We want you to have the simplest, easiest auto transport experience possible. But we know you might have a few questions. Read on for details about purchasing, shipping, checking delivery status, claims, and more.
Please note: This FAQs page provides general information about the services provided by ShipCarsNow. The FAQs shall not be incorporated into the Terms and Conditions of service or considered to be additional contract terms.
Do not pack any household, luggage or personal items in your car. It is illegal for an auto transporter to ship your car if it contains household or personal items because the transporter is not licensed to move household goods. ShipCarsNow will not pick up any vehicle that is loaded with household or personal items.
The auto transport truck and the vehicle being shipped are subject to inspection by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and by state police. You and the auto transport company could be fined up to $10,000 for illegally transporting household goods, or your vehicle could be impounded and you would be responsible for all fines and expenses related to the infraction.
ABSOLUTELY NO firearms, hazardous materials, illegal substances or contraband are allowed in a vehicle during transport.
Not only is it illegal to move household goods in your car, the extra weight could put the auto transport truck over its weight limit, causing transit time delays and additional costs.
Ensure your vehicle is fully operable. The tires, brakes and engine must be in good working order, and the vehicle must be fully drivable with all safety equipment/ appliances functioning properly.
Ensure you only have 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank of gas, and NOT more, in the vehicle when the driver arrives to pick up your car. This minimizes the weight of the car during shipment and provides added safety. Carriers may not accept vehicles with fuel levels at more than this amount.
Deactivate all anti-theft devices.
Lower or remove the antenna and fold in any mirror where applicable.
Pickup truck shells and bed liners need to be securely fastened so they do not come off during transport.
Notify us when placing your order of any specialty items such as spoilers, low-hanging fog lights, luggage racks or running boards that may affect clearances for loading or unloading. We need to be aware of anything that alters or changes the weight or dimensions of your vehicle.
Remove portable interior components such as hands-free car phones, GPS systems, and stereo face plates.
Repair or seal convertible tops with tears or open seams to prevent weather exposure from causing additional damage.
Check the fluid levels. Ensure the radiator has sufficient and fresh anti-freeze to protect your vehicle from colder temperatures. Battery fluid levels should be low enough to accommodate expansion.
Ensure that the battery is fully charged and secured in its mounting bracket to avoid delays or additional charges for jump starting a dead battery.
Ensure your tires are properly inflated to avoid shipment delays and additional charges due to a flat tire.
Yes, you or a designated representative must be present when the auto transporter arrives for pickup and delivery of your vehicle. If you are not available at the time of pick-up or delivery, please let us know who you are designating as your representative. This person must be of legal age and have a valid driver's license. The driver will verify identification and ask for the driver's licence before they pick-up or deliver your car.
Both you and the driver are required to perform a vehicle inspection at the time of pick-up and delivery, which ascertains the condition of your vehicle in the event of a damage claim.
If you or your designated representative is not present to take personal delivery of the vehicle, ShipCarsNow will take your car to a storage location to await re-delivery. Additional storage costs will be at your expense and are not included in the quoted price.
Your vehicle will be picked up and delivered as close as possible to the addresses specified in your order.
Some local government regulations prohibit the auto transport trucks from driving directly to your residence. Narrow residential streets could also restrict the trucker's ability to maneuver or load/unload your vehicle safely.
If we cannot directly access a specific location, ShipCarsNow will contact you to select a convenient site nearby that contains adequate space for the pick up or delivery, such as a church parking lot or shopping mall.
ShipCarsNow makes every effort to provide you with accurate estimates for your vehicle delivery. We have high standards for estimated transit time accuracy and we work very hard to meet those goals. Quoted pick-up and delivery dates and times, as well as transport times, are estimates based on our experience and historical averages and are not service guarantees.
As a general guideline, here are some general auto transport time frames (more specific time frames estimates will be provided with quote):
East Coast to West Coast: 7-14 business days
Midwest to West Coast: 5-8 business days
North to South: 5-8 business days
While our auto transport experts make every effort to ensure timely and safe delivery of your vehicle, delivery can sometimes be impacted by the following factors:
Distance and route
Pick-up and Delivery location in remote or rural areas
Road conditions and road type (e.g. 1 lane highways vs 2 lane highways, gravel, paved)
Weather Conditions
Auto transporter schedules, space availability, and current market demand for auto transport
The two main types of auto transport available to ship cars in the U.S. are truck transport and rail transport. As part of Union Pacific Railroad, ShipCarsNow has the unique ability to ship your car on both truck and rail, depending on your price, location, and timing needs.
Rail transport always provides the added benefit of providing fully enclosed transport. Most truck transport is with open carriers; enclosed truck carriers are more specialized and more expensive.
Your vehicle will need to be driven on and off the auto transport truck or rail car.
In the rare situation where additional driving might be necessary for location access reasons, ShipCarsNow or its agent will contact you for authorization.
The cost to ship a car is determined by several factors, including a vehicle's weight and dimensions.
Vehicle like trucks and SUV's are larger and heavier than most passenger cars. This limits the number of vehicles that can be legally loaded on an auto transport truck or rail car, which in turn, affects the overall economics of the shipment.
Shipping a car by train is more economical than shipping by direct truck because a rail car can carry a bigger load than a truck. Trains also are four times more fuel efficient than trucks. Learn more about a more Environmentally Friendly way to Ship.
Our first priority is the safe delivery of your vehicle and adhering to high quality standards that protect your vehicle from damage.
ShipCarsNow has established processes to ensure reputable and insured car haulers handle your vehicle. Please refer to the ShipCarsNow Terms and Conditions.
In the unlikely event that transportation damage does occur, the motor carrier, railroad, or drive-away service contracted by ShipCarsNow is responsible for any damage caused in the handling of your vehicle, subject to certain limitations. We will work with you to investigate and resolve your claim in a timely manner.
All licensed car haulers are required by Federal law and ShipCarsNow to maintain cargo damage liability insurance; however their insurance coverage may be subject to certain maximum liability limitations.
ShipCarsNow requires motor carriers to provide proof of insurance issued by a licensed insurance provider. Limits of insurance must be equal to the greater of the replacement cost of the freight being transported or $250,000 for any one occurrence in addition to cargo insurance required by applicable State or Federal laws and must cover all risk of loss and damage to property of other in the Contractor's care, custody and control.
The liability coverage of railroad carriers utilized by ShipCarsNow will vary based on each such carrier's public tariffs or private documents as applicable.
If you have insurance coverage for your car, it becomes "secondary" to the auto transporter's insurance. Check with your auto insurance company to understand their liability rules, limitations and notification guidelines.
Personal or household items are NOT covered by any auto transporter's insurance, as it is illegal to ship personal or household items in your vehicle.DO NOT PUT ANY PERSONAL ITEMS IN YOUR VEHICLE.
It is your responsibility to perform a pre- and post-transport vehicle inspection with the driver at the time of pickup and delivery to document any damage that may have occurred during the move.
A claim cannot be processed if damages are not documented at the time of delivery and if the driver's signature is not on the Vehicle Inspection Report.
In the unlikely event that transit damage occurs, the person receiving the vehicle should immediately and thoroughly inspect the vehicle and note any damage that may be transportation related on the inspection report/Proof-of-Delivery receipt presented by the car hauler before signing the receipt. This process ensures that the car hauler acknowledges the damage.
ShipCarsNow must be notified within one business day of the discovered transportation damage and we will file a claim with the responsible car hauler on your behalf. Please send all the information you have regarding a claim to claims@shipcarsnow.com or fax to 402-271-3565.
It is very important that both the driver and the receiver of the vehicle acknowledge any suspected transportation damage on the Proof of Delivery receipt; otherwise it can be very difficult to prove the damage is a result of transportation when there is no record of any damage noted at the time of delivery.
With adequate proof of transportation related damage, ShipCarsNow will seek to promptly resolve your claim and in a equitable manner to recover compensation from the carrier or carriers involved.
Sign In
Back to top 
