Auto & Asset Recovery Transport

When booking a recovery transport order with SAC, provide the vehicle’s year, make, model, VIN if available, and current operational status (operable, roll-only, or non-operable). Also provide the exact recovery location address (the address where the carrier will pick up the asset) and the designated delivery destination including the contact name, address, and any specific receiving instructions.

For recoveries from private addresses, confirm that the recovery has been legally completed and that the asset is accessible at the address before dispatch is requested. A carrier that arrives at a recovery address and finds the vehicle is not accessible, has not been legally released, or is not at the location as described cannot complete the pickup. Accurate, confirmed asset and location information at booking prevents this scenario entirely.

Before booking recovery transport, confirm that all legal requirements for the repossession and transport of the asset are satisfied in the state where the recovery took place. State repossession laws vary in their requirements for notice, documentation, and transport authorization. SAC’s role is transport only. The legal authorization for the repossession and the compliance with state-specific recovery procedures are the lender’s or repossession agent’s responsibility.

For lenders who use licensed repossession agencies to perform the physical recovery, confirm with the agency that the recovery is complete and legally documented before requesting transport dispatch. A transport carrier picking up a vehicle under an incomplete or legally deficient recovery authorization creates liability for all parties involved. Ensuring the legal foundation is complete before transport is booked is the lender’s most important pre-transport step.

The carrier dispatched for the recovery transport must be appropriate for the asset’s actual condition at pickup. Before booking, assess and communicate whether the vehicle is fully operable (starts, drives, and loads under its own power), roll-only (wheels turn but the vehicle cannot be started or driven), or fully non-operable (wheels are locked, seized, or the vehicle cannot be moved without mechanical assistance).

Non-operable and roll-only vehicles require carriers with winch capability or flatbed configurations with low loading angles. Dispatching a standard open carrier to a non-operable vehicle results in a failed pickup and rescheduling delay. Accurate operational status disclosure at booking is the single most effective step in preventing carrier-asset mismatches on recovery transport orders.

At the time of recovery, document any personal property remaining in the recovered vehicle. Most states have specific requirements governing the handling, storage, and return of a borrower’s personal property found in a repossessed vehicle. Personal property should be inventoried and handled according to applicable state law before the vehicle is transported.

SAC’s carriers transport the vehicle only. They are not responsible for inventorying, securing, or returning personal property found inside the recovered vehicle. If personal property removal and storage is required before transport, this should be coordinated by the lender or repossession agent before the carrier arrives for pickup. A vehicle with unresolved personal property issues at pickup creates both legal exposure for the lender and a potential dispute with the borrower.

Confirm that vehicle keys, any available title documentation, and any release paperwork required by the designated delivery destination are organized and accessible before the carrier arrives. Auction houses and storage facilities receiving repossessed vehicles typically require specific documentation at delivery: the Bill of Lading, a copy of the repossession authorization, and in some cases a copy of the lender’s title interest.

For vehicles recovered without keys, notify your SAC coordinator at booking so the carrier is briefed. Keyless vehicles can still be transported on flatbed carriers with winch or dolly loading, but the carrier needs to know before arrival so the right equipment is dispatched. Attempting to conceal a missing key situation from the carrier at pickup creates loading complications and delays that advance disclosure prevents.

Before the carrier is dispatched, confirm the delivery destination’s receiving requirements, hours of operation, and any appointment or gate pass procedures. Auction houses, storage facilities, and impound lots all have specific procedures for accepting repossessed vehicles. Many require a scheduled delivery appointment, a specific entry gate, and documentation presented to a receiving agent at check-in.

Communicate the delivery destination’s requirements to your SAC coordinator at booking so they can be passed to the carrier driver before dispatch. A driver who arrives at an auction lot during a closed window, without an appointment, or without the required documentation will be turned away and need to reschedule. Confirming delivery receiving requirements in advance is the final coordination step that ensures the recovery transport completes cleanly from pickup to final destination.

For lenders with ongoing repossession transport needs, establishing a consistent communication protocol with your SAC coordinator reduces friction on every order. Define who on your team or at your repossession agency is the authorized contact for booking transport orders, how dispatch confirmations and delivery confirmations are communicated, and how documentation is transmitted for your compliance records.

SAC coordinators adapt to the lender’s preferred workflow, whether that is phone calls, email orders, or a shared dispatch log. For high-volume programs, SAC can establish a standardized booking template that captures all required information for each recovery transport order, reducing back-and-forth calls and ensuring consistent data at every booking. The goal is to make recovery transport feel like a seamless, predictable process, not a one-off coordination effort on every order.