Delivery day is the moment to reconnect the arriving vehicle with the record made at pickup. Leave enough time and light for a useful walk-around. The goal is a clear handover, with any discrepancy described while the people involved can still review it together.
What to know first
- Keep the pickup record and photographs accessible.
- Look systematically around the vehicle instead of rushing.
- Record concerns clearly and follow the written reporting process.
Prepare before the truck arrives.
Confirm the receiving contact and meeting location. Keep the pickup condition record, booking documents and useful photographs available on a charged phone or another accessible format. If someone receives the car for you, share those materials with them.
Choose an inspection approach suited to the light and surroundings. A rushed review in poor visibility is less useful than a deliberate one in a suitable place. Discuss practical arrangements with the driver.
Use a consistent walk-around.
Move around the vehicle in an orderly way. Compare body panels, glass, wheels and low areas with the pickup record. Look at the specific places you photographed before release, including any existing marks.
Use wider photographs to show where a concern is located and closer photographs to show the detail. A close-up without context can be hard to interpret later. Keep the original files and note the unit or vehicle reference.
Describe what you observe.
If something appears different, record the observed condition and its location. Ask that the delivery record reflects the concern before completing the handover. GSA's procedure for its own vehicle deliveries also calls for recording damage on the delivery paperwork. For your shipment, use the documentation and reporting process in your written terms.
A transport condition record is not a comprehensive mechanical inspection. If you identify an operating concern, describe it and seek appropriate professional assessment. Do not assume the delivery walk-around answers every technical question.
Keep the next step clear.
Retain the final delivery record and contact the responsible party promptly using the process in your written terms. Ask what documentation is required and who will coordinate the response.
The outcome of a claim depends on the facts and applicable terms. This guide does not promise a particular result. Its purpose is to help preserve a clear, timely and useful record of the handover.
- Pickup record available.
- Vehicle reviewed in useful light.
- Any discrepancy described and photographed.
- Delivery documents and next contact retained.
Plan your next step
How to photograph a car before transport: a repeatable shot list ↗Vehicle transport and the odometer: what to record at each handoff ↗When your shipped car arrives before you: arrange an authorized receiver ↗Sources & further reading
Explore the service
Door-to-door car shipping ↗Published by Driveline Logistics. Guides explain planning considerations; shipment-specific equipment, availability and written terms are confirmed before booking.