Insurance when you ship a car
The carrier's insurance comes first. Your paperwork decides whether it pays.
When a car travels on a transporter, the transport company is responsible for it. Its insurance is the first place to claim for damage in transit. Your own policy is a backup whose role depends on your coverage and on the insurer.
Before you book
Interstate carriers and brokers are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can look up a company's registration on the FMCSA's website before you book.
- Ask for the carrier's certificate of insurance and check it shows cargo coverage, not only liability.
- Ask what the cargo limit is per vehicle and what deductible, if any, you'd pay.
- Check whether the booking site is a broker. If it is, find out which carrier will actually move the car.
- Read what the contract says about damage from weather, road debris and items left in the car.
At pickup and delivery
The inspection report, often called the bill of lading, is the key document. Note every existing scratch and dent at pickup, photograph the car from all sides, and inspect it again before you sign at delivery. Damage you don't note on delivery is much harder to claim.
Where your own policy fits
Comprehensive coverage on your own policy may respond to some kinds of damage in transit, but many insurers expect the carrier to pay first. Tell your insurer the car is being shipped. Don't cancel your policy while the car is in transit; you'll need it on arrival, and a gap can cost you later.
Common questions
Possibly, under comprehensive coverage, but the transport company's cargo insurance is usually expected to pay first. Check both before you ship.
Get the carrier's certificate of insurance, photograph the car, note existing damage on the inspection report, and remove personal items, which carriers usually don't cover.
It's better not to. You'll need coverage when the car arrives, and a lapse can raise your future rates.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
Sources
- Protect Your Move, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Checked 23 September 2026.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC connects you with licensed insurance professionals. Nothing here binds coverage.