The short answer
Before your online purchase is loaded onto a truck, request a specific set of seller photos, confirm the pickup Bill of Lading accurately documents existing condition, and understand that only transport-related damage — not mechanical issues or the seller's own wear and tear — is covered by carrier cargo insurance. The electronic Bill of Lading (eBOL) is the single most important document protecting your investment.
- A signed pickup Bill of Lading is the baseline condition record used to evaluate any delivery damage claim.
- Cargo insurance covers new transport damage only — not pre-existing mechanical or cosmetic issues from the seller.
- Optional shipper's-interest insurance adds up to $200,000 in coverage for $99 per vehicle.
- Ten specific photo angles (covered below) give you a defensible record before the car ever leaves the seller's lot.
- Weather noted on the pickup Bill of Lading (rain, snow, dust) explains dirt at delivery and isn't treated as damage.
The 10 photos to request before pickup
- Front and rear bumpers, straight-on.
- Both sides of the vehicle, full length.
- The roof, if accessible.
- Each wheel and tire.
- The windshield and rear glass for cracks or chips.
- The odometer reading.
- The interior, front and back seats.
- Any existing damage the seller has already disclosed, close up.
How the eBOL protects your investment
The electronic Bill of Lading is generated at pickup and documents the vehicle's condition before it's loaded. Because it's timestamped and tied to your shipment, it removes the ambiguity of a memory-based dispute later — either the damage is on the eBOL from pickup, meaning it's pre-existing, or it isn't, meaning it happened in transit and is a legitimate claim. Always request your copy and keep it alongside your own photos.
Red flags during the seller-to-carrier handoff
- The seller refuses to be present or send anyone to release the vehicle to the carrier.
- The carrier is unable to start the vehicle or perform a basic walkaround before loading.
- The seller's description of the car's condition doesn't match the photos you already have.
- No pickup Bill of Lading is generated at all — this should never happen with a properly dispatched carrier.
Pre-existing dirt, weather, and 'subject to inspection' notes
It's common for a pickup Bill of Lading to note conditions like rain, snow, or heavy road dirt that limited visibility during inspection. This isn't a loophole against you — it's an honest record that a full inspection wasn't possible in the moment. If your car was picked up in bad weather, request a follow-up inspection note or additional photos once it's dry, so any transport damage claim isn't muddied by conditions outside anyone's control.
Mechanical issues vs. transport damage
Cargo insurance covers physical damage that happens during transport — a new dent, a cracked windshield, scuffed paint. It does not cover mechanical problems the seller didn't disclose, like a failing transmission or an electrical fault, because those aren't caused by shipping. If you discover a mechanical issue after delivery, that's a dispute with the seller, not a transport claim, so keep the two separate when deciding how to respond.
Adding $200,000 in coverage for $99
Every carrier already carries its own cargo insurance, but the optional shipper's-interest policy adds up to $200,000 in additional coverage for a flat $99 per vehicle. For a car you bought sight-unseen and haven't personally inspected, this extra layer is inexpensive reassurance against a dispute over value or damage extent after delivery.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the eBOL and why does it matter for an online purchase?
- The electronic Bill of Lading is the timestamped condition record created at pickup. It's the baseline used to determine whether any damage found at delivery happened in transit or was already there — critical when you never inspected the car in person.
- Does cargo insurance cover mechanical problems I discover after delivery?
- No. Cargo insurance covers physical damage that occurs during transport, not undisclosed mechanical issues from the seller. Those are a matter to resolve with the seller directly, separate from the shipment.
- Should I add the optional $99 insurance for a car I bought online?
- It's a reasonable add-on for sight-unseen purchases since it adds up to $200,000 in coverage on top of the carrier's standard cargo insurance, for a flat $99 per vehicle.