Elkhart, IN Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Elkhart, IN is simple. Follow these key steps:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and fragile items from your vehicle. Carriers are not insured for personal property.

Clean your car: Wash the exterior so you can document any existing damage with photos before shipping.

Check for leaks and mechanical issues: Ensure your vehicle runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Notify your carrier of any mechanical problems.

Secure or remove accessories: Remove or secure antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and other exterior accessories that could be damaged during transit.

Maintain fuel level: Keep your gas tank about 1/4 full. This reduces weight while ensuring enough fuel for loading and unloading.

Provide a key: Have a working key ready for the driver.

For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Proper preparation ensures a smooth pickup from Elkhart and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Elkhart, IN. Every carrier in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your shipment, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection and peace of mind.

When your driver arrives in Elkhart to pick up your vehicle, they’ll provide you with a copy of their insurance certificate. We recommend taking photos of your vehicle before loading to document its condition.

If you have questions about insurance coverage for your Elkhart vehicle shipment, our team is happy to provide additional details.

We recommend scheduling your car shipping service from Elkhart, IN at least 1-2 weeks in advance. This gives carriers enough time to plan efficient routes and match your vehicle with other shipments heading in the same direction.

Booking early offers several benefits:

• Better pricing: More time allows carriers to optimize their routes, which can lower your cost
• More carrier options: You’ll have access to more available drivers in the Elkhart area
• Flexible scheduling: You can choose pickup dates that work best for your move

If you need faster service, we can often arrange pickup within 2-5 days, though this may come with expedited shipping rates. For the best experience, contact us as soon as you know your moving dates. We’ll work with you to find a solution that fits your timeline and budget.

No payment is due at the time of booking. We do require a payment method on file so that it is available to charge once a carrier is secured. We accept all major debit and credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. The most convenient option is to pay for your shipment in full by credit card at the time a carrier is secured.

We also allow you to pay for your Initial Payment via credit or debit card and then pay the outstanding balance on delivery day via cash or a certified check made out to the carrier.

Your Sherpa shipment includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If you are shipping to or from a port or your shipment includes ocean transit, your vehicle must be emptied of all items. Sherpa and your assigned carrier cannot be responsible for personal items left inside the vehicle. See our Vehicle Shipping Tips for more details.

Yes. It is important that you, or another adult that you trust, is there for pickup and delivery of your vehicle. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle’s condition.

Open auto transport is the most common and affordable option. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air carrier alongside other cars, exposed to weather and road conditions. This is the same method dealerships use to ship new cars and is perfectly safe for most vehicles.

Enclosed auto transport provides full protection inside a covered trailer, shielding your vehicle from weather, dust, and road debris. This option costs 40-60% more than open transport but is worth considering for luxury vehicles, classic cars, exotic models, or vehicles with custom features.

For most Elkhart residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport offers excellent value and reliability. Choose enclosed transport if you’re moving a high-value vehicle that needs extra protection during transit.

Learn more in our detailed open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service for Elkhart, IN residents. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home or business and deliver it directly to your destination address.

Here’s how it works:

Pickup: Our carrier will come to your specified address in Elkhart to load your vehicle. Whether you’re in downtown Elkhart, near the RV manufacturing district, or in a residential neighborhood, we’ll coordinate a convenient pickup time.

Delivery: Your vehicle will be delivered directly to your destination address, making the process hassle-free.

Important note: In some cases, large car carriers cannot access certain streets due to low-hanging trees, narrow roads, or tight turns. If your location has restrictions, our driver will contact you to arrange a safe, nearby meeting spot like a parking lot or gas station. This is common in older Elkhart neighborhoods with narrower streets.

Door-to-door service eliminates the need to drive to a terminal, saving you time and effort. Most Elkhart locations are easily accessible for our carriers.

Many Auto Transport companies try to tease customers with lower rates, only to surprise you with “hidden costs” later. At Sherpa Auto Transport, we do things differently. We provide one locked-in price upfront and stick to it. If unexpected costs arise, we pay them out of our own pocket.

While we may not always be the cheapest option at first glance, our commitment to transparency and reliability offers exceptional value. As a premium service, we ensure an stress-free experience from start to finish.

We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans and motorcycles across the nation, including service to Alaska and Hawaii. At this time, we do not service boats, golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship both operable and inoperable vehicles so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. We can also ship electric vehicles.

Visit Sherpa’s FAQ page to learn more about car shipping!