You're handing your car to a stranger, watching it go up on a trailer, and expecting it to arrive hundreds of miles away in the same condition. Wanting to understand the insurance side of that is reasonable. It's one of the two questions we hear most.
The short answer: no, you don't need to buy special insurance to ship your car. If you're working with a reputable company, coverage is already in place. Here's how it actually works and what's worth verifying.
Who's Responsible for the Coverage
Auto transport involves two roles, and the difference matters for insurance.
Carriers own and operate the trucks. They do the loading, driving, and unloading, and they carry the insurance that covers your vehicle in transit.
Brokers — that's us — arrange the move. We vet carriers, match your vehicle to one running your route, and manage the booking. We don't own trucks, which is an advantage for you: we're not limited to one company's routes and equipment.
What that means practically is that the responsibility for confirming coverage sits with us, not with you. Before any carrier moves a Crestline customer's vehicle, they go through a formal pre-qualification process.
What We Require From Every Carrier
Each carrier we dispatch must have:
- Active operating authority with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- Active general and auto liability insurance of at least $1 million, plus motor cargo coverage of at least $100,000.
We verify this before your vehicle is assigned, not after. A carrier whose coverage has lapsed doesn't get dispatched.
If damage occurs during transport, it's generally covered under the carrier's cargo policy, with normal terms like deductibles applying. It's still worth a call to your own insurer to let them know the vehicle is being shipped and to ask what your policy does during transport — most personal policies remain in effect, but confirming takes five minutes.
The Vehicle Condition Report Is What Protects You
Insurance is the backstop. The condition report is the thing that actually determines whether a claim goes anywhere, and it's the part you control.
Every Crestline shipment includes one. It's also why you — or someone you trust — needs to be present at both pickup and delivery.
At pickup: walk the vehicle with the driver. Note every existing chip, scratch, dent, and crack. Nothing is too minor to write down. If it's already there, you want it documented before the car goes on the trailer.
At delivery: walk it again against that same report before you sign. Check the same areas, and look underneath if you can. Signing off means you're confirming the vehicle arrived as described.
A few things that make this easier:
- Wash the car first. You can't document damage you can't see under road grime.
- Photograph it yourself. All four corners, the roof, the wheels, and any existing damage — timestamped. This is your own record alongside the official one.
- Don't rush the delivery inspection. The driver has other stops, but a few minutes now is worth more than a dispute later.
Personal Belongings Aren't Covered
Worth being direct about this one. Cargo insurance covers the vehicle. It does not cover household goods, luggage, electronics, or anything else you leave inside.
Beyond the coverage gap, loading up the car creates real problems. It adds weight that carriers are legally regulated on, it makes the vehicle a more appealing target at stops, and loose items shift around and damage interiors in transit.
A small amount in the trunk is usually acceptable — confirm the limit when you book. Everything else should go in the moving truck or travel with you.
How Often Does Damage Actually Happen?
Rarely. Across the industry, the overwhelming majority of vehicles arrive exactly as they left, and our own track record reflects that.
We're not raising this to make you nervous. Asking about insurance is exactly what you should do when you're vetting a transport company, and any company that gets cagey about their carrier requirements is telling you something. The reason we carry these standards isn't that problems are common — it's that when something unexpected does happen, being prepared for it is the job.
Questions Worth Asking Any Transport Company
Whether you ship with us or not, these are fair questions and you should get straight answers:
- Are you a broker or a carrier?
- What are your minimum insurance requirements for carriers?
- Do you verify coverage is active before dispatch?
- Will I get a written condition report at pickup and delivery?
- What's your MC number?
Vague answers to any of these are worth walking away from.
Still Have Questions?
Our FAQs page covers trailer types, vehicle size and pricing, payment options, and more. If you want a number, a free quote takes about a minute — no phone call required, and no deposit until a carrier is assigned to your vehicle.
You can also see pickup details and transit times for any state we serve, or call us at (800) 994-1208 and we'll walk you through it.