Portland, OR Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Portland, OR is simple but important. Follow these key steps:

Clean and inspect your car: Wash your vehicle and take photos of any existing damage. This helps document its condition before shipping.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including items in the glove box and trunk. Remove toll passes, GPS devices, and any loose accessories.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has less than a quarter tank of gas. Check that the battery is secure and fluids aren’t leaking.

Secure or remove parts: Remove or tighten any loose parts like spoilers, antennas, or bike racks that could get damaged during transport.

Provide working keys: Make sure you have keys available for the carrier to move your vehicle on and off the truck.

For complete preparation details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your Portland car shipping experience goes smoothly.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Portland, OR. All our carriers must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your Portland shipment begins, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy for extra protection.

This means your car is covered from pickup in Portland until delivery at your destination. You can ship with confidence knowing your vehicle is protected throughout the entire transport process.

We recommend scheduling your car pickup from Portland, OR at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and flexible pickup dates.

Portland is a major shipping hub with regular carrier traffic, but booking early helps drivers plan efficient routes and bundle multiple vehicles together. This bundling process often leads to lower costs for you.

If you need faster service, we can often accommodate rush orders with 3-7 days notice, though this may come with premium pricing. During peak seasons (summer months and winter holidays), we strongly suggest booking 4+ weeks ahead due to higher demand.

The key is flexibility – the more time you give us, the better we can match you with the right carrier at the best price for your Portland pickup.

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 transport uses uncovered trailers that carry 8-10 vehicles at once. This is the most common and budget-friendly option, costing about 50% less than enclosed shipping. Your car will be exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most vehicles.

Enclosed transport uses covered trailers that protect your vehicle from weather, dust, and debris. This premium service costs more but is ideal for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs. Enclosed trailers typically carry fewer cars (2-6 vehicles).

For most Portland residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport works great and saves money. Choose enclosed transport if your car is worth over $50,000, has sentimental value, or needs extra protection. See our complete open vs enclosed guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes! Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service to and from Portland, OR. When you book your car shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses.

Our carriers will do their best to pick up and deliver your vehicle directly at the locations you specify. However, Portland’s narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or residential restrictions may sometimes require a nearby alternative pickup spot. In these cases, we’ll work with you to find a safe, accessible location like a shopping center or gas station within a few blocks of your address.

This service saves you time and hassle – no need to drive to a distant terminal or depot. Most Portland customers can enjoy true door-to-door convenience, making your car shipping experience as smooth as possible.

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!