Vehicle Inspection Procedure & Checklist
Auto Transport Vehicle Inspection Procedure and Checklist
Below we provide a step-by-step overview of our auto transport vehicle inspection procedure. Please keep in mind that you can have up to 100 pounds of luggage in the vehicle during transportation. Shippers can place luggage securely in the trunk or underneath the windows in the backseat. You will see mention of the Bill of Lading. For those unfamiliar, a car shipping Bill of Lading or B.O.L. is an official document produced by your carrier to identify the vehicle being shipped and acknowledge receipt.
Step 1
Upon arrival at pickup, your driver will complete a 21-point inspection of the vehicle. The B.O.L should be signed by both the driver and pickup contact. Both parties keep a copy of this document.
Step 2
Upon delivery of the vehicle at the agreed-upon location, the delivery contact and the driver will complete another full inspection of the vehicle. If there is no damage, the final condition report will be signed by both parties. It is a great idea to bring a rag as typical dust and debris from travel may occur. Keep in mind that enclosed shipping options are also available.
Step 3
All damage must be reported on the B.O.L and signed by the driver acknowledging responsibility for the damage. Pictures must then be taken of the damage, attached to the paperwork, and sent to Stars and Stripes for assistance. Keep in mind the claim process is different with every carrier depending on their insurance policy. Insurance companies will not accept claims without the proper paperwork.
Step 4
Make sure that you have a signed copy of the carrier-signed condition report before making the final payment and the driver leaves. Suppose you do not have that copy for any reason. In that case, we ask that you call us immediately to help rectify the situation. Once complete, the vehicle condition report will be reviewed and signed by both parties. We encourage you to take pictures or videos of the vehicle’s condition before departure.
If you have any questions about the inspection procedure or the process, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team looks forward to assisting you!
How to prepare your vehicle for shipping: Car shipping Checklist.
Below we provide a step-by-step overview of the auto transport vehicle inspection procedure. Please keep in mind that you can have up to 100 pounds of luggage in the vehicle during transportation. Shippers can place luggage securely in the trunk or underneath the windows in the backseat. You will see mention of the Bill of Lading. For those unfamiliar, a car shipping Bill of Lading or B.O.L. is an official document produced by your carrier to identify the vehicle being shipped and acknowledge receipt.
- The cleanliness of the vehicle
Vehicles must be clean at the time of pick-up in order to perform a proper inspection and register any already existing damage on the vehicle.
- Ensuring all alarm systems are deactivated/turned off.
Remove or disable the alarm system of the vehicle. Keep in mind drivers may be authorized to stop an activated car alarm system by any means possible.
- A copy of the keys is present for all the locked compartments of the vehicle
Shippers must provide carriers with a copy of keys to the ignition, trunk, and all other locked compartments. Please keep your original set of keys.
- Non-running/inoperable vehicles
All inoperable vehicles must be in a safe location with easy access, inflated tires, operational brakes, and steering. A fully functioning emergency break is an essential requirement when preparing your vehicle for shipment.
- Prohibited objects in the vehicle
Flammable substances, firearms, explosives, narcotics, or any other illegal substances are prohibited in your vehicle during transport under any circumstances.
- Don’t fill your tank.
Your vehicle’s gas tank should be below 1/4 of its capacity to avoid adding extra weight to the shipment. There is no need for a full tank of gas.
- No more than 100 pounds of personal luggage stored in the vehicle.
To avoid extra fees, keep any additional luggage or boxes in the trunk compartment or the back seat under the window level of the vehicle. Ensure not to exceed the permitted 100 lbs. as carriers have weight limits, unanticipated weight in your car could cause problems. You can safely leave your spare tire, emergency kit, jack, hand tools, etc., as they are. Remember, the insurance of your car shipping company won’t cover such possessions
- Prohibited objectsRemovable parts & Modifications in the vehicle
Shippers must take down any non-permanent bike or luggage racks and retract or remove any antennas before the vehicle is loaded onto the truck. Vehicles with dimensions that are not factory stock due to aftermarket modifications will be subject to an increase in the price unless previously noted to our dispatch department.
- Toll tags & Parking passes
Deactivate or remove any automatic toll tags or parking passes accustomed to your vehicle.
USE THIS CHECKLIST TO PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE FOR SHIPMENT:
Please print this and keep for your records to assure that the requirements to ship your vehicle have been satisfied.
You Have Options
There are several different ways you can ship a car. The options include Enclosed transportation, Open carrier transport, Expedited transport, flatbeds, door-to-door shipping, and to or from a terminal as well. The most popular of the options are 7 to 9 car open carriers. These eighteen-wheelers can accommodate almost any size vehicle, including cars, SUVs, trucks, jeeps, and vans.
Door-to-Door open car transport is the best way to get the most affordable auto transport rate possible. To learn more and see what transportation method is most suitable for you, please fill out our free quote form, and one of our agents will reply to you within minutes. You can also call us at (844) 502-6037.
Enclosed
Transport
Keep your vehicle safe from the elements with our 100% enclosed transportation.
Open
Transport
The standard, most affordable option in the industry will get your vehicle to its destination.
Expedited
Transport
When time is of the essence, our premium transport service gets your vehicles to you extra-fast. This often requires carriers to reschedule other pick-ups. Therefore, we offer this service at a premium price.
How Our Auto Shipping Works
The five steps below help ensure the highest level of quality service during the auto shipping process. When you provide our team with the information we need. We take care of the rest.