Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Thirteen years of client questions, answered without the sales spin.
Pricing
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Most cross-country open transports land between $900 and $1,800; enclosed typically runs $1,500 to $3,000. Short regional lanes can be $400 to $700. Distance, vehicle size and weight, route density, season and operability all affect the number.
Why do quotes from different companies vary so much?
Some brokers quote a number low enough to win the booking, then raise it when no carrier accepts the load. We quote what the lane actually pays so a truck accepts it and your date holds.
When do I pay?
The deposit is charged at the time of booking, with the balance due to the driver at delivery. Nothing is charged just to get a quote.
Are there hidden fees?
No. Door-to-door service and insurance are included. The only surcharges that exist are disclosed up front: inoperable handling, oversized vehicles, expedited windows and enclosed equipment.
Timing
How long will transport take?
Plan on about 500 miles per day of driving. Coast to coast is usually 6–9 days, Midwest to Florida 3–5 days, and regional lanes 1–2 days once loaded.
How soon can you pick up?
Standard pickup windows are one to three days on most metro lanes. Expedited service can often secure a truck within 24 hours.
Can I get a guaranteed date?
Yes, with expedited service. Standard service uses a window because carriers manage multiple pickups on a route.
Delivery times and guarantees
What delivery window will I be given?
You get a delivery window, not a fixed hour. Regional lanes are typically a 1–2 day window, Midwest to Florida 3–5 days, and coast to coast 6–9 days from the pickup date. The driver calls ahead, usually the night before and again a few hours out.
Do you guarantee a delivery date?
Standard transport is a window because a driver carries seven to nine vehicles with separate stops, and weather, traffic and DOT hours-of-service rules move the schedule. Rush dispatch secures pickup within 48 hours of booking for a $500 fee where available; nobody in this industry can honestly guarantee an exact delivery hour.
What happens if delivery runs late?
Your coordinator tells you the reason and the revised window as soon as the driver reports it. We do not let a truck go quiet on you, and we do not invent an ETA to keep you calm.
Can I schedule delivery around a specific date?
Yes. Give us the date you must have the vehicle by and we book backwards from it, adding buffer for the lane. For snowbird season, three to six weeks of lead time is what keeps a date realistic.
Warranty, coverage limits and damage
Is there a warranty on auto transport?
Transport is not sold with a product warranty. What protects your vehicle is the carrier's cargo insurance — $250,000 on open carriers and $1,000,000 on enclosed — verified active before your car is dispatched.
Is my car 100% insured, with nothing out of pocket?
That is the industry's biggest myth. Every carrier policy carries a deductible. If the damage is $500 and the carrier's deductible is $5,000, the insurer will not pay — the carrier is expected to pay out of pocket, and cheap carriers often refuse, which turns it into a civil matter between you and them. This is exactly why we do not sell rock-bottom rates.
What is not covered?
Personal items left in the vehicle, pre-existing damage noted at pickup, acts of nature on open transport such as hail or road debris, and mechanical failures unrelated to handling. Enclosed transport removes the weather and road-debris exposure.
Who handles a damage claim?
Claims are filed with the carrier and its insurer, not with Enterprise Auto Transport. Note damage on the bill of lading before you sign, photograph it, and we walk you through the filing step by step.
Insurance and safety
Is my vehicle insured during transport?
Yes. Open carriers we dispatch carry $250,000 in cargo coverage; enclosed carriers carry $1,000,000. Coverage is the carrier's, verified active before dispatch, and the certificate is available on request.
What if my vehicle is damaged?
Note it on the bill of lading at delivery before signing and photograph it. That documentation plus the pickup photos makes the claim straightforward. Damage is rare, but this is exactly why we document both ends.
Do you use chains?
No. Every vehicle is secured with a soft-tie system over the tires. Chains on frames and suspension components are how cars get damaged.
Are your carriers licensed?
Every carrier is checked for active FMCSA operating authority, current insurance and safety rating before a load is assigned.
Equipment and service
Open or enclosed — which do I need?
Open is right for the vast majority of vehicles and is how new cars reach dealerships. Choose enclosed for exotics, classics, show cars, freshly restored vehicles, very low-clearance cars or anything where the value justifies the 40–60% premium.
Do you ever use small trailers or tow dollies?
Never. We ship exclusively on professional semi-truck car carriers.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes, on winch-equipped or lift-gate equipment. Tell us whether it rolls, steers and brakes so we send the right truck.
Will the truck come to my house?
Yes, whenever a 75-foot semi can legally and safely access your street. Otherwise the driver meets you at a large lot minutes away.
Can you deliver into a gated community?
We do it constantly. Tell us the community and any vendor pass or certificate-of-insurance requirement at booking.
Logistics
Can someone else hand off or receive the car?
Yes. Any authorized adult can complete the inspection and sign the bill of lading at either end.
Can I track my vehicle?
Yes. You get the driver's direct number plus status updates from your coordinator throughout transit.
Do you ship to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico?
Yes, with port coordination on both ends of the move.
Do you offer a military discount?
Yes, on every order for active duty, reserve, Guard and retired service members.
Still have a question?
Call and ask. We answer honestly, even when the answer is that another option suits you better.