How to Check Where Your Car Is After Ordering from a 4S Store?

[Franklin]

When purchasing a car, you will definitely sign a contract. You can then find the contact number provided on the contract and inquire about the status. Use the website to check. You can log in to the official website of the car brand you ordered and track the order progress using your order number. If you don't have internet access, you can directly call the 4S store and ask the staff for updates.

[MacWeston]

When I first placed an order at the 4S store, I was also anxious every day. The most reliable method is to directly follow up with your sales consultant. Salespeople have access to an internal system that shows real-time vehicle status updates, clearly indicating stages like 'dispatched', 'in transit', or 'arrived at dealership'. Back then, I basically messaged my salesperson every other day on WeChat, and he would send me screenshots of the logistics progress. There can be information delays during transportation – once the system showed the car was still in another city, but the salesperson suddenly notified me it had already arrived at the dealership. Some brands will send you an SMS with a logistics tracking link after the vehicle leaves the factory, but I always found the salesperson's information to be the most timely. Oh, and remember to get your order number and VIN – if your salesperson goes on vacation, you can still call the manufacturer's customer service to check the status.

[MacLily]

I've bought three cars in total, and found that after placing an order, checking the progress requires persistently chasing the salesperson. First, obtain the order number and VIN, so besides asking the salesperson, you can also call the manufacturer's 400 hotline to check. Nowadays, many brands like Toyota and Volkswagen have official apps where you can directly see which logistics hub your car is at after binding your vehicle information. Last week, when helping my brother check his BYD, entering the order number in the WeChat mini-program showed that the car had already arrived at the provincial transit warehouse. But to be honest, app information often has delays. Once, the app showed the car was still at Shanghai Port, but the salesperson sent a photo via WeChat showing the car was already being washed at the 4S store.

[SanAlejandro]

There are four main ways to check where your ordered car is: First, ask the salesperson for an internal system screenshot—they update the shipping status daily. Second, note down the VIN and call the manufacturer’s customer service for tracking. Third, check if the brand has a logistics tracking app, like Mercedes or BMW, which offer real-time location updates. Lastly, pay attention to notifications from the logistics company, especially for rail shipments, which often send arrival alerts. However, vehicle tracking info is usually delayed by about two days, especially for cross-province shipments where GPS signal loss is common. It’s best to check with the salesperson weekly—shipping typically takes 2-4 weeks, with truck deliveries from Northeast to South China possibly exceeding three weeks. Remind the salesperson to confirm arrival three days before the car reaches the dealership to avoid a wasted trip.

[DeCaleb]

Checking logistics is much more convenient now, it can be done right on your phone. Just download the corresponding brand's app, such as myAudi for Audi or the Tesla app, register and bind your order number, and you can directly see the vehicle's location on the map. Last week, I helped a friend check their Lynk & Co, and using the Lynk & Co app, we saw the car was being loaded at the Wuhan transit station. Some domestic brands like Changan and Chery also have order inquiry entries in their official public accounts—just input your phone number and the last digits of your order number to access the logistics information. If you don't have a smart device, you can directly ask the salesperson for the logistics tracking number and check it on the carrier's website, such as Anji Logistics or Changjiu Logistics, though the webpage updates are about half a day slower than the app.