Remove Personal Items

Carriers are not liable for personal belongings left in the vehicle. Most carrier insurance policies explicitly exclude loose items. Some carriers will refuse to load a vehicle with visible personal belongings because it creates liability exposure they can't insure against. Remove everything — phone chargers, sunglasses, garage door openers, EZ-Pass transponders, and anything in the trunk. If you must leave items in a closed trunk, understand that you're doing so at your own risk with no insurance coverage.

Document Existing Condition

Take detailed photos of your vehicle from all four corners, both sides, the hood, the roof, and the trunk before the carrier arrives. Include close-ups of any existing damage — scratches, dents, chips, curb rash. Date-stamp the photos or take them with your phone's default camera (which embeds metadata). These photos are your evidence if you need to file a damage claim. Without pre-transport documentation, proving that damage occurred during shipping rather than before is extremely difficult.

Mechanical Preparation

Ensure the vehicle starts, runs, steers, and brakes. Non-running vehicles require special loading equipment and pricing — if your vehicle becomes non-running between booking and pickup, notify your broker immediately. Check tire pressure — underinflated tires can cause loading issues. Ensure the battery is charged. If the vehicle has any fluid leaks, disclose this at booking — carriers need to know for trailer placement and to protect other vehicles on the load.

Fuel Level and Keys

Keep the tank at one-quarter full or less. A full tank adds 100–200 pounds of unnecessary weight and poses a marginal safety risk on the trailer. Provide one set of keys to the driver — they need to start and move the vehicle for loading and unloading. Disable any aftermarket alarm systems that could be triggered by vibration during transit. Retract or remove any antennas, bike racks, spoilers, or removable accessories that extend beyond the vehicle's profile.

At Pickup: The Bill of Lading

When the carrier arrives, you and the driver will conduct a joint vehicle inspection and sign a Bill of Lading (BOL). This document records the vehicle's condition at pickup. Walk around the vehicle with the driver and note every existing mark, scratch, or dent on the BOL. Do not sign a blank or pre-filled BOL without verifying it matches the actual condition of your vehicle. Take photos of the signed BOL. This document is your primary evidence in any damage dispute.