Shipping a car starts before the carrier arrives. A clean inspection, an empty cabin, working keys, and accurate paperwork help prevent delays, loading problems, and disputes about pre-existing damage.
Use this checklist before your vehicle is handed over for open transport, cross country car shipping, or enclosed auto transport.
The goal is simple: make the car easy to identify, safe to load, and accurately documented from pickup through delivery.
Start with the shipment details
Before preparing the vehicle, confirm the basics in your shipment record:
- Pickup and delivery addresses
- Pickup and delivery windows
- Vehicle year, make, model, and VIN
- Operable or inoperable status
- Open or enclosed transport
- Assigned carrier and driver contact details
- Required keys and paperwork
- Special instructions for access, clearance, or loading
An inoperable vehicle needs different equipment. Tell the carrier if the car does not start, steer, roll, or brake. A winch-equipped carrier may be required, and the price can change if the vehicle was booked as operable.
The same applies to modified vehicles. Report lowered suspension, oversized wheels, wide tires, lift kits, non-running conditions, air suspension, or other changes that affect ground clearance.
A carrier cannot plan around information it never receives.
See your transport options
The complete pre-shipping checklist
1. Remove personal items from the car
Remove personal belongings from the cabin, glove box, center console, door pockets, and trunk.
Take out:
- Cash, jewelry, and electronics
- Important documents
- Medication
- Tools and loose equipment
- Sunglasses and chargers
- Registration, title, and insurance documents
- Child seats, unless they are firmly secured
- Items under seats or inside storage compartments
Most carriers are insured to transport the vehicle, not the contents inside it. Personal items may not be covered if they are lost or damaged. Loose objects can also move around during loading and transit.
Some carriers allow a limited amount of property in the trunk, usually below the window line and within a stated weight limit. Do not assume this is allowed. Confirm it before pickup and never leave valuables in the vehicle.
Empty cabin. Empty trunk. No exceptions for valuables.
2. Wash the exterior
Wash the car shortly before pickup.
Dirt, salt, and road film can hide:
- Scratches
- Dents
- Paint chips
- Cracked trim
- Scuffed bumpers
- Wheel or tire damage
- Windshield damage
A clean exterior gives you and the driver a clearer starting point for the condition report. You do not need to detail the vehicle. You need every panel to be visible.
If weather prevents a full wash, wipe down the major panels and photograph the vehicle in the best available light.
3. Photograph the existing condition
Take photos before the carrier arrives. Use daylight whenever possible.
Capture:
- Front, rear, left, and right sides
- Each corner at a closer angle
- Roof and hood
- Bumpers and grille
- Wheels and tires
- Windshield and windows
- Interior, dashboard, and seats
- Trunk and cargo area
- Odometer reading
- Existing scratches, dents, chips, cracks, and stains
Take close-up photos of existing damage and wider photos that show where the damage is located. If useful, include a coin or ruler beside a scratch to show its size.
Write down the date and keep the original files. Do not rely only on compressed social media uploads or screenshots.
Your photos are not a substitute for the carrier inspection. They are your independent reference point. At pickup, compare your record with the digital Bill of Lading and request corrections before signing.
Wide photos show location. Close-ups show condition. Keep both.
4. Check tires and wheels
Set the tire pressure to the manufacturer-recommended level shown on the driver-side door jamb or in the owner’s manual.
Check:
- All four tires
- The spare tire, if accessible
- Tire sidewalls
- Wheel condition
- Lug nuts
- Aftermarket wheel locks
Proper tire pressure helps the carrier load and secure the car. Underinflated or damaged tires can create problems on ramps and during positioning.
If the car has custom wheels, low-profile tires, oversized tires, or wheel spacers, tell the carrier before pickup. They may affect clearance, tie-down placement, or the available transport equipment.
Keep the wheel-lock key with the vehicle keys or provide clear instructions about where it is stored.
5. Leave about one-quarter tank of fuel
Leave approximately one-quarter tank of fuel in the car.
That provides enough fuel for loading, unloading, and short repositioning without adding unnecessary weight. Do not fill the tank immediately before pickup.
Avoid shipping with:
- An empty tank
- A full tank
- Fuel cans inside the vehicle
- Loose flammable materials
Always follow the carrier’s specific fuel requirement if it differs. The vehicle should have enough fuel to operate safely but not more than necessary.
6. Secure the battery and check for leaks
The battery should be charged, firmly mounted, and free from visible damage.
Before pickup:
- Confirm the car starts reliably
- Check that the battery terminals are secure
- Make sure the battery is held in its factory bracket
- Tell the carrier if the battery is weak
- Report jump-start or charging requirements
Check underneath the vehicle for fluid leaks. Look for oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, or fuel.
A minor stain may not prevent transport, but an active or significant leak can create a safety and loading problem. Repair serious leaks before the carrier arrives, or disclose them clearly so the carrier can plan.
Also verify that:
- The parking brake works
- The steering operates normally
- The vehicle can roll
- The transmission can shift into neutral
- The brakes respond
- The hood, trunk, and doors latch
If any of these systems do not work, mark the vehicle as inoperable when requesting a quote.
7. Disable the alarm
Disable the vehicle alarm before pickup.
An alarm that activates during transit can drain the battery, interrupt loading, and create unnecessary delays. If the alarm cannot be fully disabled, give the driver written instructions for turning it off.
Include information about:
- Key fob operation
- Hidden alarm switches
- Immobilizers
- Remote-start systems
- Aftermarket security equipment
- Special starting procedures
Remove or deactivate toll transponders and electronic toll tags. Otherwise, your account may be charged when the carrier passes through a toll point.
Remove parking permits and temporary access passes from the windshield or dashboard unless they are required for pickup access.
Remove or secure exterior accessories
Loose accessories create avoidable damage risks. Remove them before pickup whenever possible.
Roof racks, cargo boxes, and bike carriers
Remove detachable:
- Roof racks
- Ski racks
- Bike racks
- Cargo boxes
- Hitch-mounted carriers
- Kayak mounts
- Temporary cargo baskets
If a component must remain attached, secure it and tell the carrier. Oversized accessories can change the vehicle’s height and prevent it from fitting safely on a carrier.
Spoilers, antennas, and mirrors
Check aftermarket spoilers, splitters, antennas, light bars, and other exterior additions.
- Remove detachable antennas
- Retract power antennas
- Fold side mirrors
- Secure loose trim
- Confirm spoilers have enough clearance
- Report unusual body kits or low front lips
Do not force power-folding mirrors by hand. Use the vehicle’s normal controls, or leave clear instructions for the driver.
Custom wheels and modified vehicles
Tell the carrier if your car has:
- Oversized or custom wheels
- Low-profile tires
- Lowered suspension
- Lifted suspension
- Air suspension
- Wide body panels
- Extended spoilers
- Nonstandard underbody parts
- A roof height above standard specifications
These details affect loading angles and clearance. A quote based on a standard sedan may not apply to a heavily modified vehicle.
Prepare the keys and paperwork
Have the necessary keys ready for the driver.
Provide:
- Ignition key
- Key fob
- Trunk key
- Wheel-lock key
- Spare key if needed
- Keys for locked accessories
- Written starting or operating instructions
Do not hand over every key on your key ring. Separate the vehicle keys from house keys, office keys, and other personal keys.
Keep your own copies of:
- Transport confirmation
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance information
- Lienholder or leaseholder permission, if required
- Photos and damage notes
- Carrier contact information
- Digital Bill of Lading
The driver will inspect the vehicle at pickup. Review the condition report carefully. Make sure existing damage, mileage, fuel level, and special conditions are recorded accurately.
At delivery, inspect the car before signing the final condition section. Compare it with your original photos and the pickup report. If you see a new issue, document it on the Bill of Lading before accepting delivery.
A clean record reduces disagreement later.
Why preparation reduces delays and disputes
Car preparation is not busywork. It gives the shipment a clear operational baseline.
Thorough prep helps the carrier:
- Load the vehicle without searching for loose items
- Use the correct equipment
- Avoid alarm interruptions
- Confirm the car is operable
- Identify clearance risks
- Complete the inspection faster
- Match pickup photos to delivery photos
- Document responsibility if a condition changes
It also gives you evidence. Hidden damage is harder to discuss than photographed damage. An undisclosed modification is harder to solve after the truck arrives. A full trunk creates a preventable coverage question.
Visible preparation creates fewer arguments.
Tank Worldwide puts the inspection into the workflow
Many transport sites show a low number first, then re-quote after collecting your phone number. Some resell your information to multiple brokers. That creates spam calls, unclear pricing, and no reliable answer about who is actually hauling your car.
Tank Worldwide works differently.
The price is itemized before you book
You see the total price, the platform fee, the protection cost, and exactly what the carrier gets paid upfront. The Price Lock Guarantee means the booked price does not turn into a higher re-quote later.
Payment is held in escrow until delivery passes inspection. Funds move after the vehicle’s condition is reviewed and the delivery record is complete.
See an instant price
The carrier is visible before commitment
Tank Worldwide connects you with FMCSA-verified carriers and shows performance information such as:
- On-time percentage
- Cancellation rate
- Claims history
- Response time
- Verified reviews
- Authority and insurance information
The Best Match ranking algorithm compares carrier performance for your shipment instead of simply pushing the lowest bid.
Compare verified carriers
Pickup is tied to the actual vehicle
At pickup, the driver uses VIN verification, a live photo, and geofenced check-in. The VIN must match the booked vehicle, and the location confirms where the handoff occurred.
That workflow helps prevent double-brokering : where the shipment is passed to an unknown party without clear customer visibility.
Condition is recorded twice
Tank Worldwide’s digital Bill of Lading includes photo condition reports at pickup and delivery. It captures the vehicle’s condition, not just a generic delivery confirmation.
You can review:
- Body panels
- Existing damage
- Interior condition
- Odometer
- Pickup evidence
- Delivery evidence
- Timestamped shipment events
Live milestone tracking keeps the shipment record in one place.
Track a shipment
Support knows your shipment
Ask a question at 2 a.m. and 24/7 AI-powered support can reference your actual order, carrier, vehicle, and shipment status. It is run by AI, answerable to humans : not a canned reply detached from your transport details.
No lead resale. No spam calls : ever.
Final checklist before the driver arrives
Use this quick review:
- Vehicle washed or major panels cleaned
- Personal items and valuables removed
- Trunk emptied or approved contents secured
- Alarm disabled
- Toll tag removed or deactivated
- Fuel level near one-quarter tank
- Tires set to recommended PSI
- Battery charged and secured
- Significant leaks repaired or disclosed
- Parking brake and steering checked
- Roof racks, boxes, and bike carriers removed
- Antenna retracted or removed
- Mirrors folded
- Custom wheels and modifications disclosed
- Keys and wheel-lock key prepared
- Pickup and delivery instructions written down
- Exterior, interior, odometer, and existing damage photographed
- Transport documents available
- Time reserved to review the Bill of Lading
Preparation gives you control over the details that matter: what the car looked like, who received it, what the carrier was paid, and whether the price will hold.
Do the checklist. Photograph the condition. Review the record before you sign.