How to Ship a Car Across the Country

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parts

1Picking Your Shipment Company

2Booking Your Transport

3Preparing Your Car for Transport

4Transporting Your Vehicle

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While shipping a car cross-country sounds like a complicated process, it’s actually pretty simple. Whether you’ve bought a car from out-of-state or are making a big move, you can use a shipping company to transport your car. Pick a shipment company that offers the services you want, quotes you a reasonable price, and offers insurance. Then, prepare your car for transport by cleaning it out and documenting its condition. Finally, drop off your vehicle on the designated day and pick it up when it arrives at its destination.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Picking Your Shipment Company

1. 
   1
   Do a quick Internet search to find shipping companies. Type “car shipment company” into your browser’s search box. Scroll through the results and look for a national shipping company that can transport your car across state lines. Then, click on the link to their website to review the services they offer.

   • If you’re moving your entire household across the country, you might prefer to focus on full-service moving companies. They offer moving services as well as auto transport.
   • Make sure the website has an MC Docket number listed on the website. This shows that they’re registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

   Variation: You can also find shipping brokers that help you choose between different carriers. They are typically paid a commission by the shipping company you choose. You might prefer to use a broker if you’re overwhelmed by your choices. To find a broker, do an Internet search for “car shipping broker.”
2. 2
   Understand who you're talking to. There are three different types of shipping companies: brokers, carriers, and quote providers.

   • Brokers are the companies you'll find on a Google search for "car shippers." They are the companies that most customers book with because their job is to find a carrier on your route in a timely manner. They charge a small fee, but also help to keep prices more competitive by forcing carriers to compete against one another.
   • Carrier companies are the ones that physically move your vehicle from pickup to delivery. They are harder to find for customers as they rarely advertise their services online. Most carriers rely on brokers for loads, which is another reason why a broker is a company that customers should be booking with.
   • Quote providers get you in contact with different brokers. These websites allow you to fill out a single quote form and get multiple quotes to ship your vehicle, not unlike how you can fill out a single car insurance quote form and get quotes from different insurers. If you don't want to be inundated with calls and emails, avoid quote providers. However, they are useful if you're trying to find the best rate, or someone who can pickup at a specific time on a specific date, for instance.
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3. 
   3
   Choose an open carrier for an easy, budget-friendly option. An open carrier will load your vehicle onto an exposed trailer. While your car will be exposed to the elements, it’s unlikely to sustain damage. This is a safe, common way to transport cars across long distances. Select an open carrier unless your car is very valuable.

   • Expect the carrier to hold 7-9 other vehicles along with your car.
   • You’ve likely seen open carriers delivering cars to auto dealerships.
4. 
   4
   Opt for a closed carrier for an exotic or high-end vehicle. When you pay for a closed carrier, your car is transported inside a truck so that it’s protected from the elements. This ensures your car won’t sustain damage, but it’s also more expensive. However, if your car is valuable or exotic, consider using a closed carrier to protect your investment.

   • If your car has a custom paint job, you might prefer to use a closed carrier so that it doesn’t get damaged.
   • Since you’re moving your car across the country, it might make sense to use a closed carrier if your car will travel through an arid area. Flying rocks could scratch or dent your car.
5. 
   5
   Use a full-service mover if you’re doing a cross-country move. A full-service mover can transport all of your belongings in one big move. Look for a moving company that offers national moving services. When you schedule your move, request auto transport as part of your move.

   • This is often the easiest way to move your car when you’re making a cross-country move.
6. 
   6
   Check if you're able to ship by train for a cheaper option. Companies like Union Pacific and Ship Cars Now transport cars for dealerships and sometimes have space for personal vehicles. As another option, Amtrak ships cars long distances while you ride in the passenger compartment. To ship by train, take your car to the train depot for shipment, then pick it up at the destination on the day it arrives.

   • Train shipment isn't available in most areas. You'll need to check with your local train depot to find out if they ship cars.
   • While this service is cheaper, you'll need to work around their schedule. They will tell you what day you can ship and pick up your car. Additionally, your car will not be stored at the depot, so you will need to be on time to drop it off and pick it up.
   • Amtrak allows you to pack your car full of belongings before shipment. This service is best for people who are going on a trip or are moving but have few belongings.
7. 
   7
   Ask for a quote on how much it will cost to ship your vehicle. The cost of your transport will depend on the size and weight of your car, the distance, how you ship it, where you pick it up, and the time of year. Request quotes from multiple shipping companies so you can compare their rates. Then, choose the company that offers the best value for the rate they charge.

   • Many shipping companies have cost calculators on their websites that will give you a quick estimate. Use these calculators to compare costs between services.
   • It may cost as little as $400 for a 4-door sedan or $475 for an SUV. However, you may pay as much as $2,000 to ship a 4-door sedan across the country or $2,250 to ship an SUV.

   Tip: Shipping a car costs more during the summer, so plan to spend more during the warmer months. This is because there’s more demand for shipping services during this time.
8. 
   8
   Make sure the company has insurance to cover your vehicle. Since your car insurance won’t cover your vehicle during transport, it’s important that your shipping company has enough coverage to pay for any damage that occurs. Review their website to verify that they have coverage. Additionally, make sure your paperwork states that your vehicle is covered before you hire the company.

   • If you don’t see any information about insurance on the company’s website, ask a representative if they have coverage. You might ask, “Do you have insurance to cover my car if it’s damaged or stolen?”
9. 
   9
   Schedule your shipment date. Once you’ve selected your shipping company, tell them when you need to ship your car. They may allow you to set a preferred date. However, it’s likely that they will provide you a window of available dates. Choose the date that’s most convenient for you.

   • You’ll typically pay more for a date that you choose.
   • If you’re using a full-service mover, your shipping date will likely coincide with the date of your move.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Booking Your Transport

1. 1
   Place your order (or "book your shipment”). There are a lot of pieces of information you'll need to give your shipping company when you book, and there are also some decisions you'll need to make yourself. Start by giving the company a call; they can usually take all your information over the phone. Here is a good list of information you'll need to give your shipper:

   • Make sure to write down pertinent information about who you're talking to. Get the name of the representative who took your information, as well as the name of the company, the price they gave, and other details. This will make it easier for you to reference specific information if needed later in the shipment.
2. 2
   Make sure to have the following information on hand:

   • Pickup address (where the vehicle is physically located)
   • Delivery address (where the vehicle is to be transported to)
   • Year, make, and model of your vehicle
   • Dimensions of your vehicle if the vehicle is big or long. Dimensions are necessary for bigger or longer vehicle to ensure they can fit properly on a car transport truck
   • Contact information for both pickup and delivery contacts (if different from your contact information)
   • When you need to move
3. 3
   Understand the idea of pickup and delivery windows. Car transporters don't guarantee pickup or delivery dates, they give windows of time in which they can arrive. These windows are typically 24-48 hours long. Carriers don't give specific dates because of the nature of over-the-road travel; delaying factors, such as traffic, construction, and inclement weather, as well as scheduling concerns, can cause carriers to be set back in your pickup or delivery time. By providing windows instead of specific dates, they are better able to accommodate these conditions and ensure they get your vehicle to you in the scheduled window, without worrying about missing a specific deadline.
4. 4
   Wait for a carrier to be assigned to pick your vehicle up once you've booked your order. Typically, vehicles are picked up within 1-7 days after booking, but there are many factors at play that can make it take less time or more depending on what those factors are. However, once your vehicle is assigned to be picked up by a carrier, you'll need to coordinate the pickup of your vehicle with the driver, whose information you should have, likely in your email inbox. You can also contact your shipping company if you do not have that information and they will be happy to provide it for you.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Preparing Your Car for Transport

1. 1
   Make sure the inside of your vehicle is clean. Carriers are not licensed to carry household goods, and face consequences for moving items they are not allowed to. Many carriers will offer to take some household goods, as long as they are under a specific weight restriction.
2. 2
   Make sure the vehicle starts and runs. This is especially true for vehicles that have been sitting for some time.
3. 
   3
   Make sure your car’s gas tank is nearly empty. It’s best for your tank to be 1/8 to 1/4 full. This ensures that your tank doesn’t add extra weight to your car. Keep your tank low in the days before your shipment date so that it isn’t too full.

   • If you’re buying your car from across the country, you likely don’t need to worry about this. The person who sold you your car will likely take care of it.
4. 
   4
   Get a mechanic to check your vehicle and top off fluids. Ask the mechanic to check your battery, verify that your car doesn't leak, and make sure that all systems are in good working order. Then, have them top off all fluids except for gasoline. Before you leave, get paperwork from your mechanic showing that your vehicle was in good working order prior to the shipment date.

   • If your mechanic finds a leak, you'll need to disclose it to the auto carrier. They may refuse to ship your car. However, they might agree to ship your car as long as it's on the bottom.
5. 
   5
   Remove all of your personal items from the car. You can’t ship personal items in your car. In fact, some shipping companies will refuse to ship a car that contains personal items because they may be fined. Clean out your car before taking it to be shipped. Carefully check the trunk, floorboards, console, and glove box to make sure they’re empty.

   • If you do leave personal items in your car, they may get lost or stolen. They won’t be covered by insurance, so you likely won’t get reimbursed for the loss.
6. 
   6
   Document the condition of your car by photographing it. Check your car thoroughly for damage, like dings and scratches. Then, take photos of the entire exterior of your car. Make sure the photos show the condition of your car so that you can file an insurance claim if your car is damaged.

   Tip: It’s best to thoroughly wash your car before you photograph it. This will help you properly document what your car looks like before shipment.
7. 
   7
   Disable your car’s alarm if it has one. You don’t want your car alarm to go off during transport, so make sure it’s disabled before you drop off your car. You can do this by disconnecting the battery or by putting your car into transport mode. Put your car into transport mode by unlocking all of the locks, then clicking the "lock" button on your key fob twice.

   • If your car alarm goes off during transport, it may delay the shipment because the driver might stop to turn it off. Additionally, it could drain your battery.
   • The shipping company will make sure that your car is safe during transport.
8. 
   8
   Fold down your side mirrors and remove custom parts. It’s best to secure any parts that might get damaged. Start by folding your side mirrors into the side of your car, if possible. Then, remove any custom parts like fog lights, spoilers, or ground effects. This will prevent them from getting damaged.

   • If you have an antenna, retract it before you drop off your car.
   • You can wait until you reach the drop off spot to fold in your mirrors and retract your antenna.
   • Don't forget to arrange to have someone pick you up at the drop off spot since you'll be leaving your car there.
9. 9
   Get a spare key made. You don't want to give a carrier your main key if you can help it. If your vehicle has a spare, keep the main key with you and give your shipper the spare. They will need to be able to start the vehicle in order to load and unload it, after all.
10. 10
    Know what you'll need to do before the vehicle is loaded onto the truck.

    • Meet the carrier, introduce yourself, and confirm that they are the carrier assigned to pick your vehicle up.
    • Fill out a pickup inspection report - between you and the driver of the car. The pickup inspection report is a very crucial part of your shipment that you cannot neglect. This is when both you and the carrier will do a manual inspection of the vehicle, looking for any existing damages and marking them accordingly on the Bill of Lading.
11. 11
    Understand the Bill of Lading (or BoL). This is perhaps the most important document in your entire shipment. It acts as a contract between you and the carrier, a receipt of your transport, as well as an inspection report.

    • The Bill of Lading will have information pertaining to your carrier company, such as name, motor carrier number and license number, addresses, and contact information
    • It will also include pictures of a vehicle of your size (though not your specific vehicle) with areas where you can notate any existing damages or other features that are not found on a standard vehicle of your size.
    • It will also include the carrier's terms and conditions of your shipment, and it is important to read through these so you understand what your carrier's liability is and what is covered by insurance, etc.
    • It is required that both you and the driver sign the Bill of Lading after the pickup inspection. If you are unable to be there for pickup or delivery, whoever is acting on your behalf will need to sign it.
12. 12
    Take the time whilst your vehicle is in transit to figure out arrangements for delivery, whether it will be you there or someone else.

    • Once your carrier arrives at the delivery location, you'll need to do much of the same things you did at pickup. This includes the inspection report and signing off on the Bill of Lading. It will also include payment to the carrier.
    • Who pays who will be determined when you book your shipment, but most of the time, payment is made in two parts - one payment to your broker, and the other to the carrier at delivery. This way, you pay two different entities only their portion of the total cost, giving you more control over your payments.
    • Brokers and carriers both can take a variety of payment methods, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Brokers typically take payment via credit or debit card; carriers cannot, as they are driving a truck, so they often take cash, cashier's check, or money order.
    • Personal checks are rarely, if ever, accepted by carriers. Brokers may be able to take a personal check over the phone.
    • Many carriers will be able to accept payment via Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, or even direct deposit. You can and should speak to your brokerage and your carrier about the best methods of payment for your shipment.
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Transporting Your Vehicle

1. 1
   Be available. One of the most important things you can do is simply make yourself available. Remember, carriers give pickup and delivery windows, not specific times and dates. They will contact you up to 24 hours before they arrive, so it's up to you to be flexible and available for when they are ready to pick your vehicle up.
2. 
   2
   Take your car to the shipment company on your assigned date. Make sure you arrive on the date you chose for your shipment. Be sure to arrive on time so you don’t miss the shipment. When you arrive, give your keys to the attendant so they can access your car to put it on the carrier.

   • If your shipment company is picking up the car, have it ready on the street. Additionally, be there to hand over the keys.
3. 
   3
   Provide your driver's license, insurance card, and vehicle registration. When you hand over your car, give the staff member your documentation. They’ll likely make a copy for their records. Then, get your documents back so you have them in your records.

   • You might be asked for other items, as well. For instance, you may need to show your bill of sale for a recently purchased car. Be sure to bring all of the documents the shipping company asked for.
4. 
   4
   Notify the shipment company if there are mechanical or technical issues. They will note these issues in your paperwork so that it's clear they were present before shipment. Additionally, they'll make sure the driver and other staff members know about the issues so that there are no problems while loading and unloading your vehicle.

   • If you aren't sure that your car is in good repair, it's best to get it checked thoroughly by a mechanic before you ship it. Keep in mind that it will be easier to prove that any damage to your vehicle was caused by the shipping company if you had a mechanic verify that your car was in good shape before you shipped it.
5. 
   5
   Review and sign your shipping invoice. Read over your invoice thoroughly to make sure you understand the terms and conditions. Check that everything the shipping company promised is provided in your invoice. Then, sign your invoice to agree to the terms.

   • Keep a copy of your invoice for your records.
6. 
   6
   Expect your car to arrive at its destination within 14 days. Since you’re shipping your vehicle across the country, it’ll likely take over a week to arrive. Be patient as you wait for your car to reach its destination. Here’s a breakdown of how long most shipping services take:

   • 0-500 mile shipments take 1-3 days
   • 501-999 mile shipments take 2-4 days
   • 1,000 to 1,499 mile shipments take 3-5 days
   • 1,500 to 2,100 mile shipments take 5-7 days
   • 2,100+ mile shipments take 7-14 days

   Tip: If your car is delayed during shipping, some shipping companies will cover the cost of a rental car during the delay. Check with your shipping company to find out if they offer this benefit.
7. 
   7
   Pick up your car on your pickup date if you sent your car to a terminal. Make sure you know when you’re supposed to pick up your car so you aren’t charged terminal fees. You’ll likely have a window for pickup because the arrival date can vary. When you go to pick up the car, bring your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration in case they ask to see it.

   • Check the fee structure ahead of time to make sure you won’t owe money to the terminal.
   • If you have any questions or concerns about pickup, call your shipping company.

   Variation: If you’re using a full-service shipping service or chose door-to-door shipping, your car will arrive at your home. In that case, you won’t need to pick it up.
8. 
   8
   Check your car for any damage. Carefully look over your car to make sure it’s in the same condition as when you shipped it. Use your pre-shipment photos to look for new damage. If you notice any issues, photograph the damage and tell an employee at the shipping company.

   • If you find that your car is damaged, file a claim with the shipping company’s insurance. Provide the photos you took as evidence of your car’s condition before the shipment.
9. 
   9
   Sign the paperwork to pick up your car. Before the company releases your vehicle, they’ll likely have you sign a receipt that shows you picked it up. Read over the paperwork to make sure you aren’t being charged any unexpected fees. Then, sign the form so you can retrieve your car.

   • Don’t sign your forms until you check your vehicle for damage.
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• Question

  Can I have my luggage in my car when shipping it?

  

  Community Answer

  Most truck companies allow up to 100lbs in the car's trunk. When shipping internationally, however, this is not recommended.

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• Question

  How can I transfer my car to another country?

  

  Community Answer

  Call around to sea ports that ship these types of freight. Ask for their shipping rates for your specific needs, including the closeness to your destination. Ask them how much, and get more than one sea port's answer on rates.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  How do I order a car from the United Arab Emirates?

  

  Community Answer

  Talk to UAE dealerships on the telephone. If you find a car you want and make deal, you'll then make a shipping arrangement with the dealer. Pick up your car when it arrives, and take it to be registered.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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Tips

• Always ask questions when you're not sure of something. Most companies have Q & A boards where you can ask your question or look for answers.
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• Keep any personal items to the trunk of your vehicle and under 100 pounds. Avoid electronics, expensive personal items, jewelry, and other high-value items.
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• Don't book your shipment based solely on price. Look at different factors including customer reviews, length of time in operation, and personal feelings when speaking with them.
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Warnings

• Read your paperwork thoroughly so you understand all of the fees they charge and what you can expect.
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• If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful when hiring a bargain-priced shipping provider.
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• Don't book with the first company you find. Make sure to take some time, maybe a day or two, and collect quotes from different shippers.
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• Don't book with the company offering the lowest price. Low prices tend to not move vehicles quickly. If you're not pressed for time or don't care how long it takes to get your vehicle picked up, lower prices may be better, but for most people, they only cause issues and delays.
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• Don't try to pay the carrier with a credit card or a personal check. They rarely take those as there are often too many issues associated with it. As drivers tend to need cash in order to keep their trucks fueled and operating, they prefer payment methods that give them instant access to the money.
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