Can You Ship Your Car with Stuff Inside It?

The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the mileage of your relocation, additional factor is the kind and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car. When determining your car shipping price, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (818) 732-1805 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. To calculate your quote we will need to know the address you are shipping from and to, the kind of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based largely on the mileage between the pickup and delivery address. Normally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time – so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our projected transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

After booking, keep your confirmation and shipment details available when requesting an update. Contact your transport coordinator for pickup, transit, or delivery information and ask which updates are available for your shipment. If your confirmation includes a tracking link, use that link directly. Our online tracking support page provides phone and email contact options; it does not display a live vehicle location or accept booking numbers for a status lookup.

You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking procedure. If you have further inquiries regarding insurance options give us a call. All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit.

We accept all primary credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, offer keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (818) 732-1805 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the address you are shipping from and to, the kind of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available to accommodate shipments that require faster pickup. You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping specialists what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport. The further in advance you arrange your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire.

Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery address is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at an address nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store. The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly to your door.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. Most shipments are made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter, local car relocating. There is a broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed car shipping methods whenever shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed vehicle transportation guarantees maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since carrier availability is limited. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

NIKI Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles including sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn’t add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very key document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is whenever your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment. Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly key because this will assist the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. Whenever inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inoperable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accommodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed transport services options. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the kind of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed transport services are used when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a standard eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low-hanging trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at an address nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby. Door-to-door car transport is the full-service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup address to the door at the delivery address. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery addresses, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to reach your door safely.