Booking and transit times
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Vehicle?
It depends on the distance between your pickup and delivery locations. Most vehicles arrive within 1 to 7 days. Road closures, bad weather, and heavy traffic can extend that, and we’ll tell you as soon as anything changes.
How Many Days in Advance Do You Need to Book a Shipping Service?
Two days to two weeks ahead is the sweet spot. That gives us time to match you with the right carrier and get you the best rate. Need it sooner? Call us and we’ll tell you what’s realistic for your route.
Carriers, delivery and payment
What Kind of Carriers Does USA Auto Transport Offer?
Open and enclosed. Open trailers are the most common and the cheaper of the two, which is what most cars ship on. Enclosed trailers are for rare and luxury vehicles you’d rather not expose to road debris and weather.
Does USA Auto Transport Offer Door to Door Shipping Service?
Yes. Our crew collects from your address and delivers to your address at the other end, so you don’t have to go anywhere. We also run terminal-to-terminal shipping if you’d rather drop off and collect from one of our stations.
Does Someone Have to Be Present for a Pick-up and Vehicle Delivery?
For door-to-door, yes. Someone has to be there at both ends to accept the vehicle, hand over a spare set of keys, and sign the inspection report. If you can’t make it, a friend or relative can sign on your behalf, just let us know who to expect.
When Do You Need to Pay for Shipping?
Payment is due before your vehicle ships. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cash, and cashier’s check. All payments are fully refundable up until the vehicle ships.
Preparing your vehicle
How Should You Prepare Your Car for Shipping?
Whether you’re shipping in-state or cross-country, the car needs prepping first. Wash it, because a clean car makes existing scratches and dents easy to document at inspection, which protects you if there’s ever a claim. Photograph it from every angle, clear out personal items, fold in or remove anything that sticks out like roof racks and spoilers, and switch the alarm off. If it leaks anything, tell us before pickup.
How Much Gas Should You Leave in the Tank?
Between an eighth and half a tank. You don’t want it full, since fuel is weight, but there needs to be enough to drive the car on and off the trailer.
Can You Put Stuff in a Car When You Ship It?
Up to 100 lbs, and it all has to go in the trunk. Nothing in the passenger cabin.
Eligibility, licensing and insurance
Does Our Auto Transport Company Ship Inoperable Vehicles?
Yes, for an additional fee. The car still needs to roll, brake, and steer: inflated tires, a working emergency brake, and a steering wheel that turns. Tell us upfront if it doesn’t run, because it needs a carrier with a winch and that affects the quote.
Is Our Car Shipping Company Licensed and Insured?
Yes. USA Auto Transport holds a US DOT number, an ICC MC number, and a Cal T number. Our coverage runs up to $100,000 on open trailers and up to $500,000 on enclosed. Give us a call if you want the details of the policy.
Still have questions?
What Should You Do if You Have Any More Questions?
Call us at 323-524-0031 and we’ll answer anything we’ve missed. Ask for a free quote while you’re on the phone.
