How to Inspect Your Car Before and After Auto Transport

Before pickup: create a clear baseline

The most useful delivery inspection starts before the vehicle is loaded. Your goal is to create a dated record that shows the car’s condition while it is still in your possession.

Wash the vehicle

Wash the exterior before pickup so dirt, dust, and road grime do not conceal scratches or dents washing the vehicle before pickup. A clean surface makes it easier to compare the car with its condition after transport.

Photograph the exterior and odometer

Take dated photos or video of all four sides of the vehicle. Add close-ups of every existing scratch, dent, chip, or other blemish, and record the odometer reading dated condition photos and odometer records. Photograph areas that could be disputed later, such as bumpers, doors, wheels, and visible accessories.

Your photos and video provide visual evidence, but they do not replace the carrier’s formal inspection record. Keep the files available on your phone and, if practical, preserve copies with their dates intact.

Clear the vehicle and secure loose parts

Remove personal belongings from the cabin, trunk, and other storage areas. Basic carrier liability may not cover personal items left inside the vehicle coverage for belongings left inside. Remove active toll tags as well.

Loose exterior parts should be removed or secured before transport. Examples include antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and other accessories securing loose vehicle accessories. If an item could shift, detach, or interfere with loading, ask the carrier how it should be handled before pickup.

Check for leaks and loading issues

Address visible fluid leaks before the carrier arrives. A carrier may decline to load a vehicle that presents a risk to other vehicles or people addressing fluid leaks before pickup. Also check the battery’s security, tire inflation and tread, and essential fluid levels before handoff.

Disclose pre-existing issues that could affect loading or handling. This gives the carrier an opportunity to record them accurately and helps distinguish an existing condition from damage that may occur during transport.

At pickup: verify the inspection record

The Bill of Lading, or BOL, is the official shipment record. It includes the vehicle’s condition at pickup and should be signed at both pickup and delivery the Bill of Lading condition record.

Before the vehicle is loaded:

1. Walk around the car with the driver or representative.
2. Compare the vehicle with your dated photos and video.
3. Make sure every existing scratch, dent, and other visible condition is recorded accurately.
4. Check that the vehicle details and shipment information are correct.
5. Do not treat a general description as a substitute for documenting specific existing damage.

If the pickup inspection does not match your records, raise the discrepancy before signing. The purpose of the BOL is to establish the vehicle’s condition at handoff, so an incomplete or inaccurate record can make a later comparison more difficult.

A simple comparison helps keep the evidence organized:

At delivery: inspect before signing

Inspect the vehicle immediately after it is unloaded. Compare each side of the car with your pre-transport photos and the pickup condition recorded on the BOL. Look for new scratches, dents, chips, broken accessories, or other visible changes.

Do not limit the inspection to the side that is easiest to see. Walk around the entire vehicle, check the areas where existing blemishes were recorded, and compare the odometer with your original record.

If you find new damage, document it while the vehicle is at delivery. Take clear photos or video, describe the location and condition on the delivery paperwork, and notify the carrier. Move.org recommends filing an insurance claim as soon as possible if damage occurred in transit filing a claim promptly after damage.

The delivery record should distinguish between:

• Damage that was already listed at pickup
• Damage that appears new at delivery
• Conditions that are difficult to determine without a mechanical inspection

Keep copies of the signed paperwork and all photos. If the carrier’s delivery record does not reflect what you observed, ask for the discrepancy to be recorded before signing.

Understand what coverage may exclude

Inspection records help establish what changed, but they do not guarantee that every type of damage is covered. Basic carrier liability generally addresses covered damage caused by the carrier, but coverage depends on the carrier and policy.

Common limitations may include weather or road-debris damage on an open carrier, personal belongings left inside the vehicle, pre-existing damage that was not documented, and unrelated mechanical or electrical failures common basic-liability exclusions. Review the carrier’s coverage terms before transport, including exclusions, limits, and any deductible.

Open and enclosed transport also present different protection choices. Enclosed shipping offers greater protection from weather and debris and may be considered for luxury, classic, or low-clearance vehicles enclosed transport protection. The appropriate option depends on the vehicle and the protection included in the selected policy.

A practical inspection checklist

Before pickup

• Wash the vehicle.
• Photograph or video all sides.
• Take close-ups of existing damage.
• Record the odometer.
• Remove personal belongings and active toll tags.
• Remove or secure antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and other loose accessories.
• Check for visible fluid leaks.
• Check tire condition, battery security, and essential fluid levels.
• Disclose pre-existing issues that could affect loading or handling.
• Review the carrier’s insurance exclusions, limits, and deductible.

At pickup

• Walk around the vehicle with the carrier representative.
• Compare the car with your photos and video.
• Verify that existing scratches and dents appear on the Bill of Lading.
• Keep a copy of the completed pickup record.

At delivery

• Inspect the vehicle immediately after unloading.
• Compare it with the pre-transport photos and pickup BOL.
• Photograph or video any new damage.
• Record new damage on the delivery paperwork before signing.
• Contact the carrier and file a claim as soon as possible if appropriate.
• Keep copies of all records and supporting images.

A clean vehicle, dated visual record, accurate Bill of Lading, and prompt delivery inspection give you the clearest way to identify changes during auto transport. Because requirements and coverage vary, confirm the carrier’s inspection process and policy terms before the vehicle is picked up.