The questions first-time shippers actually ask, answered without hedging. Where an answer is genuinely uncertain, it says so.
Cost and Booking
How is the price worked out?
Distance, vehicle size and weight, whether it runs, open or enclosed, how busy your corridor is, and how much notice you give.
Why do quotes differ so much?
Because a quote predicts what a carrier will accept. Optimistic predictions produce low quotes and unassigned vehicles.
Do I pay a deposit?
Not with us. Pressure to pay upfront to hold a slot is a warning sign generally.
When do I pay?
The balance is normally due at or near delivery, by the method agreed at booking.
How far ahead should I book?
A week or two on most lanes. Summer and short-notice moves need more room.
The Vehicle
Can I leave things in the car?
No. Personal items are not covered, and carriers are restricted from transporting household goods in a vehicle.
How much fuel should be in it?
About a quarter tank.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes, with winch-capable equipment, declared at booking.
Is my car insured?
Yes. The assigned carrier’s cargo policy covers it, verified before collection, and vehicle owners carry a zero deductible on covered damage.
Does mileage get added?
Only the few feet of loading and unloading. The vehicle is carried, not driven.
Open or enclosed?
Open for almost every daily driver. Enclosed for collector vehicles and finishes applied within the last few weeks.
Timing and Season
How long before collection happens?
Several days is normal. The load has to be accepted by a carrier before anything is scheduled.
Why can nobody promise a delivery date?
Because a truck carries several vehicles and resequences as each one completes. You get a window, and a good company tells you when it is tight.
Which season is cheapest?
Winter on most general corridors. Summer is the busiest stretch of the year. Seasonal snowbird lanes run the opposite way.
Does weather delay shipments?
Winter storms do, by days. Summer thunderstorms slow loading by hours. Western wildfire season can reroute a carrier entirely.
The Process
Does the truck come to my door?
Usually. Where a street is too narrow or a community restricts large vehicles, you meet nearby.
How long does transit take?
Roughly four hundred to five hundred miles a day once loaded.
Can I track it live?
Rarely. Visibility comes from driver and coordinator contact rather than a map.
What if nobody can be there?
Designate someone at booking. They hand over keys and sign the condition report.
What if it arrives damaged?
Record it on the delivery receipt before signing, photograph it, and start the claim that day.
Can I ship a car I bought online?
Yes, and it is one of the most common first shipments. The seller or dealer releases the vehicle and signs at collection.
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:
- What to Expect When Shipping
- First-Time Shipper Checklist
- How to Read Car Shipping Quotes
- Car Inspection Process
- Can Someone Else Pick Up My Car in My Name?
Need a vehicle moved? Get a free quote with our auto transport quote calculator or call a transport coordinator at +1 (866) 607-8459.