How long does it usually take to wait for a car in transit as mentioned by a 4S store?
3 Answers
4S stores generally say that a car in transit takes about a week to arrive. Below are the precautions for picking up a car at a 4S store: 1. Inspect the vehicle condition: Park the car outdoors in ample light to observe the body paint, ensuring there are no scratches or wear, the paint is even, and appears translucent under sunlight reflection. Open the door—the vehicle's nameplate is located near the driver's side door or B-pillar—check the relevant information on the nameplate. Open the engine compartment to check if it is clean, free of dirt or dust, and verify that the engine oil and other fluids are sufficient. Manually check if the doors open and close smoothly, if the windows roll up and down normally, if there is a strong odor inside the car, if the air conditioning cools, if the wipers function properly, and if the lights turn on correctly. 2. Test drive: Start the engine to feel if the idle is smooth, if there is noticeable noise inside the car, and if the steering wheel vibrates significantly. 3. Check documents: Ensure all relevant vehicle materials are complete, such as the purchase invoice, certificate of conformity, vehicle consistency certificate, motor vehicle registration certificate, three-guarantee proof, vehicle user manual, and new car delivery confirmation form.
Last time I went to the 4S dealership to order a car, I asked about the waiting time for vehicles in transit. The salesperson told me that the exact duration depends on the car's logistics status. If it has already been shipped, it usually takes between 1 to 4 weeks, with most cases being resolved in about two weeks. This depends on various factors, such as the transportation distance—whether the car is being shipped from a distant manufacturer or a local transit hub. If it's coming from a distant location, it may need to be transported via road or rail, and delays can occur due to rain or snow. Additionally, the popularity of the model and inventory availability play a role—hot-selling models might have longer wait times. It's best to ask for the car's current location and estimated arrival date on the spot and request regular updates. Before pickup, you can prepare financing or insurance in advance to ensure a smooth process when the car arrives, avoiding last-minute hassles. In my case, I waited 18 days, and the process was relatively smooth, though checking the progress daily was a bit annoying.
I have some knowledge about car transportation, and the waiting time for vehicles in transit can actually be roughly estimated. Generally speaking, it takes about 10 days to a month for a regular model to go from the factory to the dealership. If the car is shipped from domestic production cities like Wuhan or Guangzhou, logistics can be as fast as a week; long-distance or imported cars may take over four weeks. This depends on the transportation method—trucking is more direct but heavily affected by road conditions, while rail is more stable but costly. Additionally, the size of the dealership matters—larger ones often have fixed logistics partners that can speed things up. I recommend checking the progress frequently with the salesperson, asking for the vehicle's tracking number or route, which you can also look up online. Don’t forget that during peak seasons like around the Lunar New Year, logistics companies are swamped, and delivery times can double—it’s best to avoid ordering during these busy periods.
