What documents do I need to ship my car in the United States?
The right documentation is needed before anyone can put your vehicle on a transport trailer. You must be able to prove ownership, or proof of permission from the owner, before any car carrier company will ship your car, truck, boat, or other vehicle.
Whether the auto shipping is in state or crosses state lines, here are the documents you must have:
- Original registration and title This must be produced to have your car shipped. Notarized Permission to Ship – If there is a lien on the title if it is leased or financed then you must provide a notarized letter of permission to ship the vehicle from the lien holder. Information that should be provided will include the name of the auto shipping company, the Vehicle Identification Number VIN), and the full name of the person acting on the owner’s behalf.
- Proof of car insurance You must provide proof in insurance to ship your vehicle. Check to ensure that insurance is not expired if it is, your car cannot be shipped.
- Photo identification – Identification is required in the form of a driver’s license, or other government-issued identification such as a passport. As with insurance, make sure the document is not expired.
What could happen otherwise? A smart car thief could arrange to load up stolen cars and move them out of the area to never been seen again. Or any other vehicle ownership dispute could become even messier if the vehicle in question has been shipped out of state.
We recommended locating your paperwork early in the process. And check that it is up-to-date, and make contact with the lien holder, if there is one, as soon as possible to avoid any problems with scheduling your vehicle transport pick up.
