Des Moines, IA Car Shipping

To prepare your vehicle for shipping from Des Moines, IA, follow these key steps:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, GPS devices, and fragile items. Car carriers are not responsible for personal property left inside.

Clean your car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage during the pre-transport inspection.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank) and that the battery is charged. Fix any fluid leaks before pickup.

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

Document condition: Take photos of your car from all angles before the carrier arrives in Des Moines.

For complete preparation details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Having your car ready helps ensure smooth pickup and delivery.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Des Moines, IA. Every carrier in our network must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your Des Moines car shipment to any carrier, we verify their insurance is current and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy, giving you extra protection.

This comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from pickup in Des Moines through delivery to your destination. Our insurance requirements exceed industry standards, so you can ship with confidence knowing your car is protected every mile of the journey.

For car shipping from Des Moines, IA, we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance. However, the earlier you book, the better your options will be.

Here’s why advance booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can group your car with other vehicles heading to the same area
• More pickup dates: You’ll have flexible scheduling options
• Peak season planning: Summer months and holidays get busy fast

If you need last-minute shipping, we can often arrange pickup within 3-7 days, but expect higher costs and fewer carrier options. Des Moines sits along major transport routes, which helps with faster service compared to rural areas.

Pro tip: Book as soon as you know your moving date. You can always adjust your pickup window later if needed.

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 is the most common and budget-friendly option where your car is loaded onto an open trailer with other vehicles. Your car is exposed to weather and road debris, but this method is safe and used for 90% of all car shipments from Des Moines.

Enclosed transport costs 40-60% more but provides full protection inside a covered trailer. This is ideal for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs that need extra protection during transport.

For most Des Moines residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport offers excellent value and reliability. Choose enclosed transport if your car is worth over $50,000 or has special value that requires maximum protection. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers door-to-door auto transport service for Des Moines, IA customers. This means we pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or preferred address and deliver it directly to your destination.

When you book with us, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses in Des Moines. Our carrier will come right to your location – no need to drive to a terminal or depot. This saves you time and makes the entire process much easier.

In some cases, large car carriers cannot access narrow streets, steep driveways, or areas with low-hanging branches in certain Des Moines neighborhoods. If this happens, our driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a grocery store parking lot or gas station. This ensures your vehicle stays protected while making pickup and delivery possible.

Door-to-door service is included in most of our Des Moines auto transport quotes at no extra cost. It’s just one way we make car shipping simple and stress-free for Iowa customers.

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!