When shipping a privately owned vehicle, the paperwork is actually pretty light—you mainly just need to sign the Bill of Lading (BOL) at pickup and delivery, provided you have a valid photo ID. If you're buying or retrieving a vehicle from a dealership, auction (like Copart or IAAI), or private seller, specific release documents are required before the carrier will even be allowed onto the property. For a standard personal move, the hauler will provide the BOL to document pre-existing vehicle condition and legal transit, while your broker provides the dispatch contract with driver contact info and carrier credentials. However, with dealership or auction purchases, you will also need to secure a signed Vehicle Release Form or Gate Pass, a copy of the Bill of Sale to confirm funds have cleared, and critical vehicle details. It is especially important to pass the full VIN number along to your broker for the driver, as dealership and auction lots hold hundreds of vehicles and drivers will be turned away at the gate without an exact VIN match. A copy of the title or purchase agreement is typically enough for domestic gate release, though original titles are required if you happen to be shipping through ports or across international borders.