The short answer
A car shipping damage claim succeeds on documentation. Note the damage on the delivery Bill of Lading before signing, photograph the annotated page and the damage from three distances, and report it the same day. The carrier's cargo insurance pays for damage caused in transit; pre-existing damage recorded at pickup and personal items are never payable.
- The annotated delivery BOL is the single most important document in a claim.
- Report within 24 hours — same-day reporting resolves fastest.
- Get a written repair estimate; do not repair before the adjuster reviews it.
- Optional $99 shipper's-interest coverage pays up to $200,000 without a fault fight.
At delivery, in this order
- Inspect in daylight before signing anything.
- Write the damage on the delivery BOL specifically: size, type, exact panel.
- Have the driver initial the note.
- Photograph the annotated BOL with signatures visible.
- Photograph the damage wide, mid and close, with something for scale.
- Then sign.
The claim process
- Call us the same day — we open the claim with the carrier and their insurer.
- Submit the annotated delivery BOL, your pickup photos and the delivery photos.
- Get a written repair estimate from a shop of your choosing.
- The adjuster reviews and issues a determination; we escalate if it stalls.
- Repairs proceed once the determination is in writing.
What is and is not payable
- Payable: new transit damage documented at delivery
- Payable: damage caused by improper loading or securing
- Not payable: damage noted on the pickup BOL
- Not payable: personal items, mechanical failure, or normal road film
- Usually not payable: damage discovered after a clean signature, unless the BOL was annotated for a night delivery
How to make a claim unnecessary
Dated pickup photos and an accurate pickup BOL prevent almost every disputed claim, because both sides are arguing from the same baseline. Ten minutes at the curb on pickup day is the cheapest insurance in auto transport — and if you want the gap closed entirely, the $99 shipper's-interest policy pays on your vehicle's value rather than on proving fault.
Frequently asked questions
- What do I do if my car arrives damaged?
- Write it on the delivery Bill of Lading before signing, have the driver initial it, photograph the page and the damage, and call us the same day so we open the claim immediately.
- How long does a car shipping damage claim take?
- Straightforward claims with a clean paper trail typically resolve in a few weeks. Claims without an annotated delivery BOL take far longer and often fail.
- Who pays for the damage?
- The carrier's cargo insurer for transit damage they caused. If you purchased the $99 shipper's-interest policy, that coverage pays up to $200,000 on your vehicle's value directly.