How to Ship a Car for the Winter
You can ship a car for winter storage or a move, but you need to sort out who insures it the moment it leaves your driveway.
Call your insurer before the truck arrives
Shipping a car for the winter means handing it to a carrier that loads it onto a truck and drives or hauls it to another location, usually because the owner is heading somewhere warmer for the season and either doesn't want to drive the car there or doesn't want it sitting unused and uninsured back home.
The part that catches people off guard isn't the shipping company, it's their own policy. Your auto insurance was written for a car that's driven, parked, and maintained by you. Once it's on a truck for days, your insurer needs to know, both to confirm what's covered on that trip and to adjust the policy for a car that's sitting somewhere else for the winter.
What your own insurer covers while it's in transit
Most auto policies keep some coverage in force while the car is being shipped, since it's still your car and still insured by you. But what that coverage actually includes during a loss on a carrier's truck is worth confirming directly with your insurer. They can tell you whether your comprehensive coverage responds to damage that happens during transit, or whether that falls to the shipping company instead.
Reputable shipping companies carry their own cargo insurance that's meant to cover the car while it's in their custody. Ask for proof of that coverage before you book, and ask what it actually pays out for, since some policies have exclusions for existing damage or for certain kinds of loss. Walk around the car with the driver before it loads and note every scratch and dent on the inspection sheet both of you sign. That sheet is what settles any disagreement later about what happened on the truck and what didn't.
If you're storing the car somewhere else for the winter rather than driving it, ask your insurer about adjusting your coverage for that period. A car that sits unused somewhere else may need different protection than one you're driving daily, and your insurer can tell you what that looks like for your policy.
Where the car ends up changes what you need
If the car is going to sit in storage for the winter once it arrives, tell your insurer where it's stored and ask how that affects your rate and your coverage. Storage location can matter for comprehensive coverage, since it affects exposure to weather, theft, and other risks your insurer prices into the policy.
If instead you're shipping the car to a winter residence where you'll be driving it, your insurer needs to know that too. Your policy may be rated in part based on where the car is principally garaged, and a seasonal change in location is something to disclose rather than assume doesn't matter.
Either way, ask your insurer directly what they need from you, both before the car ships and once it's arrived at wherever it's going. The answer depends on your policy and your insurer's own rules, so it's worth getting it from them in writing rather than guessing.
Questions people ask about this
How far in advance should I book a car shipping company for winter?
Book as early as you reasonably can once you know your travel dates, since winter is a busy season for shippers moving cars south and carriers can fill up. Reputable companies will give you a realistic pickup window rather than an exact date, since weather and other pickups on the route can shift the schedule.
Does my car need to be running to be shipped?
Most auto transport carriers prefer the car to be in running condition, since it needs to be driven on and off the truck. If your car isn't running, tell the shipping company when you book, since they'll need different equipment to load it and that changes what they can offer you.
Should I leave gas in the tank before shipping my car?
Carriers generally ask for a partially filled tank, enough to load and unload the car but not so much that it adds unnecessary weight. Ask your specific carrier what they prefer, since practices vary by company.
What should I remove from the car before it ships?
Take out personal belongings, toll transponders, and garage door openers, since most shipping companies don't cover personal items left inside the car and some won't transport a car with loose items in it at all. Ask the carrier directly what their policy is before you pack anything in.
Will my insurance rate change if I store my car somewhere different for the winter?
It depends on your insurer and how your policy rates the car's location, so ask directly rather than assume. Some insurers adjust rates based on where a car is garaged or stored, and telling them about a seasonal change is part of keeping your policy accurate.
Before the car ships, see what it would cost to insure it at its winter address.
Call your insurer this week and tell them the car is being shipped, where it's going, and whether it will sit in storage or be driven once it arrives. Ask what your policy covers during transit and whether anything needs to change for the winter. Get proof of cargo insurance from the shipping company before you book, and ask what it covers and what it doesn't. Do a walk-around inspection with the driver at pickup and keep a signed copy of the condition report. If the car is heading somewhere you'll be driving it, ask your insurer whether the garaging location needs to be updated on the policy.
