Car Shipping Delivery Inspection Checklist: Document Damage

What to have ready before delivery

Bring the pickup Bill of Lading (BOL), your dated photos or video, a phone or camera, and a way to record notes. The BOL records the vehicle’s condition at pickup and should be signed at both pickup and delivery Bill of Lading condition record. Your pickup photos and video provide another baseline for identifying damage that was not preexisting pickup photos and video.

If possible, inspect the vehicle before the driver leaves and in conditions that let you see the surfaces clearly. A clean vehicle is easier to check because dirt, dust, and road grime can hide scratches and dents clean vehicle inspection.

Delivery inspection checklist

Use this sequence so you do not overlook an area:

• Compare the vehicle with the pickup BOL.
• Compare all four sides with your dated photos or video.
• Check the front and rear bumpers, doors, fenders, hood, roof, trunk, and quarter panels for new scratches, dents, paint damage, or other visible changes.
• Look at the windows and mirrors for new damage.
• Check wheels, tires, and visible trim or accessories for damage or looseness.
• Inspect the interior for new damage or condition changes.
• Check the odometer for an unexpected discrepancy.
• Photograph or record video of each suspected issue.
• Write every new issue on the delivery BOL before signing.
• Ask the carrier how to submit a claim and what documentation is required.

The key comparison is not whether the vehicle looks generally acceptable. It is whether its condition at delivery matches the condition documented at pickup.

How to document new damage

Record each issue precisely rather than writing a general statement such as “vehicle damaged.” For every new scratch, dent, broken component, or other problem, include:

1. Exact location: For example, identify the passenger-side front door or the lower-left corner of the rear bumper.
2. Type of damage: Describe whether it is a scratch, dent, crack, paint transfer, broken glass, loose trim, or another visible issue.
3. Approximate size: Give the length, width, or another reasonable measurement.
4. Visual evidence: Take close-up images as well as wider images showing where the damage is located on the vehicle.
5. Delivery paperwork: Write the location and approximate size on the delivery document before the driver leaves damage location and size.

Keep the pickup and delivery records together. Photos or video taken before transport are especially useful when they show all four sides and existing blemishes, because they help establish that a newly observed issue was not present before shipping all-four-sides documentation.

Do not rely on a verbal report alone. The delivery paperwork is the record that connects your inspection to the carrier’s shipment documentation. Review what has been written before you sign, and make sure the notes describe every issue you found.

A simple documentation example

Suppose your pickup photos show no mark on the passenger-side rear door, but delivery inspection reveals a new 6-inch scratch. A useful note would identify the panel, describe the scratch, and state its approximate size—for example, “6-inch scratch on passenger-side rear door.” Photograph the close-up and the full door, then retain those images with the signed BOL.

Coverage questions to answer before filing

A new mark does not automatically mean every policy will pay for it. Basic carrier liability may cover damage directly resulting from the carrier’s handling, but coverage depends on the carrier and policy. Potential exclusions can include:

These are coverage considerations, not a determination of whether a particular claim will be accepted. Review the applicable policy and ask the carrier which coverage applies to your shipment carrier coverage exclusions.

Also ask whether the shipment has standard or supplemental coverage. Supplemental protection may provide broader coverage or higher limits, but available protection and exclusions vary by carrier and selected coverage tier. A deductible may apply as well: some supplemental policies have no deductible, while others require an out-of-pocket contribution coverage tier deductibles.

What to do after you find damage

Follow these steps before ending the delivery handoff:

1. Stop and complete the inspection. Check the exterior, interior, wheels, glass, trim, and odometer before finalizing the paperwork.
2. Compare evidence. Use the pickup BOL and dated photos or video as your baseline.
3. Document every new issue. Write the exact location and approximate size on the delivery BOL.
4. Capture photographs or video. Include both close-ups and context images.
5. Ask for the claim procedure. Confirm where and how the carrier wants the claim submitted, and ask what records are required.
6. Review coverage and deductible information. Confirm whether the issue falls under the applicable policy and whether you may owe a deductible.
7. File promptly when appropriate. Move.org recommends filing an insurance claim as soon as possible when a vehicle is damaged in transit prompt insurance claim filing.

If the driver or carrier provides additional instructions, retain them with the BOL, photos, and any claim correspondence. The goal is to create a consistent record showing the vehicle’s documented pickup condition, its delivery condition, and the specific change you reported.

For U.S. interstate shipments, readers can verify a transporter’s registration through FMCSA’s carrier search transporter registration before choosing a provider. Separately, ask the carrier for applicable insurance and coverage details, including exclusions and any deductible, because coverage terms depend on the carrier and policy. MoveDigest provides this checklist as independent informational guidance; confirm shipment-specific terms directly with the carrier or provider handling your transport.