Frequently Asked Questions

Carrier rates float on supply and demand just like airline tickets. January is peak snowbird season when thousands of vehicles head from the Midwest and Northeast down to Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Carriers fill up fast and charge a premium. By late March traffic reverses and those same lanes often drop 15-25%. We quote live market rates, so price shifts between months are completely normal.

Carriers price by the space your vehicle takes on the trailer, not just weight. A Honda Civic fits neatly on either deck and usually costs the baseline rate. A full-size Suburban or a lifted truck takes a top-deck slot and may not clear the upper rack, so expect $150 to $350 more for that same route. Oversized vehicles like dually trucks or passenger vans sometimes need flatbed transport, which can double the rate.

Two to three weeks is the sweet spot. That gives us enough time to match your load with a carrier already running your lane, which means they're not deadheading and can offer a better price. Last-minute bookings (under 5 days) usually cost 10-20% more because we're competing against other brokers for the same limited trailer spots. During peak seasons, booking 3 to 4 weeks out is worth it.

Yes. Our expedited service guarantees carrier assignment within 24 to 48 hours and prioritizes your vehicle for the first available truck heading your direction. It typically shaves 2 to 4 days off total transit time. The premium runs $200 to $500 on top of the standard rate depending on distance. If you're relocating for a job start date or closing on a home, expedited is usually worth every penny.

When you book, we post your vehicle on the central load board that licensed carriers across the country monitor. Drivers heading your direction bid on the job. Assignment happens when a carrier accepts the route, price, and timeline. On busy corridors like Phoenix to LA, it can happen in 24 hours. On rural or less-traveled lanes, it may take 5 to 7 days because fewer trucks pass through those areas regularly.

For an $80K vehicle, $250,000 in cargo coverage is more than sufficient to cover a total loss, which is extremely rare. The $250K limit is per vehicle, not per trailer. If your car is valued above $250K, like a collectible Porsche or a vintage Ferrari, we'd recommend an enclosed carrier with a higher-limit policy and potentially a supplemental inland marine policy from your own insurer. Call us at (602) 860-6894 and we'll walk through the numbers for your specific car.

The driver will note it on the BOL at pickup, and both of you sign acknowledging that damage existed before loading. This protects the carrier from false claims. If you disagree with what the driver recorded, write your objection directly on the form and take timestamped photos. At delivery, only new damage not already listed on the origin BOL is eligible for a claim against the carrier's insurance.

Call us at (602) 860-6894 within 24 hours of delivery. We'll help you file directly with the carrier's insurance company. You'll need your signed origin and delivery BOLs, timestamped photos from both ends, and a repair estimate from a licensed body shop. Most carriers respond within 30 days per federal guidelines, and straightforward claims for things like bumper scuffs or mirror damage typically settle in 45 to 90 days. Larger claims involving paint damage or panel dents can take longer if an adjuster needs to inspect in person.

Absolutely, and this isn't about vanity. A clean car makes pre-existing scratches, chips, and dents visible during the pickup inspection. If your car is caked in mud or dust, the driver might miss a scratch that was already there, and you could end up in a he-said-she-said situation at delivery. A quick hand wash the day before pickup is one of the cheapest forms of insurance you can buy.

Because they're quoting a price no carrier will actually accept. The broker collects your deposit, posts the load on the board at a below-market rate, and nobody bids on it. A week later they call to say the price went up. This bait-and-switch tactic is the number one complaint filed with the FMCSA. If a quote seems too good compared to 3 or 4 other companies, it almost certainly is. We price based on what carriers are actually charging today, not what sounds good on a sales call.

Every legitimate broker needs an active MC (Motor Carrier) number and a USDOT number. Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, search their company name, and confirm their operating authority shows "ACTIVE." Also check the broker bond or trust status, which must be at least $75,000. If any of those fields show "revoked," "inactive," or "not authorized," walk away. National Auto Transport's credentials have been active since 2018, and we're happy to share our numbers upfront.

Yes, and here's why. Carrier insurance covers the vehicle itself, not your laptop, golf clubs, or boxes of clothes. If personal items get stolen or damaged, you have zero recourse. Beyond the insurance issue, extra weight costs the carrier fuel money and can push the trailer over DOT weight limits at inspection stations, resulting in fines. Leave floor mats and a spare tire. Everything else comes out.

We collect a booking deposit of $150 to $250 by credit card when you confirm your order. The remaining balance goes directly to the carrier driver at delivery, payable by cash, cashier's check, or money order. Some carriers accept credit cards at delivery, but most prefer guaranteed funds. You'll know the full breakdown before you commit to anything. No hidden fees, no surprise surcharges at the end.

Standard car haulers are 75 to 80 feet long and need about 14 feet of vertical clearance. If your street has tight turns, cul-de-sacs, overhanging branches, or low power lines, the driver won't be able to safely maneuver. In those cases we'll arrange a nearby meeting point like a grocery store parking lot, gas station, or wide intersection within a few miles of your address. There's no extra charge for this, it's just a logistics adjustment.

We move inoperable vehicles regularly. The driver needs a winch or forklift to load a car that can't roll under its own power, which adds $125 to $250 to the total depending on the vehicle's weight and the loading situation. Tell us upfront so we can dispatch a carrier equipped for the job. Vehicles with flat tires, seized brakes, or dead transmissions all qualify as inoperable, even if the engine technically starts.

Drivers park in secured truck stops, weigh station lots, or carrier yards with surveillance and lighting. Your vehicle is strapped down with 4-point wheel nets and ratchet straps that meet DOT tie-down regulations. Theft from loaded car carriers is extremely rare because the cars are physically locked onto the trailer and can't be driven off without unloading equipment. The carrier's cargo insurance covers your vehicle 24/7 from pickup to delivery.

If we haven't assigned a carrier yet, date changes are free and easy. Just call us at (602) 860-6894. Once a carrier is assigned and rolling toward your location, rescheduling may cost $50 to $150 depending on how much it disrupts the driver's route. If you need to cancel entirely before carrier assignment, we'll refund your full deposit. After assignment, the deposit is typically non-refundable because the carrier already committed truck space to your load.

We work with active-duty service members and military families on PCS moves constantly. Most bases allow carrier access through the commercial vehicle gate with advance coordination. We'll need your base name, the gate procedures, and a point of contact on base who can authorize vehicle entry. Some installations like Fort Huachuca or Luke AFB require 48-hour advance notice for commercial vehicle access. Contact our team and we'll handle the base coordination for you.