Car shipping questions, answered straight

For a running sedan or SUV on an open carrier, most 1,000–2,500 mile moves land between [LOW] and [HIGH] depending on the route, the season, and whether the truck is passing your ZIP or has to detour to it. Anyone who gives you a number without looking at this week's rates on your route is guessing, and guessing low on purpose. Ours is built from what carriers are actually paid on your route right now, then we put it in writing. What drives the price.

Most prices come back online in a few minutes. If yours needs a second look, a person checks it. Either way, a real person on our team calls you to confirm the details, talk through your dates, and answer anything you want to ask. Rather talk first? Call (877) 421-1284 and a person answers.

Because it was never a real price. The broker posted your car on the load board for less than any truck would take, waited, then called you with "the carrier needs more." Move.org's mystery shoppers found the average jump was $277. Our quote is guaranteed in writing with no cap. If a truck costs more than we quoted, that's our problem, not yours.

Not with us. Ever. You pay Mr. Car Shipper by credit card at pickup. We hold the money until your car is delivered and you've inspected it. The carrier gets paid after. That's the whole reason we have leverage if something goes wrong, and the reason a driver never has your car and your cash at the same time.

Yes. A lot of families ship both, and a lot of families drive one and ship the other. Put both cars on one quote and we'll try to get them on the same truck. Shipping three or more? Ask about our multi-car pricing.

You note it on the delivery inspection and call us the same day. We're still holding the carrier's pay, which is why the claim gets handled instead of ignored. Then we help you pick the fastest path to a repair: usually the carrier's cargo policy, but often we'll recommend filing with your own auto insurer first. You get the car fixed sooner and for a smaller deductible, and your insurer collects from the carrier afterward. If the carrier's insurer denies or can't cover a legitimate claim, our own $100,000 contingent cargo policy is behind it.

Yes, and unlike everyone else, you're tracking the car, not the driver's phone. With MCS LiveTrack we mail you a small GPS device. It goes in the glovebox before pickup. You see where your car is the whole way, from the hotel, the airport or the new kitchen floor. The driver can't switch it off. LiveTrack is an add-on service. How LiveTrack works.

Three to four weeks is ideal, especially May through September. Give us the first day the car can go and the day you need it, and we'll build the pickup around your closing, your lease, your container and your flight. Shorter notice is usually fine. It just costs more, and we'll tell you that up front instead of after.

A broker, and we'll say it plainly, because the ones who won't are the ones to worry about. No single carrier covers every route. A broker's job is to find the right truck and stand between you and it. The difference is what the broker does with that position: we hold the money, own the insurance, monitor the carrier daily, and can put a tracker in your car. Licensed and bonded, USDOT 2310535, MC 787159.

No. You book, and nothing is charged. Your card is charged for the full transport on pickup day, and we hold that money until your car is delivered.

Yes. The price on your contract is the price you pay. It doesn't move because a carrier "wants more," because fuel went up, or because the truck is late. We've put it in writing for about 20 years.

No cap. Some companies advertise a price lock that only covers up to $300 of their fee. If a truck costs more than we quoted, we pay the difference. All of it.

Your quote is good for 10 days. Book within that window and the price is locked. After you've booked, we will not change your price.

About 5 to 10 days after delivery, once the paperwork is in and there's no damage claim. If there is one, we're still holding his pay. That's your leverage.

It's a backup policy. If the carrier's insurer denies a legitimate claim, or can't cover it, a contingent policy can step in. Ours is owned by Mr. Car Shipper and covers up to $100,000.

Other companies' "GPS tracking" is usually an app on the driver's phone, or a driver checking in. The driver controls it. He can turn it off. LiveTrack tracks the car itself, and the driver doesn't know it's there.

Yes. Before pickup we tell you the carrier's name and USDOT number. You see who it is before he sees your car.

Clean the car so the inspection is accurate, take your own photos, leave about a quarter tank of gas, remove toll tags and personal items, and make sure someone with the keys is there for pickup. If you added LiveTrack, put the tracker in the glovebox.

Carriers generally don't allow personal belongings in cars, and they aren't covered by cargo insurance. Plan to move them with your household goods.

Never. When you fill out our form, one company sees it. Us.

Yes. A car that doesn't run needs a truck with a winch and extra time to load and unload. Tell us up front and we'll quote it right the first time.

Yes. Enclosed transport protects classic, exotic, low-clearance and high-value cars. When it's worth it.

Yes. Ask and we'll send an itemized invoice for your car shipment you can hand to HR. How to budget the car on a lump sum.

Add up gas, hotels, meals, days off work and wear on the car, then compare it to a written quote. For 500+ mile moves the numbers are often close, and shipping gives you back days. Use the drive-or-ship calculator.

Please do. We'll take care of them, and keep you in the loop if they want us to. How it works for agents.