Moving a Classic: What Changes When the Car Is Irreplaceable

Establish the value before you book

Cargo insurance pays against documented value, not sentiment. Before shipping a collector car, have a current appraisal or an agreed-value policy in hand and share the number with us so the load is matched to a carrier whose coverage limit actually covers it.

Our enclosed carriers run one million dollars in cargo coverage. If your vehicle sits above that, tell us early — it is arrangeable, but not on short notice.

Tie-downs are the whole conversation

Insist on soft-ties over the tires. Padded nylon straps hold the wheels to the deck and let the suspension work normally through road inputs. Chains routed through control arms or across a subframe concentrate load on components never designed for it, and on an original car those parts may not be replaceable.

Clearance, fluids and quirks

Low front lips, side pipes and period-correct ride heights need a lift gate or a very low-angle ramp — not a standard steel ramp. Tell us the clearance figure rather than estimating it.

Older carburetted cars, cars with battery cutoffs, weak starters and manual chokes all need a note for the driver. Write down the starting sequence and leave it on the seat. A driver who knows the procedure will not be cranking your engine in a parking lot.

Document like an insurer would

Photograph the car under even light from every angle, including underbody shots if it has been restored. Note existing paint flaws, chrome pitting and interior wear. On the BOL, be exhaustive — every mark you record at pickup is a mark you never have to argue about at delivery.