How to ship a car with a household move
- Add the car to the estimate Give the estimator the year, make, model and condition of every vehicle.
- Prepare the car Wash it, remove personal items, leave about a quarter tank of fuel and note the mileage.
- Photograph the car Take dated photos of every side, the roof and the interior.
- Sign the pickup report Walk around with the driver, mark existing damage and keep a copy.
- Inspect at delivery Compare the car with the pickup report before you sign, and note new damage on the paper.
- Register in Nevada Register the car with the Nevada DMV within 30 days of becoming a resident.
People ship a car when the drive is long, the roads are icy, or two drivers cannot both be in the family vehicles on moving day. Auto transport is offered by O'Brien's as part of a move, and the same paperwork habits apply to every car carrier. This guide covers the preparation, the condition report, and the Nevada steps that follow the delivery.
Ask for the car on the estimate
Tell the estimator about every vehicle at the beginning, with the year, make, model and whether the car runs. A car that does not run, a lifted truck or a low sports car needs different equipment, so the details change the plan. Auto transport that travels with your move is described on auto transport with your move.
Get the car on the written estimate along with your household goods. Federal rules for interstate household goods moves in 49 CFR Part 375 require that services be described in writing, and the estimate is where the car, the pickup address and the delivery window appear.
Prepare the car
- Wash the car so scratches and dents are easy to see on the report.
- Remove personal items and anything loose. Carriers set their own rules about what can stay in the vehicle, so ask before you pack the trunk.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel unless your carrier says otherwise.
- Turn off alarms or tell the driver how to disable them, and hand over every key.
- Note the mileage and take dated photos from all sides, the roof and the interior.
The condition report is the key paper
At pickup the driver walks around the car and marks existing damage on a condition report. You sign it, and you keep a copy. At delivery you inspect the car against that same report before you sign. If something is new, note it on the paper right then, before the driver leaves. Photos from the day of pickup back up the report.
The FMCSA publishes rights and responsibilities for people who move, and it explains how to file a claim and how to work with a carrier.
What happens at delivery
Your delivery window comes from your written estimate. Be available at the address, or name a person who can sign for the car. Walk around it in daylight when you can, start it, and check the odometer against your photos.
Register the car in Nevada
New Nevada residents have 30 days to register a vehicle with the Nevada DMV after they establish residency. Most vehicles in Washoe County also need an emissions test before registration. See registering your car in Nevada and Nevada smog checks in Washoe County for the steps, and the Nevada DMV site for the current forms and fees.
When shipping makes sense
A car on a carrier is worth considering for a winter move over the Sierra, for a family with more cars than drivers, or when the car would not survive a long drive. For a short local move, driving the car is simpler. The in-home estimate is a good place to compare the options.