For new cars, several variables affect shipping time
Workers assemble a new car at the Changan Ford Mazda joint-venture plant in the Chinese southwestern city of Chongqing. (June, 3, 2011). Credit: Getty Images
Q. How long should it take for an ordered new car to arrive? My wife and I bought a piece of paper with a vehicle identification number on it three weeks ago from a new-car dealer. The paper theoretically represents a specific new car. At the time of paper purchase, we were told that the vehicle had arrived in port and should arrive at the dealership "any day." Why can't my dealer track a $20,000 car? Also, at what point should we pull the plug on the deal? Does this type of thing happen to many new-car customers or is karma just biting our rears?
A. You didn't provide much information, but apparently you bought a car built in Asia or Europe, which means it has to travel first by ship and then be delivered by rail and/or truck from the port of entry. This generally takes about six weeks from factory to dealer but can be longer or shorter depending on the point of origin, the destination and whether any shipping snafus pop up along the way. If the vehicle truly was already at the U.S. port, three weeks would seem to be enough time, unless there were shipping delays.
With the tracking systems that vehicle manufacturers use today, a dealer should be able to find out where a vehicle is within the system. That doesn't mean they can point to it on a GPS map, but having a VIN should allow them to determine approximately when it should arrive. If your dealer can't provide this information, contact the manufacturer's customer service department to see if they can help.
Keep in mind that many Japanese-made vehicles are still in short supply because of the recent earthquake and tsunami, and that could extend your waiting period. It's also possible that your dealer gave you an unrealistically optimistic timetable to convince you to purchase a vehicle from them.
© 2011, Cars.com
