So, you’ve ordered your car, now you just have to wait for it to be delivered. The thing is, your vehicle supplier hasn’t actually given you a specific date. We understand that this can be frustrating, you’ve bought something and now you want to know exactly when it will be in your possession; it’s fair enough.
Maybe you have to plan the sale of your current car, or perhaps your existing vehicle may be due to be handed back. Whatever your reasons, it is understandable that you want to have a clear understanding of timeframes.
At OSV, we’ve had years of experience working with all manufacturers and we understand the complexities and difficulties that can cause delays. Therefore, we have written this article to help you to fully understand how long your car might take to show up, which will enable you to be fully educated and put the right plans in place.
What could affect the delivery time-frame of my new vehicle?
Your car will go through a number of steps before it’s delivered to you. While we won’t be going into all of them, the process is, essentially, as follows:
- Build allocation
- In production
- Transit to the port of exit
- Pre-delivery inspection and paperwork
- Finance agreements and delivery
So, with all the steps mentioned above, you can understand why your vehicle supplier can’t give you a specific date for delivery. There are so many factors that affect the delivery process, such as:
- The factory
- Location
- Shipping
- Finance agreements
- Driver availability
We have gone through this process an infinite amount of times so we know exactly what sort of variables affect the delivery time. In this article we will give you an insight into the delivery process, and what affects the delivery time of your vehicle.
Time-frame of factory order vehicles
What happens at the factory plays a huge part in how long it will take for your car to be delivered. The timeframe for factory orders can vary considerably and is based on a number of factors such as:
- The volume of orders
- Factory closures
- Problems with parts
Factory orders
The manufacturer will receive a high volume of orders, and this means that when the orders are received, the manufacturer will allocate a build week. However, the timeframe for this build schedule will depend on the volume of orders received and therefore can vary from 4 weeks to a year depending on the car, the availability of parts and any plans the manufacturer has for facelifts or new models.
Factory closures
There are certain times of the year where the manufacturers have annual shutdowns and this can cause not only a delay with delivery but also receiving information. These shutdowns can vary between manufacturer. Once they reopen, they have a backlog and this can affect your order. Don’t be too concerned though, a credible broker should take this into consideration when giving you an estimated delivery date.
If there is a problem with parts for my new vehicle, how will this affect my delivery time frame?
Problems with parts can vary from quality standards to a delay in delivery. A large number of manufacturing plants depend on Just-in-Time delivery of parts when producing cars, and if there is an issue with shipping, or the parts are stuck in port then this can have a knock-on effect on your vehicle.
Sometimes factories can release bulletins about issues that have arisen with parts, this can mean that your vehicle may have been built but they would need to recall it to make corrections if it is deemed that your car could be affected. There are very high-quality standards and several points of quality checking that happen through the journey of the order. This means that if any point there is a slight concern, the car will be delayed due to inspection and strict quality control.
The delays that part problems cause can vary significantly, however, your vehicle supplier should stay close to your order and provide you with clear information about any problems that occur, which will enable you to plan.
No matter where you source your vehicle from, the potential risks for delivery time frame are similar, what matters is finding a vehicle supplier that keeps you aware of what’s happening.
My car is due to be delivered in 4 weeks, so why don’t I have a build slot yet?
When you first order your car, you’re guaranteeing yourself a production slot. However, this slot is not immediately booked in. The slot your car is given will be based on a couple of things:
- Time and date of delivery
- How many people there are before you
At the factory, your production slot will be diarised, though it’s likely it will be as part of a run of many different cars. In the majority of factories on any given day, there will be a series of different vehicles being made on the same production line.
The actual building of a car from start to finish takes around 48 hours, with the vast amount of this time needed to ensure that the paintwork is dry. The majority of the building is carried out robotically.
Once the car has been manufactured, it will go through quality inspection to ensure that everything is working correctly. After quality has been checked your vehicle will be taken to its port of exit (though of course, this depends on where the car has been built).
Once your car has been shipped to its market destination it will be released to a distribution company who will then transport your vehicle from the docks to the dealerships. Sometimes the cars are taken from the docks to a central compound for temporary storage.
Ultimately, your car will not be built until just before it’s needed. But once it’s your turn in the schedule, the process is incredibly quick.
Does location affect delivery time?
Where the car is built greatly affects delivery time. For example, if the car is built in Europe, then the time-frame from build to delivery is approximately 4 weeks (if all goes to plan). But cars built further afield such as China or America can take much longer. The best way to understand how long your car will take is to ensure that you work with a supplier that understands the manufacturing process and therefore can give you an accurate estimation.
How long will my car be stuck at the port?
There are factors that also affect the shipping time of your delivery. These include:
- Shipping schedules and logistical problems
- Peak times at the port
How do shipping schedules affect car delivery time?
Vehicles can be at the port for up to 3 weeks awaiting shipping. The main reason for this is customs and excise, they can spot check at any time and vehicles can be quarantined with no fixed time for release. While this is rare, it does happen.
Peak times at the port
March and September are high volume months within the motor industry. This is because these are the months that the new number plates are released so during this time there are vast numbers of cars going through the port.
They are all stored in specific orders and if your car is behind hundreds or thousands of others, it is impossible to access it and speed up the process. However, a credible supplier will understand how these peak months affect lead times and can plan this with you to achieve your delivery preferences.
Will paperwork affect the delivery time-frame of my new vehicle?
Your delivery cannot take place until your finance agreement has been signed correctly, submitted to the finance company, processed, checked and verified. The time-frame for the speed of processing agreements depends on the time of year and the finance company.
Sometimes it can be 24 hours; sometimes it can be 5 days. Until they have completed this, they cannot authorise the release of your vehicle.
This is important because if you have been promised a time-frame but you cannot sign the documents within the time-frame, the delivery will be delayed until you complete them. This is rarely spoken about at the point of order with suppliers but it’s an important factor when it comes to delivery time. You can read more about what documents you will be signing here.
How does driver availability affect delivery time?
This is pretty self-explanatory. Just because your car is in stock, doesn’t mean you can have it the day it arrives. It will need to go through pre-delivery inspection and the delivery can only be booked after this has been done. Once it has been done, you will be offered the first available date for delivery. This depends on volume and driver availability.
The time-frame from completed inspection paperwork to delivery can vary from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the manufacturer and the time of year.
Estimate vs. Promise
Some suppliers will guarantee you an exact delivery date at the point of order. Unfortunately, this date is neither realistic nor truthful. It is true that you can expect a date to be achieved and work towards that date. However, at the point of order, it is impossible to say conclusively that an exact date will be achieved.
If your vehicle supplier gives you an estimate, this will be based on the manufacturers lead time quoted at the point of order. This should only be taken as an estimate, not a promise. With a decision as important as buying or leasing a car you need to trust your supplier to give you all the facts, advantages and disadvantages without making promises just to secure a sale.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that your desired delivery date cannot be achieved, it just means that there are many factors that could alter this date, and it is best practice to prepare for this and be honest. So, if there is a slight delay, you can plan for it.
How can I trust the lead time my supplier has quoted for my new car?
The best way to know if you can trust your supplier is if they use the phrases ‘best estimate’, ‘potential lead time’ or even ‘approximate’. Why? This is because, as we’ve said above, nothing is guaranteed. Therefore, any information that is given should be an approximate guide and you should ensure that your supplier keeps you updated on the progress of the order.
It is tempting to be influenced by firm commitments however, we feel that educating customers in every aspect (good and bad) builds trust.
If you do take an estimate as a promise, you could end up selling your vehicle and then experiencing a delay and struggling to stay mobile.
Our recommendation would be to work closely with your supplier and have a plan for any slight delays that could arise. That way, even if they don’t happen, you can have peace of mind.
To find out more on how to trust your vehicle broker, read our article.
How can I track the lead time of my new car?
This depends on the supplier. Some suppliers will provide no updates unless you ask for them, others will give you a phone call every now and then, and others won’t have the technology or the contacts to find that information. There are some suppliers, however, that will provide you with accurate information through every step of the delivery process.
We give our customers access to a portal specifically designed for our customers to track their order. This is then updated weekly. However, not all vehicle suppliers do this, so it’s best to check with your vehicle supplier.
So, there you have it. As you can see, there are quite a few things that affect when your vehicle will be delivered. However, your broker should know this and take all these factors into account when giving you an estimate as to when your vehicle will arrive. The majority of orders go smoothly and time frames are met, though it’s always best to be prepared.
I ORDERED A PUEGOT 5008 GT-LINE PREMIUM DIESEL AUTOMATIC IN EGYPTIAN BLUE IN JULY LAST YEAR AND I AM STILL AWAITING ON A DELIVERY TIME THE CAR IS ON MOBILITY AND GOT FROM RICHARD HARDIE OF DURHAM CAN YOU HELP ME BY ESTIMATING A ROUGH DELIVERY TIME .
Hi John,
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, we can’t predict a lead time for your vehicle. I would recommend that you speak with the dealer/broker you are getting the car from and they should be able to provide you with the information that you need.
i have been told by my dealer that the ecosport is held up in abelgium port for the last six weeks and thatnit was due in theuk on 12th april when will it be in the uk i have been waiting since november 2018
Hi Raymond,
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, this is a question you will need to ask of your dealer. At OSV we maintain regular contact with our suppliers so are able to update when something happens. Of course, if you are unable to get a response about the delivery date you are able to cancel the order and look elsewhere. If this is what you decide to do I know that our vehicle specialists would be happy to help you source a new car.
Hi John, I’m also waiting for a white manual on mobility…however I’m sure my dealer as a stock one in as they asked me but I wanted manual as advance was cheaper ..not sure on the colour of it but may be worth a phone call…my dealer was Robin’s and Day Birmingham Central…speak to Steve or Aaron..if they can help please say Mr A.B .white G T 5008 rendered …thanks hope all goes well.
Hi,
Thank you for this information. Hopefully, as they are mobility vehicle suppliers they will be able to help other people who are waiting for the specialised vehicles.
Hi I ordered Seat Arona in June the car has said in transit from factory for the last 7days when will it get to me.
Hi Chanelle,
Thank you for your comment. The delay could be for lots of reasons. The SEAT Arona is manufacturered at the SEAT plant in Spain and will take some time to transport from Spain on a container ship before it arrives in the UK, there may also be delays at port during busy periods of the year. If you are in doubt it is always best to contact the dealership directly.
Thank you for that, it is now ready to be transported from the port.
Hopefully not a long time to wait now?
I ordered my citroen c5 aircross on 8/7/19 through my dealer on motability it is in a port somewhere awaiting shipment any ideas on time frame pls
Hi Ronald,
Thank you for your question regarding delivery of your vehicle. Once a car has arrived at the port for shipping it can take anything up to 3 weeks. A manufacturer will wait until they have a number to ship before sending a transporter. The best advice we can offer is that you keep in touch with your dealership, who will be able to give you a better idea of what is happening with the timeline for your vehicle.
I ordered a new audi q3 35tfsi s line, manual with a few options including a comfort and sound pack. I needed it to Co incide with my current ford lease ending in March so ordered with lots of time and was told march no problem. Since then the build slots gone from November to December to January 6th now January 13th.i read online there was a problem with the manual 35tfsi and orders would be delayed badly which audi denied twice saying don’t believe all you read yet march now is looking ominous and that’s IF it doesn’t get pushed back yet again! . This will mess me up with handing my old car back. Someone at audi is either lieing to keep my order or just ordered it later than I signed for it. Can you find out any info please. I have an order number if you need it. Regards Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the comment on your Audi. We have spoken with our Audi contacts and have not heard about any issues being experienced with their schedules.
If you have concerns about your delivery date we would recommend you contact your dealership again. At OSV we maintain regular contact with our suppliers so are able to update when something happens. Of course, if you are unable to get a response about the delivery date you are able to cancel the order and look elsewhere. If this is what you decide to do I know that our vehicle specialists would be happy to help you source a new car by contacting Amanda on 01903 223391.
I’ve been waiting since March for delivery of a Citroen. It was meant to be here in June then date put back to August.
It’s August and still no car and the supplier can’t seem to get a straight answer from Citroen.
When everything is automated and online this process is fundamentally flawed and is no way for any company to treat their customers.
Hi Fred,
Thank you for your comment regarding your Citroen. If you could let us know the model you have ordered we will be able to check with our own Citroen suppliers and hopefully find out more information for you.
Kind regards.
Hi, from the time a car arrives at port in the UK how long should it take to reach the dealership? Mine arrived today 07/08/19…
Hi Paul,
The time can vary.
Once the car arrives it will need to go through pre-delivery inspection and the delivery can only be booked after this has been done, and then you will be offered the first available date for delivery. This depends on volume and driver availability.
The time-frame from completed inspection paperwork to delivery can vary from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the manufacturer and the time of year.
We hope that this helps. And good luck with your new vehicle.
Do you know if the delivery of cars with a production date of July has already begun? I was waiting for the delivery at the end of August, and then at the start of September; and now my dealer cannot say anything, they just suppose it should be soon, but no dates and no other info of where is my car. I know that the production was in July, and I was told it has “one of the transportation statuses.” Did anybody get his car already (from those who was waiting from July production like me)?
Hi Olena,
Thank you for your comment. Every car manufacturer will have a different schedule when it comes to car production and delivery. If you are based in the UK and would like to find out more information, if you provide us with the details of the car you have ordered and we could try and find out more information from our suppliers. In the interim, the only suggestion we have is that you contact your dealership and continue to request information from them on the status of your vehicle.
Ordered a Kia telluride on August 3 and still no news from the dealership. They said they can see it went through but no date as to delivery. They didn’t have to build the vehicle, they ordered one that was built. I did put a deposit down. Is this normal and is there no way to even get an estimate on where we are in the process?
Hi April,
Thank you for your comment regarding delivery. As you are based in the US we are unable to offer you location-specific advice. As we mention in the article, the best place to get information is the dealership. If they are not providing you with data, the possibility is that no information is available to them. We would recommend you continue to contact them and ask them for information.
Thanks for your article – it’s like you are describing the situation with Toyota RAV4 AWD Hybrids here in Australia. Our delivery date has been changed 3 times Now Feb 2020 – we paid our deposit in June. The silence from Toyota has been unbelievable. Someone needs to be held to account – The dealers appear to be in the dark as much as we are. Also Toyota are impossible to contact. No information is coming from anyone!
My sister is waiting for delivery of her Citroen Berlingo under the UK mobility scheme. We think it’s in Portugal awaiting shipping. The dealer is not very helpful. How can we establish delivery time please.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. The best place to check would be the Motability site – they may be able to help you find out more information about current delays with vehicles under the scheme. Their contact details can be found on their website: https://www.motability.co.uk/
Waiting for delivery of Hyundai Tuscon 1.6 CRDi 48V MHD 136 N Line ordered first day of February with an approx delivery date of 6th March given by the dealer at the time. The dealer is now saying its not even made to the assembly line and the new date is end of March! That would be 2 months (if it it indeed gets delivered). Is there a better approximation available to establish if we will indeed see the face of the new car by end of March? Many thanks.
Hi,
Thank you for your question. Your dealership will have access to the production slot information – however, it’s worth noting that many companies rely on a supply chain in China and they are currently experiencing delays in production of components.
We’ve had a Toyota CH-R on order since 28/12/19. We were told that an estimated time of late February/early March would be our delivery estimated. I called dealer last week, he said it’s now end of March (estimated again!) He confirmed that it had arrived in UK. But gave no further details. The car left the factory in Turkey on 17/1/20. Why does it take so long, and when will we have our new car? Seems like ages……..
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your comment. The delivery date for your vehicle now it’s in the UK is likely connected to driver availability for delivery and inspection paperwork. Due to new numberplates being issued in March, it’s a very high volume month, and this will have some impact on delivery dates and times.
Many thanks Rachel, that’s helpful
Paul
Ordered an Audi A6 Avant Quattro 45TFSI in Nov 2019, del March 2020. Still waiting for it to be built, so cancelled last month as I ordered an in stock 40TDI version. Signed up, commented and then I found out that in stock means in Germany so still another 4 weeks at least before it’s delivered. Given the money this type of service is laughable.
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for your comment. Was this an order through OSV, or through another company?
Waiting for our Ford kuga st line x have been told it’s coming from Valencia and told it’s on ship in middle of sea how can I check vin pls
Hi Tracy,
There are two options here. The VIN is in the logbook (which you likely don’t have yet). The other option is an HPI check.
We hope that this helps.
I ordered a new 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback. My dealer said it was completed on august 28th. As of today (9/15) it is still in Germany . About how long should I expect it to take to get to My dealership in Las Vegas Nevada?
Hi Rob,
We are based in the UK but the rules likely remain the same for any location, there will be multiple factors that affect your vehicle’s departure from its current location, including shipping route and whether it’s waiting for other vehicles to be shipped in the same vessel. We hope that you are able to get information from your dealership.
My Audi dealer just informed me that my new Audi Q5 left port from Germany on September 18. They quoted 4-6 weeks to arrive in Las Vegas nevada. USA. Does that timetable sound right . Thanks
How long will my motability car be stuck at dagenham for before going to dealership.
Hi there Adrian, we would advise contacting the Motability Scheme by phone at 0300 456 4566 or via email at [email protected]. You can also contact the dealership where you ordered the car directly and ask for an update on its status.
Been told by my motability Department that there is no movement on my car its been built and in dagenham for the last three weeks. What is the problem. All I get from. my dealership is no movement. Its a pain .
Hi there I ordered my mobility car in November last year the dealer said that I would have it in May this year now it is July and I still have not received the car I know it is at sheerness docks so how long will it be there
Hi there John, we advise getting in touch with the dealer and/or vehicle supplier for further information on this.
Been waiting since June 2022 for vehicle. Over a year.. It’s now been handed to the carrier and is in Germany, dealership have been keeping an eye on for me and will chase the carriers when it reaches the UK.. build a relationship with the dealership, mines been very helpful and has kept me informed the whole way through.. bit of a wait though!
I ordered my Renault Clio on the 3rd Feb the car left the factory on the 21st September in Turkey and will not arrive in to Bristol till the 17th November is this normal.
Hi there Allan, thank you for your query. Due to the semiconductor chip shortage, COVID-19, and the war in Europe – delays in vehicle deliveries can happen due to all of these events combined. If you have any further concerns, we recommend getting in touch with your dealer for further updates on your vehicle delivery.
Hi there, dealership not massively helpful with information, we are a motability customer, will the motability people know where the car is? How are we ment to track them, I ordered the new Nissan x trail July 13th 2023.
Hi there, thank you for your query. I understand your concern about tracking the delivery of your new Nissan X-Trail. Typically, Motability customers can track the progress of their ordered vehicles through the Motability Scheme’s online portal or by contacting the Motability customer services team directly.
Here are a few steps you can take:
Online Portal: Log in to your Motability online account. Motability customers often have access to an online portal where they can track the status of their order, check delivery dates, and receive important updates.
Contact Motability: Reach out to Motability customer services. You can contact them directly to inquire about the status of your order. They should be able to provide you with the latest information and updates on the delivery process.
Dealership Communication: While it seems your dealership hasn’t been as helpful as you’d like, you can still check with them for any available information on the status of your order. They might have updates or contact details for you.
Order Confirmation: Review any order confirmation or documentation you received when placing the order. It might contain relevant information or contact details for tracking the delivery.
If you’re unable to find the necessary information through these channels, consider reaching out to Motability customer services directly. They are usually well-equipped to assist with tracking and providing updates on vehicle orders.
I hope you receive your new Nissan X-Trail soon and enjoy your driving experience. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.
Hi I’m new to all this .but back on the 24 th of April 2024 we went our Motability dealership that we have used for the last two years has my partners Vauxhall corsa is to low for her so we were told by the Motability salesman if we where looking at a suv to go for KGM tivoli k40 automatic has it would be quicker than waiting for a replacement Vauxhall-and now after 10 weeks of waiting for her new replacement suv it’s only just arrived at a uk port but the dealership just keeps saying they don’t know when it will arrive at the dealership anytime soon but the salesman also knows what my partner is going through with how low the Vauxhall corsa is .but won’t try and speed the delivery up . Any help please
Hi there James, thank you for reaching out. Here are a few steps you can take to potentially expedite the process:
Contact the Dealership: Express your concerns clearly and mention the urgency due to your partner’s needs. Ask to speak to a manager if necessary.
Motability Customer Service: Reach out directly to Motability and explain your situation. They might be able to apply pressure on the dealership or offer an alternative solution.
Request Updates: Ask for regular updates on the status of the vehicle and its expected arrival date. Sometimes, persistent follow-up can help speed things along.
Explore Alternatives: While waiting, you might want to inquire if there’s a temporary solution or a different vehicle that could be provided sooner.
I hope this helps and your partner gets the vehicle she needs soon.