Vehicle shipping checklist

When you book

• Confirm exact pickup and delivery addresses, including any gate codes or access notes
• Confirm the vehicle's year, make, model, and any modifications that change its size
• Declare whether it runs. A non-running vehicle needs different equipment. This is critical
• Choose open or enclosed
• Give a realistic first available date, and be honest about how flexible you can be
• Confirm who will be present at each end, and give us their phone number
• Ask what your quote does and does not include

The week before

• Wash the vehicle. Existing damage has to be visible at inspection. This is critical
• Photograph every panel, all four wheels, the roof, the interior, and the odometer, with timestamps. This is critical
• Arrange for an adult aged 18 or over to be present at both pickup and delivery
• Check for fluid leaks and report any you find
• Book any needed time off, or brief whoever is standing in for you
• If the vehicle has been sitting, start it and make sure the battery holds

The day before and the day of pickup

• Remove all personal belongings from the cabin and trunk. This is critical
• Remove or fold roof racks, bike racks, antennas, and loose exterior accessories
• Fold the mirrors in
• Leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel
• Disable the car alarm
• Remove or bag toll transponders
• Have a working key ready to hand over
• Keep your phone reachable for the driver's call

At pickup

• Walk the entire vehicle with the driver
• Check that every existing scratch, dent, and chip is marked on the condition report
• Read the bill of lading before signing it
• Keep your copy, and photograph it
• Confirm the delivery contact and phone number with the driver

At delivery

• Inspect in daylight if at all possible
• Compare against the pickup condition report, panel by panel
• Check the wheels, the roof, and underneath the bumpers
• Start the vehicle and check that it runs as expected
• If anything is different, write it on the bill of lading before signing
• Photograph any new damage immediately
• Keep your signed copy