Twenty minutes of preparation makes pickup day smooth and protects you if anything goes wrong in transit.
Fast, secure pricing in 30 seconds.
Wash the vehicle so the inspection is accurate — dirt hides scratches. Photograph it from every side, plus the roof, each wheel and the interior; for a low car, the underside. Remove personal items from the cabin and trunk: the carrier's insurance covers the vehicle, not its contents. Take the toll transponder off the windshield or it will register every gantry across three states. Remove the garage remote and any parking passes. Run the fuel down to about a quarter tank — carriers price by weight. For an EV, charge to roughly half, not full. Find the spare key.
Fold in the mirrors and retract or remove the antenna. Disable the alarm, or be ready to show the driver how. Note any battery cutoff, kill switch or unusual starting procedure. Walk the vehicle with the driver while the condition report (bill of lading) is completed — every existing scratch, chip and dent should be written down. Read it, sign it, keep your copy. Hand over the spare key.
Tell us at the quote stage so a winch-equipped carrier is assigned. The vehicle must roll, steer and brake. Make sure the tires hold air and the parking brake releases.
Tell the driver the ground clearance and ask for a liftgate if the car can't take a ramp. Remove loose trim and car covers. Write down any quirks for the driver. Ask the coordinator about the carrier's per-vehicle insurance limit. Consider enclosed transport.
Partial charge (around 40–60%). Transport or tow mode enabled. Sentry and dashcam recording off so the battery isn't drained. Charging cable in the trunk only if the driver knows it's there. The car will ride on the lower deck because of its weight.
Empty the bed and cargo area — weight is money and tools aren't covered. Measure height if there's a rack or a box on top; a unit too tall for a two-deck trailer needs a single-level truck. Photograph lettering, wraps and equipment mounts. Note hitches, light bars and anything that sticks out.
The receiving party compares the vehicle to the pickup report and the photos before signing — all sides, roof, wheels. Anything new goes on the delivery report in writing; that's what makes a claim possible. Check the odometer and, for an EV, the state of charge. Settle any balance as agreed at booking. Keep the signed delivery report.
Get a free, no-obligation quote in about 30 seconds — or call and talk to a real coordinator.
