Rivalane arranges transport for cars with lapsed insurance, an expired registration or no registration at all. On a carrier's truck the car is cargo, not a vehicle being driven, so neither your own policy nor a current registration is needed to book.
Why the car does not need its own policy or registration
A car on a car carrier travels as freight. Every carrier Rivalane assigns holds active FMCSA operating authority and cargo insurance, and we confirm that coverage before pickup. The carrier's cargo insurance covers the car from loading to unloading, and under our Terms the carrier is the party liable for damage in transit. Our answer on whether your car is insured during transport explains what that coverage includes and what it excludes.
What if the car is not registered?
This comes up with a car you just bought, a car whose registration expired while it sat, a project car, or an auction purchase that cannot be registered until the paperwork is processed. Rivalane does not need the car to be registered to arrange the move, and a car without license plates can be shipped by truck.
The rules that do apply are about driving. New York, for example, requires a vehicle to be registered, insured and inspected before it is used on a public road, as its Driver's Manual explains, and other states set their own rules. Check with your state DMV before the car moves under its own power. The simple way around the question is to have the carrier collect the car where it sits, in a driveway, garage or lot, rather than driving it to meet the truck.
If the car has been sitting and does not start, say so when you book. A car that cannot be driven onto the trailer needs a winch-equipped carrier and can carry an extra fee. Can Rivalane ship a car that does not run? covers what to tell us.
What if the car is not insured?
You do not need to buy a policy just for the trip, and Rivalane does not ask for proof of insurance. Progressive, the insurer, says the same: if you will not be driving the car, you are generally not required to carry your own insurance to ship it.
Your own policy can still be useful. Comprehensive coverage may pay for damage the carrier's cargo insurance excludes, such as hail on an open trailer, and the carrier never covers personal items left in the car. If the car matters to you and its policy has lapsed, ask your insurer whether restoring comprehensive cover for the trip is worth it.
What to have ready at pickup
Rivalane does not ask for a title or registration to book. At pickup the carrier needs a key to the car and you, or someone you designate who is over 18, to inspect it with the driver and sign the Bill of Lading. Some carriers ask to see photo ID, and a driver or the pickup location may ask for proof that you can release the car, so keep a photo ID and the title or bill of sale with you.
An auction yard or dealership releases a car on its own paperwork, such as a gate pass or a release form. Can you pick up a car from an auction or a dealership? lists what each type of seller asks for.
Does this change for Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico?
Yes. Those moves include an ocean leg, and the shipping lines and destinations set their own paperwork rules, including the title or registration. Do you ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico? explains what each one asks for.
What the Terms say: Rivalane is a broker, and the carrier is the party liable for loss or damage in transit (Sections 9a and 9b). You must tell us the vehicle's condition at booking, and an inoperable vehicle may carry extra carrier fees or be refused (Section 3c). You or an agent over 18 whom you designate must be present at pickup and delivery (Sections 1 and 4b), and you agree to comply with the laws that apply to the shipment (Section 6 of our Terms and Conditions).
Related questions
- Is my car insured during transport with Rivalane?
- Can Rivalane ship a car that does not run?
- Can you pick up a car from an auction or a dealership?
Go deeper: Car Shipping Insurance: Who Covers Your Car and Who Pays.
