The four-step process
- Request your instant quote. Enter pickup and delivery ZIP codes, your vehicle and your first available date. Our pricing engine reads live carrier bids on your lane and returns a real number — not a lowball teaser rate.
- We assign a vetted carrier. Your transport coordinator verifies FMCSA authority, cargo insurance and safety scores, then dispatches a carrier who already runs your route. You receive driver details and a pickup window before anything is charged.
- Inspection and pickup. The driver documents your vehicle's condition with time-stamped photos on a digital bill of lading. You sign, hand over one key, and your vehicle is loaded with soft straps or wheel nets.
- Track and receive delivery. Follow progress with milestone updates and direct driver contact. At delivery you repeat the inspection, sign the bill of lading, and pay the balance by card, ACH, cashier's check or cash.
Preparing your vehicle for transport
One week before pickup
- Wash the exterior so existing chips and scratches are clearly visible
- Photograph all four corners, the roof, wheels and interior with timestamps
- Service any active fluid leak or arrange for the driver to be warned
The day before pickup
- Remove personal items, toll transponders and parking passes
- Leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel — enough to load and drive off, not more weight
- Disable alarms, fold mirrors, retract or remove antennas
- Check tire pressure and battery charge so the vehicle rolls and starts
Electric and hybrid vehicles
Charge to roughly 45–60%. Carriers avoid full charges for thermal safety, and a depleted battery can prevent the vehicle from moving into transport mode at delivery.
Inspection and paperwork
The bill of lading is the single most important document in auto transport. It records your vehicle's condition at pickup and is the basis for any claim. Walk the vehicle with the driver, confirm every noted defect, and keep your signed copy. Learn more about coverage on our pricing and inclusions page.
During transit
Carriers legally cover roughly 500 miles per day under hours-of-service rules. Your coordinator sends milestone updates and can connect you directly with the driver. Weather events in mountain passes and metro congestion are the two most common causes of a shifted delivery window.
Delivery day
Inspect the vehicle in good light against your pickup photos before signing. If you find new damage, note it on the bill of lading before signing and photograph it immediately — that documentation is what makes a claim straightforward. Then pay the balance and you are done.
Ready to start? Request your free quote or estimate your cost with the shipping cost calculator.