Site wide FAQ

Whipshipper frequently asked questions

The full FAQ. Pricing, pickup, delivery, payment, insurance, and edge cases. Plain English answers.

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Everything you might want to ask

Auto transport has a learning curve. Most customers have the same questions: what does it cost, when will my car get picked up, who actually drives it, what happens if there is damage. This page answers all of them.

If your question is not here, call Shelly at (888) 780-6207. We answer the phone seven days a week and we would rather talk than make you read a wall of text.

Browse by category

Jump to the section that matches what you need.

Pricing and payment

Quotes, $99 deposit, TruePrice, balance on delivery, accepted payment methods, refund policy.

Pickup and timing

Pickup window, scheduling, driver notice, location flexibility, pickup at dealerships and auctions.

Delivery and inspection

Delivery window, inspection process, BOL signing, third party pickup, damage at delivery.

Vehicle preparation

Fuel level, personal items, keys, inoperable cars, modified vehicles, vehicle clearance.

Tracking and updates

Live GPS, driver contact info, text updates, status changes, delays.

Insurance and claims

Cargo coverage, deductibles, claim process, what is covered and what is not.

Top 6 questions we get

If you only read one section, read this one.

1

What does it cost?

Most mainland routes run $700 to $1500 for open, $1100 to $2200 for enclosed. Get an instant quote for your exact route.

2

How long does it take?

Pickup is 1 to 3 days. Transit is 2 to 7 days for mainland routes. Hawaii and Alaska take 8 to 21 days.

3

How do I pay?

$99 deposit at booking, balance to the driver on delivery. Cash, certified check, or a card swipe for the balance.

4

Is my car insured?

Yes, every carrier we dispatch carries cargo insurance, typically $100,000 per load.

5

What if the price goes up?

It does not. TruePrice means locked at booking. We eat any carrier rate movement, you pay the original quote.

6

Can I track my shipment?

Yes, live GPS plus driver name and phone number are in your shipment portal once a carrier is assigned.

Before you call us, have this ready

Speeds up the quote and the booking conversation.

  • 1Pickup ZIP code and rough address.
  • 2Delivery ZIP code and rough address.
  • 3Vehicle year, make, and model.
  • 4Whether the car runs and drives.
  • 5Earliest pickup date you can do.
  • 6Open or enclosed preference (most people pick open).
  • 7Any modifications, lifts, or low clearance.
  • 8Best phone number for the driver to reach you.

Still cannot find your answer

Call Shelly at (888) 780-6207. Seven days a week, real human, no phone tree, no hold music. She has the answer or she gets it from the right dispatcher fast.

You can also start an instant quote and our system will walk you through the questions in order. Either way, you are not stuck reading a website.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a car?

Most mainland routes run $700 to $1500 for open transport, $1100 to $2200 for enclosed. Hawaii starts around $1500, Alaska around $1800.

How long does shipping take?

Pickup is 1 to 3 days from your earliest available date. Mainland transit is 2 to 7 days. Hawaii is 8 to 14 days, Alaska is 10 to 21 days.

How does payment work?

$99 deposit locks the rate at booking. Balance is paid to the driver on delivery, accepted as cash, certified check, or a card swipe.

Is my car insured during transit?

Yes, every FMCSA carrier we dispatch carries cargo insurance, typically $100,000 per load. We verify before assignment.

What is TruePrice?

TruePrice means the quote is locked at booking. If the carrier rate moves, we cover the difference, not you.

Can I leave items in the car?

Most carriers allow up to 100 pounds of personal items below the window line. We recommend removing valuables and electronics.

What if my car does not run?

Inoperable vehicles can ship. The carrier needs a winch and steering must work. Tell us at quote time.

Can I track my car?

Yes, live GPS plus the driver's name and phone number are in your shipment portal once a carrier is assigned.

What happens if there is damage?

Note it on the delivery inspection, photograph it, call us. We open the claim directly with the carrier's insurance.

Do you ship to Hawaii or Alaska?

Yes, through port partners (Matson, Pasha) for Hawaii and Tacoma/Seattle ports for Alaska.

Are you a broker or carrier?

We are an FMCSA licensed broker. We dispatch vetted carriers to physically move your car.

Why is pickup a window?

Carriers route 6 to 10 cars on one trailer. The pickup window lets the driver fit your car into their route economically.

Can I pick the driver?

You can request open or enclosed, top load, or specific equipment. You cannot pick a specific driver, the dispatcher matches you to the right carrier for your route.

Do I need to be there for pickup?

Someone 18 or older needs to hand off the keys and sign the inspection. A family member, friend, or neighbor works.

How do I get started?

Get an instant quote at the top of the page or call Shelly at (888) 780-6207. Either way you have a real number in seconds.

Ready to ship?

Pick the path that fits how you want to move.

Get an instant quote

Real numbers from the live carrier load board, no email wall, no sales call.

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Track your shipment

Live GPS plus driver name and phone number, refreshed in real time.

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Talk to a human

Shelly and the crew answer the phone seven days a week.

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Related

How to ship a carHow auto transport worksTruePrice guaranteeCar shipping checklistOur advantageFraud prevention

Every auto transport service we run

Auto transport is not one product. A dealer moving forty units off an auction lane, a collector shipping a numbers matching car across the country, and a family sending one sedan ahead of a move are three different jobs that happen to use the same highways. They need different trailers, different insurance limits, different loading equipment, and different scheduling. Quoting all three the same way is how customers end up with a truck that cannot legally carry their vehicle. Pick the line below that matches what you are actually moving, and the quote comes back against the right equipment the first time.

By transport type

By vehicle

By who is shipping

Not sure which one fits? Call (888) 780-6207 and describe the vehicle and the route. A dispatcher will tell you which equipment it needs and what the lane is running, or start with an instant quote and adjust from there.

Auto transport coast to coast, state to state

We move vehicles in all fifty states, and the network is deepest where the freight already runs. Each state page below carries its own lane table, transit windows, and the local conditions that actually change a rate.

Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

South

Midwest

Mountain

Pacific

Browse every city we coverPopular lanes and live ratesHow state to state shipping worksCross country moves

Read before you book

Most complaints in this industry trace back to something the customer was never told: that the first quote was a placeholder, that the broker on the phone is not the company driving the truck, or that personal items in the trunk are not covered by cargo insurance. None of that is complicated once somebody explains it. These are the explainers we send customers before they book, written to be useful whether or not you ship with us.

Lock your rate today.

$99 deposit holds the carrier, balance on delivery.

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