Long-Distance Car Shipping Planning Checklist

1. Verify the provider before you book

Start by determining whether each company is a broker or a carrier. A broker arranges transportation, while a carrier or transporter operates the transportation service broker and carrier roles. The distinction matters because the company you contact may not be the company that physically transports your vehicle. Be cautious if a website does not clearly identify which role it performs.

For interstate shipping in the United States, brokers and carriers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Carriers also receive a USDOT number, and both brokers and carriers receive an MC Docket number interstate registration requirements. Use the agency’s carrier search to verify the registration information before paying or signing an agreement. The MC Docket number should be prominently displayed on the provider’s website.

Also confirm:

• The name and contact information of your primary point of contact
• Whether the proposed transporter is a direct carrier or will be assigned later
• What insurance coverage the carrier provides
• Whether copies of your vehicle title and registration may be needed
• What photo identification you or your designated representative should have at pickup
• How cancellation terms, payment requirements, and any additional charges are handled

MoveDigest does not arrange transportation or select a provider. Treat these checks as questions to ask each registered provider before making a booking.

2. Compare quotes, transport types, and timing

Request and compare quotes from at least three companies, and research online reviews as part of the comparison process comparing multiple providers. To make the quotes useful, give every company the same shipment details:

Quotes can depend on distance, vehicle size, pickup and delivery dates, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport quote pricing factors. Rates vary, so comparing a low quote with a quote based on different dates or service details can produce a misleading result.

Open and enclosed transport are the two main options. Enclosed shipping is positioned as better protection from weather and debris for luxury, classic, or low-clearance vehicles enclosed transport protection. For a standard vehicle, open transport may be the option you compare against your budget and desired level of protection. The appropriate choice depends on the vehicle and your priorities.

Build flexibility into the schedule. Most interstate shipments are estimated to take 2 to 8 days, depending on distance and carrier availability estimated interstate shipping time. That is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery window. Pickup commitments also vary: pickup-date guarantees are not available from all carriers, and GPS tracking is not widely offered by every shipper tracking and pickup availability. Ask specifically whether tracking or a pickup commitment is included rather than assuming it is standard.

3. Confirm the handoff plan and prepare the vehicle

Before booking, confirm that both addresses can accommodate a car hauler. Tight residential streets, restricted access, or other location constraints may require an alternate meeting point accessible pickup and delivery locations. Ask the transporter about the specific addresses instead of assuming that door-to-door service will be possible.

Prepare the vehicle before pickup:

• Wash it so scratches, dents, and other blemishes are visible.
• Take dated photos or video from all sides, including close-ups of existing damage and the odometer dated vehicle condition photos.
• Remove or securely fasten loose exterior items such as antennas, spoilers, and bike racks.
• Check the tires, battery, fluids, and any leaks so the vehicle can be loaded safely.
• Disable the alarm or provide instructions for turning it off.
• Remove active toll tags to avoid charges while the vehicle is in transit.
• Leave the fuel level recommended by the transporter.
• Keep a spare key available if the transporter requests one.

Ask about personal belongings before loading. The supplied evidence emphasizes vehicle preparation and loose items, but provider policies can differ, so do not assume that belongings left inside the car are covered or permitted.

Keep copies of the title and registration available, even though originals may not always be required. Have photo identification ready for you or the designated representative who will meet the driver.

4. Document pickup and inspect delivery

The bill of lading is the official shipment record. It documents the vehicle’s condition at pickup and should be signed at both pickup and delivery bill of lading condition record. Compare the document with your dated photos and inspect every listed detail before signing. Correct inaccurate descriptions of scratches, dents, or other existing conditions before the vehicle leaves.

At pickup, use this sequence:

1. Walk around the clean vehicle with the driver.
2. Compare the vehicle with your dated photos and video.
3. Check the odometer and note existing blemishes.
4. Review the bill of lading for accuracy.
5. Ask about any unclear notation or limitation.
6. Sign only after the condition record reflects what you observed.
7. Keep a copy or accessible image of the completed paperwork.

Repeat the inspection when the vehicle arrives. Compare the delivered condition with the pickup record and your original photos. If you find a new issue, document it on the delivery paperwork and follow the carrier’s claims process promptly. The pre-shipment photos help establish the vehicle’s earlier condition, but documentation is not a guarantee that damage will not occur.

Final booking checklist

• Identify whether the company is a broker or carrier.
• Verify the provider’s interstate registration through the FMCSA carrier search.
• Record the relevant MC Docket or USDOT information.
• Compare at least three quotes using identical shipment details.
• Choose open or enclosed transport based on vehicle needs, budget, and protection preferences.
• Treat the 2-to-8-day estimate as a planning range, not a guarantee.
• Confirm insurance coverage, pickup commitments, tracking availability, and cancellation terms.
• Confirm that both handoff locations are accessible to a car hauler.
• Prepare copies of documents and photo identification.
• Wash, photograph, and inspect the vehicle before pickup.
• Remove or secure loose items and follow the transporter’s preparation instructions.
• Review and sign the bill of lading at pickup and delivery.
• Document and report any new condition issue promptly.