How Does Car Shipping Work?
Once you request a quote, we price your shipment, you book with no upfront deposit, we match you to a vetted carrier, the carrier picks up your car and drives it, and you sign off at delivery. The sections below cover each stage and what changes if you choose expedited, regular or flexible pickup.
What happens when you request a quote?
Requesting a quote means sending us your vehicle's year, make and model, its running condition, your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, and your preferred pickup date through the quote form. We send back a live, current price for your specific shipment.
The live quote is the price for your vehicle on your date. The reference ranges elsewhere on this site show what a distance or route has recently cost across the market, so they are a guide to what to expect. Requesting a quote costs nothing and doesn't obligate you to book.
How do you book, and why is there no upfront deposit?
Booking with us requires no upfront deposit. A deposit is charged only after a truck has been assigned and dispatched to your shipment.
Some brokers collect a booking deposit before any carrier has committed to the job. Once you accept a quote, we schedule your shipment and start looking for a carrier already running that route.
How do we match your shipment to a carrier?
Once you book, we dispatch your shipment, as a licensed broker, to a vetted, licensed and insured carrier in our network. We don't own trucks or employ drivers, so a real carrier already running your route is what gets matched to the job.
The pickup window you choose at booking sets how quickly we assign a carrier. It has no effect on how fast the truck drives once it's loaded. There are three pickup windows: expedited runs 1 to 2 days, regular runs 3 to 5 days, and flexible runs 6 to 15 days. A narrower window costs more, because we pick a faster carrier for it and carriers charge a small premium for the speed, sometimes because they run team drivers. A guaranteed pickup window is available as a paid upgrade above the standard windows. We don't offer a guaranteed delivery date. Transit time is the drive itself once your vehicle is loaded. It is separate from the pickup window and depends on your route. See how long shipping takes or your route's own page for that figure.
| Service level | Pickup window |
|---|---|
| Expedited | 1-2 days |
| Regular | 3-5 days |
| Flexible | 6-15 days |
What happens on pickup day?
On pickup day, your assigned carrier calls ahead and meets your vehicle at the agreed address, or as close to it as a full-size carrier can safely and legally get.
Door-to-door is the standard most of the time, but a 75-foot carrier can't always enter a narrow street, a low-clearance area or a gated community with tight turns. Where that happens, the driver meets you nearby instead. Before your vehicle is loaded, the driver and you, or someone you authorize, walk around it together and record its condition on the bill of lading. That document is what any later damage claim gets built from, so it's worth checking closely before you sign. You can request top-load, which places your vehicle on the upper deck of an open carrier. We'll pass the request to the carrier, but it's never guaranteed. It depends on how the truck is loaded that day.
What happens during transit?
During transit, the carrier drives your vehicle to its delivery address. Carriers in our network move vehicles around the clock, so your pickup or delivery can land outside normal business hours.
A multi-car carrier often makes stops along the way to load or unload other vehicles heading the same direction, which is part of why transit takes longer than a single nonstop drive would. How many days your specific route takes depends on the distance and corridor. See how long shipping a car takes for the full explanation, or your route's own page for that lane's figure.
What happens at delivery?
At delivery, the carrier and you, or someone you authorize, do a second walkaround together, note any new damage on the bill of lading, and sign it before your vehicle is released.
That signed bill of lading is the record used if you need to file a damage claim. As with pickup, delivery is door-to-door most of the time; where the street won't fit a full-size carrier, the driver meets you nearby instead.
What transport options can you choose?
You can choose open transport, enclosed transport or terminal-to-terminal service. Open is the default most shipments use, and enclosed, which is available on every lane we book, costs 40% to 50% more.
Open transport carries your vehicle on a multi-car trailer exposed to weather and road debris; damage rates are low, and it's the cheaper, more common choice. Enclosed transport uses a hardside trailer, either single-car or multi-car, and it's worth the extra cost mainly for classic, exotic or high-value vehicles. Terminal-to-terminal service has your vehicle dropped off at and picked up from a staffed lot instead of an address, which can lower cost on some routes at the expense of convenience. See open vs. enclosed car shipping for the full comparison.
Who insures your vehicle during shipping?
Cargo coverage during transit belongs to the carrier handling your shipment, not to us. We verify that the carrier we dispatch your shipment to holds active cargo coverage before assigning it.
You can ask for the assigned carrier's certificate of insurance before pickup. See about Wave Auto Transport for more on how the broker model works.
Frequently asked questions about how car shipping works
- Do I have to pay a deposit to book car shipping?
No. We don't charge an upfront deposit. A deposit is charged only after a truck has been assigned and dispatched to your shipment.
- Do I need to be present for pickup or delivery?
An authorized adult needs to meet the carrier to release or receive your vehicle and sign the bill of lading. It doesn't have to be you, but it does need to be someone you've authorized to sign on your behalf.
- Can I request a specific pickup time?
You can choose a pickup window: expedited (1-2 days), regular (3-5 days) or flexible (6-15 days). A guaranteed pickup window is available as a paid upgrade. We don't offer a guaranteed delivery date.
- Will the carrier come to my exact address?
Door-to-door is the standard most of the time, as close as a full-size carrier can safely and legally get. Where a 75-foot rig can't enter your street, the driver meets you nearby instead.
- What if my car doesn't run?
We arrange transport for non-running vehicles using a winch-equipped carrier. It may cost more than moving a running vehicle on the same route, depending on the vehicle.
- How are carriers vetted?
Before we dispatch a shipment to a carrier, we check that the carrier has proper equipment and registrations.
- Is my car insured while it's being shipped?
Cargo coverage belongs to the carrier transporting your vehicle, not to us. We verify the carrier we dispatch to holds active coverage before assigning your shipment.
- Does Wave Auto Transport ship to Hawaii or overseas?
No. We cover the continental United States only. We don't currently ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Canada or internationally.
- What vehicle types does Wave ship?
Any vehicle: cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, classic and exotic cars, and non-running vehicles, on open or enclosed transport depending on your shipment.
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