The short answer
Ship an EV or Tesla with the battery at roughly 40-60% charge - enough to load, unload, and handle any delay, without carrying dead weight or risking a deep-discharge fault. Disable Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection so the car doesn't drain itself or trigger alarms on the trailer, hand over a physical key or key card, and expect the extra weight of an EV's battery pack to be reflected in your quote versus a comparable gas car.
- 40-60% state of charge is the sweet spot: enough range to drive on/off the trailer with a buffer, not so much that a fault causes thermal stress during transit.
- Sentry Mode left active can drain a battery meaningfully over a multi-day haul and can also cause a security alert every time the trailer shifts.
- EVs typically weigh 20-30% more than a similar-size gas vehicle, which is part of why heavier EVs and trucks carry a 15% large-vehicle surcharge.
- Cabin Overheat Protection can trigger fan cycling repeatedly on a closed trailer and should be turned off before pickup.
- A physical key card or fob (not just a phone-based digital key) is required so the driver can move the vehicle without needing your phone's Bluetooth connection.
- Ground clearance on lowered or performance EV trims should be checked against ramp angle - this is why the undercarriage inspection matters more than on a standard sedan.
Battery charge: the number that matters most
Don't hand over your Tesla or EV at 100%. A near-full battery adds unnecessary weight and, more importantly, gives you no buffer if transit runs a day longer than planned. Don't go too low either - arriving at 5% risks a no-start situation at delivery if the driver needs to reposition the car on the trailer. Aim for 40-60%: enough for the on-load, the off-load, and a short drive to the nearest charger after delivery.
Settings to change before the driver arrives
- Turn off Sentry Mode - it doesn't distinguish a carrier's routine trailer bounce from a break-in attempt, and it drains the battery watching for one.
- Disable Cabin Overheat Protection so the climate system doesn't cycle unattended for days.
- Turn off any 'summon' or remote-park features entirely; they have no place on a moving trailer.
- Set the car to Transport Mode if your model has one - it disables air suspension self-leveling delays that can slow down loading.
Keys and access for the carrier
Drivers need a way to move your car without depending on your phone. Hand over a physical key card or fob rather than relying on a digital key that requires your Bluetooth or an app session. If your EV supports Valet Mode, put it in that mode: it limits acceleration and locks the frunk/glovebox, which protects both the car and anything you may have left inside without blocking the driver from repositioning it during loading.
Why EVs cost a bit more to ship
Battery packs add real weight - often several hundred pounds more than a comparable gas engine and fuel tank. Carriers have legal axle weight limits per vehicle slot, so heavier EVs and larger trucks fall under the same 15% large-vehicle adjustment. It isn't an EV penalty specifically; it's the same physics-based pricing that applies to any heavy vehicle on the trailer.
The undercarriage check before loading
- Photograph the battery pack shielding underneath for existing scrapes or dents before transport.
- Note ground clearance if you're on a lowered or performance suspension setting - ask about ramp angle ahead of time.
- Check for active coolant leaks around the battery housing; a leaking pack is treated like any fluid leak and can be grounds for carrier refusal.
- Confirm tire pressure is correct - EVs are sensitive to load distribution on ramps due to their weight.
Frequently asked questions
- What percentage should my EV battery be at for shipping?
- Around 40-60%. That's enough charge to load and unload the vehicle and drive it a short distance after delivery, without carrying unnecessary weight or risking issues from a near-empty pack sitting for several days.
- Do I need to disable Sentry Mode before shipping my Tesla?
- Yes. Sentry Mode reads routine highway vibration and trailer loading as a threat, which drains the battery and can trigger false alerts throughout the trip. Turn it off along with Cabin Overheat Protection before the carrier arrives.
- Does shipping an EV cost more than a gas car?
- It can, mainly because EVs and their battery packs weigh more than a comparable gas vehicle. That extra weight is priced the same way any large or heavy vehicle is - a 15% adjustment - not as an EV-specific fee.
- Can I use enclosed transport for my Tesla?
- Yes, enclosed transport is available for EVs and Teslas for an additional 35% and adds protection from road debris and weather, which some owners prefer for higher trims like Plaid or Performance models.