The short answer
Shipping a classic car bought sight-unseen means treating transport as part of the purchase, not an afterthought. Book enclosed transport for anything with original paint or collector value, add the optional $99/$200k coverage, and never wire a deposit to secure a truck — legitimate transport never requires money before the carrier physically arrives. Confirm the seller's description against your own photos before the carrier even leaves the yard.
- Enclosed trailers add about 35% to the base rate but shield paint and trim from road debris entirely.
- $99 buys $200,000 in optional cargo coverage per vehicle, regardless of the car's declared value.
- Non-running or barn-find classics require winch-equipped carriers, which also carry a 35% inoperable surcharge.
- $0 is ever due at booking; the full order total is only charged the moment a carrier physically hooks up the vehicle.
- Standard pickup windows run 1-7 business days; expedited narrows that to 1-5 for a 35% upcharge.
Why sight-unseen classics are a different risk category
When you buy a daily driver online, a scuff on the bumper is annoying. When you buy a numbers-matching 1967 Mustang or an unrestored Bronco, every panel is part of the value, and there's no dealer standing behind the transaction if something goes wrong in transit. That changes two things: the trailer type you should choose, and how carefully you document the car's condition before it ever gets loaded. Ask the seller for their own walk-around video the day of pickup, not just old listing photos, so you have a true baseline.
Enclosed vs open for a collector car
- Enclosed is the default recommendation for anything with original paint, a soft top, or six-figure value.
- Hard-top classics in good but not concours condition can sometimes go open to save the 35% premium — your call, not a requirement.
- Ask specifically for a soft-side or hard-side enclosed trailer if the car has delicate trim or a low front air dam.
- Liftgate loading avoids driving a low classic up a steep ramp angle.
Non-running and project cars
A lot of sight-unseen classic purchases are barn finds or projects that don't run. That's fine — it just means the carrier needs a winch, and the inoperable surcharge (35%) applies because loading takes longer and requires different equipment. Tell us this at booking, not at the curb. A carrier that shows up expecting a running car and finds a dead battery or seized brakes will often have to reschedule, which costs you the pickup window you were counting on.
Protecting your purchase before the truck arrives
- Get a full photo/video walk-around from the seller the same day as pickup, timestamped.
- Add the $99 optional coverage — for a car with real collector value, it is the cheapest insurance you'll buy all month.
- Never send money to "hold" a truck; Pay At Pickup means $0 is due until the carrier is hooked up.
- Confirm title and lien paperwork separately from transport — we move the car, we don't handle the sale itself.
At delivery
Do the inspection in daylight, walk every panel against your pre-pickup photos, and don't sign the Bill of Lading until any new marks are noted. For an enclosed shipment this is usually a formality since the car never saw weather or road debris, but it's still the document that protects you if something did happen in transit.
Frequently asked questions
- Should a classic car always ship enclosed?
- Not always, but it's the safer default for anything with original paint, collector value, or delicate trim. If the car is a solid driver-quality classic you're not precious about, open transport at a 35% lower cost is a reasonable choice.
- How do I ship a non-running classic car?
- Tell us it's inoperable when you book — the carrier will bring a winch and the quote includes the 35% inoperable surcharge for the extra loading time and equipment required.
- What if the car doesn't match the seller's description?
- That's a dispute between you and the seller, separate from transport. Document everything with photos before pickup so you have clear evidence either way, and never let a payment deadline for shipping rush your inspection decision.
- Is a deposit normal for classic car transport?
- No. With Pay At Pickup, nothing is charged until a carrier physically has the car hooked up. Any company asking for money up front to "lock in" a classic car pickup is not how legitimate transport pricing works.