The short answer
A smooth out-of-state car shipment starts 30 days out with booking, since relocation season fills carrier capacity fast. At 14 days, handle maintenance and cleaning; at 7 days, clear the cabin of clutter; at 3 days, drop the fuel tank and remove toll transponders; and the day before, complete full photo documentation. On pickup day, walk the Bill of Lading carefully before signing, since it's your only record if anything shifts in transit.
- Relocation-heavy months (May through August) see higher carrier demand, so booking 30 days out secures better pricing and scheduling flexibility.
- Standard service picks up within 1-7 business days of your confirmed date; expedited narrows that to 1-5 days for a 35% surcharge, useful for tight moving timelines.
- $0 is due at booking — your card is only charged the full total when the carrier physically picks up the vehicle, so locking in early carries no financial risk.
- A quarter tank of fuel is the standard recommendation for cross-country moves, balancing drive-on/off needs against weight limits.
- Multi-vehicle households moving two or more cars together can stack discounts of up to 20% by booking them on the same order.
- Every shipment includes live tracking, useful for coordinating your own drive or flight timeline against the carrier's cross-country route.
30 days out: book and lock in your window
Long-distance relocation moves compete for the same carrier capacity as everyone else moving that month, and popular routes like Northeast-to-Southeast or coast-to-coast fill up fastest in summer. Booking a full 30 days ahead gives you first pick of pickup windows and the most room to choose standard service instead of paying the 35% expedited premium. If you're moving more than one vehicle, book them together now — that's when the multi-vehicle discount is easiest to apply cleanly to your total.
14 days out: maintenance and cleaning
- Get an oil change and basic fluid check if the car is due — it won't be driven far once loaded, so do it now.
- Wash the exterior thoroughly; dirt and road film hide the scratches your pickup photos need to capture.
- Check tire pressure and tread; a flat or badly worn tire complicates loading.
- Note any existing mechanical issues in your account profile so the assigned carrier isn't surprised.
7 days out: cabin clutter and cargo rules
- Remove everything from the back seat and trunk except up to 100 lbs of personal items, packed low and out of sight.
- Take out anything fragile or valuable — cargo insurance doesn't cover household goods, only the vehicle itself.
- Remove roof boxes, bike racks, and ski racks unless they're a permanent factory fixture.
- Confirm your new address and who will be available to receive the vehicle there.
3 days out: gas tank and transponders
Drop the fuel level to around a quarter tank in the days leading up to pickup — enough for loading, unloading, and a short drive to the nearest station on the other end, without adding unnecessary weight. Remove toll transponders like E-ZPass or FasTrak, since tolls hit along the carrier's route can otherwise post to your account. Take off garage door remotes and parking permits tied to your old address, since they won't be useful anyway once you've relocated.
1 day out: the photo documentation protocol
- Photograph all four corners of the vehicle in daylight, timestamped.
- Photograph the roof, each wheel, and the odometer.
- Photograph the interior, especially the dashboard and seats.
- Save copies to your phone and email them to yourself as a backup in case anything happens to your device during the move.
Pickup day: the Bill of Lading handoff
When the driver arrives, walk the vehicle together panel by panel and compare it against your photos from the day before. Confirm every existing mark is correctly noted on the Bill of Lading's condition diagram before you sign — this document is what any delivery-side damage claim gets measured against. Hand over a single working key, confirm the delivery contact and address on the other end, and keep a photo of the signed pickup copy on your phone for the rest of the move.
Frequently asked questions
- How far ahead should I book for a summer relocation?
- Aim for at least 30 days out. Summer is the busiest season for household relocations, and booking early secures standard pricing and a wider choice of pickup windows before capacity tightens.
- Can I fly to my new state while my car ships separately?
- Yes, this is one of the most common reasons people use auto transport for a relocation. Live tracking lets you monitor the shipment's progress from your new city and coordinate delivery timing with your travel plans.
- What if my moving date changes after I've booked shipping?
- Contact us as soon as your date shifts — since $0 is due at booking and nothing is charged until pickup, rescheduling before the carrier is dispatched carries no financial penalty.
- Should I ship two household vehicles together or separately?
- Together, when possible. Booking multiple vehicles on the same order can unlock stacking discounts of up to 20%, and it simplifies coordinating a single pickup and delivery window for your whole household.