FAQ's — ASAP Auto Shipping

Question 1

Can I ship personal items or household goods inside my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

ASAP permits up to 100 pounds of clothing only inside the transported vehicle. For a passenger vehicle with a separate trunk, the clothing must be securely packed and confined to the trunk. For an SUV, crossover, or hatchback, the clothing must be securely packed in the rear cargo/hatch area and remain below window level. Nothing may be placed on, under, behind, or between the seats or anywhere in the passenger seating area. Nothing may obstruct the view through any window. Household goods, furniture, electronics, appliances, tools, valuables, hazardous materials, firearms, illegal items, and other personal property are not included in ASAP's clothing allowance. Never leave cash, jewelry, medications, important documents, or valuable or irreplaceable property inside the vehicle. Personal property may not be covered by the Motor Carrier's cargo insurance. The 100-pound clothing allowance is an ASAP company policy and is not represented as a federal household-goods allowance.

Question 2

What size Carrier is best for transporting my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

There is no single "best" Carrier size. Vehicles can be transported on small trailers carrying one or two vehicles or larger multi-car transporters. The appropriate equipment depends upon the vehicle, route, pickup and delivery locations, equipment availability, and transportation requirements. ASAP concentrates on the Carrier's authority, insurance, equipment suitability, route, availability, and ability to safely transport your vehicle — not simply how many vehicles fit on the trailer.

Question 3

How long does auto transport take?

Accepted Answer

Transit time depends on distance, route, weather, traffic, driver hours-of-service requirements, pickup and delivery schedules, and other transportation conditions. As a general planning guide: short-distance shipments may take approximately 1–3 days; medium-distance shipments may take approximately 3–6 days; cross-country shipments commonly take approximately 7–14 days. These are estimates only. Your assigned Motor Carrier can provide more specific transit information after dispatch.

Question 4

Why does an SUV, pickup truck, or oversized vehicle cost more than a sedan?

Accepted Answer

Vehicle size and weight affect both trailer space and the amount of weight a transporter can legally carry. SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, oversized vehicles, lifted vehicles, and vehicles with oversized tires or modifications may occupy more trailer space or add additional weight compared with a standard passenger sedan. There is no universal $50 or $100 surcharge. The actual difference depends on the vehicle, route, Carrier availability, equipment required, fuel costs, and the transportation market.

Question 5

How does auto transport work?

Accepted Answer

You provide ASAP with information about your vehicle, route, availability, and transportation requirements. ASAP then works to locate and verify an authorized Motor Carrier suitable for your shipment. When your Carrier is assigned, ASAP provides the Carrier information and transportation details. The Carrier coordinates arrival with the pickup contact. At pickup: verify the Carrier's identity, inspect the vehicle with the driver, make sure existing damage is documented, review the Bill of Lading/condition report before signing, and take photographs for your records. At delivery: inspect the vehicle before signing, compare its condition with the pickup inspection, document any new damage, take photographs, sign the delivery Bill of Lading after completing your inspection, and make the authorized COD payment when applicable.

Question 6

What should I do if my vehicle arrives with damage?

Accepted Answer

Inspect the vehicle carefully BEFORE signing the delivery Bill of Lading or condition report. If you believe new transportation-related damage occurred: point out the damage to the driver immediately, clearly note the damage on the delivery Bill of Lading/condition report, take clear photographs, obtain a copy of the signed paperwork, keep your original pickup inspection and photographs, and notify ASAP immediately. ASAP will assist by providing available Carrier, insurance, and transportation documentation. Damage claims involving physical transportation are generally handled with the Motor Carrier and/or its insurance company. ASAP does not determine whether an insurer will accept a particular claim. DO NOT SIGN A DAMAGE-FREE DELIVERY RECEIPT UNTIL YOU HAVE INSPECTED YOUR VEHICLE.

Question 7

How does a pickup window work?

Accepted Answer

Your First Available Pickup Date is the first day your vehicle is actually ready to be released to a Carrier. It is not necessarily a guaranteed pickup date. Unless ASAP specifically provides a written guaranteed service, pickup dates and windows are estimates. Carrier schedules can change because of traffic, weather, previous deliveries, mechanical issues, driver hours, and other transportation conditions. DO NOT GIVE ASAP A FIRST AVAILABLE PICKUP DATE UNLESS YOUR VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY BE READY FOR PICKUP ON THAT DATE. Once ASAP assigns an authorized Carrier that is ready, willing, and able to perform the transportation during the agreed pickup period, the vehicle must be available for release. If the Customer cannot release the vehicle for a Customer-related reason, the deposit/broker fee becomes earned and nonrefundable.

Question 8

How do I know the truck picking up my vehicle is actually my assigned Carrier?

Accepted Answer

ASAP will identify the Motor Carrier assigned to your shipment. Before releasing the vehicle, make sure the transportation company arriving for pickup matches the Carrier information ASAP provided. DO NOT RELEASE YOUR VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT CARRIER OR TRANSPORT COMPANY JUST BECAUSE A DRIVER SAYS THEY WERE "SENT" BY YOUR ASSIGNED CARRIER. ASAP does not authorize its assigned Motor Carriers to re-broker, subcontract, transfer, or tender your vehicle to another transporter. IF THE INFORMATION DOESN'T MATCH, DO NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE. CALL ASAP FIRST.

Question 9

What insurance covers my vehicle during transport?

Accepted Answer

There is no universal primary-versus-secondary answer that applies to every transportation loss. Coverage depends upon the circumstances and the actual insurance policies involved. ASAP requires contracted Carriers to maintain at least: $1,000,000 Commercial Automobile Liability and $250,000 Motor Truck Cargo coverage applicable to automobiles being transported. Higher cargo limits may be required for certain vehicles. Every insurance policy contains its own terms, conditions, deductibles, exclusions, and limitations. Your personal automobile insurance may also provide coverage depending upon your policy. Contact your insurer if you want to determine what coverage your personal policy provides while your vehicle is being transported.

Question 10

How and when do I pay for auto transport?

Accepted Answer

When you place an order and provide a credit or debit card, a temporary authorization may be processed to verify that the payment method is valid. This authorization is not your deposit/broker fee. ASAP DOES NOT CHARGE THE DEPOSIT/BROKER FEE WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER. THE APPLICABLE DEPOSIT/BROKER FEE IS CHARGED AFTER AN AUTHORIZED MOTOR CARRIER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO YOUR VEHICLE. The remaining balance is paid according to the payment terms shown on your order. For COD-Customer shipments, authorized payment methods are: Cash, Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Zelle. DO NOT SEND PAYMENT TO A DRIVER'S PERSONAL ZELLE ACCOUNT. If the price or payment information doesn't match what ASAP provided or confirmed, call ASAP first.

Question 11

What does door-to-door auto transport mean?

Accepted Answer

Door-to-door means the Carrier attempts to pick up and deliver your vehicle as close as legally and safely possible to the addresses provided. It does not guarantee that a large auto transporter can pull directly into your driveway. A nearby meeting location may be necessary because of narrow streets, low-hanging trees, weight restrictions, tight turns, gated communities, low bridges, overhead obstructions, or unsafe loading/unloading conditions. Terminal-to-terminal transportation generally requires the vehicle to be dropped off and/or collected from a designated transportation or storage facility. ASAP primarily arranges door-to-door transportation because we prefer to minimize unnecessary handling and storage of Customer vehicles whenever reasonably possible.

Question 12

How do I prepare my vehicle for transport?

Accepted Answer

Before pickup, prepare the vehicle so it can be safely loaded, transported, inspected, and unloaded. You should: remove prohibited personal belongings, secure or remove loose exterior accessories, retract or remove antennas when appropriate, secure convertible tops and removable panels, make sure tires are reasonably inflated, make sure the battery is charged, address significant fluid leaks, disable alarms or provide instructions, provide all necessary keys/remotes/key cards/fobs, and keep approximately one-quarter tank of fuel or less. For electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, make sure the vehicle has sufficient battery charge for normal operation, loading, unloading, and reasonable repositioning. ASAP requires pickup and delivery during daylight hours so the vehicle can be properly inspected. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE: 100 POUNDS MAXIMUM — CLOTHING ONLY — TRUNK OR REAR CARGO AREA ONLY — NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEATING AREA AND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING ANY WINDOW.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to ship your vehicle?

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can I ship personal items or household goods inside my vehicle?

2What size Carrier is best for transporting my vehicle?

3How long does auto transport take?

4Why does an SUV, pickup truck, or oversized vehicle cost more than a sedan?

5How does auto transport work?

6What should I do if my vehicle arrives with damage?

7How does a pickup window work?

8How do I know the truck picking up my vehicle is actually my assigned Carrier?

9What insurance covers my vehicle during transport?

10How and when do I pay for auto transport?

11What does door-to-door auto transport mean?

12How do I prepare my vehicle for transport?

Ready to ship your vehicle?