How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping
Before the carrier arrives, take a few minutes to prepare your car and confirm the pickup details. This guide explains what to check, what to remove, and what to have ready so the driver can inspect and load the vehicle.
Whether you are moving, buying a car online, or sending a vehicle to a family member, accurate information matters. Let Onyx Auto Transport know if the vehicle’s condition or your pickup arrangements have changed since booking.
Start with these car shipping preparation essentials
Confirm vehicle details
Clear loose items
Prepare keys
Document condition
Auto transport preparation requirements
Report condition & modifications
Review the year, make, model, running condition, and any modifications in your booking. Tell Onyx about lowered suspension, lifted vehicles, oversized tires, or a change in condition before pickup. Loading requirements and carrier acceptance can change when the vehicle details change.
Secure accessories
Remove non-permanent exterior racks and secure or remove loose parts, fragile accessories, and low-hanging components. Let our team know about accessories or modifications that could affect the vehicle’s height, clearance, or loading.
Keep fuel low
For a gasoline or diesel vehicle, keep the tank at one-quarter or less, with enough fuel for loading and unloading. You do not need a full tank for the trip because your vehicle is carried on the truck. EVs require separate charging guidance.
Prepare alarm instructions
Disarm the alarm or provide clear instructions for turning it off. Explain any unusual starting procedure, security code, or key-fob requirement so the driver can operate the vehicle when loading and unloading.
Arrange the handoff
Be available at pickup and delivery, or designate a representative over 18. Confirm contact numbers and give the receiving person the shipment details. Allow time to inspect the car and review the paperwork with the driver.
Check access
Tell us about gated entrances, narrow streets, low branches, steep driveways, or parking restrictions. If a large transport truck cannot safely reach the address, coordinate a suitable nearby meeting point with the carrier.
Personal belongings: know the limits
Packing allowance
One bag or suitcase up to 100 lb, in the trunk or storage area. Notify Onyx and the carrier before loading.
Your responsibility
Items travel at your own risk; carriers may reject unsafe or unlawful belongings. Remove valuables.
Items you must not pack
- Weapons & ammunition
- Explosives
- Flammable products
- Live pets & plants
- Alcohol
- Illegal goods
Record your vehicle’s condition
At pickup
Take clear photos of the exterior, wheels, glass, and existing marks before the car is loaded. Walk around the vehicle with the driver, check that existing damage is recorded on the inspection report or Bill of Lading, and keep a copy.
Review our car shipping insurance coverage guide for coverage details and the steps to follow if you notice new damage at delivery.
At delivery
Inspect the vehicle again with the driver before signing the delivery report. Compare its condition with your pickup photos, record any new damage on the paperwork, and keep the signed report and photos. Contact Onyx promptly if you need help with shipment documents.
Keep your booking confirmation, pickup photos, and inspection paperwork together. If another person is receiving the car, share the information they need to review its condition at delivery.
Useful car shipping preparation tips
Clean the exterior
A reasonably clean exterior makes existing scratches, dents, and marks easier to see during inspection. Take photos in good light when possible; include close-ups of any damage already present.
Prepare the keys
Have the keys and fobs needed to start, unlock, and operate the vehicle ready for the driver. Include any required trunk or fuel-cap key and explain special instructions. Keep a spare set with you if available.
Remove toll tags
Remove or deactivate toll transponders such as E-ZPass to help avoid unwanted charges. Take out garage-door remotes, valuables, important documents, and loose electronics before handing over the vehicle.
Report vehicle issues
Check for visible leaks, flat tires, a weak battery, or problems with steering or brakes. Tell Onyx about any issue that may affect safe loading or unloading. If the vehicle is not operable, discuss the handling plan before pickup.
Electric vehicle guidance
Tell our team that your vehicle is electric. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and confirm the assigned carrier’s charging and loading requirements. Explain transport-mode or access instructions if applicable; do not apply the fuel-tank limit to battery charge.
Shipping a non-running or auction vehicle?
Call before booking or pickup. Explain whether the vehicle rolls, steers, and brakes, whether keys are available, and what release paperwork the auction requires. Inoperable vehicles may need special loading or unloading equipment. If equipment is needed at delivery, arranging it is the customer’s responsibility.
Your vehicle shipping checklist
How to prepare your car for shipping: common questions
Our Terms of Service allow one bag or suitcase weighing no more than 100 lb in the trunk or storage area. Notify Onyx and the carrier before loading. Items travel at your own risk; the carrier may refuse unsafe or unlawful belongings. Remove valuables and prohibited items.
Tell us before pickup and whenever its condition changes. Explain whether it rolls, steers, and brakes, and whether keys are available. Non-running vehicles may need different equipment or handling, which can affect pricing and carrier arrangements.
Tell our team that your vehicle is electric and confirm the assigned carrier’s charging and loading instructions. The one-quarter-tank requirement applies to fuel-powered vehicles, not an EV battery charge percentage.
The carrier may arrange a nearby meeting point that is safe and accessible for the transport truck. Discuss narrow streets, access restrictions, low branches, or other obstacles with our team before pickup.
For fuel-powered vehicles, keep the tank at one-quarter or less, with enough fuel for loading and unloading. Electric vehicles have separate charging requirements; confirm those with the carrier.
Provide the keys and fobs needed to unlock, start, and operate the car, including any required trunk or fuel-cap key. Explain alarm and special starting instructions, and keep a spare set with you if available.
Take clear photos before loading and inspect the vehicle with the driver. Make sure existing damage is recorded on the inspection report or Bill of Lading, and retain a copy for delivery.
If you selected the Discounted Cash Price, confirm the balance and accepted method before the car arrives. Cash or cashier’s check are options; some drivers accept Venmo or Zelle. The carrier does not accept credit or debit cards at delivery. With One-Time Full Payment, no transport balance remains due once the full payment has been processed. Review payment options.
Prepare for Delivery as Well as Pickup
Confirm who will receive the car and how the driver can reach that person. If a balance is due at delivery, verify the amount and accepted payment method before the vehicle arrives.
For the Discounted Cash Price, the remaining balance is paid to the carrier. Cash or cashier’s check are options, and some drivers accept Venmo or Zelle. Credit and debit cards are not accepted by the carrier at delivery. With One-Time Full Payment, no transport balance remains due once the full payment has been processed.