Things to do before shipping a car across the country

I am shipping my car from California to Alabama. I have already booked a broker and now waiting for the broker to find a carrier for me.

After doing some research I found out that I should take pictures of my car in front of a driver before handing my car keys to him.
I believe he will be asking me to sign on Bill of Lading. So, should I ask for the copy of Bill Lading?
Should I make sure that no damages on my car are noted on the bill of lading?
What should I do if my car comes very dirty at the destination and after the car wash I figure out that there are some damages?
If I see the damages at the time of delivery, can I deny to accept my car and avoid signing anywhere if the carrier doesn't agree?

automobiles shipping

Best Answer

The shipper will provide you with a copy of the bill of lading and they should also go over the details of it with you if you have questions. You will have to sign off to indicate you've received the vehicle as agreed, but you should make sure you review the condition of the vehicle first.

My understanding is that any damages need to be reported at the time of delivery, which is why it's important to take photos beforehand and check the condition on arrival. It's been a few years since I've used a shipper, but that's what I remember being told (A-1 Auto Transport is who I used & they were good about explaining this stuff.)

There's a good chance that your car will arrive rather dirty, especially if it's shipped on an open trailer. California to Alabama is no small trip so you have to realize that even if you ship it enclosed, there's likely to be quite a bit of dust from all the miles. Damages are fairly infrequent to my knowledge, but you're covering the right bases.