Car Shipping FAQ
Find clear answers about quotes, pickup planning, delivery, open and enclosed transport, vehicle preparation, and how AutoHaul Direct helps coordinate the shipping process.
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Your Vehicle Shipping Questions Answered
Find answers to common questions about quotes, pickup, delivery, transport options, vehicle preparation, and how AutoHaul Direct helps coordinate the shipping process.
- Before You Ship
- Getting Your Quote
- Transport Options
- Pickup Planning
- During Transport
- Delivery and After
Before You Ship
You’ll need your pickup and delivery locations, the vehicle’s year, make, and model, whether it runs, and your preferred pickup timeline. Sharing accurate details upfront helps us review the right transport option and give you an accurate quote.
Yes. Non-running vehicles can be shipped, but the carrier needs advance notice so the right loading equipment, such as a winch, is available at pickup. Be sure to mention the vehicle’s condition when requesting your quote.
It’s best to remove personal items before pickup. Carriers are licensed to transport vehicles, not personal belongings, and items left inside are not covered by carrier insurance if lost or damaged.
Remove personal items, keep the fuel level low (around a quarter tank), take photos of the vehicle from all angles, check for leaks or mechanical issues, and have keys available for the carrier or your approved contact.
You or an approved contact should be present, or available by phone, at pickup to review the vehicle’s condition and complete the handoff paperwork with the carrier.
Getting Your Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery locations, along with your vehicle details and preferred shipping date, to get a free, no-obligation quote in about 20 seconds.
Cost depends on distance and route, pickup and delivery access, vehicle type and size, transport option (open or enclosed), pickup timing, and carrier availability at the time of booking.
Yes. Open transport is typically 20–40% less expensive than enclosed transport, since open carriers move more vehicles per trip and are more widely available.
Yes. Flexible pickup windows often make scheduling easier and can help with pricing, while rush or fixed-date pickups may cost more depending on carrier availability.
Yes. AutoHaul Direct helps review your vehicle type, value, route, and budget to help you decide between open, enclosed, or specialty transport before you book.
Yes, if carrier rates on your route move before dispatch. We call you first and you approve any change before the vehicle moves.
Transport Options
Open auto transport ships your vehicle on an uncovered, multi-car trailer – the most common, most affordable, and most widely available way to ship a vehicle in the U.S.
Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, protecting it from weather, road debris, and outside exposure. It’s the recommended option for classic, luxury, exotic, and collector vehicles.
Door-to-door auto transport means the carrier picks up and delivers your vehicle as close as safely possible to your requested addresses, rather than a separate terminal or depot.
Expedited transport is a good fit when your vehicle needs to move sooner than a standard shipping window allows – for example, last-minute moves, auction pickup deadlines, or urgent relocation timelines. It typically costs more than standard shipping.
Yes. Motorcycles, RVs, and boats can be shipped, though larger or specialty vehicles may require additional coordination for space, equipment, and carrier availability.
Pickup Planning
In most cases, yes. Most home addresses allow direct carrier access. Homes on narrow streets, in gated communities, or with low-clearance roads may need pickup arranged at a nearby safe location instead.
If a large carrier can’t safely reach your address, AutoHaul Direct will help arrange pickup at a nearby accessible location, such as a large parking lot or a wider road close by.
The carrier inspects and documents your vehicle’s condition, loads it onto the trailer, and secures it for transport. You’ll receive a copy of the condition report before the carrier departs.
Yes, keys need to be available for the carrier or your approved pickup contact so the vehicle can be loaded and, if needed, repositioned on the trailer.
Yes. You can designate an approved contact – such as a family member, friend, or coworker – to be present for pickup and release the vehicle on your behalf.
A Bill of Lading is the transport document used at pickup and delivery to record shipment details and the vehicle’s condition. You and the driver review it during the vehicle inspection.
During Transport
Yes. AutoHaul Direct helps keep the process organized with communication before pickup and updates while your vehicle is in transit, so you know what to expect along the way.
Transit time depends on distance. Short routes (under 500 miles) often take 1–3 days, while cross-country routes can take 5–10 days. Pickup itself is typically scheduled within 1–5 days of booking, depending on route and carrier availability.
Yes. Severe weather along a route can occasionally delay pickup or transit for safety reasons. AutoHaul Direct helps communicate any timing changes as soon as they’re known.
Yes, open transport means your vehicle rides on an uncovered trailer and is exposed to weather and road debris during the trip. This is standard for daily drivers and rarely causes damage, but enclosed transport is available for vehicles that need extra protection.
Yes. Enclosed transport shields your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, protecting it from rain, snow, wind, dust, and road debris that an open carrier does not block.
The carrier has cargo insurance for the vehicle in transit. AutoHaul Direct verifies the carrier’s insurance certificate before dispatch. Personal items are not covered by carrier cargo insurance.
Delivery and After
The carrier delivers your vehicle to the agreed location, and you or your approved contact inspects the vehicle against the pickup condition report before signing off on delivery.
In most cases, yes. AutoHaul Direct coordinates delivery as close to your exact address as safely possible. If a carrier can’t access your specific street, delivery may be arranged at a nearby safe location instead.
Compare the vehicle’s condition to the pickup photos and condition report, checking for any new damage. Confirm all personal items you left behind (if any) are still present, and test that the vehicle starts and runs as expected if it was running at pickup.
Yes. You can designate an approved contact to be present for delivery, inspect the vehicle, and sign off on the handoff on your behalf.
Contact AutoHaul Direct directly and our team will help address any questions or concerns about your completed shipment.