Shipping and Delivery

This page explains exactly how auto parts shipping works at PartSmith Co.: when orders dispatch, how tracking reaches you, how engines and oversized freight are handled, and what to do in the rare case a parcel goes wrong. No fine print surprises, just the process we run every day from our USA warehouse.

Dispatch times

Orders placed before early afternoon on a business day usually leave the warehouse the same day. Orders placed later, on weekends or on federal holidays dispatch the next business day. During checkout you will see the live estimate for your address before you pay.

Every order passes the fitment check before it ships. If our team spots a mismatch between the part and the vehicle details you supplied, we pause the parcel and message you first. A one day pause beats a two week return every time.

Tracking and delivery estimates

Tracking is emailed the moment the shipping label is created and updates as the carrier scans the parcel. Standard parts move with national ground carriers and typically arrive within the window shown at checkout. Remote addresses can add a day or two.

If your tracking has not moved for more than two business days, message us through the contact page. We chase the carrier from our side, you do not need to sit on a support line.

Engines and oversized freight

Complete engines from the Engines & Motors department, long running boards from Running Boards & Towing and other oversized items travel on freight carriers. Freight works differently from parcels in three ways.

First, we confirm the delivery address type with you, because residential freight needs a liftgate truck. Second, the carrier books a delivery window with you by phone. Third, you should inspect the crate before signing. Note any visible damage on the delivery receipt, that single line protects your claim completely.

How parts are packed

Painted and finished surfaces get wrapped, hardware is bagged and boxed with the part, and heavy items are double boxed or strapped to a pallet. Engines ship on pallets with fluid caps sealed. We pack so the part survives the worst day the carrier can give it, and our damage rate stays a fraction of the industry average because of it.

For guidance on preparing your vehicle while parts are in transit, the Car Care Council tips cover safe jacking, storage and pre installation checks.

If something goes wrong

Wrong item, missing hardware or transit damage: photograph what arrived and message support with your order number. We resolve with a replacement or refund and we handle the carrier claim ourselves. The full policy is on the returns and refunds page.

Lost parcels are rare, but if tracking stalls completely we file the trace and reship or refund without making you wait for the carrier investigation to close.

Carriers, services and transit windows

Standard shipping travels with national ground carriers, chosen per route for speed and reliability rather than a single flat contract. Typical ground transit runs from next day for nearby states to several days coast to coast, and the checkout estimate reflects the real route for your address, not a generic promise.

Expedited shipping services are available on most compact parts. If a vehicle is off the road waiting on the part, choose expedited shipping at checkout or message us before ordering and we will confirm the fastest realistic path, including same day dispatch cutoffs.

Weekends, holidays and peak periods

Shipping runs on business days. Weekend orders are processed first thing Monday, and federal holidays shift dispatch to the next business day. During peak periods such as major sales and the weeks around Thanksgiving, carriers add a day or two across the network. We display honest shipping estimates during those windows rather than pretending the network is normal.

Weather events are the other exception. When a storm closes a carrier hub we message affected orders proactively with the revised expectation, so you hear it from us before you notice the tracking pause.

Your freight delivery checklist

For engines and palletized items, five things make delivery day smooth. Have your phone reachable for the carrier’s scheduling call. Make sure the delivery point can take a liftgate truck, or tell us in advance so we route the shipping to a terminal pickup. Inspect the crate before signing. Note any damage on the receipt in writing. And keep the pallet until you have confirmed the contents are perfect.

Those five lines protect one hundred percent of your claim rights. The Engines & Motors department pages repeat this checklist on every listing because it matters that much.

Alaska, Hawaii and territories

We ship across all fifty states. Alaska, Hawaii and the territories move by air or ocean forwarding depending on size, and checkout quotes the real cost. For oversized freight to these destinations, message us first and we will find the economical forwarding route rather than letting a generic calculator overcharge you.

How shipping costs are calculated

Parcels are priced by weight, dimensions and distance, quoted live at checkout with no handling padding added on top. Compact heavy items such as rotors price differently from light bulky items such as running boards, which is why two orders of similar value can carry different shipping lines. Combining parts into one order almost always beats shipping them separately, and support can quote a combined parcel before you commit.

Freight items show a calculated estimate at checkout, and for unusual destinations we sometimes find a cheaper route manually. If a freight quote looks high for your address, message us before paying, five minutes of route checking has saved customers real money on engine deliveries to rural addresses.

Free or discounted shipping promotions, when active, are shown on the product page and applied automatically at checkout. We do not inflate item prices to fake a free shipping line, the part price and the shipping price are each honest on their own.

Frequently asked questions