Is Car Shipping Safe?
Millions of cars ship every year, and the overwhelming majority arrive exactly as they left, because the system is built from three protections stacked together: vetted carriers, mandatory insurance, and a signed inspection at each end. Here is how each layer actually works.
How safe is car shipping, honestly?
Very. New cars reach dealerships on the same open trucks your car rides, over the same highways, secured the same way. Damage rates across the industry are a small fraction of shipments, and the protections below exist precisely so the rare exception gets made right instead of argued about.
Who is actually driving my car across the country?
A carrier we verified before dispatch: active federal operating authority, valid insurance certificates on file, and a track record we can see. You are never assigned an anonymous truck. At dispatch you receive the company, the driver's name, and the driver's direct phone number, which is more transparency than most industries ever offer.
What insurance covers my car in transit?
The carrier's cargo insurance, federally required and confirmed by certificate before your car loads. It covers transport-caused damage to the vehicle itself. Your own auto policy typically remains in force as well, and we match declared value against the carrier's policy limits on high-value cars before assigning the load.
What happens if my car is damaged in transit?
The inspection reports decide it, which is why they matter. At pickup, you and the driver document the car's condition on the Bill of Lading; at delivery, you inspect again before signing. New damage noted at delivery goes against the carrier's cargo policy, with photos and the two reports as evidence. Note it on the paperwork before signing, that sentence is the whole claims system.
What can I do to make my shipment even safer?
Photograph the car, dated, on pickup day. Choose enclosed transport when the car's value justifies it. Be reachable at the phone number on your booking. And inspect in daylight at delivery when you can, because a two minute walk-around protects you better than any fine print.
Safety and insurance questions
Can I track my car during transport?
You have something better than a dot on a map: the driver's direct phone number from the moment of dispatch. A call or text gets you a real location and a real ETA from the person actually driving.
Is my car locked and are the keys secure during transit?
The car stays locked between loadings, and the driver holds one key to move it on and off the deck. Bring a single key for transport and keep your spares.
Does theft actually happen in auto transport?
It is genuinely rare: cars ride chained to a moving truck driven by a professional whose livelihood is their record. The empty-driveway week at home is statistically riskier than the truck.
Are brand new and leased cars safe to ship this way?
It is how they all arrive at dealerships in the first place. Leasing companies accept professional transport as a matter of course, and the same inspection paperwork protects a lease return.
What is the safest way to ship a car?
A vetted, insured carrier booked through a licensed broker, dated photos at pickup, and an inspection before signing at delivery. Enclosed transport adds a sealed trailer on top for high-value cars.
How do I make sure my car is safe during transport?
The three protections: verified carrier insurance before dispatch, your dated pickup photos, and the bill of lading inspection at both ends. We handle the first, you handle the camera.
Who can I trust to ship my car safely?
A broker who verifies carrier insurance before dispatch and shows you their license without being asked. We have run that way since 2014, USDOT #3032619, MC #40242, verify us on FMCSA SAFER.
What is the best way to ship a car without damage worries?
Open transport is statistically very safe, and enclosed removes weather and debris exposure entirely if the car warrants it. Either way, photos plus the bill of lading make you claim-proof.
How do I ship my car safely for the first time?
Verify the broker's license, get the price in writing, photograph the car at pickup, and inspect before signing at delivery. Email ship@theroyalport.com and we will guide you through each one.
Is it safe to ship an expensive or sentimental car?
Yes, with enclosed transport and a carrier whose coverage matches the car's value, ask us to confirm the cargo limit before dispatch. High-value cars ship safely every day on exactly that setup.