How to Transport a Car Without Insurance
Yes, a car may be shipped with no insurance, no registration and no plates, and none of the three is required for Wave Auto Transport to ship it. While a carrier has the car on its truck, the assigned carrier's cargo insurance covers it, whatever your own policy says. Wave Auto Transport provides car shipping as a broker: we check the carrier before dispatch, and if damage happens we run the dispute among you, the carrier and the insurance company.
Can you ship a car that has no insurance?
Yes. Wave Auto Transport ships a car whose owner has no auto insurance, and insurance on the car is not required for the car to be shipped.
A car on a carrier's truck is cargo, and the cargo is covered by the assigned carrier's cargo insurance, not by the owner's policy. The owner's policy does not decide whether the car can ride. Tell the quote form about the car's condition, including whether it runs, so dispatch can match it to a carrier with the right equipment.
Who insures the car while it is on the truck?
The assigned carrier's cargo insurance covers the car while it is in transit, not the owner's policy and not Wave Auto Transport's, and Wave publishes no coverage limit because the limit differs from carrier to carrier.
A carrier that takes a car must issue a receipt or bill of lading, and federal law makes the carrier liable to the person entitled to recover under that document for actual loss or injury to the property. Cargo insurance is the policy that stands behind that liability. Wave Auto Transport checks that the assigned carrier's coverage is active before dispatch, and you can ask for the carrier's certificate of insurance and read its cargo section before pickup. The separate page on car shipping insurance explains the mechanics of the policy.
| Situation | Who holds the coverage or responsibility | What the customer does |
|---|---|---|
| The car is on the carrier's truck | The assigned carrier's cargo insurance | Ask for the certificate of insurance before pickup and read the cargo section. |
| Personal items left inside the car | No one at Wave. Wave is never responsible for contents. | Remove them before pickup. |
| Damage is found at delivery | The carrier or its cargo insurer pays the claim; Wave runs the dispute and helps you get paid. | Note it on the bill of lading before signing, take photos, and send a written claim to Wave and the carrier within 15 days of delivery. |
Do you need registration or plates to ship a car?
No. Wave Auto Transport does not require registration or plates for a car to be shipped.
A car with no plates that does not run can still be loaded, because a carrier with a winch can move a car that cannot be driven. A non-running car costs more to load than a running one.
What should you check on the carrier's certificate before pickup?
Before pickup, check on the carrier's certificate of insurance that the carrier's legal name matches the company that will haul your car, that the cargo coverage is current, and what the per-vehicle limit and exclusions are.
Ask Wave Auto Transport or the assigned carrier for the certificate, and ask which company will physically haul the car. The name on the certificate should match that company. Read the cargo section, not only the liability section, because public liability coverage protects other people and property on the road, not the car on the truck. Ask whether the policy names a weather exclusion. If your car's value is high, compare the value with the limit.
Frequently asked questions about shipping a car without insurance
- Can I ship a car that has no insurance?
Yes. Insurance on the car is not required for Wave Auto Transport to ship it. While the car is on the truck, the assigned carrier's cargo insurance covers it.
- Can I ship a car with no registration or plates?
Yes. Wave Auto Transport does not require registration or plates for a car to be shipped.
- Does the carrier's insurance cover my car during shipping?
Yes. The assigned carrier's cargo insurance covers the car while the carrier has it, and Wave Auto Transport checks that the coverage is active before dispatch. Wave publishes no coverage limit, because the limit differs from carrier to carrier.
- Does my personal auto policy cover my car during transport?
That depends on the policy's own wording, so ask your insurer, naming the situation: your car in the custody of a commercial carrier. Wave does not review or advise on your personal policy.
- What happens if an uninsured car is damaged in transit?
Note the damage on the bill of lading before you sign at delivery, take photos, and send a written claim to Wave Auto Transport and the carrier within 15 days of delivery. Wave then handles the dispute among you, the carrier and the insurance company, and helps you get paid. The carrier or its cargo insurer pays the claim.
- Should I buy extra shipping insurance?
Wave Auto Transport does not sell insurance. Ask for the carrier's certificate before pickup, compare the cargo limit with your car's value, and ask your own insurer about additional coverage.
- Can a car that does not run be shipped without plates?
Yes. A car that does not run can be loaded by a carrier with a winch, with or without plates, and it costs more than a running car.
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