The entire process takes about two weeks from first quote to delivery—here's exactly what happens#

Shipping a car feels opaque until you've done it once. After that, it's routine. The process has a clear sequence: get quotes, book, prepare the vehicle, hand it off at pickup, wait for transit, and inspect at delivery. Each step has specific things you do, things the carrier does, and things that can go wrong if you're not paying attention.

This walkthrough covers the complete sequence in order—not as industry background, but as a practical guide to what you actually do at each stage. Start here if you're shipping a car for the first time and want to know what to expect from beginning to end.

Step 1: Decide on your transport type before getting quotes (5 minutes)#

Before you get a single quote, settle two decisions so you're comparing apples to apples across carriers:

Open or enclosed transport?

Open transport carries your vehicle on a standard two-level carrier alongside seven to nine other vehicles, exposed to weather and road elements. This is how roughly 90% of vehicles ship in the US, including new cars from factory to dealership. It's safe for standard vehicles and costs significantly less than enclosed.

Enclosed transport carries your vehicle in a covered trailer holding two to five vehicles, fully protected from weather and debris. It costs 30–60% more. Reserve it for high-value vehicles (over $75,000), exotics, classics, or any vehicle with show-quality paint where exposure risk genuinely matters.

For most people shipping a daily driver, late-model used car, or standard family vehicle: open transport.

Door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal?

Door-to-door is the default and the right choice for most people. The carrier picks up at your address and delivers to your destination address. Terminal-to-terminal requires dropping off and picking up at carrier terminals, saves $50–$100, and adds significant logistical inconvenience. The savings rarely justify it.

Once you've made these two decisions, every quote you get should be for the same service specification.

Step 2: Get quotes from three to five carriers (30–60 minutes)#

Getting multiple quotes serves two purposes: it tells you what market rate looks like so you can evaluate any individual quote accurately, and it gives you competing options to compare on price, timeline, and carrier reputation.

Where to get quotes:

The major brokers—Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, and uShip—all provide online quotes quickly and have sufficient review history to evaluate. Getting three to five quotes from this group plus one or two smaller direct carriers gives you a realistic spread.

What to have ready when requesting quotes:

Exact pickup ZIP code (not just city)
Exact delivery ZIP code
Vehicle year, make, model, and trim
Whether the vehicle is operable (starts, runs, steers, brakes normally)
Your target pickup date or date range
Transport type (open or enclosed)

What to look for in quotes:

Compare quotes for the same service specification only. A quote for enclosed transport doesn't compare to one for open. A quote with a two-week pickup window isn't the same as one with a two-day guaranteed pickup window.

The cluster of quotes tells you market rate. If four quotes come in between $1,050 and $1,250 and one comes in at $700, the outlier isn't a deal—it's a signal. Carriers on a bidding system won't prioritize a load priced $300–$400 below what the route supports, and the result is delayed pickup or a bait-and-switch when the broker calls back to "adjust" the price.

Book in the middle of the realistic range, not at the floor.

The quote cluster is your price signal—not the lowest number

Getting five quotes for the same route and service gives you something useful: a cluster that represents market rate. An outlier significantly below that cluster almost always means delayed pickup, a price change call before pickup, or a lower-quality carrier assigned to a load nobody else would take at that price. Book in the mid-range of credible quotes.

Step 3: Verify credentials before booking (10 minutes)#

Before paying a deposit to any carrier or broker, run a quick verification check. This takes ten minutes and catches most fraud and incompetent operators before they can cause problems.

FMCSA lookup: Go to fmcsa.dot.gov/company and search by company name or USDOT number. Confirm:

Active operating authority (not revoked, not pending)
Cargo insurance on file
Company name on the record matches who you're booking with
The company has been operating for a meaningful period (months, not weeks)

Review check: Search the company name on Transport Reviews (transportreviews.com), Google, and the BBB. Look for patterns rather than individual reviews—consistent delayed pickups, price changes at booking, or poor claims handling are patterns. A handful of negative reviews among hundreds is noise; repeated complaints about the same specific failure are signal.

Confirm what the quote includes: Before booking, ask specifically:

Is this open or enclosed transport?
Is this a guaranteed price or an estimate that could change at booking?
What is the pickup window (a date range, not just a target date)?
Are you a broker or a direct carrier?

If the quote is an estimate rather than a locked price, ask about price guarantee options. Sherpa's Price Lock Promise guarantees the quoted price won't increase. Montway offers guaranteed pickup dates. Understanding what specific protection each carrier offers helps you choose based on what matters most for your situation.

Step 4: Book and pay your deposit (15 minutes)#

Once you've selected a carrier based on quotes, credentials, and reviews, book and pay the deposit to confirm your shipment.

Standard payment structure: A deposit of $100–$300 at booking, with the balance paid at delivery—either to the driver in cash or certified check, or charged to a card after delivery. Full payment before pickup is not standard and is a red flag when required.

What you receive at booking: A written order confirmation showing the agreed price, pickup window, delivery address, vehicle description, and payment terms. Keep this document. You'll reference it at pickup if any discrepancy arises.

Cancellation terms: Most carriers charge nothing or a small fee for cancellations more than 48–72 hours before the pickup window. Inside that window, cancellation fees of $100–$200 are common because the carrier has planned the route around your vehicle. Understand the policy before booking, especially if your plans have any chance of changing.

Step 5: Prepare your vehicle (1 hour, done the day before pickup)#

Vehicle preparation is what protects you if anything goes wrong. The hour you spend here is the difference between a successful damage claim and a denied one.

Wash the car thoroughly. A clean car allows accurate pre-transport inspection. A dirty car hides existing scratches and chips that get attributed to transport when they're discovered later.

Take 20–30 photos in good daylight. Every panel, all four corners, the roof, all glass, the interior, and a clear odometer reading. Store these in cloud backup so you can access them at delivery—even if that's two weeks later on a different device. These photos are your legal documentation if damage occurs.

Remove all personal items. Carrier cargo insurance covers the vehicle, not its contents. Personal items travel at your complete risk with zero coverage. Remove everything from the cabin. If your carrier permits trunk items (most allow up to 100 pounds below the window line), pack them in secure containers.

Fuel to one-quarter tank. A full tank adds 90–120 pounds. One-quarter is sufficient for loading and unloading throughout the route.

Disable alarm and remove toll transponders. An alarm that triggers during transit is a problem for the carrier. Toll transponders will charge your account at every toll on the carrier's route.

Confirm vehicle starts and runs normally. The driver needs to drive your car onto and off the carrier. A vehicle that won't start, steer, or brake creates a problem at every stop.

Note vehicle quirks in writing. Non-standard starting procedure, sticky door latches, sensitive alarm—note these to give the driver at pickup.

Step 6: The pickup (30–60 minutes on pickup day)#

The pickup inspection is the most consequential moment in the process. Everything you've prepared for is for this moment.

Be present. Don't send someone else unless you have no option. You know your vehicle's condition; they may not. If you can't be there, designate someone who has seen your vehicle recently and give them access to your pre-shipping photos.

The driver's arrival: Drivers typically arrive within the confirmed pickup window, which is usually a 2–4 day range rather than a specific time. The driver will call when en route, typically 1–2 hours before arrival. Stay available on the phone that day.

The pre-transport inspection: The driver walks around the vehicle and documents its condition on the Bill of Lading—noting every existing scratch, chip, dent, and scuff. This walk-around establishes the legal baseline for the vehicle's condition at the start of transport.

Walk with the driver, actively. Don't stand back. Reference your photos. If an existing mark isn't being noted, point it out and ask that it be added. If the driver notes damage that doesn't exist, push back and have it corrected. The Bill of Lading should accurately reflect the vehicle's current condition—both for your protection and the carrier's.

Read the Bill of Lading before signing. Confirm the agreed price matches your booking confirmation, the delivery address is correct, and the condition documented matches what you see. If anything contradicts your booking confirmation, address it before signing—not after.

Get your signed copy before the driver leaves. This is your most important document for the duration of transport. Don't let the driver take the only copy.

The Bill of Lading is your only legal protection—treat it that way

Once you sign the pickup Bill of Lading, the condition documented on it becomes the legal baseline. Damage that wasn't documented as pre-existing can be claimed as transport damage. Damage that was documented as pre-existing cannot. Take the time to get it right before signing—even if the driver is in a hurry.

Step 7: Transit (1–14 days depending on distance)#

Once your vehicle is loaded and the driver leaves, the transit phase is mostly waiting. Here's what's actually happening and what you should do.

What the carrier is doing: The driver is completing a route with multiple pickups and deliveries. Your vehicle is one of eight to ten on the load, and the driver is moving in a sequence that optimizes the overall route, not just your pickup-to-delivery path. A carrier heading from Chicago to Los Angeles may pick up in Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati before heading west—adding days to your individual vehicle's timeline even if the direct drive is faster.

Realistic transit times by distance:

Under 500 miles: 1–3 days
500–1,000 miles: 2–5 days
1,000–1,500 miles: 3–7 days
1,500–2,000 miles: 5–9 days
2,000+ miles (coast-to-coast): 7–14 days

These are realistic ranges, not best-case scenarios. Weather delays, traffic, mechanical issues with the carrier, and route sequencing all affect actual delivery timing. Build a buffer into any plans that depend on a specific delivery date.

Tracking your shipment: Most carriers provide driver contact information so you can check status during transit. Some brokers have tracking portals. Calling the driver once or twice during a long transit for a status update is normal and expected—calling daily is not necessary unless something seems wrong.

What to do if your pickup window passes with no contact: If your pickup window has closed and no driver has made contact, call your broker or carrier directly—by phone, not email. A dispatch issue, a carrier assignment that fell through, or a communication gap can all cause a pickup to slip. Most are resolvable with a phone call. If you're getting no response after 48 hours past your window, escalate to email documentation and consider your cancellation options.

Step 8: Delivery inspection (30 minutes)#

Delivery inspection is the mirror of pickup inspection—equally important, and where many shippers lose protection by rushing.

Be present at delivery. Same logic as pickup: you know your vehicle's condition and have your pre-shipping photos. If you can't be there, designate someone informed.

Do the inspection before signing. This is the single most important instruction in the entire process. Once you sign the delivery Bill of Lading, you've legally confirmed the vehicle arrived in the documented condition. Damage discovered after signing is extremely difficult to claim.

Inspect in daylight. Delivery happens when the driver arrives, which may be at dusk or in a parking structure. If lighting is inadequate, ask to move the vehicle to a better-lit area before signing. A rushed inspection in poor light that misses a new scratch is your loss, not the carrier's.

Work through a systematic walk-around. Compare what you see to your pre-shipping photos: every panel, all four corners, the glass, the underside of the bumpers. Don't rush. The driver may be impatient to move on to the next delivery—that's not your concern.

If you find new damage:

Do not sign the Bill of Lading clean. Note the damage specifically before signing: "4-inch scratch on passenger front door, not present in pre-shipping photos." Be specific about location and size.
Photograph the damage immediately with the driver present.
Notify the carrier in writing within 24 hours—email creates a timestamp.
Get a repair estimate from a body shop before proceeding with repairs.
Do not repair the vehicle until the claim is resolved or the carrier authorizes repair in writing.

Pay the balance due. Confirm the amount matches your booking confirmation and any written communications. If the driver presents a different amount than agreed, reference your booking documentation before paying. If there's a dispute, contact your broker before signing anything that changes the agreed terms.

Step 9: After delivery (if everything went fine)#

If the vehicle arrived in good condition and the price matched, you're done. A few wrap-up steps worth doing:

Note the experience. Carrier name, USDOT number, broker used, booking date, quoted price, actual price, pickup date, delivery date, any issues. This takes five minutes and becomes valuable reference data if you ship again—either confirming a carrier is worth rebooking, or documenting a specific issue for future reference.

Leave a review. Auto transport companies live and die by their review reputation. If your carrier performed well, a review on Transport Reviews or Google takes three minutes and helps other shippers find reliable operators. If something went wrong, a factual, specific review helps others avoid the same problem.

File any outstanding claim promptly. Most carriers require damage claims within 24–48 hours of delivery. If you noted damage at delivery, have your photos, Bill of Lading notation, and body shop estimate together and submitted within that window.

The complete timeline at a glance#

Stage	Who does it	How long
Get 3–5 quotes	You	30–60 minutes
Verify credentials	You	10 minutes
Book and pay deposit	You + carrier	15 minutes
Prepare vehicle	You	1 hour (day before)
Pickup inspection	You + driver	30–60 minutes
Transit	Carrier	1–14 days
Delivery inspection	You + driver	30 minutes
Total elapsed time		~1–2 weeks

What can go wrong at each step—and how to handle it#

Quote phase: A dramatically low quote that attracts you. Handle it by comparing against the cluster and asking specifically why it's lower before committing.

Booking phase: Price change between quote form and booking call. Handle it by asking upfront whether the quote is guaranteed or an estimate, and having a competing quote ready.

Pickup phase: Driver arrives and notes damage that doesn't exist, or misses damage that does. Handle it by walking alongside the driver with your photos and addressing discrepancies before signing.

Transit phase: Pickup window passes with no driver contact. Handle it by calling the broker immediately by phone, not email, and documenting the communication in writing.

Delivery phase: New damage discovered after signing because the inspection was rushed. Handle it by not rushing the inspection—this one's prevention, not recovery.

Post-delivery: Balance due at delivery differs from agreed amount. Handle it by having your booking confirmation on your phone and referencing it before signing.

The two moments that determine everything: pickup inspection and delivery inspection

Every other step in the process is preparation for these two. A thorough pickup inspection with accurate Bill of Lading documentation and 20–30 pre-shipping photos gives you airtight protection for the transit period. A thorough delivery inspection before signing closes the loop. Shippers who do both correctly have complete protection. Shippers who rush either one don't.

Final thoughts#

The car shipping process has nine steps, takes about two weeks from first quote to delivery, and requires about three hours of your active involvement—mostly concentrated at pickup and delivery. The carriers handle everything in between.

What determines whether your experience is smooth or stressful isn't usually the distance, the carrier size, or the route. It's whether you prepared the documentation, did the inspections carefully, and chose a carrier at a realistic price with verified credentials.

Follow the steps in sequence and there's very little that can go wrong that you're not protected against.