Frequently Asked Questions

Car Transport Connection is a professional auto transport service that helps you transport your vehicle safely and efficiently across the country. We connect you with vetted, insured carriers to ensure your vehicle's safe transportation.

Our platform provides:

• Nationwide coverage for all vehicle types
• Door-to-door service for maximum convenience
• Real-time shipment tracking
• Fully insured transportation for peace of mind

Our vehicle shipping process follows these key steps:

• Step 1: We provide you with a quote through our instant calculator or via email. This is a well-researched estimation based on market conditions, not a guarantee.
• Step 2: You'll pay a flat fee of $100 to book your transport. The final rate usually falls within $100 of the projected rate.
• Step 3: We secure the best possible rate while ensuring your vehicle is transported on a high-quality truck.
• Step 4: Once we find a suitable carrier, we'll assign them to your order pending your final authorization.
• Step 5: Upon your approval, we dispatch a licensed and insured auto hauling company. The carrier will typically contact you 12-24 hours before pickup.
• Step 6: At pickup, the carrier will complete a condition report (Bill of Lading) with photos documenting your vehicle's current state.
• Step 7: Upon delivery, inspect your vehicle for any issues not initially documented, and contact us if there are concerns.

The cost of shipping a vehicle depends on several factors:

• Distance: Longer distances generally cost more overall but less per mile
• Vehicle type: Larger or heavier vehicles cost more to ship
• Transport type: Open transport is more economical while enclosed offers more protection
• Pickup and delivery locations: Rural areas may incur additional fees
• Time of year: Seasonal fluctuations can affect pricing
• Current fuel prices: Higher fuel costs may be reflected in transport rates

For an accurate quote tailored to your specific needs, please use our quote form on the homepage.

Yes, larger vehicles generally cost more to transport. While smaller crossover and midsize SUVs typically don't significantly impact pricing, larger vehicles like full-sized SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans can cost up to 25% more compared to smaller vehicles.

The reasons for this increased cost include:

• Larger vehicles occupy the space of two smaller vehicles on a trailer or may not fit on a standard car hauler due to their height or length
• They add substantial weight, which reduces the capacity of the truck and can affect overall load distribution
• Loading and securing larger vehicles require more care and attention due to their size and weight

Transit times vary based on distance and other factors:

• 100-500 miles: 1-2 days
• 501-1000 miles: 2-5 days
• 1001-1500 miles: 3-6 days
• 1500-2000 miles: 4-7 days
• 2000-2500 miles: 5-8 days
• 2500+ miles: 6-9 days

These timeframes assume an uneventful journey. Actual delivery times can be affected by:

• Multiple stops and pickups
• Rural locations distant from major highways
• Electronic logbook hour restrictions
• Weather conditions
• Traffic and road conditions
• Truck or trailer repairs
• Unforeseen circumstances

Open Transport

Open transport carriers are the most common and economical option:

• Vehicles are transported on an open-air carrier, exposed to weather and road elements
• Typically 15-30% less expensive than enclosed transport
• Carriers can transport 7-10 vehicles at once, making it cost-effective
• Ideal for standard everyday vehicles

Enclosed Transport

Enclosed transport offers premium protection:

• Vehicles are completely protected from weather and road debris
• Additional insurance coverage is typically included
• Often features hydraulic lift gates for safer loading of low clearance vehicles
• Recommended for luxury, classic, exotic, or high-value vehicles

If you need to transport items inside your vehicle, you must inform us and communicate with the carrier as well. In most cases, an additional weight of 100-200 pounds is acceptable, but it must be cleared with us and the carrier. A small additional fee of $100-$200 may apply.

For safety and compliance:

• Items must be located beneath the window line
• No items can be positioned in the front passenger or driver areas
• Personal items inside the car are NOT covered by the carrier's cargo insurance policy

The carrier's insurance only covers the vehicle itself, not personal belongings. Take necessary precautions to protect your items during transportation.

To ensure a smooth transport process, please follow these preparation steps:

• Clean your vehicle inside and out to make damage inspection easier
• Document any existing damage with photos and notes
• Remove all personal belongings (most insurance policies don't cover these items)
• Leave only about 1/4 tank of gas (reduces weight but provides enough fuel for loading/unloading)
• Disable car alarms or provide instructions for deactivation
• Check for and fix any fluid leaks
• Remove or secure loose parts and custom accessories
• Give a spare set of keys to the transport driver

We cannot provide an absolute 100% guaranteed rate until a specific trucking company is assigned to handle your order. However, once your order is assigned to a carrier and you have signed off on the final trucking rate, that rate becomes fully locked in and guaranteed.

Our estimates are based on current market trends and live data. The ranges and estimates we offer, including those from our calculator, are "best estimates" of the final trucking rate. Typically, the final rate falls within a $100 range of the calculator's estimate.

Rest assured that you will never be subjected to paying a rate you did not previously agree to. If we identify any significant deviation from the estimate, we will promptly contact you within 24 hours to update you on the pricing.

Once we receive a favorable proposal from a reputable trucking company, we will promptly communicate this offer to you. Typically, these offers (the trucking rate) tend to fall within $50-150 of the rate initially provided by our calculator or transportation agent.

We commit to achieving a final figure within $150 of the eventual rate, or we offer a refund if you opt to cancel at that point. You will know the conclusive sums for your transportation before dispatch, and it is mandatory for you to endorse these figures before we dispatch your vehicle.

The ultimate amount payable will align with a rate you have explicitly approved. There will never be an instance where you're obligated to pay a rate you haven't consented to. However, it's essential to acknowledge some flexibility in transport pricing due to real-time market dynamics based on supply and demand.

When booking an order, the initial payment is typically a fixed amount of $100, made at the time of booking using your card or PayPal. Following successful booking, you'll receive an order confirmation email with a transaction number, and PayPal will send a payment acknowledgment.

After this initial fee, there's usually no further payment obligation until your vehicle reaches its destination. Upon delivery, accepted payment methods include:

• Cash
• Cashier's check
• Zelle
• Cash App

Credit cards are not accepted for direct payment of the trucking rate upon delivery. If you prefer to pay the final trucking rate via card, this transaction must take place immediately after your vehicle is loaded for transport, and you must select the card payment option during your initial online booking. Card payments typically incur an additional fee of approximately 4.49%.

Yes, all vehicles transported through our service are fully insured while in transit. Every carrier in our network is required to maintain valid insurance coverage that protects your vehicle against damage that might occur during the transportation process.

All carriers selected to operate on our platform have undergone thorough verification to ensure they possess valid and active insurance policies and are registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). For commercial auto carriers, it is a requirement to have a minimum of 1 million dollars in liability coverage, and all carriers on our platform must maintain a minimum of 100 thousand dollars in cargo coverage.

We are happy to provide you with the specific insurance documents for your selected carrier after dispatching your vehicle for shipment. For additional information, you can also visit FMCSA.gov, where you can access safety records and current insurance documents for any carrier.

In the unlikely event of damage during transportation, we advise working directly with the trucking company to promptly address and rectify the issue. Many trucking companies prefer to resolve such matters quickly, often to avoid insurance claims on their record.

If the situation is too extensive to resolve through direct communication, you'll need to initiate a claim against the carrier's cargo insurance policy. We can assist you in obtaining the necessary documentation, or you can access current insurance documents for the carrier via FMCSA.GOV Company Snapshot.

Be cautious of brokers who claim they will insure your vehicle - this is inaccurate. Brokers carry no cargo coverage liability for your vehicle. The trucking company holds full risk responsibility and is the policyholder for all cargo policies invoked in case of an accident. For any insurance-related matters during transport, engage directly with the trucking company.

While exact pickup or delivery dates cannot be guaranteed with absolute certainty, we approach each request with transparency and will provide percentage likelihoods regarding the feasibility of your timing requests.

In auto transport, a 2-3 day date range for pickup is typically the minimum window needed due to the industry's volatile nature. Various factors can disrupt initial projections, so allowing for a 2-3 day window or greater flexibility significantly enhances the probability of successfully moving your vehicle quickly.

A flexible window also broadens the pool of available trucking companies willing to take the job. Not all trucking companies are equal in quality, so giving yourself and us greater flexibility improves the chances of securing both a favorable rate and a reliable provider.

For comparison:

• 1-day window: 30% chance of successful pickup / Access to only 5% of available carriers
• 2-3 day window: Significantly higher success rate and broader carrier options

We implement a comprehensive assessment procedure to evaluate carrier quality, including:

• Insurance history examination
• Insurance verification
• Accident history scrutiny
• Commercial ratings assessment
• Business tenure evaluation
• Equipment quality assessment
• Performance metrics analysis
• Online presence review
• Customer review evaluation
• History with our company

Each carrier we collaborate with must possess an active DOT number, valid liability and cargo policies, an active Motor Carrier number, operational commercial accounts, and a track record of recent successful load completions.

Our reputation depends significantly on carrier quality, so we approach this aspect with utmost seriousness. We frequently decline carrier offers based on past incidents or verification inconsistencies. While this diligent selection process occasionally leads to slightly extended waiting times, it ensures superior service quality.

When making a reservation, it's essential to communicate your scheduling requirements clearly in the booking notes. If you have specific time constraints for pickup or delivery, select the "I have specific scheduling needs" option on the final payment screen.

We commit to making every effort to fulfill your request, but be aware that tighter timeframes may require rate adjustments to secure a carrier who can meet your specific demands. We aim to balance accommodating your scheduling preferences while ensuring a reasonable rate.

In many cases, we can accommodate transportation requests within regular business days, especially with a pickup window of at least 2-3 days and flexible availability. However, the industry doesn't align well with precise commitments regarding exact dates and times, instead adhering to standard pickup and delivery ETA windows of 1-2 days.