Whether you are moving for work, heading back to school, or chasing better weather, shipping your vehicle saves time and prevents wear and tear. However, your car needs specific preparation to ensure it is safe, insured, compliant, and ready for the carrier.
Use this guide to prepare your car for transport with RunBuggyOne.
New to shipping? Read our guide on 6 Questions to Ask Before Shipping Your Car to get started.
A dirty car hides dents and scratches. If your car is covered in dust or mud, the driver cannot accurately mark existing damage on the Bill of Lading (BOL), which is the official inspection report.
Many people mistakenly think they can pack their car with moving boxes and personal items. Do not do this. Auto carriers are licensed and insured to transport vehicles, not your belongings.
Your car won’t be driving on the highway, but it must be “operable” to be driven onto and off of the truck ramps safely.
Loose parts can fly off at highway speeds, damaging your car or the cars behind it.
Now that your car is prepped, you can track its journey every step of the way.
Learn more about our transparency in our guide: Tracking Your RunBuggyOne Order.
We know you’re looking forward to seeing your car again after it’s been loaded on the truck. The time it takes to get to its destination will vary based on how far it’s going, how many other cars need to be picked up after yours (if any), weather conditions, traffic, etc. You can learn more about the process on our car shipping timing page.
When your car arrives, RunBuggyOne will automatically deduct payment from the payment method you provided when you placed your order. NEVER PAY THE DRIVER. The driver should not ask you for payment. If the driver is demanding payment or proof of payment, please contact us so we can resolve this for you.
Accidents unfortunately happen. If your car is damaged in any way when it is delivered, contact us immediately. Damage to your vehicle must be reported within 24 hours of delivery. We recommend you take multiple pictures of the damage and note the damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign it.
We do not recommend you place personal items (clothes, furniture, equipment, etc.) in the trunk or inside the car before it’s transported for a few reasons.
If for any reason you need to pack personal items inside the vehicle it must not exceed 100 lbs. and should be in the trunk or back seats below the window line where someone can’t see them. If you have any more questions about this, please contact us.
You can place your order up to 30 days in advance to lock in your rate. It generally takes 3-5 days for us to find a driver.
The total car shipping cost depends on a few things – how many miles it needs to be transported, whether you want an open or enclosed carrier to transport your car, whether your car runs or not, and whether there have been any modifications done on the vehicle (think big Jeep tires) that would make it oversized or overweight. RunBuggyOne provides upfront, transparent, and no-haggle pricing so the price you see is the price you pay. You can get a free, instant quote by clicking here.
Yes. We can help you ship an electric car. Please note that an electric car is typically heavier than a standard car. The price you see in the free instant quote on our website may be different than the price you see when you place an order, because the quote assumes a standard car weight.
Yes. We can help you ship your dually, lifted, or modified vehicle. Please note that because these vehicles are typically oversized and heavier than a standard car, the price you see in the free instant quote on our website may be different than the price you see when you place an order. The reason is because the quote assumes a standard car size and weight.
Yes. We can help you ship a car that doesn’t run (no keys, dead battery, no engine, etc.). Please note that the price you see in the free instant quote on our website may be different than the price you see when you place an order, because the quote assumes a standard car that runs. Inoperable cars require special equipment and extra work to load and unload.
This is what an open car carrier looks like:
There are different types of open car carriers or transporters, but the general idea is that they are “open”. These are the most common type of car carriers and typically less expensive than enclosed car carriers. Shipping your car in an open car carrier means it will be exposed to the elements (rain, snow, hail, wind, rocks, etc.).
Enclosed car carriers look like this:
Enclosed car carriers provide better protection from the elements and theft, and are typically more expensive for shipping your car. We recommend enclosed car carriers for classic, luxury, exotic, or one-of-a-kind vehicles that are considered expensive or valuable.
Please note that the price you see in the free instant quote on our website may be different than the price you see when you place an order because the quote assumes a standard car being shipped in an open car carrier.
The Bill of Lading is a document used by shipping companies as part of the inspection they do when they pick up your car to record any possible damage prior to shipping. When your car is delivered to you, you will be asked to sign the Bill of Lading, which indicates you have received your car and that it was not damaged during shipping.
If you notice any damage to your car that may have occurred during shipping, note the damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign it and Contact us within 24 hours of delivery to report any damage.
Yes. RunBuggyOne verifies every transporter carries the right insurance to transport your vehicle. RunBuggyOne also carries a separate insurance policy to further protect your vehicle. We recommend that you confirm your personal auto insurance policy is up-to-date, that it provides coverage for car shipping, and that you maintain coverage for the duration of your shipment.
We recommend having no more than 1/4 tank of gas in your car at the time of shipping, which is just enough for the transporter to load and unload your car. If you have a full tank of gas, it will add more weight and the transporter may need to drain the gas to lessen the load.
Take any license plates off the vehicle and put them in the glove box. This will ensure your vehicle does not accidentally get charged while going over any toll roads or bridges. We recommend you also keep the vehicle registration in the glove box as well.
If you need to cancel your order for any reason, you may do so at any time up to when your car is loaded on the truck. Simply contact us and let us know you need to cancel.
© 2026 RunBuggy OMI, Inc.
