Pay for the car, complete any required post-sale steps, and confirm it is ready for pickup. Get the vehicle release or gate pass, then arrange shipping with a company that can coordinate an authorized carrier. Share the correct pickup location, car details, and release instructions. The assigned carrier collects the car, records its condition, and delivers it to your chosen address.
Buying a car at Manheim is only part of getting it to your dealership, repair shop, or home. The next step is making sure the auction will release it and arranging a carrier that can pick it up.
Manheim mainly serves licensed dealers, but certain locations also hold public auctions. Here's how to plan the shipment, avoid delays, and understand the cost.
What to Know Before Arranging Manheim Car Shipping
Manheim runs physical auctions and online sales. Not every purchased car is parked at a Manheim auction lot. Some online purchases may be held at a seller's location, so check the pickup address shown in your sale details.
Dealers generally use a verified Manheim account and AuctionACCESS credentials. Public buyers should check whether their chosen Manheim location offers a public sale and follow that event's registration rules. Manheim's public auction guidance explains that each location sets its own requirements.
Before booking a truck, confirm three things:
- Release status: The car is cleared for pickup, with no unresolved inspection or auction hold.
- Physical condition: You know whether it starts, rolls, steers, and brakes.
- Pickup location: You have the correct lot or seller address, gate hours, and contact details.
These details can prevent a failed pickup.
How to Ship a Car from Manheim Step by Step
1. Review Your Purchase Details
Start with the purchase confirmation and invoice. Check the car's year, make, model, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), pickup site, and any sale notes. Confirm whether the purchase was made at a Manheim location or through an offsite seller.
For multiple purchases, check the release status of each car separately.
2. Complete Payment and Check the Car's Status
Log in to Manheim and open Post-Sale Management. You can review amounts owed, payments, inspections, and pickup readiness there. Manheim may hold a car while payment clears, a requested post-sale inspection finishes, or an arbitration issue is resolved.
Wait until the car is eligible for release. Manheim explains the process here.
3. Get the Gate Pass or Vehicle Release
Once the car is available, use the Purchases area in Post-Sale Management to access its gate pass or release form. A gate pass helps the auction confirm which car a driver is authorized to collect.
Manheim's instructions show how to print a purchased car's gate pass. A valid release and acceptable photo identification are needed for removal, and the auction must still show the car as eligible to leave.
4. Request a Manheim Car Shipping Quote
Provide the pickup ZIP code or full auction address, delivery ZIP code, year, make, model, and running condition. Include the car's available pickup date and whether you prefer open or enclosed transport.
Tell the shipping company if the car has missing keys, damage, low ground clearance, or trouble rolling. These details can change the loading plan and final quote.
5. Arrange the Carrier's Pickup
After booking, give the assigned carrier the release instructions and any required pickup contact information. Confirm the auction's gate hours and whether the driver must use a designated transport entrance.
At participating locations, Manheim's LotVision tool helps transporters locate cars. For offsite purchases, confirm the seller's availability.
6. Inspect the Car and Confirm Delivery
At pickup, the carrier should document the car's visible condition on the Bill of Lading (BOL), the transport inspection and receipt document. Photos are useful, especially for auction purchases with existing scratches or body damage.
At delivery, inspect the car again before signing. Note any new damage on the delivery paperwork and follow the assigned carrier's claim instructions if needed.
What Documents Are Needed for Manheim Car Pickup?
The exact paperwork depends on the sale and pickup location, but buyers should have these details ready:
| Item | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Purchase invoice or confirmation | Identifies the purchased car and transaction. |
| Vehicle release or gate pass | Allows the auction to check pickup authorization. |
| VIN and lot information | Helps the driver identify the correct car. |
| Pickup address and contact | Tells the driver where to check in. |
| Driver's valid photo ID | Helps the location confirm the person collecting the car. |
Ask whether a third-party transporter needs additional forms. A car's title may follow a separate process. Manheim lists title status as Title Present or Title Absent. Confirm both title and release status.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from Manheim?
There is no single Manheim car shipping price. A short trip to a nearby dealership can cost much less overall than a shipment across several states. The actual quote also depends on the car and the pickup conditions.
| Cost Factor | How It Affects Your Quote |
|---|---|
| Distance and route | Longer trips typically cost more in total; popular routes may offer more carrier options. |
| Car size | Larger SUVs and trucks may take more trailer space. |
| Running condition | A car that cannot be driven onto a trailer may need extra loading help. |
| Trailer choice | Open shipping usually costs less than enclosed shipping. |
| Pickup readiness | Storage, a failed pickup, or extra waiting can add separate expenses. |
| Timing and availability | Short-notice requests may limit carrier choices. |
Separate the charges. Your Manheim purchase invoice can include a buyer fee and other auction charges. Those are different from what you pay to transport the car. Storage charges, if applicable, are also separate from the shipping quote.
Compare what each quote includes, especially loading equipment and possible additional fees. Request a car shipping quote with the actual auction location and condition.
Ways to Keep the Shipping Cost Down
- Choose open transport for an ordinary, running car when it meets your needs.
- Compare pickup dates when the auction's storage deadline allows it.
- Give accurate car details so the carrier arrives with suitable equipment.
- If you bought multiple cars, ask whether they can be collected along a compatible route.
- Book after release requirements are clear, so a preventable failed pickup does not create extra costs.
How Long Does Manheim Car Shipping Take?
Shipping involves two different periods: waiting for the car to become available and the carrier's travel time after pickup. They are not the same.
A ready car on a popular route may be easier to schedule. Once collected, delivery depends on distance, driver stops, weather, and traffic.
Pickup and delivery dates are estimates. Tell the shipping company about any dealership deadline, but leave room for changes outside the driver's control.
Can You Ship a Non-Running Car from Manheim?
Yes, when a suitable carrier and loading equipment are available. The important question is not simply whether the engine starts. Ask whether the car can roll, steer, and brake, and whether the auction can assist with loading.
A non-running car may require a winch or other equipment. Do not assume every Manheim location provides forklift service or that every car trailer can handle the car.
Tell Ship A1 Auto Transport about the condition before booking. Under Ship A1's supplied terms, a $150 non-operable car fee is assessed at delivery when the car is inoperative at pickup or becomes inoperative during transport. Review your current booking terms and full quote for applicable charges.
Common Manheim Pickup Delays and How to Avoid Them
Even a scheduled carrier cannot collect a car that the auction has not released. Watch for these common problems:
- Payment has not cleared: Check the account and payment status before confirming pickup.
- Post-sale inspection is pending: Wait for the required inspection result.
- An arbitration issue is open: Confirm the hold is resolved.
- The gate pass is missing: Download the release and share the required information with the transporter.
- The pickup location is wrong: Confirm whether the car is on an auction lot or at a seller's site.
- The truck cannot load the car: Disclose missing keys or mechanical problems early.
Storage rules and gate hours vary by location. Check the individual Manheim auction's current policy before choosing your pickup date.
Open vs. Enclosed Transport for Manheim Purchases
Open car transport is often a practical choice for regular dealership inventory and everyday cars. An open trailer may carry several cars, with the vehicles exposed to normal road and weather conditions. It is usually the lower-cost option.
Enclosed car transport gives additional protection from outside conditions during the trip. Dealers may consider it for a classic, collector, luxury, or other high-value car. It generally costs more and depends on enclosed carrier availability.
Neither option replaces a pickup inspection. Choose based on the car's value, budget, and carrier availability. Read about open transport and enclosed transport .
How Ship A1 Auto Transport Helps Arrange Manheim Car Shipping
Ship A1 Auto Transport regularly helps customers arrange pickups from Manheim auctions. We work with dealers and eligible buyers who need cars moved to a dealership, home, repair facility, or another approved delivery location.
Share the pickup location, release status, car details, and delivery address. Ship A1 Auto Transport helps coordinate an assigned carrier based on the shipment's requirements. That carrier handles loading, transportation, and delivery.
For more background, explore our auction car shipping service. Assigned carriers have primary responsibility for transport insurance, subject to their policy terms and exclusions. Inspect the car at pickup and delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
For many standard, running cars, open transport is the more affordable choice. Flexible dates and an accurate pickup location can also help you compare available rates. If the car cannot run or the auction has special loading rules, the cheapest advertised quote may not include what you actually need.
What is the buyer fee at Manheim?
Manheim does not have one buyer fee that applies to every purchase. Fees depend on the auction, type of sale, and applicable fee schedule. Check the final invoice and the rules for the location where you bought the car. The buyer fee is an auction charge, not the cost of shipping it.
Where does Manheim get its cars from?
Manheim's marketplace brings together cars from dealerships and commercial sellers. These can include automakers, rental businesses, banks, lenders, and fleet operators. The seller and condition details vary by listing, so check the individual car's history and auction disclosures before bidding.
How much would it cost to ship a car to the USA?
If the car is already at a Manheim location in the United States, you need a domestic shipping quote based on its pickup and delivery ZIP codes. If you mean importing a car from another country, that is a separate process involving overseas freight, port charges, customs, and U.S. import rules. Ship A1's Manheim pickup quote should not be mistaken for a complete international import price. Check U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance for import requirements.
What is the best car shipping company?
The best choice is a company that explains its role, provides clear written terms, and can coordinate the car's actual pickup requirements. Check registration details through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , read recent customer feedback, and compare quotes that cover the same service. For a Manheim purchase, experience with auction releases and pickup instructions is especially useful.
Get a Manheim Car Shipping Quote
Have your Manheim purchase ready, but do not wait until the last storage-free day to plan shipping. Confirm the release, check the car's condition, and share the correct pickup details with Ship A1 Auto Transport.
We can help arrange transport with an assigned carrier once the car is eligible for pickup.
Call: 1 (844) 474-4721
Get a Free Car Shipping Quote
