Getting a car shipped to DC -- what's a good dropoff/pickup point?

Submitted by OkChicken6058 t3_10lk5kb in washingtondc

Hi all,

I just moved to DC and am having my car shipped in from out of state. I'm renting in the heart of the city, where a giant truck can't really drop off my car. Can anyone suggest a good spot as close as possible for a dropoff? Typically, the truck drivers like things like a suburban WalMart parking lot or somesuch. Any spot like that in the Arlington area? Thank you!

UPDATE: I asked the driver to meet me at the Target in Rockville. It was an easy walk from the Twinbrook metro. Thank you all!

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BlakeClass t1_j5xf28p wrote

Where are you living? Dc is kind of big

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OkChicken6058 OP t1_j5xgwzk wrote

DuPont Circle … hence picking up in Arlington might be convenient

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BlakeClass t1_j5xhyil wrote

Yea just do the Arlington National Cemetery parking lot. You can even take the metro there.

87C4VWJM+HJ

That’s the plus code on maps.

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4RunnerPilot t1_j5ze9b1 wrote

This is a terrible idea for the driver. Trucks aren’t allowed on GW Parkway. Somewhere closer to 395 or 495 is a better option. Best option is by Eisenhower metro as it’s right by the beltway and relatively quiet and has large roads.

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Ok_Breakfast_8412 t1_j5xg6gy wrote

When we did it, I gave my address and they called me somewhere in silver spring and said they couldn’t take the truck any further and we had to Uber to get it. I’d pick somewhere close to a metro like Wheaton or something

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Panda_Praline_022 t1_j5yyzpu wrote

It’s not Arlington but I shipped a car from PG Mall off of green line, PG Plaza/Hyattsville Crossing metro stop. There was plenty of space in the west side of the mall parking lot, opposite side of the Target.

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OneMoment0 t1_j5yk112 wrote

If you are on the metro Red Line (DuPont cir), then MD suburb red line stations are probably easier for you. Possibly easier for them to not go inside the Beltway too. Arlington is not exactly 18-wheeler friendly, even if there might be a few large parking lots. OTOH you are paying them and there are roads they are allowed to use. If you wanted to choose the Potomac Yard area with the Target, you should know it is quite a walk from the nearest Metro stations.

Wheaton on Red line is a good choice for the truck driver if coming from the North via I-95 but not as good for you. Grosvenor-Strathmore is the first Red Line station on DuPont side that has a parking lot, which suggests there should be other parking lots near there. Medical Center is a bad choice, for example, because the parking is inside NIH gates.

From the Virginia side, I would say somewhere on Silver line (between McLean to Spring Hill) will work. Lots of office parks, but you might have to walk a bit depending on what parking lot they find.

If you're going to get your car from the suburbs, you might want to get gas there too where it will usually be cheaper than in DC.

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OperationTop8331 t1_j5xdlak wrote

I just had my car shipped here a few months ago and wasn’t able to find (or comfortable selecting) a good drop off point so I ended up listing my home address as the delivery point. I then worked with the shipping company/truck driver a day or two before delivery to coordinate a good drop off location and time. It was super easy and I felt better having the driver pick a spot that he knew would work for drop off, maybe the company you are using can help?

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OkChicken6058 OP t1_j5xefja wrote

My delivery is on Friday … I’m thinking the driver will ask me tomorrow where to meet! Maybe he already knows a good DC-adjacent spot. Were you able to meet in the city?

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VodgeDiper_10 t1_j5xkc7a wrote

I would find somewhere in the burbs you can metro out to. When I had my car shipped I sent it to my mom’s house but I’m guessing you don’t have that option.

Actually, I used to take the MARC to Laurel, Md every day. Parking lot there should be plenty big. That’s definitely an option. Maybe $6, 30-40 minute ride I think.

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WuPacalypse t1_j5zgqbz wrote

Potomac Yard in Alexandria

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cookiemonster1020 t1_j690e9c wrote

Glenmont station has a large strip mall next to it where I have had a tow truck meet me before to ship a car.

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