Prepare your car for shipping: what to do before pickup

A carrier can only move an operable passenger vehicle safely and on schedule if it is ready when the driver arrives. Most of the preparation is quick, but skipping it can slow down loading, create a coverage gap, or leave you without proof of the car's condition if something is disputed later.

Checklist before the carrier arrives

Item	What to do	Why
Gas tank	Leave it around a quarter full; avoid filling above half	Enough fuel to load and unload without adding unnecessary weight
Personal items	Remove chargers, paperwork, electronics, child seats, and loose interior items	Auto transport coverage is for the vehicle, not items left inside it
Alarm	Disable aftermarket alarms before pickup	Road vibration during transport can trigger a sensitive alarm
Toll transponders and parking passes	Remove or deactivate toll tags; remove parking passes and windshield items	Prevents accidental tolls charged in transit and loss of small items
Fluids and battery	Top off essential fluids, note any minor leaks, confirm the battery is charged	A carrier needs to start and move the car on and off the truck
Existing damage	Take clear, date-stamped photos of all sides, the roof, wheels, and undercarriage where visible	Your own record before the carrier's own inspection at pickup

This list reflects preparation guidance published by FreightWaves Checkpoint, read 2026-09-21. It is not a promise that any specific mechanical issue will be waived; tell us about anything unusual (non-running condition, modified equipment, oversized wheels) before booking so it can be scoped correctly.

Send these details before your pickup window

Have your pickup and delivery addresses, a working phone number, and photos of the vehicle ready when you book. If the vehicle will be parked somewhere with limited access (a gated building, a narrow street, an apartment complex), say so in advance rather than at the door.

What should be ready on pickup day

Have your keys and any wheel-lock key available. Be reachable at the number you gave us during the pickup window. Walk the vehicle with the driver before it loads and again before it unloads at delivery; see insurance, inspection, and damage claims for what that inspection actually records.

What this page does not cover

This is preparation guidance for one operable passenger vehicle moving door-to-door on an open carrier. It does not cover inoperable vehicles, enclosed transport, or vehicles outside standard passenger-car dimensions; those need a person to scope before a price is possible.

Sources and review date

• www.freightwaves.com/checkpoint/prepare-car-for-shipping, accessed September 21, 2026.