Car Delivery From State To State - How It’s Done?

In 2022, approximately 8.2 million people moved between states, as per the US Census Bureau. At least 1 vehicle was present in 91.7% of US households in 2022. One major concern in this relocation was the safe delivery of the cars from state to state. This question remains relevant for people relocating today.

If you are also stressed out about a hassle-free transportation process and wondering how it’s done, we have got you covered with everything you need to know. Keep Reading!

Car Delivery From State To State - How Can You Do This?

Delivering a car from one state to another isn’t a one-click process. It involves multiple steps listed below.

Scrutiny of Carrier

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER System) where you can check a carrier’s safety record, accident history, and operating status.

Additionally, confirm that your finalized carrier has an MC number that authorizes it to operate across the state. Moreover, consider looking through the BBB profile, which will give you an insight into the complaint history and the company’s reputation.

FMCSA requires carriers to keep proof of insurance. You can also ask for it to cross-check if the carrier can make up for losses or not.

Booking a Shipment

Book the carrier once you are done checking the carrier’s legitimacy.

Prepare Your Vehicle for the Transportation Process

• Ensure the car has no issues such as a dead engine, sensitive alarms, or deflated tyres. Fix all the leaks.
• Clean out the car and remove all the personal belongings
• Capture photos from all sides, including the close-ups revealing dents or scratches
• The gas tank shouldn’t be filled more than ¼ of its capacity
• Turn off the alarms as they can be problematic during transit.
• Remove any detachable parts that can break off during the transportation process

Pickup Process

You will have to hand over your car at the pickup point to the carrier, along with signing the Bill of Lading.

Transit 

During the transit process, you can track your car as some carriers do offer GPS tracking. Your carrier might switch routes owing to bad weather or traffic delays.

Delivery

Finally, inspect the car for any damage at the point of delivery. If any damage is detected, mention it in the Bill of Lading prior to signing, as it is crucial for the insurance claim.

Shipping Vehicles & Various Modes of Shipping

Legal Restrictions Impacting Time & Price

Hours of Service Rules

This rule is part of federal safety regulations that limit the number of hours a driver can drive and when they must take breaks. The driver cannot drive more than 14 consecutive hours after reporting to duty.  This is important because it can impact how quickly your car reaches the destination. Your auto may arrive longer than you expect owing to this.

Oversized Vehicles

Acquiring permits from the federal government for oversized vehicles is restricted. The complexities in this process can incur additional costs and lead to delays.

Out of Service Vehicles

FMCSA outlines a mechanism for moving out-of-service vehicles. It can be moved by placing it completely on top of another vehicle, or it can be towed with the help of a vehicle equipped with a hoist/crane. These procedures add significantly to the shipping cost.

How to Choose the Car Transportation Company?

While choosing car movers to move your car from one state to another, consider the following measures.

• Go for authorized companies having MC numbers and registration proof
• They should have specialization & experience in the transportation of the particular car you are moving
• Load ratio transparency (Ensure they run lean loads)
• They have insurance coverage and a damage resolution process
• Fair pricing with no hidden fees

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you report the problems related to vehicle transport from state to state?

If car transporters operating from state to state violate state laws, you can report them to the National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) maintained by the FMCSA.

Can you ship motorcycles to another state?

Yes, you can ship motorcycles to another state via an auto transport company.