Everything you want to know about auto transport.

Each broker prices off the same live carrier load board, but their markups, lane experience, and willingness to post low to win the booking vary. A teaser quote that's $200 below the market often becomes a re-quote 48 hours later when no carrier picks it up. We post at the real market number on day one.

No. Our deposit is only charged once a specific carrier is dispatched and assigned to your shipment — never at quote time. If we can't find a carrier in your window, you owe nothing.

On delivery: cash, certified bank check, money order, or Zelle (most carriers). Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted at delivery. Our broker deposit can be paid by credit card, debit card, ACH, or Zelle.

Our quote is the all-in price you pay — broker fee plus carrier payment. The only times pricing moves are if the vehicle becomes inoperable after booking, the pickup window changes drastically, or the vehicle is materially different than what was quoted (e.g. a lifted truck instead of a sedan).

Yes — active-duty military, veterans, college students, teachers, nurses, and first responders qualify for a $50 service-fee credit on every shipment. Mention it at quote time; we verify with a quick photo of your ID at booking.

We don't chase low-ball teasers, but if you have a written quote from a USDOT-licensed broker with at least a 4.5-star public rating, we'll match it and back it with our no-deposit-until-dispatched guarantee.

For standard routes, book 1–2 weeks ahead to lock the best price. Snowbird season (Oct–Nov southbound, Apr–May northbound) fills fast — book 3–4 weeks out. Expedited service is available 1–3 days out for an additional $200–$500.

Standard service uses a 1–7 day pickup window depending on lane density. Most metro pickups happen within 1–3 days. Expedited service narrows the window to 1–2 days for an upcharge.

Yes, with our expedited service tier. A guaranteed date pulls your load to the front of the dispatch queue and typically adds $200–$500 to the quote depending on lane and timing.

Call us as soon as you know. Rescheduling within 24 hours is usually free; same-day cancellations may incur a dry-run fee of $100–$200 (what the driver bills us for an empty trip). We pass through only the carrier's actual charge.

Drivers are required to call ahead with updated ETAs. Weather, traffic, and DOT hours-of-service rules occasionally push delivery by 12–48 hours. We track every load via GPS and dispatch and keep you updated proactively — no chasing.

Most carriers run Monday–Saturday, with limited Sunday capacity. If a Sunday delivery matters, request it at booking — we'll dispatch only to carriers that confirm Sunday availability.

Open carriers carry $100,000–$250,000 in cargo insurance per shipment; enclosed carriers carry $250,000–$1,000,000. Coverage includes damage caused by the carrier in loading, transit, and unloading. Pre-existing damage noted on the Bill of Lading is excluded.

The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the legal inspection document signed by you and the driver at pickup and again at delivery. It records the vehicle's condition with photos and notes. The BOL is your evidence in any damage claim — never sign blank or rushed.

Note the damage on the BOL at delivery before signing, then take dated photos. Call us within 24 hours; we open the claim with the carrier's insurer, supply documentation, and follow the file through to payout. Most cosmetic claims settle in 14–30 days.

No — the carrier's cargo insurance is the primary policy for in-transit damage. Filing through your personal auto policy can raise your rates and is rarely necessary. We handle the carrier claim end-to-end.

For vehicles valued above the carrier's standard policy limit, you can purchase a per-shipment rider that adds $100k–$500k of coverage for roughly $25–$100. Standard for cars over $80k and required for anything over $250k.

Yes — a clean car makes existing scratches, chips, and dings visible for the BOL inspection. A dirty car can mask damage that you'd then struggle to prove was there before transport. Spend $20 on a wash; it protects you in any claim.

Quarter-tank only. Enough to drive on and off the trailer, not enough to add weight. Carriers ticket loads that arrive with full tanks because the DOT axle weight limits are strict.

Bag them or remove them. Active toll tags get billed every time the carrier passes a tolling overhead, which can run into hundreds of dollars on a cross-country move.

Child seats inside the car are fine. Roof racks, ski boxes, and bike racks should be removed — they add height that can disqualify the vehicle from upper trailer decks and increase wind drag/damage risk.

Disable the alarm or provide the disable instructions in writing. Carrier loads bounce and shift constantly; a sensitive alarm can drain the battery to zero by mid-route.

Yes — classics and antiques ship in enclosed trailers with soft-tie wheel nets (no chassis straps) and lift-gate loading. Climate-controlled options are available for concours-grade vehicles. We've moved pre-war Packards through 2026 Hagerty-insured collector cars.

Yes — single motorcycle or batch shipments using crated, palletized, or strapped methods. Standard motorcycle shipping runs $400–$900 cross-country with full crate-and-strap insurance.

Yes — EVs ship on the same carriers as ICE vehicles. Charge the battery to 50–60% (enough to drive on and off the trailer but not enough to overheat in transit). Provide the tow-mode instructions if your model requires it.

Yes — lifted trucks, dually pickups, lifted Jeeps, and vans over 7' tall require a specific carrier with the right deck clearance. Tell us the lift height and any oversize tires at quote time so we match the right trailer.

Yes — multi-vehicle households save 10–15% per car when shipped on the same order. We can also coordinate fleet, dealer, and auction lots of 10–100 vehicles.

We specialize in cars, light trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs. We don't ship boats, travel trailers, or RVs — different DOT classifications and equipment. We can refer you to a specialty broker.

Yes. Hawaii ships through Long Beach, Oakland, or Tacoma ports with full island delivery (Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului). Alaska ships overland to Tacoma, then rail/barge to Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. We coordinate door-to-port-to-door end-to-end.

We arrange US-to-Canada and US-to-Mexico cross-border shipments and handle the domestic leg of overseas moves to the port (Baltimore, NYC, Houston, LA). Final ocean freight is handled by a partner freight forwarder.

Yes — we handle dealer-to-dealer, Copart/IAA auction, port, body shop, and storage facility pickups. Provide the gate code, lot number, and contact name at booking.

Yes — provide the gate code or guard-shack contact at booking. If the complex doesn't allow carriers inside, the driver will meet you at a nearby lot, usually within five minutes' drive.

Yes — rural and small-town pickups add 1–3 days to the pickup window and 10–20% to the price (lower lane density means dispatch has to incentivize a carrier to deviate). We're transparent about that surcharge at quote time.

Get a quote online or by phone, approve the price, and we send a one-page service agreement to e-sign. No deposit is charged until a specific carrier is dispatched and assigned to your load.

Yes — cancellation is free any time before a carrier is dispatched and assigned. After dispatch, a small cancellation fee applies to cover the carrier's dry-run charge. We refund all unused deposits within 3–5 business days.

Our dispatch team is on call 7 days a week, 7am–11pm Central, and we have a 24-hour emergency line for in-transit shipments. Booked customers get a direct line to their dispatcher.

Yes — every load includes daily SMS/email updates from dispatch plus the driver's direct phone number. Live GPS tracking is available on most lanes through our partner carriers.

Call your dispatcher first — most issues resolve in one call. Unresolved? Email info@crossstateautotransport.com and our operations manager will respond within one business day. Every complaint gets a written resolution.

Yes — A+ rated on the Better Business Bureau, certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). All credentials are public and verifiable via our USDOT/MC numbers.