You’re going to trust somebody else to put your car on a trailer, and get it safely to another city or state. How do you know that your car will be ok? How do you know if you’re getting a fair price? How does this whole car shipping thing even work?

We totally understand, and we agree you should make informed decisions. Get answers on our FAQs page to all your questions like what kinds of trailers are used, if larger vehicles cost more to ship (spoiler alert: yes), and payment options for shipping and more.

There are two top questions we get asked about shipping cars. First is the obvious one, “How much is it going to cost to ship my car?” and we are committed to explaining our process and answering that question with transparency, and providing FAIR car shipping rates. Also, if you just want to know the number – go ahead and get a free auto transport quote. It literally takes seconds, and we won’t pester you nonstop if you decide you don’t want to ship with us. We don’t hassle people like lead generators; it’s not our style.

Ok the second question we get is: “Do I need special or extra insurance to ship my car?” The short answer is no. You don’t have to have special insurance to ship your car if you’re shipping with a reputable company. As the auto transport company, we are responsible for ensuring our carriers have coverage to physically ship your car. We’ll explain a little bit more if you’re unsure about the difference between carriers and brokers.

Since the auto shippers do the tough part of loading, transporting, and unloading your vehicle, we are pretty choosy about who we work with. Crestline has a formal carrier pre-qualification vetting process. Each of our carriers must have

1. Active Operating Authority by the Federal Motor Carriers Association (FMCSA)
2. Active General and Auto Liability Insurance at a minimum $1MM and Motor Cargo coverage of a minimum $100k

What does all of that mean for you? If there is damage caused during the auto shipping process, it is most likely covered (normal circumstances like paying the deductible first will still apply.) It definitely doesn’t hurt to talk with your personal auto insurance provider and ask them about shipping coverage and notify them that you are going to be shipping your car.

Every single person who transports their car with Crestline will see this Vehicle Condition Report. This condition report is important and is the reason you or a trusted friend must be present when we pick up and deliver your vehicle. You’re going to check over your vehicle when we pick it up and note its condition – any existing paint chips or cracks? Take note.

Then, after transport, your driver will have you go over your vehicle again to make sure the vehicle is in the same condition as when you left it in our hands.

It should be noted that the liability insurance our carriers have does not include coverage for household items left inside the vehicle. Don’t stuff your trunk or pack your car full of stuff! This makes the vehicle heavier and increases the risk of a break-in or potential damage from loose items getting tossed around in the vehicle. We know it’s tempting, but save your boxes or suitcase for the moving truck.

We are definitely not writing this article to scare anyone! Asking about insurance is something you should absolutely do if you’re shipping your car and if you’re doing your due diligence you want to make sure you have a reputable company. We never expect problems and have an excellent track record of protecting vehicles. In reality, less than 1% of vehicles ever are damaged during transport, but we recognize that unexpected events can and do happen, and it’s our job as a responsible company to prepare accordingly.

Any other questions about insurance coverage during auto transport? Just give us a call and let our team help you.