The short answer
- Wash the car and photograph every side, the roof and the wheels, with the date visible.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel, and make sure the battery will start the car.
- Remove personal items, toll transponders and anything loose.
- Tell us about modifications and anything that does not work before pickup, not at the curb.
A week before pickup
- Confirm the vehicle details on your booking. Year, make and model, plus anything that changes its size: lift kits, lowering, oversize tires, roof racks, aftermarket bumpers or spoilers.
- Say whether it runs. Specifically: does it start, roll, steer and brake? Any "no" changes the equipment the carrier brings.
- Check the battery and tires if the car has been sitting. A flat battery or a flat tire on pickup day turns a routine load into a problem.
- Check for leaks. A carrier can refuse a vehicle that is dripping fluid onto the cars below it.
- Tell us about access. A narrow street, a gate, low branches or a steep driveway are worth mentioning now so a meeting point can be agreed.
The day before
- Wash the car. Existing scratches and dents have to be visible to be recorded at pickup. Dirt hides them, and that makes a later damage claim much harder.
- Photograph everything. All four sides, the front and rear, the roof, each wheel and the odometer, in good light, with the date visible. Close-ups of any existing damage.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Enough to load and unload; more only adds weight.
- Remove personal items. Anything left inside is not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance. See shipping personal items in your car.
- Remove toll transponders and parking passes, or you may pay tolls for the truck's route.
- Secure or remove loose exterior parts: removable antennas, bike racks, custom spoilers, and fold the mirrors in.
- Disable or write down the alarm procedure, so it does not go off for the whole journey.
At pickup
- Be available at the number on your order, or have your named contact ready. The driver usually calls the evening before and again when close.
- Walk around the car with the driver while they record its condition on the Bill of Lading. Check that what they write matches what you see.
- Hand over one set of keys, and keep a spare.
- Keep your copy of the Bill of Lading. It is the document you will compare against at delivery.
For specific vehicles
- Electric vehicles: charge to a moderate level rather than full, and tell us the exact model, since EVs are heavier than their size suggests. Engage any transport or tow mode the manufacturer provides and note the procedure for the driver.
- Classic cars: write down any unusual starting procedure, and consider a battery tender. See classic car transport.
- Low or modified cars: measure ground clearance as the car sits. Below about four inches, standard ramps are a problem and a lift gate is needed. See enclosed car transport.
- Motorcycles: remove panniers, top boxes and anything that unclips. See motorcycle shipping.
Common questions
Do I need to empty the gas tank?
No. About a quarter tank is the usual guidance: enough to drive the car on and off the truck, without adding unnecessary weight. A nearly empty tank can leave the car stranded if loading takes longer than expected.
Should I wash my car before shipping it?
Yes. The condition report at pickup can only record damage that can be seen. A clean car lets the driver note existing marks accurately, which protects you if new damage appears in transit.
Can someone else hand over the car for me?
Yes. Any adult you name on the order can release the vehicle at pickup and sign the Bill of Lading. Give us their phone number so the driver's call reaches them.