The short answer
- For a domestic move from a home address, you usually need no title or registration paperwork at all, just the keys and someone to hand over the car.
- Auctions, dealers, storage lots, impound lots and marinas usually need a release or proof you are authorized to collect the vehicle.
- The Bill of Lading, signed at pickup and delivery, is the record a damage claim depends on.
- Keep your registration and insurance current; they stay your responsibility during transport.
For a normal door-to-door move
- Your booking or order confirmation, with the pickup and delivery details.
- The keys: one set travels with the car. Keep your spare.
- An adult at each end. You, or someone you name on the order, to release the vehicle and to receive it.
- Current registration and insurance, kept in force. Carriers do not usually ask to see them for a move from a private address, but they remain your responsibility.
When you will need proof you can release the vehicle
Businesses that hold vehicles will not hand one to a carrier on your word. Expect to arrange one of these in advance:
- Auto auctions: a gate pass or release, plus the buyer number and lot or VIN. See dealer and auction transport.
- Dealerships and body shops: a release authorizing the carrier to collect.
- Impound and storage lots: a release, with any fees settled before the truck arrives.
- Marinas and boat storage: proof of ownership and authorization. See boat transport.
The Bill of Lading, explained
The Bill of Lading is the receipt and condition report for your shipment. The driver fills it in at pickup, recording the vehicle's condition and any existing damage, and you both sign it. At delivery you inspect the vehicle against it and sign again.
It is the most important document in the whole process. If damage happens in transit, the difference between the pickup and delivery records is what a claim rests on. Note any new damage on it before the driver leaves; a signed clean Bill of Lading is very hard to dispute later. See insurance and claims.
Leased and financed vehicles
Moving a leased or financed car within the U.S. generally does not need the lender's permission for the transport itself. Check your agreement, though: some require you to tell the lender or lessor when the vehicle's garaging address changes, which it will if you are relocating. Your insurer will want the new address too.
Special cases
- Military moves: you do not need to show orders to book commercial transport, though sharing the dates helps us plan around them. See military PCS car shipping.
- Corporate relocations: billing and authorization are set up with the employer. See corporate relocation car shipping.
- Export and Alaska or Hawaii: these need title and additional paperwork for the ocean leg. Vector arranges transport within the 48 contiguous states only.
Common questions
Do I need my car's title to ship it?
Not usually, for a move within the lower 48 from a private address. Title is typically needed when a vehicle leaves the country or goes by sea, and businesses holding a vehicle may ask for proof of ownership or a release before handing it over.
What is a Bill of Lading?
The receipt and condition report for your shipment, signed at pickup and again at delivery. It records the vehicle's condition at both ends and is the document a damage claim depends on.
Can someone else sign for my car?
Yes. Name them on the order as the release or receiving contact. They will need to inspect the vehicle and sign the Bill of Lading, so explain what to check.