Preparing the car takes about an hour and prevents most problems at pickup. These are the steps our Terms and Conditions ask of every customer.
- Wash it. A clean car makes the condition inspection accurate, which protects you if there is ever a claim.
- Fuel to a quarter tank or less. Fuel is weight. Carriers need enough to load and unload, not a full tank.
- Remove or secure loose parts. Take off non-permanent roof racks, bike racks and luggage carriers. Secure or remove fragile accessories, antennas and low-hanging spoilers.
- Disarm the alarm. Switch it off or give the driver clear instructions. An alarm that goes off in transit with no way to silence it can be disabled by the carrier.
- Empty the car. Remove personal items, toll tags, parking passes and anything valuable. One suitcase or bag up to 100 lbs in the trunk is allowed if you declare it, but it travels at your own risk and is not insured.
- Check that it runs. The car should start, steer, brake and roll. If it does not, tell us before booking so a carrier with a winch is assigned.
- Photograph everything. All four sides, the roof, the interior and the odometer, with the date visible.
- Have your keys and documents ready. The driver needs a key. You or your agent sign the Bill of Lading at pickup.
Tell us in advance about anything unusual: aftermarket parts, a lowered chassis, oversized tires, a vehicle that is larger than standard. The carrier may need different equipment, and some carriers charge extra or decline those vehicles.
Why each step is in the Terms
Section 3b of our Terms and Conditions makes you responsible for securing or removing loose parts, fragile accessories and low spoilers, removing non-permanent racks, and tendering the car in operable condition with no more than a quarter tank of fuel. It also makes you responsible for damage to your car, other vehicles or people caused by a part that comes loose in transit. A roof box that lifts off at 65 mph on an open trailer is the kind of event that clause was written for.
Section 3e covers alarms, Section 3d the one declared bag, Section 3g the prohibited items. Each of the steps above maps to one of those clauses, which is why skipping one can cost money at the truck rather than just being untidy.
A week before pickup
Fix anything that would stop the car starting, steering, braking or rolling, or tell us it is inoperable so a winch-equipped carrier is assigned. Check for fluid leaks; a car dripping oil onto the vehicle below on an open trailer causes a claim against you under Section 3b. Note the tire pressures and the battery condition, because a flat battery at delivery after a week on a truck is common and unrelated to the carrier.
If the car has a tracking device, a dashcam that records on motion, or a remote immobilizer, decide what to do with it and tell the driver. Remove or deactivate toll transponders so you are not billed for the truck's route.
What the Terms say: the customer must secure or remove loose parts, fragile accessories, low-hanging spoilers and non-permanent racks, and tender the vehicle in operable condition with no more than a quarter tank of fuel (Section 3b); disarm any alarm or give the carrier instructions (Section 3e); declare any personal property before loading (Section 3d).
The day before
Wash the car and let it dry so the pickup inspection shows every existing mark; a clean car protects you more than the driver, because the condition report is your evidence. Photograph all four sides, each corner, the roof, the wheels, the interior, the odometer and the fuel gauge, with the date visible on the camera or in a newspaper shot. Fold in the mirrors if they are manual, retract the antenna, and remove the one bag you plan to declare from anywhere except the trunk.
Pickup morning
Have the key ready, including any fob or immobilizer card, and a spare if you have one; keep the second with you. Have the pickup Bill of Lading article from this Help Center open so the inspection goes the way it should. Confirm the meeting point if the driver cannot reach your street. Keep the phone on the order reachable from early morning, because drivers start early.
Electric and hybrid vehicles
An EV needs enough charge to drive on and off the trailer at both ends and to reach a charger after delivery, which means roughly a quarter to a half charge rather than full; a full battery adds weight for no benefit. Put the car in the correct transport or tow mode if it has one, and leave written instructions for the driver on how to shift to neutral without the key, because EVs vary. Ocean carriers to Hawaii and Puerto Rico have their own rules for EVs, covered on our Hawaii page.
Vehicles going to storage or a dealer
If the car is being delivered to a storage facility or a dealership rather than to you, prepare it the same way, and add the receiving business's contact and hours to your order so the carrier can plan the drop. Our storage solutions page and auction page cover the handover at those locations. Section 4b of the Terms still requires an agent to inspect and sign, so confirm the business will do it.
How the car is secured on the truck
Drivers secure each vehicle under the FMCSA cargo securement rules for automobiles in 49 CFR 393.128, with straps over the tires or chains to frame points at front and rear. Loose body panels, aftermarket skirts and spoilers are what those straps and the wind find, which is why Section 3b asks you to secure or remove them. Keeping fuel at a quarter tank also keeps the whole load inside the federal weight limit in 23 CFR 658.17.
Related questions
- Can I leave personal items in my car when I ship it?
- How much fuel should be in the tank when I ship my car?
- Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?
Go deeper: How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping: A Checklist.
