct
Why trust CHD with a sight-unseen purchase?
The origin inspection is the only independent record of what the seller handed over.
FMCSA-Licensed Broker
CHD is an FMCSA-licensed auto transport broker, USDOT 4321158, coordinating vetted enclosed carriers.
48-State Pickup Reach
Sellers, dealers, and auction sites across all 48 contiguous states.
$2M Cargo Coverage
Your purchase rides under $2M cargo insurance coverage from pickup to delivery.
Documented Condition
The driver and seller inspect the car at origin, with existing damage noted on the Bill of Lading.
1-3 Day Pickup
Once the seller releases the car, metro pickup typically happens within 1-3 days.
Door-to-Door Delivery
The car comes to your driveway, not a terminal you have to find.
Covered and Documented at Origin
The figures that govern a CHD enclosed online-purchase move.
40-60
Percent Enclosed Premium
The typical enclosed uplift over the open rate on the same lane.
$2M
Cargo Insurance Coverage
From pickup to delivery, anchored by the origin inspection record.
1-3
Day Pickup After Release
Typical metro pickup once the seller releases the car; outlying areas add 1-2 days.
48
Contiguous States Covered
Sellers, dealers, and auction sites anywhere in the lower 48.
Answers for buyers who purchased sight unseen
When enclosed is worth it, what it costs, and how fast pickup happens.
Should I use enclosed transport for a car I bought online?
For a collector, exotic, low-clearance, or six-figure purchase, yes. You cannot verify condition until delivery, so the covered trailer plus the origin photo inspection and Bill of Lading are your protection. A daily driver can ride open at the lower rate.
How much does enclosed shipping cost for an online car purchase?
Enclosed typically runs 40 to 60 percent over the open rate for the same lane. Distance, vehicle size, and seller location set the base price. Run your pickup and delivery ZIP codes through the instant quote calculator to see both options priced side by side.
How fast can the carrier pick up from the seller?
Metro pickups typically happen within 1-3 days once the seller releases the car with keys and access. Outlying seller locations can add 1-2 days. The clock starts at release, not at purchase, so share the seller contact details at booking.
Who books enclosed after an online purchase?
Marketplace Buyers
You won the listing on a private-party marketplace and need the car home from three states away.
Enthusiast Auction Winners
The hammer fell on a collector car, and covered transport protects what you just paid for.
Online Retailer Customers
You bought from an online used-car platform and want delivery past their handoff point.
Out-of-State Dealer Buyers
The right spec was at a distant franchise dealer, and enclosed keeps it showroom-clean.
Low-Clearance Owners
Lift gates and extended ramps are common enclosed equipment, but disclose ground clearance at booking since gear varies.
Services behind an online-purchase enclosed shipment
Six services that put an independent record around a car you have never touched.
Enclosed Transport
The covered trailer that protects your unverified purchase, typically 40 to 60 percent over open on the same lane.
Open Transport
Fine for a daily driver bought online, and it costs less on the same lane.
Door-to-Door Transport
From the seller address to your driveway. No terminals on either end.
Expedited Transport
Auction deadlines and sale contingencies are real. Expedited transport keeps the calendar.
Auction Coordination
Bought at an auction house? Auction pickups run inside the yard release process, including 3-5 free storage days on most yards.
Insurance Guidance
The insurance guide explains what the $2M cargo coverage does and does not cover. Read it before the car ships.
From seller release to your driveway
Five steps that put a dated record between you and the seller.
1. Get Your Quote
Enter the seller ZIP and yours in the instant quote calculator and choose enclosed.
2. Book and Share Seller Details
Provide the seller contact, release timing, and keys location.
3. Origin Inspection at Pickup
The driver inspects with the seller, photographs condition, and completes the Bill of Lading.
4. Covered Transit to You
The car rides enclosed while CHD coordinates the route to your address.
5. Delivery Walkaround
Compare the car against the Bill of Lading before you sign.
Enclosed shipping for online buyers FAQ
Seller presence, remote inspection, dealer and auction pickups, and disputes.
Someone authorized must hand over keys and sign the Bill of Lading, but it does not have to be the seller personally. A dealership porter, auction yard agent, or designated friend can stand in. Confirm who that person is when you book.
The driver performs a documented origin inspection with the seller: existing scratches, dents, and mechanical notes go on the Bill of Lading with photo documentation. At delivery you compare the car against that same record, so any transport-related change is identifiable.
Yes. CHD coordinates pickups from dealerships, online retailers, marketplace sellers, and auction sites across all 48 contiguous states. Auction pickups may include 3-5 free storage days depending on the yard. Provide gate passes or release details at booking where the yard requires them.
It depends on the car. A standard sedan from an online platform is fine on an open trailer. A premium, collector, or low-clearance unit earns the enclosed premium because you are protecting a purchase whose true condition you could not verify.
Transport covers only what happens between pickup and delivery. If the car does not match the listing, that is a dispute with the seller or platform, not the carrier. The origin inspection photos and Bill of Lading still help by documenting exactly what the seller handed over.
Most carriers allow around 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk, but on a sight-unseen purchase the smarter move is shipping the car empty. You cannot confirm what is already inside, and items in the car are not covered by cargo insurance.
Transport payment timing is set at booking, and CHD confirms the details with you at that point. The purchase payment to the seller is a separate matter between you and the seller or platform. Share the seller release timing when you book so pickup, typically within 1-3 days of release, lines up with your deal.
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Get Your Enclosed Online-Purchase Quote
See your enclosed rate before the seller even schedules the handoff: run both ZIP codes through the instant quote calculator on this page.