Shipping an EV: Weight, Charge Level and Transport Mode

Weight changes the math

Battery packs make EVs substantially heavier than comparable combustion cars — often six hundred to a thousand pounds more. Carriers manage total load weight against DOT axle limits, so a heavy vehicle can occupy the payload budget of a larger slot and price accordingly. Give us the exact model when you quote so the estimate holds.

Charge level and transport mode

Ship with roughly twenty to fifty percent state of charge. That is enough to load, maneuver and unload with margin, without carrying an unnecessarily full pack. Vehicles sitting on a deck for a week will lose some charge to standby draw.

Set the correct transport or tow mode before handing over the keys, and write the procedure down for the driver — the sequence differs by manufacturer and is not obvious to someone seeing the car for the first time. Disable sentry and always-on camera modes so they do not drain the pack in transit.

Low clearance and regenerative braking

Many EVs sit low with a flat underbody tray. Mention the clearance figure and any air suspension so the carrier brings the right ramp angle or a lift gate. Regenerative braking behavior at very low speeds also catches unfamiliar drivers off guard on a steel deck — a quick note solves it.