Is There a Weight Limit for Shipping a Car?

Before signing on the dotted line to have your car shipped across the country, it’s important to note a few special laws and regulations regarding auto shipment. If you are moving across the country, it might seem like the perfect plan to load up your vehicle with all of your belongings and stick it on an auto carrier. After all, you would save on renting a moving truck and you could kill two birds with one stone, right? Wrong! There are laws and regulations regarding the weight of your vehicle for shipment so don’t get caught paying hefty fines. Instead, familiarize yourself with the federal government’s weight limit for shipping a car. 

According to federal law, there are weight limits and regulations regarding commercial vehicles. If a commercial vehicle operator is in violation of these weight regulations they will be subject to a fine. This means that the fine will be passed on to you if your vehicle is not in line with the weight requirements. The total permissible weight of a cargo vehicle is dependent upon the number of axles on the transporting vessel. Drivers are required to weigh their trucks at certain weigh stations to ensure they are in compliance with the law. 

When your vehicle is being shipped, it is never actually weighed prior to loading it onto the vessel. The weight of your vehicle is determined by the make and model of the car and an extra 100 lbs is added to the estimated weight. This is why filling your car with all of your personal belongings is not a good idea. You don’t want to add any additional weight to your car that could cause the driver to exceed his weight limit. Not only is it illegal for the driver to exceed weight regulations, but it is dangerous to transport a load that is too heavy. The weight of your vehicle is definitely important so be mindful of weight restrictions when shipping your vehicle.