Customer Reviews

What You Need to Know About Shipping Vehicles to Alaska

Posted on 03/01/2023


shipping-a-car-to-alaska
 

 

Your car will ship over the ocean

 
When you ship a car to Alaska, the vast majority of car shipping companies will actually ship your car on a cargo ship from the port at Seattle to Alaska rather than driving the shipment through Canada. There are two reasons for this:
 

  1. Several popular Alaskan shipping locations are only accessible or much more easily accessible via the ocean

  2. Crossing the Canadian border then crossing back over the American border greatly increases transit time as well as overall shipping cost

 
The only thing that really changes on your end since your car will be shipped for part of the journey on a cargo ship is the maximum amount of gas that you can have in it. For a car shipment that gets shipped entirely on the ground on a typical auto carrier, you just need to have enough gas in order for the car to be driven onto and off of the carrier. There is no amount that is “too much” so your gas tank could be full without causing an issue.
 
With a car shipment that makes all of or part of its journey on a cargo ship, you cannot have more than a quarter tank of gas due to fire regulations. However, your car will also need to be driven onto and off of the cargo ship as well as the auto carrier, so too much less than a quarter tank is not ideal either. You should do your best to get as close to a quarter tank of gas as possible when you are shipping a car to Alaska.
 

How long will it take to ship a car to Alaska

 
You might find yourself wondering how long a vehicle shipment to Alaska might take since it needs to be transported on a ship for a portion of the journey. The following are expected transit times for shipping a vehicle to Alaska from several popular origin locations throughout the United States:
 

Shipping Route
Estimated Alaska Vehicle Transport Duration
Seattle (the port location) to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 5 and 7 days
New York, New York to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 16 and 17 days
Atlanta, Georgia to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 16 and 17 days
Houston, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 12 and 13 days

 

How much does it cost to ship a car to Alaska?

 
When you ship your vehicle to Alaska, the overall price that it will cost will vary depending on multiple factors. How far you are shipping your car, when you are shipping it, the cost of gas at the time of your shipment, which shipping options you selected, and the size of your vehicle will all play a considerable role in the price you end up paying for your Alaskan car shipment. A car shipment to Alaska will cost between fifty cents and two dollars per mile. So, if you take the median price of that range at $0.75 and apply that to a shipment of exactly 1,700 miles, your auto transport cost for shipping to Alaska would total $1,275.
 
When you are looking for the cheapest way to ship a car to Alaska, try to avoid selecting any upgraded shipping options such as top loading . Also, try to give your Alaska auto transport company at least four weeks’ notice of your shipment because rates tend to remain lower when a maximum amount of spaces are available on a carrier. If you can, try to avoid shipping your car to Alaska during a busier time of the year such as over the summer.
 

factors that affect the price of car shipping

 

Shipping a car to Alaska military bases

 
Some people end up shipping a car to Alaska for a military move. If that is the case for you and your family, you might want to know if we can ship your car to a port near your new base. You also might want to know if you can possibly get any of the cost of your car shipment covered by the military. This tends to be on a case-by-case basis. Some things that could impact how much the military will cover of your car shipment to Alaska will be your base location, your rank/number of years of service and what your particular assignment designation is.
 
There are currently eight military bases located in Alaska which are mostly Coast Guard and Air Force bases due to Alaska’s ease of accessibility via the air and sea versus the ground. The following is a list of these bases with their closest port and the estimated distance between them:
 

Alaskan military base
Closest port to ship a car to
Estimated distance
Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson
Anchorage
Approximately 10 miles
Clear Space Force Station
Fairbanks
(No entry to base via vehicle)
Fort Wainwright
Fairbanks
Approximately 8 miles
Fort Greely
Fairbanks
Approximately 100 miles
ISC Kodiak Coast Guard Base
Kodiak
Approximately 6 miles
Marine Safety Unit Valdez Coast Guard Base
Valdez/center>
Approximately 0.5 miles
Eielson Air Force Base
fairbanks
Approximately 27 miles
USCG Juneau
Juneau
Approximately 1 mile

 

Picking your car up at the port in Alaska

 
When you ship a car to Alaska, it can be picked up at your home anywhere nationwide in the United States. However, you will need to pick it up at the port in Alaska. Unfortunately, there are an extremely small number of auto carrier trucks available in Alaska thus your car cannot be shipped any further than the port.
 
The following are the ports that you can get a vehicle shipped to in Alaska:
 

  • Anchorage

  • Dutch Harbor

  • Fairbanks

  • Valdez

  • Juneau

  • Kodiak

  • Sitka

  • Petersburg

  • Wrangell

  • Craig

  • Kake

  • Hoonah

  • Haines

  • Skagway

  • Yakutat

  • Cordova

  • Thorne Bay

  • Ketchikan

 

What you need to do with your car after you pick it up at the port in Alaska

 
After you pick your car up at the port, you will be able to easily obtain a temporary out-of-state registration for sixty days. After that, you must get your car officially registered in Alaska which means you will also need to change your car insurance so that it is current in Alaska. If you are moving permanently to Alaska, you will also need to get a new Alaska state license as well as new Alaska state license plates for your vehicle.
 

alaska-after-picking-your-car-up-at-the-port

 

Changing your car insurance

 
You should start this process by switching your car insurance coverage so that it is valid in Alaska. You can do this by:
 

  1. Do your research and make sure that your new coverage will meet minimum auto insurance coverage requirements in Alaska which are $50,000.00 for injuries or death to any one person, $100,000.00 for total injuries or death per collision, and $25,000.00 for property damages.

  2. Comparison shop between providers so that you will pay the lowest possible premium each month based on your past driving record.

  3. Complete the required documentation and get in touch with your insurance company to be sure that the change has officially been made before you arrive at the port to pick up your vehicle.

 

Getting your car registered in Alaska

 
Once you have changed your car insurance, you can then start the process of getting your car registered in Alaska. In order to get your car registered in Alaska:
 

  1. Have the car’s title ready

  2. Fill out the Application for Title and Registration

  3. Have a VIN inspection conducted by a DMV-approved individual

  4. Pay all applicable registration fees and taxes

 

Other possible ways to get a vehicle to Alaska

 
There are several other options in terms of transporting a vehicle to Alaska from another state. This includes shipping the car via plane, driving the car through Canada all the way to Alaska, towing it through Canada to Alaska, or having someone else drive it all the way there.
 
Shipping a car to Alaska on a plane as freight is technically an option for moving a car to Alaska but is not often used. You will need to drive your car to the airport or airfield as well as pick up from the airfield in Alaska after delivery. Choosing this method of transport is also typically at least twice as expensive as traditional car shipping.
 
When you choose to drive your car to Alaska from another US state, you will need to put several hundred if not thousands of miles on the car. You will also need to make a trip that will likely take several days’ time. Worst of all, you will need to cross the US/Canada border and the Canada/US border in order to successfully get your vehicle to Alaska. You will run into all the same issues if you choose to tow your car to Alaska. You will also end up spending even more time on the road if you tow your vehicle because of all the extra weight. You will also burn more fuel due to all the extra weight as well.
 
If you choose to hire someone to drive your car to Alaska, you will not only be putting hundreds or thousands of miles of depreciation on the car, but you will be leaving the safety of the car up to someone else driving it all that way. When you ship your car, another person will be responsible for your car, but it will only be driven onto and off of the car carrier and cargo ship. Otherwise, it will not be operated and will always be safely secured.
 

Alaska car shipping tips

 
As we mentioned earlier, your car’s fuel level is more important when you ship it to Alaska than it is when you ship it anywhere else due to fire regulations. So, do your very best to ensure you have as close to a quarter tank of gas as possible.
 
Before you book your shipment with one company, do some research online and read past customer reviews on websites like Google and Consumer Affairs. If they have a good rating and past customers seem generally satisfied, then you should go ahead and book your Alaska car transport.
 
In addition to the gas requirement, there will be a few other simple steps of preparation that you will need to take in order to be ready for your car shipment to Alaska. Prior to your auto transport driver arriving to pick up your vehicle you must:
 

  • Clean the outside of your vehicle so your car shipping driver will be able to quickly check for any damage that existed prior to shipping.

  • Ensure that your car is in good working order. This includes checking your battery, your engine and your tires. If you encounter any issues, be sure to get them repaired right away.

 
Always do your best to avoid shipping anything in your vehicle either on purpose or by accident. If these things end up lost or incur any damage when your vehicle ships, you will have to pay for a replacement or repair on your own. The vehicle transport coverage will unfortunately not cover anything that is not a physical part of the car.
 
If you are shipping in the winter or to an Alaska location located further north such as Fairbanks, you should consider weatherproofing your vehicle before you ship it. In Alaska, you will likely deal with a considerable amount of snow and ice out on the road, so it is important to be ready. In order to weatherproof a car for Alaska’s winter you should:
 

  1. Change your wiper blades – If you have regular or stock wiper blades on your vehicle, switch them to winter wiper blades.

  2. Change your tires – If you do not already have winter tires on, get them installed on your car. Winter tires will offer you much more traction on snow and ice than traditional tires will, which can make it much easier to drive throughout the winter in Alaska.

  3. Make sure your car battery is not about to die and can stand very cold temperatures – If your car battery is particularly old or if it has a low CCA number (cold cranking amps), it might not be suitable to use in Alaska. If this is the case, get the battery replaced with one that will perform well in harsh winter cold.

  4. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated – At the very least, ensure your tires are not significantly underinflated prior to shipping to Alaska in the winter. However, consider adding an extra (two to five) few PSI of pressure to your tires before shipping as well. Cold temperatures will cause your tires to lose a bit of pressure once the car arrives in Alaska.

  5. Replenish your vehicle’s fluids – You must also ensure that you check and replace or replenish any of the following automotive fluids prior to shipping to Alaska over the winter:
    • Transmission fluid
    • Brake fluid
    • Power steering fluid
    • Wiper fluid
    • Engine coolant

  6. Change your oil – Having fresh oil in your engine will help it resist cold weather better which will improve your engine’s ability to properly run.

 

shiping-a-car-to-alaska

 

Conclusion

 
Shipping a car to Alaska does mean your car will need to ship via the sea as well as on the ground. It will also mean that you will have to pick your car up at the port in Alaska rather than having it delivered to your door. Regardless, it will still be an incredibly simple process from the time that you start researching potential Alaska auto transporters to the moment you start driving your car away from the port. You will just need to choose a shipping company, book your shipment, do some quick preparation for your shipment and pick your car up at the port. If you need your car shipped to Alaska, you can always give RoadRunner Auto Transport a call at (888)777-2123 for a free instant quote!

Instant Car Shipping Quote

Calculate your car shipping rate in 3 easy steps!

1Shipment Details

What You Need to Know About Shipping Vehicles to Alaska

Posted on 03/01/2023


shipping-a-car-to-alaska
 

 

Your car will ship over the ocean

 
When you ship a car to Alaska, the vast majority of car shipping companies will actually ship your car on a cargo ship from the port at Seattle to Alaska rather than driving the shipment through Canada. There are two reasons for this:
 

  1. Several popular Alaskan shipping locations are only accessible or much more easily accessible via the ocean

  2. Crossing the Canadian border then crossing back over the American border greatly increases transit time as well as overall shipping cost

 
The only thing that really changes on your end since your car will be shipped for part of the journey on a cargo ship is the maximum amount of gas that you can have in it. For a car shipment that gets shipped entirely on the ground on a typical auto carrier, you just need to have enough gas in order for the car to be driven onto and off of the carrier. There is no amount that is “too much” so your gas tank could be full without causing an issue.
 
With a car shipment that makes all of or part of its journey on a cargo ship, you cannot have more than a quarter tank of gas due to fire regulations. However, your car will also need to be driven onto and off of the cargo ship as well as the auto carrier, so too much less than a quarter tank is not ideal either. You should do your best to get as close to a quarter tank of gas as possible when you are shipping a car to Alaska.
 

How long will it take to ship a car to Alaska

 
You might find yourself wondering how long a vehicle shipment to Alaska might take since it needs to be transported on a ship for a portion of the journey. The following are expected transit times for shipping a vehicle to Alaska from several popular origin locations throughout the United States:
 

Shipping Route
Estimated Alaska Vehicle Transport Duration
Seattle (the port location) to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 5 and 7 days
New York, New York to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 16 and 17 days
Atlanta, Georgia to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 16 and 17 days
Houston, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska
Between 12 and 13 days

 

How much does it cost to ship a car to Alaska?

 
When you ship your vehicle to Alaska, the overall price that it will cost will vary depending on multiple factors. How far you are shipping your car, when you are shipping it, the cost of gas at the time of your shipment, which shipping options you selected, and the size of your vehicle will all play a considerable role in the price you end up paying for your Alaskan car shipment. A car shipment to Alaska will cost between fifty cents and two dollars per mile. So, if you take the median price of that range at $0.75 and apply that to a shipment of exactly 1,700 miles, your auto transport cost for shipping to Alaska would total $1,275.
 
When you are looking for the cheapest way to ship a car to Alaska, try to avoid selecting any upgraded shipping options such as top loading . Also, try to give your Alaska auto transport company at least four weeks’ notice of your shipment because rates tend to remain lower when a maximum amount of spaces are available on a carrier. If you can, try to avoid shipping your car to Alaska during a busier time of the year such as over the summer.
 

factors that affect the price of car shipping

 

Shipping a car to Alaska military bases

 
Some people end up shipping a car to Alaska for a military move. If that is the case for you and your family, you might want to know if we can ship your car to a port near your new base. You also might want to know if you can possibly get any of the cost of your car shipment covered by the military. This tends to be on a case-by-case basis. Some things that could impact how much the military will cover of your car shipment to Alaska will be your base location, your rank/number of years of service and what your particular assignment designation is.
 
There are currently eight military bases located in Alaska which are mostly Coast Guard and Air Force bases due to Alaska’s ease of accessibility via the air and sea versus the ground. The following is a list of these bases with their closest port and the estimated distance between them:
 

Alaskan military base
Closest port to ship a car to
Estimated distance
Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson
Anchorage
Approximately 10 miles
Clear Space Force Station
Fairbanks
(No entry to base via vehicle)
Fort Wainwright
Fairbanks
Approximately 8 miles
Fort Greely
Fairbanks
Approximately 100 miles
ISC Kodiak Coast Guard Base
Kodiak
Approximately 6 miles
Marine Safety Unit Valdez Coast Guard Base
Valdez/center>
Approximately 0.5 miles
Eielson Air Force Base
fairbanks
Approximately 27 miles
USCG Juneau
Juneau
Approximately 1 mile

 

Picking your car up at the port in Alaska

 
When you ship a car to Alaska, it can be picked up at your home anywhere nationwide in the United States. However, you will need to pick it up at the port in Alaska. Unfortunately, there are an extremely small number of auto carrier trucks available in Alaska thus your car cannot be shipped any further than the port.
 
The following are the ports that you can get a vehicle shipped to in Alaska:
 

  • Anchorage

  • Dutch Harbor

  • Fairbanks

  • Valdez

  • Juneau

  • Kodiak

  • Sitka

  • Petersburg

  • Wrangell

  • Craig

  • Kake

  • Hoonah

  • Haines

  • Skagway

  • Yakutat

  • Cordova

  • Thorne Bay

  • Ketchikan

 

What you need to do with your car after you pick it up at the port in Alaska

 
After you pick your car up at the port, you will be able to easily obtain a temporary out-of-state registration for sixty days. After that, you must get your car officially registered in Alaska which means you will also need to change your car insurance so that it is current in Alaska. If you are moving permanently to Alaska, you will also need to get a new Alaska state license as well as new Alaska state license plates for your vehicle.
 

alaska-after-picking-your-car-up-at-the-port

 

Changing your car insurance

 
You should start this process by switching your car insurance coverage so that it is valid in Alaska. You can do this by:
 

  1. Do your research and make sure that your new coverage will meet minimum auto insurance coverage requirements in Alaska which are $50,000.00 for injuries or death to any one person, $100,000.00 for total injuries or death per collision, and $25,000.00 for property damages.

  2. Comparison shop between providers so that you will pay the lowest possible premium each month based on your past driving record.

  3. Complete the required documentation and get in touch with your insurance company to be sure that the change has officially been made before you arrive at the port to pick up your vehicle.

 

Getting your car registered in Alaska

 
Once you have changed your car insurance, you can then start the process of getting your car registered in Alaska. In order to get your car registered in Alaska:
 

  1. Have the car’s title ready

  2. Fill out the Application for Title and Registration

  3. Have a VIN inspection conducted by a DMV-approved individual

  4. Pay all applicable registration fees and taxes

 

Other possible ways to get a vehicle to Alaska

 
There are several other options in terms of transporting a vehicle to Alaska from another state. This includes shipping the car via plane, driving the car through Canada all the way to Alaska, towing it through Canada to Alaska, or having someone else drive it all the way there.
 
Shipping a car to Alaska on a plane as freight is technically an option for moving a car to Alaska but is not often used. You will need to drive your car to the airport or airfield as well as pick up from the airfield in Alaska after delivery. Choosing this method of transport is also typically at least twice as expensive as traditional car shipping.
 
When you choose to drive your car to Alaska from another US state, you will need to put several hundred if not thousands of miles on the car. You will also need to make a trip that will likely take several days’ time. Worst of all, you will need to cross the US/Canada border and the Canada/US border in order to successfully get your vehicle to Alaska. You will run into all the same issues if you choose to tow your car to Alaska. You will also end up spending even more time on the road if you tow your vehicle because of all the extra weight. You will also burn more fuel due to all the extra weight as well.
 
If you choose to hire someone to drive your car to Alaska, you will not only be putting hundreds or thousands of miles of depreciation on the car, but you will be leaving the safety of the car up to someone else driving it all that way. When you ship your car, another person will be responsible for your car, but it will only be driven onto and off of the car carrier and cargo ship. Otherwise, it will not be operated and will always be safely secured.
 

Alaska car shipping tips

 
As we mentioned earlier, your car’s fuel level is more important when you ship it to Alaska than it is when you ship it anywhere else due to fire regulations. So, do your very best to ensure you have as close to a quarter tank of gas as possible.
 
Before you book your shipment with one company, do some research online and read past customer reviews on websites like Google and Consumer Affairs. If they have a good rating and past customers seem generally satisfied, then you should go ahead and book your Alaska car transport.
 
In addition to the gas requirement, there will be a few other simple steps of preparation that you will need to take in order to be ready for your car shipment to Alaska. Prior to your auto transport driver arriving to pick up your vehicle you must:
 

  • Clean the outside of your vehicle so your car shipping driver will be able to quickly check for any damage that existed prior to shipping.

  • Ensure that your car is in good working order. This includes checking your battery, your engine and your tires. If you encounter any issues, be sure to get them repaired right away.

 
Always do your best to avoid shipping anything in your vehicle either on purpose or by accident. If these things end up lost or incur any damage when your vehicle ships, you will have to pay for a replacement or repair on your own. The vehicle transport coverage will unfortunately not cover anything that is not a physical part of the car.
 
If you are shipping in the winter or to an Alaska location located further north such as Fairbanks, you should consider weatherproofing your vehicle before you ship it. In Alaska, you will likely deal with a considerable amount of snow and ice out on the road, so it is important to be ready. In order to weatherproof a car for Alaska’s winter you should:
 

  1. Change your wiper blades – If you have regular or stock wiper blades on your vehicle, switch them to winter wiper blades.

  2. Change your tires – If you do not already have winter tires on, get them installed on your car. Winter tires will offer you much more traction on snow and ice than traditional tires will, which can make it much easier to drive throughout the winter in Alaska.

  3. Make sure your car battery is not about to die and can stand very cold temperatures – If your car battery is particularly old or if it has a low CCA number (cold cranking amps), it might not be suitable to use in Alaska. If this is the case, get the battery replaced with one that will perform well in harsh winter cold.

  4. Make sure that your tires are properly inflated – At the very least, ensure your tires are not significantly underinflated prior to shipping to Alaska in the winter. However, consider adding an extra (two to five) few PSI of pressure to your tires before shipping as well. Cold temperatures will cause your tires to lose a bit of pressure once the car arrives in Alaska.

  5. Replenish your vehicle’s fluids – You must also ensure that you check and replace or replenish any of the following automotive fluids prior to shipping to Alaska over the winter:
    • Transmission fluid
    • Brake fluid
    • Power steering fluid
    • Wiper fluid
    • Engine coolant

  6. Change your oil – Having fresh oil in your engine will help it resist cold weather better which will improve your engine’s ability to properly run.

 

shiping-a-car-to-alaska

 

Conclusion

 
Shipping a car to Alaska does mean your car will need to ship via the sea as well as on the ground. It will also mean that you will have to pick your car up at the port in Alaska rather than having it delivered to your door. Regardless, it will still be an incredibly simple process from the time that you start researching potential Alaska auto transporters to the moment you start driving your car away from the port. You will just need to choose a shipping company, book your shipment, do some quick preparation for your shipment and pick your car up at the port. If you need your car shipped to Alaska, you can always give RoadRunner Auto Transport a call at (888)777-2123 for a free instant quote!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.