Home Blog If Your Car Is Damaged During Transport — What to Do
If Your Car Is Damaged During Transport — What to Do
Document condition at pickup and delivery. Cargo coverage is the assigned carrier’s policy — ask for the certificate.
Published 2026-09-20 · First-party guide
Most shipments arrive without a claim. When something is wrong at delivery, the useful work happened at pickup: photos, notes, and a condition report the driver and you both see.
Before the truck shows up
Walk around the vehicle. Photograph every side, the roof if you can, wheels, glass, and any existing scratch or dent. Note those marks on the inspection form. If the car already has a bumper scrape, write it down. A missing note is how a pre-existing mark turns into an argument.
Remove personal items. Cargo insurance is for the vehicle, not luggage in the trunk.
At pickup
The driver completes inspection documentation. Stay for it when you can. Photos where the carrier supports them help. If you cannot be there, a friend or building manager with the keys should still walk the form.
At delivery
Do the same walk-around before you sign. If you see new damage, mark it on the delivery inspection before the driver leaves. Then contact us through Need Help? with the photos, the bill of lading, and the shipment details.
What coverage actually is
Cargo coverage is the assigned carrier’s cargo insurance, typically $150,000+ on certificates we review — not a marketing number disconnected from the truck. Ask for the certificate on your shipment. We do not invent policy limits beyond what that carrier actually carries.
See car shipping insurance for the short version.
What this page is not
It is not a promise that every claim pays. It is the process: document, note it on the form, send us the file, and work the carrier’s cargo policy. Get A Quote if you are still deciding whether to ship.
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