How long does it usually take to pick up a car after ordering when the 4S store has no stock?
3 Answers
After completing the car purchase procedures, it generally takes within a month to pick up the car under normal circumstances. Here is the relevant information to pay attention to when picking up the car: 1. Various documents related to the vehicle: When picking up the car, check the relevant documents of the new car, including the purchase invoice, certificate of conformity, vehicle consistency certificate, motor vehicle registration certificate, three-guarantee certificate, vehicle user manual, and new car delivery confirmation form. If the 4S store is responsible for license plate registration and insurance handling, you will also need to obtain the original insurance policy, insurance invoice, compulsory traffic insurance invoice, vehicle and vessel tax invoice, purchase tax invoice, tax payment certificate, and compulsory traffic insurance label from the salesperson. 2. Check the vehicle's exterior, including the paint, production date of the window glass, tires, trunk, and engine; for the interior, focus on checking the car's functions, such as the lights, windows, rearview mirrors, dashboard, air conditioning, etc.
Last time I ordered a car at the 4S dealership, I also encountered a situation where there was no stock available. The salesperson said it would take about a month, but I ended up waiting almost two months to get the car. Mainly because this model is too popular, and the manufacturer's orders are overwhelming with production unable to keep up. I heard that regular models can arrive in two to three weeks, but less popular models might be even faster. Logistics also play a key role; it takes about an extra week if the distance between the manufacturer and the dealership is far. During that time, I called the salesperson every week to follow up, and it felt like those who followed up more frequently got prioritized in the queue. My suggestion is to ask the salesperson to check the system for any vehicles in transit when ordering, as this can save a lot of time. Also, make sure to specify the latest delivery date in the contract, otherwise, you might easily get delayed.
A friend asked me to help with car ordering a few times. Once we waited for a month and a half, mainly because the 4S dealership had exhausted its monthly allocation and had to wait for the next manufacturer shipment. Delivery speed depends on the model's popularity, manufacturer capacity, and dealer strength. Regular family cars usually take 3-4 weeks, while luxury brands with customized configurations may require up to three months. It's advisable to compare delivery timelines across multiple dealerships before placing an order—larger dealers typically have faster inventory turnover. Delivery slows down during peak logistics periods like before Chinese New Year. Paying to skip the queue is unethical, but building good rapport with salespeople can genuinely prioritize vehicle delivery to the dealership.
