The week before
- Wash the vehicle. Existing scratches and chips are easier to see and record on a clean car.
- Fix what is simple: a weak battery, a slow tire leak, a loose mirror.
- Note any fluid leaks and tell us. A carrier may load a leaking car on the bottom deck.
- Remove toll tags, parking passes, and garage door openers.
- Take off or secure roof racks, bike racks, antennas, and spoilers that are not factory fitted.
- Decide who will meet the driver at each end, and give us their names and numbers.
The day before
- Empty the car. Take out personal items, chargers, child seats, and anything in the trunk.
- Run the fuel down to about a quarter tank.
- Check tire pressure and top up if needed.
- Photograph each side, the front, the back, the roof, the wheels, and the odometer. Use daylight and turn on the time stamp if your camera has one.
- Switch off the alarm, or write down how to silence it.
- Fold in the mirrors and close every window and the sunroof.
At pickup
- Have one working key ready. Keep the spare.
- Walk around the vehicle with the driver and watch the condition being marked on the report.
- Speak up if you disagree with anything written down.
- Tell the driver about quirks: a sticky lock, a low front end, a parking brake that needs a firm pull.
- Sign the report and keep your copy.
At delivery
- Inspect the vehicle before you sign, in daylight if you can.
- Compare it with your photos and the pickup report. Look at the roof, the bumpers, and under the front.
- Write any new damage on the delivery report before signing. That note is what a claim depends on.
- Check that the key, the manuals, and any accessories that traveled with the car are there.
What not to leave in the vehicle
Carriers are licensed to haul vehicles, not household goods. Their insurance generally does not cover anything inside, and extra weight can raise the price. Leave out electronics, documents, medication, firearms, plants, and anything valuable or perishable. The spare tire, the jack, and the owner’s manual can stay.
Notes for particular vehicles
- Electric vehicles. Leave the battery around half charged, and send the charging cable only if it is going with the car.
- Convertibles. Raise and latch the top. Repair or tape any tear so the wind cannot work at it.
- Modified vehicles. Tell us about lift kits, lowered suspension, wide tires, and body kits. They decide where the vehicle can sit on the truck.
- Vehicles that do not run. Make sure they roll, steer, and brake, and that the tires hold air.
- Classics. Write a one-page note for the driver covering the starting routine and anything fragile.