How cars move from factories to dealerships — and into customers’ driveways

Cars reach dealerships and customers through a staged logistics chain: after assembly, vehicles are released to rail, truck, or ship; processed at vehicle distribution or port centers; allocated to dealers based on orders and algorithms; then delivered for inspection and handover. Some brands also deliver directly to buyers under agency or direct-sales models. Timelines range from a few days for nearby builds to several months for imported or custom-ordered vehicles.

From assembly line to first mile

Once a vehicle clears end-of-line quality checks, the automaker assigns a VIN and parks it in a factory yard. Software is flashed, protective films are applied, and any factory or port-installed options are queued. A logistics provider books transport, selecting rail, truck, or ocean (for exports) based on destination, capacity, cost, and promised delivery windows. The vehicle is then “released” into the distribution network.

Domestic transport: rail and truck

Rail: the long-haul backbone

In North America and parts of Europe, most long-distance moves are by rail in enclosed autorack cars. Vehicles travel from an origin rail ramp near the plant to destination ramps near major metros. Transit typically takes 4–14 days domestically, but dwell times at yards can add variability during peak seasons or network disruptions.

Truck: regional and last-mile

Specialized car carriers (usually hauling 6–9 vehicles) handle short hops from plants to nearby dealers and the last leg from rail ramps or ports to dealerships. Trucking offers flexibility and is favored for shorter routes, high-priority deliveries, and time-sensitive sold orders.

Mixing modes and constraints

Automakers often blend rail and truck to balance speed and cost. Weather, rail congestion, labor constraints, and regulatory limits on axle loads or driver hours can extend timelines. Network shocks—such as severe storms or rail yard bottlenecks—can ripple through the system for weeks.

Imports and ports

Imported vehicles typically arrive on roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships. At ports, Vehicle Processing or Distribution Centers (VPC/VDC) handle customs, compliance checks, software and telematics activation, accessory installation, and detailing. Ocean transit can take 2–6 weeks depending on origin and routing, with schedules affected by global events such as Red Sea security diversions, Panama Canal draft restrictions, and port congestion. After processing, vehicles move by truck or rail to regional markets.

Allocation: how automakers decide which dealer gets what

Automakers allocate production to dealers using models that weigh sales history (“turn-and-earn”), market size, trim and color mix, regional demand, regulatory requirements (e.g., ZEV/CAFE mix), and constraints in parts supply. Dealers submit preference guides, but actual allocations depend on what the factory can build and ship that cycle.

Stock orders vs. sold orders

Sold (customer) orders usually get priority build and shipping slots, often jumping ahead of generic stock units. Build-to-order timelines depend on plant schedules, option constraints, and shipping distance, ranging from 4–8 weeks domestically to 8–16 weeks or more for imports.

Dealer trades and swaps

To meet specific customer requests, dealers frequently swap vehicles with nearby franchises of the same brand. Trades are coordinated through OEM portals, with a carrier moving the vehicle between stores—often shaving weeks off a wait for a rare configuration.

Fleet and rental channels

Fleet buyers—rental companies, governments, and corporations—receive dedicated allocations, sometimes built in large blocks and routed to upfitters before delivery. These volumes can influence retail availability in a region during a given quarter.

Retail delivery: from truck ramp to driveway

On arrival, dealerships perform a pre-delivery inspection (PDI): verifying fluids, torque specs, software levels, keys, tire pressures, charging equipment (for EVs), and cosmetic condition. Accessories are fitted, test drives confirm readiness, and vehicles are detailed for handover.

Title, registration, and financing

Until retail sale, most dealers carry vehicles on “floorplan” credit lines. At sale, the dealer finalizes financing or cash transaction, collects taxes and fees, files title and registration (often electronically), and pays off the floorplan. The automaker records the unit as wholesaled when it left factory control; retail sale closes the loop.

Home and direct deliveries

Direct-sales brands like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid deliver vehicles directly to customers or through company stores and service centers, handling titling and home delivery where state law permits. In the EU and UK, some legacy makers are shifting to an “agency” model—OEMs set price and own inventory while retailers facilitate delivery. In many U.S. states, franchise laws still require independent dealers for most brands, though at-home deliveries by dealers are increasingly common.

EV-specific logistics

Electric vehicles are shipped at a controlled state of charge (often 30–60%) to preserve battery health. Transporters follow hazard and thermal protocols, with charging infrastructure at ports, VDCs, rail ramps, and dealerships. Software activation and OTA readiness are completed during processing so buyers receive vehicles with the latest calibrations and maps.

Timelines: what to expect

The following list outlines typical timeframes for common scenarios, recognizing that supply, season, and route conditions can shift actual delivery dates.

• Plant to nearby dealer (same region): 3–10 days by truck.
• Plant to distant dealer (same country): 2–4 weeks by rail + truck.
• Europe or Asia to North America: 6–12 weeks including ocean, port processing, and inland transit.
• Customer sold order (domestic build): 4–8 weeks, contingent on parts and build slots.
• Customer sold order (import): 8–16+ weeks, depending on vessel schedules and port congestion.
• Quality hold or stop-sale remedy: add days to several weeks, depending on parts availability.

These ranges are averages; real-world deliveries can be faster in low-traffic corridors or longer during network disruptions and seasonal peaks.

Costs: who pays for what

The automaker sets a destination/delivery charge that appears on the window sticker; it covers standard freight from plant or port to the selling market and is generally non-negotiable. Dealers may add documentation and optional delivery fees. Floorplan interest and OEM holdback or incentives influence dealer economics but do not change the stickered destination charge.

Quality holds, stop-sales, and recalls

Automakers can place vehicles on “quality hold” at the plant or port to fix a defect before release. If an issue surfaces after distribution, a stop-sale may prevent retail delivery until a remedy is installed. In both cases, vehicles remain tracked in the pipeline and are released once compliant.

Technology behind the scenes

VIN-level tracking, yard management systems, railcar GPS, and carrier EDI feeds provide status updates from plant to dealer. Increasingly, built-in telematics offer location pings during processing (with privacy controls) and enable immediate OTA updates after delivery.

Trends shaping distribution in 2024–2025

Automotive logistics is adapting to new retail models, supply-chain volatility, and sustainability targets. The points below capture the most visible shifts buyers and dealers are seeing.

• Agency and fixed-price pilots in Europe expand OEM-controlled inventory and uniform pricing.
• Normalization of dealer inventory after pandemic lows, but with tighter mixes on slow sellers.
• Greater prioritization of sold orders and high-demand trims to accelerate stock turns.
• Route adjustments and longer transit times on some ocean lanes due to geopolitical disruptions.
• Greener logistics: higher rail share, biofuels for ocean carriers, and EV yard trucks at ports.
• More transparent customer tracking portals, providing milestones from build to delivery.

Together, these changes are nudging the market toward faster, more predictable deliveries for pre-sold cars while giving OEMs tighter control over pricing and inventory flow.

How customers can track and speed delivery

Buyers have a few practical levers to improve visibility and timelines. These steps tend to yield the most impact.

1. Ask for a VIN or production number and request access to the brand’s order tracker.
2. Choose common trims/options; constrained parts can delay scheduling.
3. Allow neighboring-dealer trades if your store doesn’t receive your configuration.
4. Confirm whether a port-installed accessory can be dealer-installed to avoid port delays.
5. Clarify delivery method (rail vs. truck) and set expectations for seasonal slowdowns.
6. If moving states, align titling early to prevent re-routing at delivery.

While you can’t control rail dwell or ship schedules, flexibility on configuration and dealership can shorten waits, and tracking tools help you spot and address avoidable delays.

Summary

Automakers move vehicles through a highly choreographed chain: factory release, rail/truck/ocean transit, port or distribution center processing, algorithmic allocation, dealer PDI, and final handover—with direct delivery growing in some markets. Mode choice, allocation rules, and real-world network conditions determine how quickly a car reaches a buyer. Understanding these steps, and leveraging sold-order prioritization, dealer trades, and tracking tools, can make delivery faster and more predictable.

How are cars transported to dealers?

Most vehicles travel by truck at some point during transport, especially during shipments to small-town dealers. These car haulers are usually double-deck trailers that can hold about 12 vehicles. Car haulers have ramps that raise and lower to ensure smooth and quick loading.

Where do most dealerships get their cars from?

Dealerships can buy the cars on their lots from several sources ranging from trade ins and auctions to purchasing directly from the manufacturer. Most car dealerships acquire their vehicles using a tool called “floorplan financing”.

What is the four square trick at a car dealership?

Dealers also use 4-Squares to trick consumers into focusing on the down payment and monthly payments rather than the price of the vehicle. If you signed a 4-Square containing the price of a vehicle, payments, or other terms, the dealer may have broken the law.

How do car distributors work?

A car distributor is a mechanical device, primarily in older vehicles, that sends high-voltage electricity from the ignition coil to the correct spark plug at the precise moment for ignition in each engine cylinder. It works by using a rotating arm (rotor) inside a cap that houses terminals for each spark plug wire. As the rotor spins, driven by the engine’s camshaft, it directs the electrical spark to the appropriate cylinder, ensuring the air-fuel mixture ignites at the right time in the engine’s cycle. 
This video explains the function of the distributor and how it delivers the spark to the engine: 57sPowerspark Ignition LtdYouTube · Sep 22, 2022
Components and Function

• Distributor Cap: A plastic cap that contains terminals connected to each spark plug wire. 
• Distributor Rotor: A spinning arm inside the cap that carries the high voltage from the ignition coil. 
• Distributor Shaft: A shaft connected to the engine’s camshaft, which spins the rotor at a speed synchronized with the engine. 

How it Works

1. Spark Generation: Opens in new tabThe ignition coil generates a high-voltage spark, which enters the center of the distributor cap. 
2. Electrical Distribution: Opens in new tabThe rotating rotor within the distributor cap receives this spark. 
3. Timing the Spark: Opens in new tabThe rotor’s tip spins and, at a specific point, jumps the electrical spark from its own tip to one of the terminals on the inside of the cap. 
4. To the Spark Plug: Opens in new tabFrom that terminal, a high-voltage wire (spark plug wire) carries the spark to the corresponding spark plug. 
5. Ignition: Opens in new tabThe spark ignites the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinder, causing it to fire. 
6. Firing Order: Opens in new tabAs the rotor continues to spin, it delivers sparks to each cylinder in the correct firing order, ensuring smooth engine operation. 

You can watch this video to learn how the distributor’s components work together to create and distribute the spark: 42sAdam MechanicYouTube · Nov 12, 2023
Modern Relevance
Distributors were common in older vehicles but have been largely replaced by distributorless ignition systems in modern cars. These modern systems use electronic control modules and other sensors to achieve the same precise spark timing but without the mechanical distributor. Understanding distributors is valuable for working on older cars and for grasping the fundamental principles of mechanical ignition timing.