Your regular auto transport questions ... Answered!

Is there a guaranteed pickup date?
When you book with Domestic Auto Transport, we will do our very best to accommodate the dates that you have provided for us. Generally, instead of giving you an exact pickup date, we'll give you a 2-3 day pickup window. This allows some extra time for the truck to get to your house, because as we all know things can happen. Most of the time the truck will be there on the date provided, but things can change. If that's the case, either Domestic Auto Transport or the truck itself will contact you to notify you of any changes.

Do I need to be present when my vehicle is picked up/delivered?
Yes, someone must be present when the vehicle is picked up and delivered. Upon pickup, you and the driver will sign a "bill of lading," which is essentially a contract stating that you're releasing the car to the truck for the purposes of transport. You will also go through a pre-pickup inspection of the vehicle with the driver, noting any pre-existing damages the car may have as well as the overall condition of the vehicle.

If you can't be there, then you must find someone else to sign the bill of lading and inspect the vehicle for you. Please let us know if someone else will be there when the truck comes to pickup the vehicle, so we all know what is happening. There's nothing worse then your car not being able to be picked up because no one knows your friend Jim.

I've heard about door-to-door transport. What is it, exactly?
Door-to-door transport is where the truck will come as close to your house as humanely and legally possible to pickup the vehicle. This is in contrast to terminal-to-terminal shipping, where you are required to drop your car off at a terminal and wait for a truck to come pick it up there. Door-to-door is much safer and more reliable, as the car doesn't leave your sight until it's on the truck. Also, you are present to note any damages that the car may have prior to pickup, as well as sign the bill of lading (as stated above). Terminal-to-terminal is cheaper, but more unsafe, because most terminals are actually just giant fields where you drop your car off and hope someone doesn't shop it up for parts.

Do I need my own insurance for the transport?
No, your personal insurance is not required during transport. Federal law mandates that all trucks carry a minimum $100,000 insurance policy in case of damages to the vehicles they are transporting (which is rare, but it does happen). As long as your vehicle is up on the truck, it is fully insured through the truck's insurance. If you do have insurance on the vehicle, it doesn't matter; your personal insurance will become "secondary" to the truck's insurance.

How long does it take to ship a vehicle?
Well, that depends on the route. Some routes can take as little as three days, while many cross-country trips can take as long as 14 days to be completed. A good rule of thumb is to figure 325 miles per day—so, if your total transport mileage is 3100 miles, it'll take roughly 10 days to get there. Trucks have a lot of stuff they have to do; they have to stop at all weigh stations, can only drive a certain number of hours, etc. But don't worry; when a car is picked up, it will be delivered. We will contact you if anything changes regarding your delivery time or date.

Can I have personal belongings in my vehicle?
No, and there are several reasons behind this. First off, "auto carriers" are not licensed to carry household goods, so right there it's illegal. Second, any items in your vehicle are not insured at all; only the car itself. So, if the cars on the truck were to be broken into, and your stuff stolen, you could not file a claim against the trucking company because they are not insured for that. And lastly—probably the most important—is the fact that trucks have a lot of restrictions put on them, and one big one is weight. If you have boxes of stuff sitting in your car, it could push the weight of the truck over its maximum, causing considerable delays.

With all that said, a generality of the industry is that you can have up to 100 pounds of stuff in the trunk of the vehicle only. The "junk in the trunk" is no fault of the truck driver, as he doesn't inspect it, so it's not his fault. Just remember that it's still not insured, so if anything is damaged or stolen, you must replace it. We recommend not putting anything in the vehicle, anywhere, but if you do, put clothes and pillows in the trunk.

How can I get my vehicle ready for transport?
Well, the main thing is make sure that the inside is clear of all loose change and trash. This is important to note because things can come loose and possibly damage the vehicle. Shells and bed liners of pickup trucks must be bolted down, or else they may fly off. All CB and radio antennas must be retracted/removed, or else they may snap off during transport. Make sure that you have less than a quarter tank of gas in the vehicle; this makes the vehicle lighter and safer for the trucks. If you're shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, make sure that there is less than 1/4 tank of gas, or else you could be slapped with de-fueling costs.

How far in advance should I book my transport?
You should give us plenty of time (i.e. two weeks), or at the very least 3-7 days. This gives us time to find a truck and get your vehicle dispatched. If immediate pickup is required, we can generally have a truck out there in 2-3 days, and if you're located in a major city, same-day pickup can be arranged for an additional fee. Remember, though, that the more time you give us, the more we can get your vehicle to you on time.

Can you ship inoperable vehicles?
Yes! The main thing to remember about shipping an inoperable vehicle is that it must be winched onto the truck, which is $150 more.