Have questions about
shipping your car?
We have answers to the most frequently asked auto transport questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, contact our dedicated representatives at 303-524-9122 to help you understand the process, from start-to-finish.
Summit Auto Transport ships vehicles from one location to another, from door to door. We offer a variety of different services because particular requirements can call for different services and levels of protection. We take care of all the transport and logistics arrangements and scheduling with the carrier directly.
We provide both open and enclosed car shipping, to suit varying needs. Open car shipping is typically the preferred choice for standard car shipping and offers an efficient and cost-effective solution. For car shipping services that require more protection and security, enclosed shipping is typically preferred.
Open car shipping is typically conducted by hauling vehicles with two decks, securely holding vehicles on both levels to optimize the transport process – you’ve probably seen these traveling along the highway! Enclosed car shipping is often used for luxury, classic, or rare cars as they provide an additional level of protection. Cars are placed inside an enclosed trailer controlled by a large truck.
We offer both open and enclosed car shipping options. And if you want the lowest car shipping cost, an open haulage vehicle will securely transport your car on a trailer, often with other cars. An enclosed shipping service transports your car within a secure walled trailer. Both methods are controlled by a large haulage vehicle, often eighteen-wheeler trucks.
We can ship vehicles of all shapes and sizes nationwide, including sedans, pickup trucks, classic cars, rare cars, SUVs, oversized vehicles, motorcycles, construction vehicles, and many more. We have a personal approach to vehicle transport, so whatever type of vehicle you have we can find an affordable method to ship your vehicle.
Top load service is related to open car transport and refers to placing your vehicle on the upper deck of the trailer. This position is considered preferable to the bottom deck, which might be susceptible to fluid leaking from the cars above them.
Your vehicle is insured under the carrier’s cargo insurance for any damage due to negligence. It is important to note that many instances are not covered by their insurance due to no-fault. Things like road debris, low hanging trees, acts of nature can be a concern to owners during transit, which is why we recommend having your own insurance coverage on your vehicle while it’s out of your hands. Feel free to reach out to find out more details about insurance coverage and the best approach to put your mind at ease.
Car shipping quotes are provided through our online form you can find here, or if you would prefer to call and discuss your options, please feel free to reach us on 303 524 9122, where we’ll offer you a customized quote – we’re known to answer at any time you need us! All you need to know is the location of origin and destination, the type of vehicle, and the shipping date.
We consider the essential factors in your shipping order to establish a fair and affordable cost, personalized to each order. These factors include the distance between the origin and destination, the condition and type of your vehicle, other inventory along that same route and the shipping date. You can then select your preferred transport method to arrive at a final cost.
There are many ways for you to pay the transport costs, including at the time of booking your order or to the driver upon delivery. For your deposit, or if you’d like to pre-pay the full cost, we accept electronic bank transfers, all major credit cards, checks, and postal money orders.
Yes, we accept all major credit cards, whether you pay online by following your quote link or through a phone call with us. Paying in full and upfront with a credit or debit card provides a convenient payment option, but you can also pay the deposit with your credit card and the rest by cash or certified funds upon delivery.
The earlier you can schedule your transport the better! We work hard to meet our customers’ requirements every time but to ensure that we have the capacity to fulfill your needs, try to book at least two to three weeks ahead. Plus, if you have any concerns about your time requirements or last-minute scheduling requests, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss.
Some factors will affect the carrier we use and the quote for your order. It’s important to know the address of the origin and destination for your car transport, the type of vehicle, and the date it’ll be ready for transport. We also need a contact name and number to manage the order and update you on its progress.
That’s fine! Just the zip code and city are enough for us to plan the transport and place your order until you have an exact address to update, which will be required for accurate delivery.
Unfortunately, no. If there are any details about timing you require, you can quickly and easily chat with us, and we’ll answer your questions.
Our services operate door-to-door, which means we can pick up your car from wherever it’s currently located and drop it off as close to the receiving door as possible. In particular circumstances, like when legality means our carriers are restricted from entering residential areas, we may have to select a pick-up or delivery location that’s suitable. We work hard to make this as convenient for you as possible.
While it doesn’t have to be you, someone is required to release and accept the vehicle to the carrier because vehicles require initial and final inspection reports. This doesn’t have to be the owner of the vehicle though, so as long as you have someone you trust over the age of 18 to hand over or accept the vehicle, that’s completely fine.
The Bill of Lading is a document that makes the transit of your vehicle possible. It details the condition of the vehicle and outlines pre-existing damage at the time of pick-up, which is important in the unlikely event that damages the vehicle during transit. The Bill of Lading also acts as a record of the transport agreement and helps you issue an insurance claim if necessary.
Transit times depend on the distance to be traveled, and every five hundred miles typically adds on a day of transit time. A transport distance of 1,500 miles is estimated to take three to five days.
Maneuvering your car into position and to the pickup and delivery locations requires a little bit of driving, so we recommend keeping at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your vehicle.
Yes. You might want to ship some items with the vehicle, which is completely fine as long as the weight stays under a hundred pounds. Also, please make sure you leave these items in the back seat or trunk and note that they aren’t covered under the transport insurance.
Cleaning the inside and outside of your car will make the process much easier as the driver can easily inspect the car before and after. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t leave any personal items in your car that you don’t want to be shipped.
Yes, we have transport service options for inoperable vehicles. It can take additional operations to winch the vehicle in and out of position upon the transport vehicle, so costs may reflect this operation.
Of course! We specialize in a range of auto shipping services and we have the capacity to ship oversized and modified vehicles through our network of carriers.
No, as they’re not driving on the road, we just need the keys and the vehicle.
