Help center
Auto Transport Resources
Every guide, checklist, printable form and answer we give clients — in one place.
How to use this help center
Most people land here at one of three moments: while they are still comparing quotes, after they have booked and want to know what pickup day looks like, or in the middle of a problem with a vehicle already on a truck. The groups below are ordered roughly in that sequence, so you can start wherever you actually are.
Still shopping. Read the cost pages before you read any single quote. Auto transport pricing is set by what carriers will accept on your specific lane in a specific week — not by a rate card — so a number far below the others is usually a placeholder that gets revised later. The broker versus carrier page explains who is legally responsible for what, and the fraud pages cover how to verify that the company quoting you actually holds active federal authority.
Already booked. Print the bill of lading and the pickup photo checklist before the truck arrives. The condition report signed at origin is the single document that decides any future damage claim, and photographs taken the moment the driver pulls up are worth more than anything written afterward. If someone other than the registered owner is handing over the keys, you may need the vehicle release authorization form as well.
Something went wrong. Claims are filed against the assigned carrier’s cargo insurance policy, not against a broker. The claim page walks through deadlines, required photos and deductibles. Call us either way — we keep the carrier’s certificate of insurance and dispatch record on file and will supply both.
Start here
The three pages most clients read before they book.
Cost and comparison
Decide between open and enclosed, and understand what a fair rate looks like.
Car Shipping Cost
What lanes really pay and why the cheapest quote rarely sticks.
2026 Auto Transport Cost Index
Published per-mile rate bands, state-by-state estimates and a free calculator.
Broker vs. Carrier
Who does what, licensing, and the red flags to walk away from.
Locked Price Promise
How your quoted number is held from booking to delivery.
Compare Services
Open, enclosed, expedited, inoperable, military and more.
Forms and checklists
Print or download these before pickup day.
Insurance, claims and safety
What coverage does and does not do, and what to do if something goes wrong.
How to File a Claim
Step-by-step claim filing with the carrier, plus deductible reality.
Fraud Prevention Center
Red flags, verification steps and chain-of-custody protection.
Fraud Alert
Confirm you are dealing with the real Enterprise Auto Transport.
Common Shipping Scams
The scams we see most often and the checks that stop them.
Broker Disclaimer
Our role as a licensed broker and the carrier's role as the insurer.
Routes, regions and reading
Lane-specific detail and ongoing coverage.
Popular Shipping Routes
Transit times and pricing ranges by lane.
Ship a Car to Hawaii
Port process, island delivery, 2026 pricing and a free estimator.
Checklist Generator
Build a custom, printable checklist for your exact shipment.
Military PCS Guide
Base-by-base shipping guidance for 24 U.S. installations.
2026 Snowbird Migration Report
Top seasonal lanes, peak months and open-carrier price ranges.
Snowbird Booking Timeline
Interactive planner for southbound and northbound seasonal moves.
States and Cities
Service detail for all 50 states and major metros.
Blog
Ongoing articles on shipping cars well.
Moving to Southwest Florida
Our local relocation resource guide: titling and registration, tolls, beach parking permits, hurricane season and a full write-up for each city we serve.
SWFL Newcomer Guide (hub)
Start here — every city guide and local topic in one index.
Florida Vehicle Registration for New Residents
Titling, plates, the initial registration fee, VIN verification, insurance minimums and where to go in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.
SWFL Tolls, Bridges & Driving
Cape Coral and Midpoint bridges, the Sanibel Causeway, Alligator Alley, transponders, and why you must switch yours off before shipping a car.
Hurricane Season & Your Vehicle
Evacuation zones, what to do with a car you are leaving behind, insurance realities, and how storm season affects transport scheduling.
SWFL Beaches & Parking Permits
Collier's free resident sticker, Lee County's paid permit program, state park fees, and which lots fill first in season.
Moving to Naples
Collier County's coastal core — old-money waterfront, gated golf and a downtown that empties in August.
Moving to Bonita Springs
The Lee/Collier line — beach access without Naples pricing, and the shortest hop to RSW from the south.
Moving to Cape Coral
400+ miles of canals, a car-dependent grid, and two tolled bridges between you and Fort Myers.
Moving to Fort Myers
The region's working city — hospitals, the airport, spring training and a real downtown.
Moving to Estero
Newest of the SWFL municipalities — Coconut Point, FGCU, Hertz Arena and the shortest airport run in the region.
Moving to Marco Island
A barrier island city reached by two bridges, with resident beach stickers and strict delivery logistics.
Moving to Sanibel & Captiva
Shelling islands with a tolled causeway, no traffic lights, and building rules unlike anywhere else in Florida.
Moving to Punta Gorda
Charlotte Harbor's walkable small city — its own airport, a rebuilt historic downtown and lower costs than Lee or Collier.
Quick answers
The questions that send most people to this page in the first place.
Which document actually protects me if my car arrives damaged?
The bill of lading. It records the vehicle's condition at pickup and at delivery, and it is signed by both you and the driver. Note every scratch, chip and dent before signing at origin, and never sign a clean delivery receipt in the dark or in the rain without inspecting first.
Who pays a damage claim — the broker or the carrier?
The carrier. Federal law puts the vehicle in the motor carrier's custody, and its cargo insurance policy responds to damage that occurred in transit. We supply the carrier's certificate of insurance, the dispatch record and the signed bill of lading, and we help you push the claim, but the policy is theirs.
How far ahead should I book?
Two to three weeks for a standard lane, and three to six weeks for Florida snowbird season — October through December arriving south, March through May heading north. Booking earlier does not raise the price; waiting until the last week usually does, because the load has to be priced above market to get picked up quickly.
Can I leave personal items in the vehicle?
Keep it under about 100 pounds, in the trunk, below the window line — and understand that personal belongings are not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance. Anything irreplaceable, valuable or containing a lithium battery should travel with you.
Do you have printable versions of these checklists?
Yes. The bill of lading, vehicle release authorization, quote checklist, shipping day checklist and the pickup and delivery photo checklist are all printable, and the checklist generator builds a custom one for your exact shipment, vehicle type and transport method.
Is enclosed transport worth the extra cost?
For most daily drivers, no — open carriers move the overwhelming majority of vehicles in the country safely. For collector, exotic, low-clearance or freshly restored vehicles, enclosed transport with a liftgate and soft-tie straps rather than chains over the suspension is worth the premium, which typically runs 40 to 60 percent above the open rate.
Cannot find what you need?
Call and ask a licensed agent directly. We answer honestly, even when the answer sends you elsewhere.