Before you book car shipping, confirm four things in writing: that a carrier has accepted your price, when your deposit is due, who the carrier is and what insurance it carries, and what your pickup and delivery dates really mean. The biggest mistakes are booking on price alone and paying a large deposit before you know who will move your car.
A few checks before you book keep surprises off the road.
What Your Booking Should Include
A standard booking covers door-to-door shipping. A carrier picks up your car, loads it onto a car carrier, hauls it to your destination, and unloads it there. Extras may include enclosed shipping, faster expedited delivery, and a condition report completed at pickup.
Confirm what is in the base price and what is an add-on. Our list of extra charges for car shipping covers the ones people miss. Personal belongings aren't part of a standard booking, so check what you can put in a car before you pack anything.
Confirm a Carrier Has Accepted the Price
A price is one company's estimate of what it will take to move your car. Many aren't backed by a carrier that has agreed to it, and the company you book still has to find a driver at that rate.
Ask this before you commit: “Has a carrier accepted this price?” Get three to five prices in writing, and use our guide to comparing offers beyond the bottom line to spot a lowball price.
Know When Your Deposit Is Due
At Ship a Car Direct, we don't charge a deposit until we assign and confirm a carrier for your shipment. Once you have the carrier's information, the service fee, which we call the deposit, is due.
The carrier's balance is due on or before delivery. Carriers accept cash or a cashier's check when you pay the driver directly. Our terms and conditions set out each payment.
Ask for the Carrier’s Details and Insurance
Once a carrier is assigned, you receive the carrier's name, its direct business phone number, and estimated dates. You can also request the carrier's operating authority and insurance certificate. Before you release your car, you can decline the carrier and ask to be matched with another.
Make sure the carrier's insurance paper trail is clear. Our guide to insurance during car shipment explains how coverage works.
Treat Dates as Estimates
A pickup date you request is a request, not a promise. Carrier dates are projections, and weather, road conditions, and mechanical problems can change them. A firm date usually costs a premium.
Provide the earliest date you're willing to release the car and have it ready. Failure to release the vehicle to the chosen carrier on or after the date you gave when placing your order may result in a “Dry Run” fee. The driver typically calls the afternoon or evening before pickup and delivery.
Choose Open or Enclosed Before You Compare
Compare prices for the same type of carrier. Enclosed transport typically costs 30% to 50% more than open, so an open price next to an enclosed one tells you nothing. Our guide on choosingbetween open and enclosed transport explains which option fits your car.
Prepare the Car and Document Its Condition
Carriers require you to disarm any alarm system, provide remotes if needed, and remove or retract loose and protruding accessories like racks and spoilers. The car must run unless your order notes it as non-operational; a non-operational car incurs a $150 fee. Empty the car of contents, as carriers aren't licensed to move household goods.
Take clear, timestamped photos before pickup and again after delivery. Our free Damage Protection App walks you through documenting the car's condition.
Sign the Condition Report at Pickup and Delivery
The driver inspects your car at pickup and provides a bill of lading. You or your agent and the driver both sign it. At delivery, inspect the car again and note any new damage on the report before you sign, because signing releases the carrier from liability for damage you didn't note.
Our Damage Free Guarantee Program explains the backup coverage that applies when damage occurs.
The Don’ts: Red Flags Before You Book
Don’t Accept an Unusually Cheap Price
Whether you are shipping to another state or across the country, be wary of a price far below the others. It usually means shortcuts, hidden fees, or a number no carrier will accept, so the price rises after you book.
Don’t Skip the Insurance Paper Trail
Make sure the company can prove it has legitimate cargo insurance. Without it, you are left paying if something happens to your car in transit.
Don’t Accept Evasive Answers
Press for specifics on the company, its safety standards, and its backup plans. If the salesperson gets vague or awkward, treat it as a warning.
Don’t Ignore a Thin Review History
Check reviews on independent sites, and read BBB complaints along with how the company responded. Our guide to avoiding auto transport scams lists more warning signs.
Don’t Pay a Large Deposit Before You Know the Carrier
Before any money changes hands, get a signed contract and confirm in writing who is hauling your car. Some companies push for large non-refundable deposits before sharing those details. If a company wants a big payment but can't say who is moving your car, walk away.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Ask every company you are considering:
- Has a carrier accepted this price?
- When is my deposit due, and what does it cover?
- Who is the carrier, and can I see its insurance certificate?
- How are damages handled if they occur?
- How will I know where my car is, and who do I call if it runs late?
A company with solid processes answers these directly. Our post on what to ask a car shipping company has a longer list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I confirm before booking car shipping?
Confirm that a carrier has accepted your price, when your deposit is due, the carrier's name and insurance, and what your pickup and delivery dates mean. Get all of it in writing before you pay.
Should I pay a deposit before I know who the carrier is?
No. We don't charge the deposit until we assign and confirm a carrier. Once you have the carrier's information, the deposit is due.
Are pickup and delivery dates guaranteed?
Only in rare cases, and carriers usually charge a premium for that. Dates are typically estimates, so provide the earliest date you're willing to release the car.
Do I have to be there for pickup and delivery?
Someone needs to sign the bill of lading, but it doesn't have to be you. You can name an agent, and no power of attorney is needed.
Is my car insured during transport?
The carrier's insurance covers your car in transit; it is always primary, and there is no extra cost to you. Confirm the coverage in writing before you book.
Ready to Book?
Looking to ship your car? Start with our car shipping cost calculator, which needs no personal info, or request a custom quote from our team.
Michael starting working in car shipping over 20 years ago, in 2002; back in the days when fax machines ruled the roost, being the first name listed in the yellow pages was King and google wasn’t yet a verb. Sometimes he foolishly thinks he’s seen every situation imaginable when it comes to shipping a car, but about once a year he’s proven wrong.
