The short answer
Every carrier dispatched through AutoTransportAI carries commercial cargo liability insurance verified through the Highway monitoring platform before your vehicle is assigned. For added peace of mind, optional insurance is available for $99 per vehicle with $200,000 of coverage. To protect a claim, photograph your car before pickup, inspect it against the Bill of Lading at delivery, and note any damage in writing before signing.
- Carriers dispatched through AutoTransportAI are continuously vetted and monitored via the Highway platform before and during your shipment.
- Optional add-on insurance costs a flat $99 per vehicle and provides up to $200,000 in coverage.
- The Bill of Lading, signed at pickup and delivery, is the primary legal document used to evaluate any damage claim.
- Most personal auto policies exclude coverage while a vehicle is in the care of a commercial carrier — check your policy's transit exclusion before assuming you're covered.
- Photos taken within minutes of pickup are the single strongest piece of evidence in a damage dispute.
- Claims should be noted on the Bill of Lading at delivery before the driver leaves; disputes raised days later are far harder to resolve.
Understand the two layers of coverage
There are two separate layers to think about: the carrier's own commercial cargo liability insurance, which is required for any licensed auto carrier to operate, and optional add-on insurance you can purchase for extra protection. The carrier's liability covers physical damage caused during transport. Add-on insurance, priced at $99 per vehicle for $200,000 of coverage, exists for owners who want a higher coverage ceiling or extra peace of mind on a high-value vehicle, without relying solely on the carrier's base policy.
Pre-shipment insurance checklist
- Confirm your carrier has been vetted through the Highway monitoring platform — this happens automatically before dispatch.
- Decide whether to add the $99 optional coverage, especially for vehicles valued well above average or with aftermarket upgrades.
- Check your own auto insurance policy for a transit exclusion clause; many personal policies do not apply while a car is on a commercial carrier.
- Photograph the vehicle from all four corners, the roof, wheels, and interior in daylight, with a visible timestamp.
What carrier liability typically covers
Standard commercial cargo liability covers damage the carrier causes while your vehicle is in their possession — things like transit collisions, loading mishaps, or damage from securing equipment. It generally does not cover pre-existing conditions, mechanical issues unrelated to transport, or acts of nature like hail while the vehicle is staged. This is exactly why documenting the vehicle's condition before pickup matters: it draws a clear line between what existed before transport and what happened during it.
When the optional $99 coverage makes sense
- Vehicles with a market value meaningfully above the carrier's standard liability limits.
- Classic, exotic, or heavily modified cars where repair costs run higher than average.
- Owners who simply want a documented $200,000 coverage ceiling in writing rather than relying on the base carrier policy alone.
- Long, multi-leg cross-country routes where the vehicle changes hands between carriers.
How to file a damage claim step by step
- 1. Do not sign the delivery Bill of Lading until you've inspected the vehicle against your pickup photos.
- 2. Note any new damage directly on the Bill of Lading in writing, with the driver present.
- 3. Photograph the new damage immediately, using the same angles as your pickup photos for comparison.
- 4. Contact AutoTransportAI support with your Bill of Lading number and photos within 24 hours.
- 5. If optional insurance was purchased, reference the policy when filing so the claim routes to the correct coverage layer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my car automatically insured during shipping?
- Yes. Every carrier is required to carry commercial cargo liability insurance, and carriers dispatched through AutoTransportAI are vetted via the Highway platform before your vehicle is assigned.
- Should I buy the optional $99 insurance?
- It's worth considering for higher-value, classic, or heavily modified vehicles, since it adds a documented $200,000 coverage ceiling on top of the carrier's base liability policy.
- Does my personal car insurance cover transport damage?
- Often not. Many personal auto policies exclude coverage while a vehicle is in the care of a commercial carrier, so check your policy's transit exclusion before assuming you're covered twice.
- What's the most important thing to do before pickup for insurance purposes?
- Photograph the entire vehicle in daylight right before the driver arrives. Timestamped photos are the strongest evidence if you ever need to file a damage claim.