Getting Started – Before You Ship
Our Car Shipping Process
1
Request a Quote
Request a quote online or by phone. We’ll need the pickup and delivery locations, your vehicle’s year/make/model, and your preferred shipping timeframe.
2
Book Your Shipment
Once you’re ready to proceed, we’ll confirm your order, review the available service options, and reserve space for your vehicle by truck, rail, or a combination of both, depending on the route.
3
Prepare Your Vehicle
Before pickup or drop-off, remove personal belongings unless approved, make sure the vehicle is accessible, and leave the required keys. If your vehicle is not running, let us know in advance so we can confirm if we are able to accommodate your shipment or that the proper equipment can be arranged.
4
Pickup / Terminal Drop-Off
Depending on the service selected, you’ll either drop the vehicle at a terminal or we’ll arrange pickup from your residence, business, or another accessible location. A vehicle condition report is completed at the time of handoff. You may not receive a paper copy as many condition reports are digital.
5
In Transit
Your vehicle travels by transport truck, rail, or both. Transit times vary by route, service type, weather, and carrier schedules. You’ll receive email updates when tracking information is updated.
6
Delivery / Terminal Pickup
At the destination, you or an authorized person will inspect the vehicle, review the condition report, and sign off before taking possession. Depending on your service, the vehicle will either be picked up at the terminal or delivered to the arranged address.
How Far In Advance Should I Book?
We recommend booking one to two weeks before your preferred shipping date. This gives us time to arrange space around your target drop-off or pickup window, especially during busy seasons.
You can book further in advance, but please note that rates may change if your shipment is booked more than 14 days before your vehicle actually ships. This is especially true when booking several weeks or months ahead, as carrier, rail, fuel, and route costs can change before the shipment date.
- Aim for about 1–2 weeks before your preferred ship date.
- Quoted rates can change when your booking is farther out than shipment timing allows.
Once you receive your terminal address and hours, you’re welcome to drop off your vehicle. However, the next available shipments may already be full, so your vehicle could remain at the terminal for a week or more before being loaded.
Storage fees usually do not apply at our main terminals, but it’s best to check with us before dropping off. Some smaller-city terminals are operated by third-party towing companies and may charge a small daily storage fee.
How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipping?
Before pickup or terminal drop-off, please make sure your vehicle is ready for safe loading, inspection, and transport:
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Clean the vehicle inside and out. A clean exterior makes it easier to complete the condition report and note any pre-existing damage.
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Leave at least 1/4 tank of fuel. This is enough for loading and unloading. If you booked door pickup or delivery and the vehicle will be driven by a professional driver to/from the terminal, please leave enough fuel for that added distance.
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Check that the vehicle is operational. The foot brake and parking brake must work properly, the tires should be in good condition and properly inflated, and the battery should be fully charged.
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Top up required fluids. Make sure the vehicle has sufficient coolant, transmission fluid, and other necessary fluids for the route and weather conditions. Do not get your vehicle undercoated before transport and the vehicle must not have any fluid leaks.
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Prepare for winter conditions when applicable. During winter, winter tires are strongly recommended because snow and ice can make loading and unloading more difficult.
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Provide the required keys. We need one working set of keys, including the fob if the vehicle requires one to start.
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Disable alarms and provide special instructions. Let us know about alarms, immobilizers, alcohol interlocks, push-button starts, fob-only ignition, special start codes, low ground clearance, lifted suspension, modifications, or anything else that may affect loading.
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Remove exterior accessories where possible. Non-permanent or aftermarket roof racks, bike racks, ski racks, luggage carriers, and aftermarket antennas should be removed before transport.
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Remove personal items and valuables. Unless your shipping representative has approved items in advance, personal belongings must be removed. Approved items are shipped at your own risk and are not covered by carrier insurance.
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Remove restricted items. Flammable or explosive materials are not permitted in or on the vehicle.
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Consider removing your licence plate. Carrier insurance may not cover loss or damage to licence plates or accessories, so we recommend removing the plate and placing it inside the vehicle, out of sight.
Carrier insurance applies to the vehicle during transit, subject to the terms and conditions of the shipment. Personal items, valuables, licence plates, and accessories may not be covered, so we recommend keeping your own auto insurance active until the shipment is complete.
How can I prevent my electric vehicle’s battery from draining during transport?
Some battery loss is normal while an electric vehicle is being transported, especially on longer trips or in extreme hot or cold weather. To keep your EV’s charge as high as possible from drop-off to delivery, please follow these steps.
- Charge to as close to 100% as possible. EVs must have a minimum of 75% charge at drop-off, but we recommend 90–100% to give your vehicle the best buffer for the journey.
- Activate Transport Mode or Tow Mode if your vehicle has it. On Tesla, this is typically found under Controls > Service > Towing > Transport Mode.
- Turn off battery-draining features, including:
- Sentry Mode
- Cabin Overheat Protection
- Dog Mode and Camp Mode
- Keep Climate On
- Scheduled preconditioning
- Scheduled charging
- Any active or pending software updates
- Unplug aftermarket accessories that draw power while parked — dashcams, OBD-II devices, third-party trackers, and similar add-ons.
- Leave the vehicle unlocked so our team can access it during loading and unloading.
- Disable walk-away lock and auto-lock to prevent the vehicle from re-locking itself between handlings.
- Leave the physical key card, key fob, or other required access device inside the vehicle as instructed.
- Don’t open or check your vehicle’s mobile app. Opening the app wakes the vehicle and accelerates battery drain — even a quick check can cost meaningful range.
- Avoid remote commands such as climate control, flashing lights, horn, or location checks. Each one powers up vehicle systems unnecessarily.
Following these steps gives your EV the best chance of arriving with as much charge as possible.
What documents do I need? Do I need to leave anything in the vehicle?
For most shipments within Canada, you do not need to provide or leave any vehicle paperwork. Registration, insurance slips, ownership documents, and other paperwork are not required for standard vehicle shipping.
What we do need is your vehicle’s VIN — the Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN is the unique code used to identify your vehicle. It can usually be found on your registration, insurance documents, or on the vehicle itself, typically on the dashboard near the windshield or inside the driver’s-side door jamb. Newer vehicles usually have a 17-character VIN, while some older vehicles may have a shorter one.
You may choose to leave documents such as registration or insurance in the glovebox for use at the destination, but this is optional and done at your discretion. We recommend not leaving original documents, valuables, or unnecessary personal items in the vehicle.
The only items that should be left with the vehicle are those needed to move or operate it:
If your shipment involves a dealership, auction, port, remote location, or cross-border move, additional paperwork may be required. We’ll let you know in advance if anything else is needed.
Do I need to give you my keys?
Yes. We need at least one working key or fob so the vehicle can be driven on and off transport trucks, rail cars, and moved safely within terminals during loading and unloading.
The key or fob you provide must be able to start the vehicle, unlock it, and release the steering wheel or parking lock if applicable. If your vehicle uses push-button start, keyless entry, or a fob-only ignition, please make sure the fob battery is working.
Please let us know in advance if the vehicle has any special operating instructions, including:
- Push-button or fob-only start
- Immobilizer, alarm, keypad, or start code
- Alcohol interlock device
- Hidden battery switch or kill switch
- Manual transmission
- Low battery or charging issue
- Wheel-lock key requirement
- Any unusual start, shift, or parking brake procedure
We recommend giving us a spare key whenever possible and keeping your main key with you. The key will travel with the vehicle or remain with the terminal/carrier as needed so the vehicle can be moved throughout the shipping process.
Can I leave personal items inside my vehicle?
Personal items are not allowed inside the vehicle unless we give you permission in advance. This applies whether your vehicle is shipping by truck, rail, or a combination of both.
The only items generally allowed are vehicle-related items, provided they are properly secured and do not interfere with inspection, loading, unloading, or safe operation of the vehicle. Any approved items must also follow the placement rules below.
- Tires or winter tires
- Properly secured child car seats
- Jumper cables
- Basic factory tools
- Owner’s manual
- First-aid or emergency kit
- Ice scraper or snow brush
- Spare tire and tire-changing tools
- Car cover or front-end bra
- Must not block any windows
- Must not be placed on or behind the driver’s seat, including the floor behind the driver’s seat
- Must not be placed on the front passenger seat
- Must not be packed above the bottom of the windows in SUVs, hatchbacks, wagons, or other open-trunk vehicles
- Must never be placed in the bed of a pickup truck
Items left in the vehicle are shipped at your own risk and are not covered by carrier insurance. If you’re unsure whether something can stay in the vehicle, please ask your shipping representative before drop-off or pickup.
Do you ship non-running or inoperable vehicles?
In most cases, no. Our standard open transport service is designed for vehicles that can be safely started, driven, steered, and braked under their own power. Most open transport trailers do not have winches, so vehicles that cannot drive onto the trailer generally cannot be loaded.
We may be able to accommodate a non-running vehicle by enclosed trailer for an additional fee, depending on the route and carrier availability. To qualify, the vehicle must still:
- Roll freely
- Steer properly
- Have working brakes
- Have inflated tires
- Be accessible for loading
- Have keys available
- Be free of locked wheels or seized components
Please tell us the vehicle’s condition at the time of quoting. This includes dead batteries, flat tires, brake issues, missing keys, accident damage, low ground clearance, locked steering, or anything else that may affect loading or unloading.
How should I document my vehicle’s condition before shipping?
Photos are one of the best ways to document your vehicle’s condition before transport. Please take your photos when the vehicle is last in your possession — at terminal drop-off, door pickup, dealership release, or when meeting the truck driver.
We strongly recommend taking at least 24 high-resolution photos of the vehicle’s exterior. Walk around the vehicle in a clockwise direction, starting at the front, and capture every major surface, including:
- Front and rear bumpers, including low-angle photos
- Passenger side and driver side panels and doors
- Front and rear quarter panels
- Hood, roof, trunk, and windshield areas
- Wheels and tires
- Close-ups of any existing scratches, dents, chips, rust, or other damage
Use your phone or camera’s highest-quality setting. Photos should be at least 3000 × 2000 pixels where possible, taken from no more than about six feet away, and sent in their original size. Do not crop, compress, resize, or reduce the file size.
Interior and odometer photos are also recommended for your own records, especially if there are any existing interior marks or concerns.
Please upload your photos through your tracking page using the “Upload Photos” button, or follow the instructions provided by your shipping representative.