Customer Reviews

How to Ship a Car: Step By Step Guide

RoadRunner makes shipping your car as easy as 1-2-3!

Start
Finish

Step 1

Instant Car Shipping Quote

Begin by getting an instant quote from our online car shipping cost calculator, or by speaking with a car shipping specialist at (888) 777-2123.

Secure Online Shipment Reservation

Schedule a convenient time for pickup via our secure online booking form or by phone with a shipping agent.

how it works step one
how it works step two

Step 2

Vehicle Pick Up

Your shipment will be assigned to the carrier that can best accommodate your route and timeframe. On the day of pickup, your vehicle will be safely loaded and will begin heading to the destination.

Online Shipment Tracking

Track the status of your shipment and get priority support from a live shipping agent with our online transport tracker.

Step 3

Vehicle Delivery

Upon arrival at the destination, your vehicle will be safely offloaded. A final inspection is completed and the driver hands over the keys.

That's it! That's all there is to it!

Join the hundreds of thousands of customers that trusted RoadRunner Auto Transport with the safe delivery of their vehicles.

how it works step three

"Save time looking and just call Roadrunner Auto Transport - they truly helped make my move easier!"

Trish A.

Miami, FL

5 stars
google reviews

"This is our 3rd time shipping with RoadRunner and we've had nothing but good experiences - Thank you RoadRunner!"

Charles K.

San Antonio, TX

5 stars
shopper approved reviews

"Out of all the car shipping companies we spoke with, RoadRunner was the most professional and knowledgable."

Corey L.

Boston, MA

5 stars
transport reviews

"My car arrived in mint condition. The service was great and the personnel very courteous. Great job guys!"

Victor B.

Fresno, CA

5 stars
better business bureau reviews
ready to ship

Ready to Get Started?

Calculate your instant car shipping cost and view carrier availability in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle transportation process.


We will need the address for the locations that your vehicle will be picked up from and delivered to, along with the name and phone number of the contact person at each location. We will also need the date that your vehicle will be ready and the year, make, and model of the vehicle(s) that will be transported.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

Yes, however any vehicle with clearance lower than 4 inches will likely need to be shipped on an enclosed trailer with a lift gate. Low-clearance vehicles simply cannot be driven onto an open trailer because the car would risk bottoming out while being loaded onto the carrier.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter, local car moving. There is a broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed car shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed vehicle transportation guarantees maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since carrier availability is limited. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. To calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly to your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.