Licensed & Bonded Auto Transport Broker Mon–Sun 8am–9pm ET
Home  ›  How It Works

How Car Shipping Works

Shipping a car for the first time? Here's the entire process, start to finish — what happens, when it happens, and what you need to do at each step.

1

Get Your Free Quote

Tell us where your vehicle is going, what you're shipping, and when you'd like it picked up. You can use the quote form online or call (866) 459-6389 and get a price over the phone in a few minutes.

Your quote is all-in: fuel, taxes, carrier insurance, and door-to-door service are included. There's no deposit to get a quote and no obligation to book.

  • Quotes are free and take about 60 seconds
  • Price locked when you book — no bait-and-switch
  • Open and enclosed options priced side by side
Auto transport carrier arriving in a residential neighborhood
Driver loading a sedan onto an open auto transport carrier
2

We Dispatch a Vetted Carrier

Once you book, your dispatch coordinator matches your shipment with a licensed carrier from our network. Before any carrier touches your vehicle, we verify their FMCSA authority, safety rating, and active cargo insurance certificate.

You'll get the carrier's name, the driver's phone number, and a pickup window — typically 1 to 5 business days from your first available date. The driver calls ahead to confirm exact timing.

  • You pay nothing until a carrier is assigned
  • Driver's direct phone number provided at dispatch
  • Pickup scheduled around your availability
3

Pickup & Inspection

At pickup, the driver walks around your vehicle with you and records its condition on the Bill of Lading (BOL) — noting any existing scratches, dings, or damage. This document is your proof of condition, so review it before signing.

We recommend taking dated photos of all four sides of your vehicle at pickup. It takes two minutes and makes any claim, however unlikely, simple to resolve.

  • Keep about 1/4 tank of gas — enough to load and unload
  • Remove toll tags and personal valuables
  • Get your copy of the signed Bill of Lading
Customer photographing a vehicle during the transport inspection
Auto transport truck traveling a cross-country highway
4

Your Vehicle Is In Transit

Carriers cover roughly 400–500 miles per day. Regional moves usually deliver in 1–3 days, mid-range routes in 3–6 days, and coast-to-coast in 7–10 days.

While your car is on the truck, you can reach your driver directly for location updates, and your dispatch coordinator stays on call for anything else.

  • Direct line to your driver during transport
  • Updates if weather or traffic shifts the ETA
  • Support available 7 days a week
5

Delivery & Final Inspection

The driver calls ahead to schedule delivery as close to your address as the truck can safely and legally get. You (or someone you designate, 18+) walk around the vehicle, compare it against the pickup Bill of Lading, and sign off.

The remaining balance is paid directly to the driver at delivery — cash, cashier's check, or Zelle are standard. Then the keys are yours.

  • Inspect before you sign — you're entitled to take your time
  • Note anything on the BOL before the driver leaves
  • Balance due at delivery; no surprise charges
Vehicle being unloaded from a trailer at a residential driveway

Prepare Your Vehicle: Quick Checklist

  • Wash the car so existing marks are visible at inspection
  • Photograph all four sides, dated, at pickup
  • Leave about 1/4 tank of fuel
  • Remove or deactivate toll transponders
  • Take out valuables and important documents
  • Fold in mirrors and secure or remove loose accessories
  • Note any leaks or mechanical quirks to the driver
  • Keep a spare key for yourself — give one to the driver

Ready to Ship Your Vehicle?

Get your free, no-obligation quote in about 60 seconds — or call and talk to a dispatch coordinator right now.