Delivery is not finished when the vehicle is off the trailer. It is finished when you have signed an accurate receipt, and those are different moments.
The few minutes between the two are the most consequential of the whole shipment. Once you sign a clean receipt, you have agreed the vehicle arrived in the condition recorded at pickup.
In the First Ten Minutes
Walk the vehicle before signing. Compare against the pickup report and your own photographs.
Use the best light available. Not bright direct sun, which hides small damage.
Deal with the road film. Days on an open trailer leave a film that obscures light scratches. Rinse it if you can. If you cannot, write on the receipt that the inspection was limited by road film.
Check the odometer. It should be close to the pickup reading.
Check underneath and the wheels. Easy to skip, and where transport damage tends to appear.
Start the engine. Confirm it runs and nothing warns.
Record anything new on the receipt before you sign. This is the step that preserves a claim.
Then the Paperwork
Pay the balance by the agreed method. Keep the receipt.
Keep your copy of the delivery document. Photograph it.
Keep your pickup photographs. Until well past the claim deadline.
If you found damage:
Photograph it immediately. Wide shot for location, close shot for detail.
Notify your coordinator the same day. Claim windows are short and measured from delivery.
Do not repair it first. An unrepaired vehicle is the evidence.
Submit the pickup report, the delivery receipt, and the photographs together. A claim with all three is straightforward. A claim with none is an argument.
Before You Drive It Far
A vehicle that has sat on a trailer for days needs a few checks that have nothing to do with damage.
Check tire pressures. They will have drifted with temperature and time.
Check fluid levels. Particularly coolant and oil, before any long drive.
Reconnect or reactivate the toll transponder if you removed it.
Reset anything you disabled. Alarm, tracker, or aftermarket electronics.
Let it run for a few minutes before setting off. Especially after a long transit in cold weather.
Top up the fuel. You shipped it at about a quarter tank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report damage?
Short, and set by your agreement. Report it the same day.
What if I find damage after signing a clean receipt?
Raise it immediately anyway, with photographs. It is harder, not hopeless.
Should I wash the car before inspecting?
Rinse it if practical. Otherwise note on the receipt that road film limited the inspection.
Is a dirty car a sign of poor handling?
No. It is normal after days on an open trailer.
What if the driver will not wait?
Inspect anyway and write what you find. A schedule is not a reason to sign an inaccurate document.
Why Ship With Tempus Logix
Tempus Logix is a licensed and bonded auto transport broker, USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120, and BBB accredited. Every carrier we assign is vetted and its insurance verified before a vehicle is collected, and vehicle owners carry a zero deductible on covered damage.
First-time shippers deserve a quote that holds. We price loads at a rate carriers actually accept, explain what the figure covers before you commit, and tell you plainly when a date looks tight, rather than booking it and renegotiating later.
New to this? Start with our first-time car shipping guide.
Related Guides
Next in this cluster:
- Car Inspection Process
- Car Shipping Contract Review Guide
- What to Expect When Shipping
- First-Time Shipper Checklist
- Communication Tips with Shippers
Need a vehicle moved? Get a free quote with our auto transport quote calculator or call a transport coordinator at +1 (866) 607-8459.