Logistics is a margin line, not an afterthought
Between purchase and resale, every vehicle crosses a physical and administrative distance. Truck transport, number plates, customs-adjacent paperwork for non-EU origins, and delivery scheduling each carry a cost — and each day of delay carries another one in capital immobilisation.
What cross-border transport really costs
On the main European corridors, single-unit truck transport typically represents a low three-digit amount per vehicle, while grouped loads on multi-car carriers reduce the per-unit figure substantially. The true variable is not the freight quote but the lead time: a two-week delay on a fast-moving segment costs more than the transport itself.
The documents that must travel with the vehicle
Registration certificate (both parts where applicable), COC (Certificate of Conformity) for re-registration in the destination country, purchase invoice consistent with the declared VAT treatment, and CMR consignment note covering the transport leg. A missing COC alone can block re-registration for weeks and freeze the resale timeline.
Transit plates and insurance
Most corridors rely on export/transit plates with dedicated short-term insurance. Choosing the wrong plate regime — or skipping insurance verification — creates liability exposure that no trade margin justifies.
How AutoLinkerPro coordinates logistics
AutoLinkerPro works with vetted carrier networks on its core corridors, verifies the complete document set before dispatch, and tracks each unit from pickup to delivery. Logistics is quoted, scheduled and monitored as part of the mandate — never left to improvisation.