Electric Vehicle Shipping
Electric vehicles aren't just heavier cars — they have high-voltage battery systems, regenerative braking that must be disabled before loading, and specific transport mode procedures that vary by manufacturer. We dispatch carriers who know how to handle EVs correctly: transport mode activation, battery state management, weight-aware load planning, and safe handling of vehicles that can weigh 20–30% more than their gas-powered equivalents.
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Tell us the make, model, current battery level, and whether you've located the vehicle's transport mode setting. Teslas, Rivians, Lucids, BMW i-series, Porsche Taycans, and other EVs each have different procedures for disabling regenerative braking and activating tow-safe mode. We'll confirm the procedure for your specific vehicle and ensure it's ready for carrier arrival — because a carrier who can't disengage the parking brake on a Tesla is a carrier who wastes an hour at your driveway.
Not every carrier knows how to handle an EV. We dispatch carriers with documented experience loading and transporting electric vehicles — drivers who understand transport mode, know not to drag a vehicle with active regenerative braking (which can damage the drivetrain), and account for the extra weight in their load planning. For heavier EVs like the Hummer EV, Rivian R1T, or Mercedes EQS SUV, weight affects which trailer positions are safe.
Battery state of charge is documented at pickup and delivery alongside the standard vehicle condition inspection. Full Bill of Lading at both ends. If the vehicle arrives with a significantly lower charge than at pickup (beyond normal vampire drain), it's documented. Your EV arrives in the condition it left, with paperwork that proves it.
What to know before you book.
Most EVs have a transport or tow mode that disables regenerative braking and releases the electronic parking brake for flat-tow or trailer loading. If this mode isn't activated before the vehicle is loaded, moving the wheels while the vehicle is on the trailer can engage regenerative braking and potentially damage the electric drivetrain — a repair that can cost thousands. We confirm the transport mode procedure for your specific make and model before dispatch and ensure both you and the carrier know how to activate it.
Ship with 50–80% state of charge. Too low and the vehicle may not start at delivery or may enter a low-power protection mode. Too high and you're adding unnecessary weight to an already heavy vehicle — EV battery packs weigh 1,000–2,000+ pounds. Every pound matters on a multi-car carrier with federal gross vehicle weight limits. The carrier needs room in their weight budget for your EV, and a full battery versus a half battery can make the difference between your vehicle fitting on the load or getting bumped to the next truck.
EVs weigh 20–30% more than comparable gas vehicles. A Tesla Model X is roughly 5,400 lbs; a Rivian R1T tops 7,100 lbs; a Hummer EV exceeds 9,000 lbs. On a multi-car carrier with a maximum gross vehicle weight, heavier vehicles reduce the total number of vehicles the carrier can haul — which affects pricing. Standard EVs (Model 3, Model Y, Bolt, Ioniq 5) are priced comparably to gas equivalents. Heavier EVs may carry a modest surcharge reflecting their weight impact on the carrier's load economics.
Standard-weight EVs (Tesla Model 3/Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevrolet Bolt, BMW iX) follow standard distance-based pricing with no EV-specific surcharge. Heavier EVs (Tesla Model X, Rivian R1T/R1S, Hummer EV, Mercedes EQS SUV) may carry a modest weight-based surcharge of $50–$150 reflecting their impact on carrier load planning. Open transport cross-country: $1,100–$1,800. Enclosed transport is recommended for higher-value EVs (Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, Rimac) and adds 55–70% to the open rate.
Common questions.
Yes. On Tesla vehicles, Transport Mode is found in the Service menu under the vehicle's touchscreen settings. It disables the parking brake and puts the vehicle in a neutral state suitable for trailer loading. The procedure takes about 30 seconds. Activate it before the carrier arrives — a driver shouldn't be navigating your vehicle's software interface. Other EVs have similar modes under different names (Tow Mode, Flat Bed Mode, Transport Mode) — we'll confirm the specific procedure for your make and model at booking.
50–80% state of charge. This range provides enough power to start and drive the vehicle short distances at delivery while avoiding unnecessary weight from a fully charged pack. Most EVs lose 1–3% charge over a multi-day transit from vampire drain (systems that stay powered even when the vehicle is off), so don't ship at exactly 50%. If your vehicle has a specific transport or storage charge recommendation from the manufacturer, follow that guidance.
We specifically dispatch carriers who have documented EV transport experience — not car haulers who are loading their first Tesla. Our carriers understand transport mode procedures, know the weight implications of EVs on their load planning, handle high-voltage vehicles safely, and don't make rookie mistakes like attempting to tow a vehicle with regenerative braking still active. For newer or less common EVs, we confirm the carrier's familiarity with the specific make before dispatch.
Standard-weight EVs — Model 3, Model Y, Bolt, Ioniq 5, and similar — are priced the same as comparable gas vehicles on the same route. Heavier EVs that meaningfully impact the carrier's weight budget (Hummer EV at 9,000+ lbs, Rivian R1T at 7,100+ lbs, Model X at 5,400+ lbs) may carry a modest surcharge of $50–$150. The surcharge isn't an EV tax — it reflects the carrier's reduced per-load capacity when hauling significantly heavier vehicles.