How to Ship a Car — Booking & Process FAQs

The whole sequence, from getting a price to signing at the far end. If you have never shipped a vehicle before, read the first section and skip the rest — most of what people worry about turns out not to be a real step.

The short version

How do you ship a car? You get a quote, book it, a vetted carrier is assigned, the driver collects the vehicle from your address and documents its condition, it travels on a trailer with other vehicles, and it is delivered to your destination address where the condition is checked again before you sign. You do not drive anywhere and you do not need to be at a terminal.

How does car shipping work behind the scenes? We are a licensed broker — USDOT 3674601, MC 1274912, Broker Property, ACTIVE with the FMCSA. We do not own trucks. When you book, we source a licensed motor carrier from a vetted network of over 10,000 whose route and schedule match your lane, verify its operating authority and cargo coverage, and assign your vehicle to it. The carrier does the driving; we do the selection and the coordination.

How long does the whole process take? Booking takes minutes. Carrier assignment usually takes a few days depending on your lane. Transit depends on distance. Timing detail is on FAQ — Timing & Transit.

What do I need to get started? Vehicle year, make and model; whether it runs, rolls and steers; both locations; and the earliest date it is available. That is enough for a real quote.

Getting a quote

How do I get a price? Use the quote form or call (800) 780-1113. We quote your specific shipment. We do not publish a rate card, because a published rate cannot know your vehicle, your lane or carrier availability the week you ship.

Why do quotes vary so much between companies? Because some are prices and some are bids. A quote far below everyone else's is often a number designed to win your booking, after which the carrier cannot be found at that rate and the price moves. What drives a real quote is on FAQ — Cost & Pricing.

How long is a quote valid? Carrier availability shifts week to week, so a quote reflects the market when it was given. If you are booking well ahead, tell us the timeline and we will be straight about what may change.

Do I pay when I get the quote? No. Payment terms are set out on How to Pay and in our Terms & Conditions.

Booking and carrier assignment

What happens after I book? We begin sourcing a carrier for your lane. Once one is matched and verified, we confirm your pickup window with you. You are not left guessing — if a lane is slow to cover, you hear that from us rather than discovering it.

How do you choose the carrier? By route match, equipment match and verification. The carrier must actually run your corridor, have the right equipment for your vehicle, and hold active FMCSA authority and current cargo coverage. Vetting happens before assignment. More on FAQ — Carriers, Insurance & Safety.

Can I choose my own carrier? Not directly, but tell us your constraints — enclosed only, liftgate required, a specific delivery window — and those become sourcing requirements.

What is a pickup window? A range of days rather than a fixed date, because a carrier is routing multiple vehicles across a corridor. A wider window gives us more carriers to work with and usually a better price. If your date is genuinely fixed, expedited auto transport is the service priced for that.

How far in advance should I book? One to two weeks is comfortable for most lanes. Book earlier for enclosed transport, for remote areas, and for the autumn and spring snowbird peaks, when capacity tightens sharply and predictably.

Shipping between states

How do I ship a car from one state to another? Exactly as above — the process does not change with distance. State lines are irrelevant to a carrier operating under interstate authority. What changes with distance is transit time and price. See state-to-state car shipping.

How do I ship my car to a different state if I am flying? Book it to arrive after you do, and give a wider pickup window so the vehicle can be collected before you leave. Someone must be present at both ends, so if you are flying out first, nominate a person at the origin.

Do you cover every state? The 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. Alaska and Hawaii are not served. Coverage detail on FAQ — Routes & Locations, Locations Hub and Routes Hub.

Can you collect from a dealership, auction or storage facility? Yes, and those are usually easier than residential streets because they are built for truck access. We need the site contact and any release paperwork requirements.

Pickup day

Does someone need to be there? Yes — you or a nominated adult. The vehicle is inspected and the bill of lading signed at collection. Whoever attends is signing the condition record, so brief them properly.

Will the truck come to my door? As close as a full-size hauler can legally and safely get. Where a street, driveway or local restriction makes that impossible, we agree a nearby meeting point in advance rather than on the day. See door-to-door auto transport.

What happens at the inspection? The driver walks the vehicle and records existing damage on the bill of lading. Wash the car first so the paint is visible, and take your own dated photographs from every angle. The carrier's record should not be your only record.

What should I do to the vehicle beforehand? Roughly a quarter tank of fuel, remove personal items, retract or remove aftermarket aerials and spoilers where possible, disable toll tags and alarms, and note any leaks. Full guidance on FAQ — Vehicle Preparation.

Can I leave belongings in the car? No. Carriers are not licensed to move household goods and personal items are not covered by cargo insurance. Anything left inside travels at your own risk.

In transit and delivery

Can I track my vehicle? You have a contact point for the duration and we can give you position updates. We do not promise live GPS on every shipment, because it depends on the individual carrier's systems and we would rather not claim capability we cannot guarantee.

What if the delivery date slips? It happens — weather, traffic, mechanical issues and regulated driver hours all move timing, none of which are within a carrier's control. Dates are estimates, not guarantees, and any company telling you otherwise on standard transport is overselling. We tell you when something changes.

What happens at delivery? The vehicle is inspected again against the bill of lading before you sign. Do this properly, in good light, and do not sign clean if there is new damage — write it on the paperwork at the point of delivery. This is the document that determines whether a claim is possible.

What if I find damage after I have signed? Considerably harder to resolve. Note it at delivery. Claims process is in our Terms & Conditions.

Specific situations

How do I ship a car that does not run? Routine, but it needs a winch-equipped carrier — a smaller pool and a different price. Tell us at quote stage whether it rolls, steers and brakes. Those three answers determine the equipment. See FAQ — Vehicle Types & Conditions.

How do I transport a motorbike? On specialist equipment with dedicated tie-down points, not strapped to a car deck. See motorcycle transport.

How do I ship a dirt bike or ATV? Same principle — crated or on appropriate equipment, often alongside other units. See ATV & UTV shipping and FAQ — Specialty Transport.

Can I ship more than one vehicle at once? Yes, and it is usually cheaper per unit on the same lane. Tell us at quote stage so it is sourced as one movement.

Can I ship a car I have just bought online? That is one of the most common reasons people use us. We collect from the seller, dealer or auction. Have the release details and the seller's contact ready.

Popular destinations

Los Angeles Car Shipping · Houston Auto Transport · Dallas Auto Transport · Denver Car Shipping · Orlando Auto Transport · Atlanta Auto Transport · San Diego Car Shipping · Miami Auto Transport · New York City Car Shipping · Phoenix Car Shipping · Nevada Car Shipping · District of Columbia Car Shipping · Rhode Island Auto Transport

Related answers

FAQ — Cost & Pricing · FAQ — Timing & Transit · FAQ — Carriers, Insurance & Safety · FAQ — Vehicle Preparation · FAQ — Vehicle Types & Conditions · FAQ — Routes & Locations · FAQ — Specialty Transport

All Car Shipping FAQs

Or call (800) 780-1113.