Picking up a car at Manheim or an online auction with a car hauler
Rent a car hauler only after the auction shows the car released for pickup and you've confirmed gate hours. Our 20-foot Big Tex 10ET carries 7,470 lb, so most cars fit, but your truck must be rated for the car plus the trailer's 2,520 lb. At Manheim Baltimore-Washington in Elkridge, pickup gates open as early as 6am most days.
Key takeaways
- Don't book the trailer until the auction shows the car released: paid, and the gate pass issued.
- Our 20' car hauler weighs 2,520 lb empty and carries up to 7,470 lb.
- Trailer plus car must fit your truck's tow rating. A 2026 F-150 is rated for 5,000 lb without weight distribution.
- Manheim Baltimore-Washington pickup gates: Mon and Thu–Sun 6am–10pm, with split hours Tue and Wed.
- Day rate is $119 ($126.14 with tax). Returns are 24/7.
What do I need before I go to the auction?
You need the car paid for and released, a printed gate pass, the gate hours, and the car's real weight.
At Manheim, vehicle release (formerly called the "gate pass") runs through the Post-Sale Management section of Manheim.com, where buyers can see when a car is ready for pickup. One transport company advises printing the gate pass before you arrive, because there may be no printer on site, and confirming gate hours before you plan the trip.
Manheim Baltimore-Washington is at 7120 Dorsey Run Rd. in Elkridge, in Howard County. Its transporter line is 410-796-8899, option 1.
| Day | Pickup gate hours (Manheim Baltimore-Washington) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 6am–10pm |
| Tuesday | 6am–9am and 11:30am–midnight |
| Wednesday | Midnight–10pm |
| Thursday–Sunday | 6am–10pm |
The sale runs Tuesdays at 9:30am, which is why Tuesday morning pickup closes early. Gate hours change, so check the auction's page the day before.
Will the car hauler and my truck handle the car?
The trailer handles almost any car. The question is whether your truck can pull the car plus 2,520 lb of trailer.
Our 20' car hauler is a Big Tex 10ET-20: 9,990 lb GVWR, 7,470 lb payload, electric brakes on both axles, a 7-way plug and stand-up ramps. Maryland requires brakes on any trailer over 3,000 lb, so you need a working 7-way and a brake controller.
| Example car | Car weight | Trailer + car | 2026 F-150, no weight distribution (5,000 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: compact sedan | 3,000 lb | 5,520 lb | Over |
| Example: midsize SUV | 4,500 lb | 7,020 lb | Over |
| Example: full-size pickup | 5,500 lb | 8,020 lb | Over |
Those weights are examples. Look up your car's actual curb weight by VIN or in the listing. A heavy-duty truck like the 2026 Silverado 2500HD (14,500 lb gas, brake controller standard) covers every row. Run your truck through the tow checker before you bid, not after. Your vehicle's manufacturer ratings and manual always win.
Rent the 20' Car Hauler
$119/day · $199 weekend · $449 week. Total with tax shown before you book.
See prices and bookHow should I time the rental around the auction?
Book the day you'll actually drive to the gate, and pick up the trailer only when you're headed straight there.
| 20' car hauler | Base | With 6% tax |
|---|---|---|
| Day | $119 | $126.14 |
| Weekend (any 2–3 days) | $199 | $210.94 |
| Week | $449 | $475.94 |
Our yard is staffed 8am–6pm, 7 days a week, and pickup and return run 24/7. Returns after 6pm carry a $25 late drop-off fee ($26.50 with tax). A trailer not back by 7am the next morning is charged another day. If the release is held up, text us before you hitch up, not after. Full rates are on the pricing page.
What if the auction car doesn't run?
Plan the loading before you go, because a dead car won't drive up the ramps.
A non-running car needs a winch or a crew to push it up the ramps under control. Pushing a car up ramps alone is how people get hurt. Ask the auction ahead of time whether its staff will load a non-runner onto your trailer. Don't assume they will.
Also check: Does it steer? Do the brakes work? Are all four tires holding air? A car with a locked wheel or no brakes is a job for a tow operator, not a ramp. Low cars are the other catch. A lowered sports car or a car with a long front overhang can scrape where the ramps meet the dovetail. Look at the car's clearance at preview, and bring a helper to watch the nose as it climbs. Our car hauler comes with ramps and straps but no winch, so a car that doesn't run needs a come-along or a tow operator.
What should I check before leaving the lot?
Check the straps, the lights and the hitch, then stop again after the first few miles.
- The car is centered, with the engine end toward the front so the tongue stays heavy.
- Four straps, one per corner, tensioned. Here's how to load and strap a car.
- Ramps stowed and pinned. Car in park, parking brake on.
- Lights and trailer brakes tested on your truck.
- Safety chains crossed under the tongue, and the breakaway cable clipped to the truck.
Pull over somewhere safe within the first few miles and re-tighten the straps. They settle once the car rocks on its suspension.
Will I get the title when I pick up the car?
Not always. At Manheim, the title can follow the car by weeks.
Manheim Baltimore-Washington gives sellers 30 calendar days to surrender titles for cars sold there, so you may drive home with the car before the paperwork arrives. Title questions go to its title support line: 410-796-8899, option 2. Moving the car on a trailer means you don't have to drive it on the road unregistered. Registration and tags are between you and the MVA, so check their rules before you plan to drive it.
If you're buying in person, Manheim Baltimore-Washington runs its preview on Mondays, 8am–4pm, and the public sale preview on Mondays, 12pm–4pm. Look at the car then: tires, steering, leaks, and whether it starts. That tells you whether a ramp-and-strap pickup will work or you need a tow operator.
Before you drive onto the auction lot, find a level spot to load, away from traffic lanes, and ask the gate staff where they want transporters to load.
Does this work for online auctions too?
Yes. The steps are the same, but the rules come from the auction's buyer portal, not from us.
Online salvage and dealer auctions each set their own payment deadlines, pickup windows, storage fees and rules about who may pick up. Read those in your buyer account before you book a trailer, and print whatever release document they issue. If a yard requires a licensed transporter, a rented trailer won't get you through the gate.
Watch the clock, too. Auctions charge storage once the pickup window closes, so pin down the deadline before you book. Book a trailer day that leaves room for a delay at the gate, rather than a tight window you'll blow waiting in line.
Then book the car hauler for the day the car is cleared. See how pickup works at our Berger Road yard.
Questions
Can I pick up a car I bought for someone else?
That's the auction's call, not ours. For Manheim Baltimore-Washington, call 410-796-8899, option 1 (transporter assistance), before you go.
Can I keep the car on the trailer overnight?
Yes, on your own property. Book through the next morning: a trailer not back by 7am is charged another day.
What ball size does the car hauler use?
The tow checker shows the ball and plug for each trailer.