What happens at the end of your auto transport, and how do you need to prepare for your car delivery?

The most important thing to know is that you (or a friend) should be prepared to meet the carrier directly.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be you or the owner of the car, but someone you trust should meet the carrier to upon car delivery.

We don’t recommend that you ask the carrier to leave the car unattended; for everyone’s protection, it’s best if you or a friend is there on delivery to document the condition of the car. Someone will have to sign off on the Bill of Lading, and pictures with the driver are a great idea too.

This documentation can be critical in a successful insurance claim in the unlikely event that you experience damage.  (Most folks don’t ever need to use that documentation, but it’s much better to be safe than sorry.)

I created a short video that explains this paperwork in more detail, too, it's less than a minute and you can watch right here:

Aside from checking the car's condition, you will be making your final payment to the carrier on car delivery.

Industry standard is payment in cash or certified funds (money order, cashier’s check), directly to the driver after he or she unloads your vehicle. That’s another reason why you or a trusted friend will have to meet the carrier.

So, since you have to meet the carrier, it's best to leave some wiggle room in your schedule on the estimated delivery day. Or, you may want to have a back up contact person to cover hours you may be unavailable yourself.

While your driver will give you an estimate for his/her arrival, sometimes they can be delayed because of traffic or weather or issues with another customer. Of course, you won’t have to wait around all day for the carrier arrival, but it’s best if you don’t plan a major appointment for delivery day – just in case.

If you have any other questions about car delivery or any other phase of the car transport process, please give us a call. One of our friendly representatives is happy to explain it all: 866-221-1664. Or you can get a free estimate by filling out our simple online quote form.