So you’ve decided to ship your car to another state. Maybe you’re relocating for a new job, heading to a seasonal home, or you just bought a vehicle online and need it delivered. Whatever the reason, you’ve made a smart call — especially if the move involves more than 500 miles. When you factor in fuel, hotels, meals, and wear and tear on the odometer, driving it yourself often ends up costing more than shipping it professionally.
But here’s the part most people don’t plan for: how you prepare your car before pickup matters just as much as which company you choose.
A poorly prepared vehicle can result in delays, disputes over pre-existing damage, or even a carrier refusing to load it. I’ve seen people skip the prep entirely and spend weeks trying to sort out a damage claim that could have been avoided in under an hour.
This guide walks you through everything — the practical steps, the things people overlook, and the details that will make your car shipping experience genuinely stress-free.
Why Preparation Matters More Than You Think
Before we get into the checklist, it’s worth understanding what you’re actually protecting yourself against.
When your car is picked up, the driver does a walk-around inspection and documents the vehicle’s condition on a form called the Bill of Lading (BOL). This is the legal record of your car’s state at pickup. When it’s delivered, you compare the car’s condition against that same document. Any damage that wasn’t on the BOL at pickup is the carrier’s responsibility.
If you haven’t cleaned your car, existing scratches, dings, and chips will be harder to spot — and won’t make it onto the BOL. If you haven’t photographed everything beforehand, you’ll have a harder time proving a claim later. And if you’ve left personal items inside? Most carriers won’t cover those, and some won’t even accept the vehicle.
Preparation is your insurance policy. It takes about an hour and can save you weeks of headaches.
Step 1: Clean Your Car — Inside and Out
This one sounds obvious but gets skipped more often than you’d think. A clean car makes it dramatically easier to identify existing damage during the pre-transport inspection.
Wash the exterior thoroughly so that every scratch, chip, dent, and scuff is clearly visible. Pay special attention to the bumpers, doors, hood, and roof — the areas most likely to pick up dings in everyday life.
Clean the interior too. Not for aesthetic reasons, but because a clean interior makes it clear that no personal items have been left behind (more on that below) and helps you spot any existing issues with upholstery, trim, or glass.
Pro tip: Don’t wax the car before shipping. A fresh wax can actually obscure minor surface imperfections that you want on the record before the vehicle leaves your hands.
Step 2: Document Everything with Photos and Video
Before you hand over your keys, do a full 360-degree walk-around with your phone and photograph every angle of the car — front, back, both sides, roof, undercarriage if you can access it, and all four corners.
Get close-up shots of:
- Any existing scratches, dents, or paint chips
- Windshield cracks or chips
- Rim damage or tire wear
- Interior condition including upholstery, dashboard, and screens
Don’t just take photos — record a short video too. Walking around the car while narrating what you see creates a timestamped, hard-to-dispute record of the vehicle’s condition.
Store everything in the cloud (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox) so it’s accessible from anywhere when your car arrives at the destination.
Step 3: Remove All Personal Items
This is non-negotiable. Remove everything from the car — the gym bag in the trunk, the phone charger in the cupholder, the sunglasses in the visor, all of it.
There are two reasons for this. First, most auto transport companies explicitly state that they are not liable for personal items left inside the vehicle during transit. If something goes missing or gets damaged, you have no recourse. Second, some carriers will refuse to load a vehicle that has personal belongings inside — which could mean a last-minute delay on pickup day.
The one exception is the spare tyre and standard tools that came with the car; those can stay.
Also remove: EZ-Pass transponders, toll tags, and parking permits. These can get triggered during transit, racking up charges on routes you’re not driving.
Step 4: Check for Fluid Leaks
Walk under your car and look for any signs of oil, coolant, brake fluid, or transmission fluid leaks. If you see fresh stains on your driveway or garage floor, get those checked and fixed before your pickup date.
Many auto carriers will refuse to transport a vehicle with an active fluid leak. The reason is practical — a leaking car can drip onto other vehicles on the same trailer and cause damage. If a carrier shows up and notices a leak, they may decline the pickup entirely, leaving you scrambling at the last minute.
If you know about an existing minor leak, disclose it to the transport company when booking so there are no surprises.
Step 5: Keep the Gas Tank at About a Quarter Full
Fill your tank no more than a quarter of the way before pickup. Here’s why: a full tank of gas adds significant weight to the vehicle. Auto carriers charge based on vehicle weight, and extra fuel weight can technically affect your quote — but more practically, carriers prefer lighter loads for safety reasons when loading and unloading from multi-level trailers.
A quarter tank is enough for the driver to manoeuvre the car on and off the transport truck and for you to get to the nearest gas station once it’s delivered.
Step 6: Check Tire Pressure and Battery Charge
Make sure all four tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. During transit, especially on multi-level open carriers, vehicles shift and settle. Properly inflated tires handle that movement better and reduce the risk of flat spots from sitting stationary for extended periods.
Check that your car battery is fully charged and the terminals are clean and secure. A dead battery at pickup or delivery creates complications for the driver trying to load and unload the car — and could result in fees or delays.
If your car has been sitting for a while and you’re not sure about the battery, get it tested at any auto parts store before your pickup date.
Step 7: Check the Emergency Brake and Take Note of Any Warning Lights
Carriers use the emergency (parking) brake to secure your vehicle on the transport truck. Test it beforehand to make sure it’s working properly.
If you have any active dashboard warning lights — check engine, oil pressure, low coolant, or anything else — note them and let the carrier know. Some warning lights could indicate an issue that affects transport safety. At a minimum, you want to document that the light was already on before shipping so it can’t be attributed to transit damage.
Step 8: Secure or Remove Exterior Accessories
If your car has any aftermarket or removable exterior accessories — roof racks, bike mounts, cargo boxes, ski racks, spoilers, or antenna extensions — remove them before pickup.
These items are vulnerable to road debris, wind, and the tight loading conditions on multi-vehicle carriers. Even if they’re not damaged, they can make your car incompatible with certain carrier configurations, potentially causing a mismatch with the company you booked.
Retractable antennas should be fully lowered. Fold in your side mirrors if they’re power-folding. These small adjustments reduce the risk of contact with other vehicles or the carrier structure during transit.
Step 9: Disable the Alarm System
This one gets overlooked constantly. If your car has an aftermarket alarm or a sensitive factory alarm, disable it or set it to a mode that won’t trigger during transit.
Your car will be loaded, driven across multiple states, and unloaded at the destination. Temperatures shift. The trailer vibrates. If your alarm triggers mid-transit and the driver can’t shut it off, it becomes everyone’s problem. Worst case, it drains your battery completely before delivery.
If you’re not sure how to disable the alarm, check your owner’s manual or speak with your dealership before the pickup date.
Step 10: Arrange a Spare Set of Keys
Provide the transport company with one set of working keys. Keep the other set with you.
This is both a security measure and a practical one — if something happens to one set during transit, you’re not locked out of your own car at delivery. Make sure any key you hand over works for both the ignition and the trunk.
Step 11: Do a Final Inspection at Pickup — and Again at Delivery
When the driver arrives to pick up your car, go through the Bill of Lading with them carefully. Walk around the vehicle together and confirm that every existing scratch, dent, and imperfection is documented. Don’t rush this step, even if the driver seems pressed for time.
Sign the BOL only when you’re satisfied it accurately reflects your car’s condition.
At delivery, repeat the same walk-around before signing anything. Compare the car’s condition to your photos and to the BOL. If you notice any new damage, note it on the delivery BOL before signing and contact the carrier immediately to start a claim.
Open vs. Enclosed Transport: Which Should You Choose?
While you’re preparing your car, it’s worth thinking about which transport method makes the most sense for your vehicle.
Open transport is by far the most common option — roughly 95% of cars shipped in the US go this way. Your vehicle rides on an open multi-car trailer, exposed to the elements but protected by the carrier’s insurance. In 2026, open transport typically costs between $500 and $1,350 depending on distance, and it’s more than adequate for most standard vehicles.
Enclosed transport places your car in a covered trailer, shielding it from road debris, weather, and dust. It costs 30–60% more than open transport, but for luxury vehicles, classics, exotics, or any car where protecting the finish is a priority, the added cost is worth it.
For most people shipping a family sedan, SUV, or daily driver, open transport is the right choice. If you’re shipping something irreplaceable or high-value, go enclosed.
What to Expect on Costs
Just to set expectations: in 2026, the average cost to ship a car to another state runs roughly $650 to $1,800 for open transport, depending on distance. Shorter regional moves (under 500 miles) land toward the lower end of that range, while cross-country routes can push toward the upper end.
A few things that affect your final quote:
- Distance — longer routes cost more overall, but less per mile
- Vehicle size — larger SUVs and trucks cost more than sedans
- Time of year — summer is peak season and typically runs 15–25% higher
- Pickup flexibility — a flexible 3–5 day pickup window can save 10–20% over requesting a specific date
- Open vs. enclosed — enclosed adds 30–60% to your base quote
Getting quotes from multiple carriers is always the right move. Don’t automatically go with the cheapest — check their FMCSA license, USDOT number, and reviews before committing.
Quick Pre-Shipping Checklist
Before the carrier arrives, run through this:
- Car washed inside and out
- Full photo/video documentation from all angles
- All personal items removed
- No active fluid leaks
- Gas tank at quarter full or less
- Tires properly inflated
- Battery fully charged
- Emergency brake tested and working
- Dashboard warning lights noted and disclosed
- Roof racks, antennas, and accessories removed or secured
- Alarm disabled or set to non-trigger mode
- Spare key set ready to hand over
- Bill of Lading reviewed and signed accurately
Final Thoughts
Shipping a car to another state doesn’t have to be stressful. The process is well-established, and the vast majority of vehicles arrive at their destination in the same condition they left. The key is setting yourself up properly on the front end — documenting everything, communicating clearly with your carrier, and not skipping the prep steps because you’re busy with everything else a move involves.
An hour of preparation before pickup is worth far more than weeks of trying to resolve a dispute after delivery.
If you’re navigating international vehicle shipping or need guidance on maritime transport logistics, the team at Compass Maritime is here to help. We’ve helped clients move vehicles across borders and oceans — and we know that every successful shipment starts with the right preparation.
