How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping
Getting your car ready before the carrier shows up avoids the usual pickup problems: a disputed damage claim, or a delay while the driver waits on something you should have handled first. Clean it, take out your personal items, pull your toll transponder, check the fluids and battery, leave the tank around a quarter full, disable the alarm, photograph it, and secure anything loose.
We arrange your pickup and delivery. Your part is the car itself, and the steps are below. For what happens at booking, pickup and delivery, see how car shipping works.
| Step | Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clean the vehicle, inside and out | Dirt and grime hide dings and scratches that need to be recorded during the pickup inspection |
| 2 | Remove personal items | Auto transport companies don't allow personal belongings in the vehicle during transit unless pre-arranged with the carrier |
| 3 | Remove toll transponders (EZ Pass, SunPass, etc.) | A transponder left in the car can register tolls as the carrier passes through toll zones on the route |
| 4 | Check fluids and the battery | Leaking fluids and a weak battery can hold up loading and are worth catching before the driver arrives |
| 5 | Leave the tank between 1/8 and 1/4 full | Less fuel means less weight on a trailer loaded with several vehicles |
| 6 | Disable the alarm | A vehicle jostled during loading or transit can trigger an armed alarm repeatedly along the route |
| 7 | Photograph the vehicle's condition | Clear photos from all angles are your own record if a damage claim needs to be filed later |
| 8 | Remove or secure loose and custom parts | Spoilers, bike racks and other add-ons can be damaged in transit if left loose; retract antennas |
How should I clean my car before it ships?
Wash your car inside and out before pickup, so any dings, scratches or stains already there show up in the pickup inspection instead of hiding under dirt.
The bill of lading and condition report are built from your pickup inspection. Dirt can hide damage that should have been recorded before your car left the driveway, and that makes a later claim harder to prove either way.
What personal items do I need to remove before shipping?
Take out your valuables and clear out loose items such as phone chargers, GPS devices and garage door openers. Carriers don't allow personal belongings in the vehicle during transit unless you've arranged it with us first.
Anything you leave inside isn't covered by the carrier's cargo coverage. That policy covers your vehicle, not what's in it.
Do I need to remove my toll transponder before shipping?
Yes. Pull your EZ Pass, SunPass or any similar toll transponder before pickup. Leave it mounted and it can register tolls as the truck passes through toll zones along the route.
A toll charged to a device that was never meant to make the trip is a charge you have to sort out afterward.
What should I check with fluids and the battery before pickup?
Check for fluid leaks, top off your engine oil, brake fluid and transmission fluid, and make sure your battery is securely mounted and fully charged.
A car that won't start, or one that's leaking, can hold up loading on pickup day. That delays your car and every other vehicle the carrier is loading at the same stop.
How much gas should be in the tank when the carrier picks it up?
Keep your tank between 1/8 and 1/4 full: enough to load, unload and move the car on and off the trailer, without hauling weight your shipment doesn't need.
A multi-car carrier runs close to its weight limit across every vehicle on the trailer, so a nearly full tank adds weight the load doesn't need.
Should I disable the car alarm before shipping?
Yes. If your car has an alarm, disable it before transport so it doesn't go off repeatedly while it's loaded, unloaded or driven over rough surfaces along the route.
An alarm that keeps going off during transit is a nuisance for the carrier and can drain your battery over a multi-day trip.
How do I document my vehicle's condition before it ships?
Take clear, detailed photos of your car from every angle before it ships. They are your own proof of condition if you need to file a damage claim after delivery.
The driver's inspection at pickup goes onto the bill of lading and the condition report, and a second walkaround happens at delivery. Your own timestamped photos are a separate record that sits alongside those documents and does not replace them.
What loose or custom parts should I remove before shipping?
Remove or secure custom features like spoilers or bike racks, and retract your antenna, so nothing loose can shift, catch wind or get damaged while your car is loaded, strapped down and driven.
This applies whether your car ships open or enclosed, because a loose part is a risk on either type of trailer.
Frequently asked questions about preparing a car for shipping
- Do I need to wash my car before it ships even if it's just going a short distance?
Yes. Distance doesn't change why cleaning matters: a clean car lets your pickup inspection catch existing dings and scratches before it leaves, on a short lane or a long one.
- Can I leave personal items in the trunk if they're out of sight?
No, not unless you've arranged it with us first. Out of sight doesn't change the rule, and anything you leave inside isn't covered by the carrier's cargo coverage, which applies to the vehicle itself.
- What happens if I forget to remove my toll transponder?
It can register tolls as the truck passes through toll zones on the route, and you'll have to identify and dispute those charges afterward. Pulling it before pickup is easier.
- Is a car wash really necessary, or is that overkill?
It's not overkill. A clean car directly affects your pickup inspection, because dirt can hide existing damage that needs to be recorded before your car ships, and that record is what a later damage claim gets built from.
- Does the prep checklist change for a non-running vehicle?
The same steps apply. A non-running vehicle also needs a winch-equipped carrier to load and unload it, which is separate from prep. See shipping a non-running car for what that changes about cost and equipment.
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