Quick answer: To ship a race or track-day car, book enclosed auto transport with a lift gate and soft tie-downs, tell the company the car’s ground clearance and any modifications, and work back from the event so the car arrives before the gates open. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel, fix any leaks and keep spares light and strapped down. Personal items up to 100 pounds can ride in the car but are not insured, so carry your helmet and electronics yourself.
Getting a race or track-day car to an event is not the same as shipping a daily driver. A low build with splitters, slicks and a stripped interior needs careful loading and protection, the event date does not move, and the car often travels with a pile of wheels, tools and gear. This guide covers how to ship a track car safely: carrier choice, loading, prep, a pre-event timeline, what to do with spares and tools, insurance, cost and the step-by-step process.
Why Enclosed Transport Is the Standard for Race Cars
For a competition car, enclosed transport is the sensible default. An enclosed trailer keeps fresh paint, wraps, aero parts and undertrays out of the weather and road debris for the whole trip. It also adds security for a valuable build and keeps a proprietary setup out of sight.
Just as important is how the car loads. Race cars sit low, with splitters, diffusers and undertrays only a few inches off the ground. Many enclosed trailers have hydraulic lift gates that raise the car from ground level with no ramp angle, which is the safe way to load a very low car. For a one-off build or a car you cannot risk at all, single-car enclosed means yours is the only vehicle on the trailer. The same careful handling that goes into transporting lowered or custom cars is exactly what a track build needs.
Tie-Down and Loading Done Right
How the car is secured matters as much as the trailer. Soft tie-downs loop around the tires and hold the car without pulling on coilover suspension or marking lightweight wheels, and they are standard on every collector car load ABC coordinates. Chains and hooks that might suit a work truck are the wrong tool for a finished competition car. When you book, tell your coordinator:
- The ground clearance at the front splitter and under the car
- Any aero that adds width or height, such as a wing or canards
- Wheel and tire setup, including whether the car is on slicks
- Whether the car has a working starter, battery and brakes
- Any modifications, so the right trailer and loading equipment are sent
Pre-Event Shipping Timeline
Race weekends run on a fixed schedule, so plan backward from the day the paddock opens.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 or more weeks before | Get an enclosed quote with your car’s clearance and modifications. Ask the track or organizer when trucks can enter the paddock and where they can unload. |
| 2 to 4 weeks before pickup | Book. ABC recommends 7 to 30 days ahead, and earlier for big events, because enclosed trucks are a smaller pool. Book the return trip at the same time. There is no deposit. |
| Week of pickup | Confirm the pickup window (4 to 5 days, narrowed to 1 to 2 once a carrier is secured), the delivery address or paddock contact and gate times. |
| 2 to 3 days before pickup | Prep the car, pack and weigh the spares, and take photos. |
| Pickup day | Walk around the car with the driver, sign the bill of lading and hand over the keys. |
| In transit | Cross-country enclosed shipments usually take 7 to 10 days once loaded, and regional routes 1 to 4 days. |
| Delivery | Aim for at least a day before gates open. Inspect the car before you sign and note any damage on the bill of lading. |
Give your coordinator the event dates when you ask for a quote. ABC coordinates event schedules for race weekends, including paddock pickup and delivery where the track allows it. See the transit time guide for more on how long each distance takes.
How to Prepare Your Race Car for Shipping
A little prep keeps the car safe in transit and speeds up tech inspection when you arrive.
- Fuel. 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.
- Leaks. Check oil, coolant and brake fluid. A drip can damage the car loaded below yours, so fix it or tell the company.
- Battery and brakes. The car should start, steer, roll and stop for loading. If it does not, say so when you book, because it needs a carrier with a winch. See how to ship a non-running car.
- Tires. Set the pressure for transport, not for the track, and note tire condition and heat cycles in your logbook.
- Loose parts. Secure or remove anything that could move, including quick-release steering wheels, mirrors and aero pieces.
- Alarm and kill switch. Turn off any alarm, and show the driver how the kill switch or start sequence works.
- Photos. Take dated photos of every side, the splitter, the underside and any existing marks, so you have a condition record.
Shipping Spares, Wheels and Tools With Your Race Car
Most track cars travel with extra wheels, tools and gear, and this is where many shipments go wrong. ABC allows up to 100 pounds of personal items in the car as a courtesy, preferably closer to 70. It is always the driver’s decision whether to accept them, and anything over 100 pounds needs the carrier’s approval and may cost extra. Personal items are not insured.
- Spare wheels and tires. A set of race wheels and tires can use up the allowance on its own. Weigh what you plan to send, strap it down in the trunk or cabin so it cannot move, and agree it with your coordinator before pickup.
- Tools. Pack hand tools in a closed, labeled box and secure it. Loose tools can damage the interior on a long trip.
- Safety gear. Helmets, head-and-neck restraints, data loggers and cameras are valuable and uninsured in the car, so carry them yourself or ship them separately.
- Fuel and fluids. Fuel cans, race fuel, oil jugs and aerosols are hazardous materials and cannot go in the car.
- Heavy equipment. Jacks, stands and tire warmers add up quickly. If they will not fit within the allowance, send them with your team or by freight.
For the full list of what can and cannot ride in a shipped car, see what you can pack in your car.
Insurance for a Race Car in Transit
Every enclosed carrier in ABC’s network carries cargo and liability insurance, with limits scaled to high-value vehicles. For an expensive build, declare an agreed value when you book, and we match you with a carrier whose policy covers that figure. Two things are not covered: personal items in the car, and damage that is not written on the bill of lading at delivery. Ask your own insurer whether your policy covers the car while it is on a carrier’s truck, because track-use cars are often insured differently from road cars. Our car shipping insurance guide explains what carrier cover includes.
What Does It Cost to Ship a Race Car?
Enclosed transport usually costs 40 to 60% more than open transport. Typical enclosed prices for a running car with flexible dates are about $560 to $1,120 under 500 miles, $980 to $1,760 for 1,000 to 1,500 miles and $1,400 to $2,720 for 2,000 miles and up. Single-car enclosed, a car that does not run and tight event timing all add to that. Demand also rises in summer and around the big collector car auctions in January, March and August. See our car shipping cost guide for more, and ask for a quote with your exact dates.
How to Ship a Track Car: Step by Step
- Get an enclosed quote and give the car’s clearance, modifications and event dates.
- Book 7 to 30 days ahead, or earlier for a big event, and book the return leg too.
- Confirm the paddock or delivery address, gate times and a contact at the track.
- Prep the car: fuel, leaks, battery, brakes, loose parts and photos.
- Weigh and secure any spares within the 100-pound allowance, and carry your safety gear.
- At pickup, inspect the car with the driver and sign the bill of lading.
- At delivery, inspect the car before you sign, note any damage and get to tech.
For multi-day events and car shows, see how to coordinate transport for a multi-day car show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a race car be shipped open or enclosed?
Enclosed, in almost every case. An enclosed trailer protects paint, wraps and aero parts from weather and road debris, adds security and can load a very low car with a lift gate.
How should a race car be tied down for transport?
With soft tie-downs that loop around the tires, not chains or hooks on the suspension or frame. Confirm the method when you book.
Can I ship tools and spare wheels with my race car?
Yes, within limits. ABC allows up to 100 pounds of personal items as a courtesy, at the driver’s discretion, and they are not insured. Strap spares down, keep tools in a closed box, and never pack fuel or other hazardous materials.
How do I prepare my track car for shipping?
Leave about a quarter tank of fuel, fix or report leaks, make sure the car starts, rolls and stops, secure loose parts, turn off the alarm and take dated photos from every angle.
How early should I book transport for a race event?
Book 7 to 30 days before your first available pickup date, and earlier for big events, because enclosed carriers are a smaller pool. Plan delivery for at least a day before the gates open.
Can my car be delivered to the paddock?
Often, if the track allows trucks in. Ask the organizer when and where trucks can unload, and give those details to your coordinator so the delivery is planned around them.
Can you ship a race car that does not run?
Yes. Tell the company when you book, so they send a carrier with a winch. It costs more than a running car, and the extra is shown on your quote.
Get Your Build to the Track
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. We match race and track-day cars with enclosed carriers that use lift gates and soft tie-downs. There is no deposit, and you pay only once your carrier is secured. Get a free enclosed transport quote, tell us the car and the event date, or call 877-686-5611.
