The short answer
A well-planned car shipment starts 30 days out by choosing your transport tier and booking, moves to deep-cleaning and removing personal items at the 14-day mark, handles toll tags and mechanical checks at 7 days, and finishes with a full photo inspection the day before pickup. Following this countdown avoids the last-minute scramble that causes most pickup-day delays.
- Booking at the 30-day mark gives you the widest choice between Standard (1-7 business day pickup) and Expedited (1-5 business days, +35%).
- The 14-day mark is the ideal window for a deep interior clean, since carriers can't cover personal items left inside.
- At 7 days out, removing toll transponders prevents them from registering charges along the transport route.
- The final pre-pickup inspection should happen within 24 hours of the scheduled date, in daylight, with photos of all angles.
- Pay At Pickup means nothing is charged to your card until the day the carrier physically loads the vehicle — not at any earlier milestone.
30 days out: choose your transport tier
This is the point to decide between Standard and Expedited based on how firm your move-out date really is. If you have flexibility, Standard's 1-7 business day pickup window keeps costs down. If you're on a tight relocation timeline tied to a lease or closing date, Expedited's 1-5 business day window for a 35% premium buys you predictability. Booking now, rather than the week before, also gives dispatch more carrier options along your specific route.
14 days out: personal items and deep cleaning
- Remove everything from the trunk, glovebox, and back seat except vehicle documents.
- Deep clean the interior and exterior — this is also when small existing damage becomes easiest to spot and document.
- Decide if you're keeping any items under 100 lbs in the trunk, and plan to disclose them to the driver later.
- Cancel or transfer any subscriptions tied to the car's location, like parking passes.
7 days out: toll tags, alarms, and maintenance
- Remove or bag your toll transponder.
- Test the car alarm and note the disarm sequence if you can't fully disable it.
- Check tire pressure and top off fluids.
- Confirm your pickup address and any access issues (gate codes, narrow streets) with dispatch.
1 day out: the final photo inspection walkthrough
Wash the car one more time if it's picked up any dust since your last cleaning, then take a full photo set: front, rear, both sides, roof, all four wheels, undercarriage edge, and the odometer, all timestamped. This is your baseline evidence for the bill of lading comparison at pickup. Do this in daylight — photos taken at dusk or under artificial light are much harder to use in a damage dispute later.
Pickup day: bill of lading and payment logistics
When the carrier arrives, walk the vehicle with the driver and compare the diagram they draw against your own photos before signing the Bill of Lading. Your card on file is charged the full order total at this exact moment — nothing was due earlier in this whole 30-day process, and nothing will be due again at delivery. Keep a photo of the signed BOL for your records.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I only have a week to arrange shipping, not 30 days?
- You can still book and ship on short notice — just compress this checklist. Prioritize the 1-day inspection steps and consider Expedited service if your window is that tight, since it narrows pickup to 1-5 business days.
- Do I need to do anything at the 30-day mark if I'm not moving personal belongings in the car?
- The main 30-day task is just choosing your tier and booking. Even without belongings to plan around, booking early gives dispatch more flexibility to match you with a well-reviewed carrier on your route.
- When exactly does payment get charged during this countdown?
- Never before pickup day. Pay At Pickup means $0 is due at booking, and the full charge happens only the moment the carrier physically takes possession of your vehicle.
- Should I schedule my own travel around the car's delivery date?
- It's wise to build in a few days of buffer, since exact delivery timing depends on the carrier's multi-stop route and can shift by a day or two even within a normal transit window.