The short answer
Your vehicle is covered in transit by the carrier's cargo insurance, which every carrier we dispatch must have active and verified. It covers damage the carrier caused while the vehicle was in their custody — not pre-existing damage, not personal items, and often not acts of nature. For full protection we offer shipper's-interest coverage up to $200,000 for a flat $99 per vehicle.
- Carrier cargo policies typically cover $100,000–$250,000 per load, not per vehicle.
- Pre-existing damage recorded on the pickup Bill of Lading is never payable.
- Personal items inside the vehicle are excluded from every cargo policy.
- Optional shipper's-interest coverage: $200,000 limit, $99 flat per vehicle.
The three layers of protection
- Carrier cargo insurance: the primary layer, verified active before we dispatch anyone.
- Your own auto policy: many comprehensive policies extend to a vehicle in transit — call and confirm rather than assume.
- Shipper's-interest coverage: our optional $99 policy with a $200,000 limit, which pays without a fight over carrier fault.
What cargo insurance does not cover
- Damage that already existed and was noted on the pickup BOL
- Personal belongings left in the vehicle
- Mechanical failure not caused by the carrier
- In many policies, hail, flood and other acts of nature
- Damage discovered after a clean delivery signature
How we vet carrier coverage
Every carrier is monitored continuously through the Highway platform: active FMCSA operating authority, current cargo and liability insurance, safety record and identity verification. A lapsed certificate removes a carrier from dispatch eligibility automatically, which is the practical difference between verified coverage and a certificate someone emailed once.
When the $99 policy is worth it
- The vehicle is worth more than a typical cargo policy's per-vehicle share of the load
- It is collectible, exotic, restored or newly purchased
- You are shipping on an open trailer through winter weather
- You simply do not want to argue about fault if something happens
Frequently asked questions
- Is my car insured during shipping?
- Yes — the carrier's cargo insurance covers it in transit, and we verify that policy is active before dispatching anyone. Optional $200,000 shipper's-interest coverage is available for $99 per vehicle.
- Does my own car insurance cover transport?
- Many comprehensive policies do extend to a vehicle being transported, but coverage varies. Call your insurer and ask specifically about transport by a licensed auto carrier.
- What is shipper's-interest insurance?
- A policy that covers your vehicle's value directly rather than depending on proving carrier fault. Ours provides up to $200,000 of coverage for a flat $99 per vehicle.