Quick answer: To prepare a car for shipping, wash it, photograph every side, take out personal items, leave about a quarter tank of fuel, check the battery, tires and brakes, look for leaks, remove or secure loose exterior parts, turn off the alarm, set aside one full set of keys and make sure the truck can reach you. The 10 steps below, and the printable table, cover each one. For what can stay inside, see what you can leave in your car.
Most delays on pickup day come from small things: a dead battery, a missing key, a car alarm, a street the truck cannot fit down or nobody there to sign. This checklist puts every step in order, from a week before pickup to the moment the driver drives away. It works for open and enclosed transport, with extra notes for open carriers, electric cars, convertibles, classics and cars going to Hawaii.
Printable Car Shipping Checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wash the car | Clean the outside so marks are easy to see | 1 to 2 days before pickup |
| 2. Photograph it | Dated photos of every side, the roof, wheels and any existing damage | Day before or morning of pickup |
| 3. Remove personal items | Take out valuables; no more than 100 pounds left, ideally closer to 70 | Day before pickup |
| 4. Set the fuel level | About a quarter tank; a quarter or less for Hawaii | Day before pickup |
| 5. Check battery, tires and brakes | The car must start, roll and stop for loading | A few days before pickup |
| 6. Check for leaks | Fix or report any drip | Night before pickup |
| 7. Remove or secure exterior parts | Racks, antennas, loose trim; fold in mirrors | Day before pickup |
| 8. Turn off the alarm and remove toll tags | Stop the alarm from going off and tolls from charging you | Day before pickup |
| 9. Get your keys ready | One full set for the driver; keep your spare | Morning of pickup |
| 10. Confirm access and contacts | Truck access, address, phone numbers and who will sign | 1 to 2 days before pickup |
Step 1: Wash Your Car
It is not mandatory, but ABC asks for a clean car, because dirt hides scratches and dents. A clean car lets you and the driver agree on its condition quickly and fairly at pickup. Wash and dry it a day or two before, so the paint is clean when the driver inspects it. The car may get dusty on the road, especially on an open trailer, and that is why the condition at pickup matters.
Step 2: Photograph the Car’s Condition
Walk around the car and take clear, well-lit photos of the front, back, both sides and the roof, plus the wheels and bumpers. Take close-ups of any existing scratches, dents or chips, and make sure the date shows. These photos are your own record, separate from the driver’s inspection, and they help if you need to compare the car’s condition at delivery. Our guide to inspecting your car at pickup and delivery lists what to photograph.
Step 3: Remove Personal Items
ABC allows up to 100 pounds of personal items as a courtesy, preferably closer to 70, and it is always the driver’s call whether to accept them. They are not insured, so take out anything valuable: electronics, documents, sunglasses, chargers and cash. More than 100 pounds needs the carrier’s approval and may cost extra. Car haulers work to strict weight limits, and extra weight can also stress the undercarriage during loading. See what you can pack in your car for the full list.
Step 4: Set the Fuel Level
ABC asks for between a quarter and a half tank, and a quarter is best. That is enough to drive the car on and off the trailer without carrying extra weight. If your car is going to Hawaii, or through a port overseas, it must have a quarter tank or less, because ocean carriers will refuse a car with more. For an electric car, about half a charge is a good level, unless your carrier asks for something different; our EV shipping guide explains why.
Step 5: Check the Battery, Tires and Brakes
The driver needs to drive the car onto the trailer and park it in position, so it has to start, roll and stop.
- Battery. If the car has been sitting, start it a few days before pickup. Charge or replace a weak battery.
- Tires. Inflate them to the pressure on the sticker inside the driver’s door.
- Brakes. Make sure the brakes and the parking brake work.
If the car does not start, roll or brake, tell the company before pickup. It can still be shipped, but it needs a carrier with a winch and costs more. See how to ship a non-running car.
Step 6: Check for Leaks
On a two-level trailer, your car may ride above another, so a leak can drip onto the car below. The night before pickup, park on clean pavement or slide a piece of light-colored cardboard under the engine and check it in the morning. If you find a leak, fix it or tell the company before the truck arrives.
Step 7: Remove or Secure Exterior Parts
Anything loose can be damaged, or come off, at highway speed. This matters most on an open carrier.
- Remove roof boxes, bike racks and removable roof rails.
- Fold in the side mirrors.
- Take off or lower the antenna if you can.
- Tighten or remove loose spoilers, trim and aftermarket lights.
- Secure a pickup’s tonneau cover, and close and latch a convertible top.
Tell the company about any non-standard modification, such as a lift kit, lowered suspension or oversized tires, when you ask for a quote, because it can change which truck is sent.
Step 8: Turn Off the Alarm and Remove Toll Tags
ABC asks that all alarms are turned off before transport. A car alarm set off by vibration can sound again and again on the road, distracting the driver and draining your battery. If you cannot switch it off, show the driver how to silence it. Take out toll transponders and parking passes too, so you are not charged for tolls the truck passes through.
Step 9: Get Your Keys Ready
The driver needs one set of keys that works the ignition and unlocks the trunk and glove box. Keep your spare at home, so you are never without a key. If someone else is handing over the car, make sure they have the key in hand at pickup, not “somewhere in the house.” Hand the driver every key the car needs, such as a separate key for a wheel lock or gas cap.
Step 10: Confirm Access, Contacts and Who Will Sign
- Truck access. Car carriers are 75 to 80 feet long, about 9 feet wide and almost 14 feet high. Narrow roads, weight limits, low bridges and overhanging trees can stop one reaching your street. If that is likely, plan to meet the driver at a nearby store or shopping center with a large parking lot. See how door-to-door transport works.
- Gate codes. Give your coordinator any gate code, security contact or HOA office number.
- Who will be there. You, or an adult of 18 or over you name, must be there with photo ID to walk around the car with the driver and sign the bill of lading.
- Your details. Check that the pickup address and phone numbers on file are still right, and give the company a backup contact if your schedule is tight.
Extra Steps for Open Carrier Shipping
Open carriers are the standard way to ship a car and the cheapest, but your car rides exposed to weather, dust and road spray. Our car shipping cost guide compares open and enclosed prices by distance. That makes three of the steps above more important: securing exterior parts (Step 7), checking for leaks (Step 6) and photographing the paint (Step 2). If your car has fresh paint, a ceramic coating or a finish you could not easily repair, consider enclosed auto transport. If you want the top deck of an open trailer, where nothing can drip on your car, ask about top load service.
Special Vehicles
- Electric cars: about half a charge, Sentry-type security features off, and the charging cable taken with you, since it is not insured. See the EV shipping guide.
- Convertibles: top up and latched, and loose items out of the cabin. See how to prepare a convertible.
- Classic and collector cars: do not drain the fluids, and declare the car’s value when you book. See how to ship a classic car.
- Lowered or modified cars: give the ground clearance and modifications when you book. See how to transport lowered or custom cars.
- Cars going to Hawaii: a quarter tank or less, because the ship will not load a car with more.
Car Shipping Timeline for a Move
If you are moving house, fit the car into your moving plan like this:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| A month or more before | Decide open or enclosed transport, get a quote and check the registration rules in your new state |
| 7 to 30 days before pickup | Book; 10 to 20 days ahead of your first available date usually gives the most accurate rate. There is no deposit. |
| Week of pickup | Confirm the pickup window (4 to 5 days, narrowed to 1 to 2 once a carrier is assigned), gate codes and a backup contact |
| Day before pickup | Steps 1 to 8: wash, photos, items out, fuel, leaks, exterior parts, alarm and toll tags |
| Pickup day | Inspect the car with the driver, sign the bill of lading, keep your copy and hand over the keys |
| In transit | Contact ABC 3 days before the first estimated delivery date, or 5 to 7 days after pickup, whichever comes first, for an update |
| Delivery day | Inspect the car against your copy of the bill of lading and your photos before you sign |
| After you arrive | Register the car in your new state within its deadline; Texas, for example, gives new residents 30 days |
For the ways to move a car between states, see our guide to shipping a car to another state.
What Happens on Pickup Day
The carrier’s office or the driver calls to set the time. When the driver arrives, they fill out a bill of lading, which is also the inspection sheet, and note the car’s condition. You walk around the car together and sign to agree with the report, and you keep one copy. The other copies travel with the car, so its condition can be compared at delivery. The driver then drives the car onto the trailer and secures it. At delivery, inspect the car before you sign, and write any new damage on the bill of lading so the driver can acknowledge it, because a claim depends on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wash my car before shipping?
It is not required, but it is a good idea. ABC asks for a clean car, because dirt can hide scratches and dents, and a clean car makes the pickup inspection quick and fair.
How much gas should be in my car when I ship it?
Between a quarter and a half tank, and a quarter is best. For Hawaii or an overseas port, a quarter tank or less, or the ship will refuse the car.
Can I leave things in my car when I ship it?
Up to 100 pounds as a courtesy at ABC, ideally closer to 70, at the driver’s discretion. Personal items are not insured, so remove anything valuable.
Do I need to give the driver a spare key?
No. Give the driver one set that works the ignition, trunk and glove box, and keep your spare.
Do I need to be there when my car is picked up?
You, or an adult of 18 or over you authorize, must be there with photo ID to inspect the car with the driver and sign the bill of lading.
What if my car does not run?
Tell the company before pickup. A car that does not start, roll or brake can still be shipped, but it needs a carrier with a winch and costs more.
What if my car alarm goes off during transport?
Turn the alarm off before pickup. If you cannot, show the driver how to silence it, because a repeating alarm distracts the driver and can drain the battery.
How far ahead should I book car shipping?
Book 7 to 30 days before your first available date. Booking 10 to 20 days ahead usually gives the most accurate rate.
Book Your Car Shipment With ABC Auto Shipping
ABC Auto Shipping is a licensed auto transport broker (USDOT 2340626, MC-797279) with over 20 years of experience and an A+ rating as a BBB Accredited Business. There is no deposit, you pay only once your carrier is secured, and the quote you accept is the price you pay. Get a free quote or call 877-686-5611.
