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How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping: A Pre-Pickup Checklist
What to do in the days before an auto transport pickup: paperwork, photos, personal items, keys, and what to check with the company first.
A week or so before pickup
- Get the pickup window, the total price and the payment terms in writing, including what is due at delivery and in what form (some drivers only accept cash or certified funds).
- Confirm whether the shipment is open or enclosed, and door-to-door or terminal, so you know where to meet the truck.
- Ask how the company handles a damage claim and whose insurance applies. Your own auto insurer can tell you what your policy covers in transit.
- Look up the company's USDOT or MC number on the FMCSA website if you have not already.
Clean it and document it
- Wash the car so existing scratches and dents are easy to see at inspection.
- Take clear, dated photos and a short video of every side, the roof, the wheels, the interior and the odometer. Keep them until well after delivery.
- Note any chips, cracks or prior damage yourself, so you can compare against the driver's inspection report.
Empty it out
- Remove personal belongings. Many carriers do not allow them, and items left in the car are generally not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance. If a company does allow a small amount, get the limit in writing.
- Take out toll tags and parking passes so you are not charged along the route.
- Remove or secure loose accessories such as bike racks, roof boxes and custom antennas.
Get it road-ready
- Ask the company how much fuel to leave in the tank. Many ask for a low level, often around a quarter tank or less, but follow what yours says.
- Make sure the battery is charged, the tires are inflated and the car starts, steers and brakes. Tell the company in advance if it does not run, since inoperable vehicles need different equipment.
- Mention any leaks, alarms or low ground clearance before pickup day.
On pickup day
- Have a set of keys ready for the driver, and keep a spare yourself.
- Walk around the car with the driver and make sure every existing mark is recorded on the Bill of Lading before you sign it.
- Get a copy of the signed Bill of Lading and the driver's contact number.
- Do not pay the full balance up front unless that is what you agreed to in writing.
When it arrives
- Inspect the car in good light before you sign anything, using your own photos to compare.
- Write any new damage on the delivery paperwork, take photos, and report it to the company right away in writing.
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More guides
- Car Shipping Red Flags: A Before, During and After Checklist
- Reading a Car Shipping Quote: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Book
- Who Actually Moves Your Car? Brokers, Carriers and Dispatchers Explained
Reviewed October 2026. This is general information for consumers and is not legal or financial advice.