Preparing your vehicle for transport from Pennsylvania to California is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove Personal Items: Take out all personal belongings, including toll passes, GPS devices, and any loose items that could shift during transport.

Clean Your Car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage and makes the inspection process easier.

Document Current Condition: Take clear photos of your car from all angles, noting any scratches, dents, or other issues.

Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and other fluids. Make sure your battery is secure and working.

Remove or Secure Accessories: Take off or tighten any loose parts like spoilers, antennas, or bike racks that could be damaged during the 2,800-mile journey.

Provide Working Keys: Have at least one working key ready for the carrier.

For complete details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in California and helps avoid any delays or extra charges.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Pennsylvania to California. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your Pennsylvania to California shipment, we verify that:

• The carrier’s insurance is active and valid
• Coverage remains in effect for your entire transport
• Sherpa is listed as a Certificate Holder on their policy

This insurance covers your vehicle against damage during loading, transport, and unloading. You don’t need to purchase additional coverage – it’s included in your shipping quote at no extra cost.

Important: Take photos of your car before pickup in Pennsylvania. This helps document your vehicle’s condition and speeds up any insurance claims if needed.

We recommend scheduling your car shipping from Pennsylvania to California at least 2-3 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: More time allows carriers to group your car with others heading to California
• More carrier options: Popular routes like PA to CA fill up quickly
• Flexible pickup dates: You can choose times that work best for your schedule

If you need last-minute shipping, we can often accommodate rush orders within 3-7 days, though this may cost more and limit your carrier choices.

Pro tip: Book as soon as you know your moving dates. 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 cost-effective option for shipping your car from Pennsylvania to California. Your vehicle travels on an open trailer alongside other cars, exposed to weather and road conditions. This method costs significantly less and works well for most everyday vehicles.

Enclosed transport protects your car inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, road debris, and dust during the cross-country journey. This premium service costs 40-60% more than open transport but is worth it for luxury cars, classic vehicles, or cars with custom paint jobs.

For most Pennsylvania to California moves, open transport offers excellent value and reliability. Choose enclosed transport if your vehicle is worth over $50,000 or has sentimental value you can’t replace. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service from Pennsylvania to California. This means we pick up your car from your home or office and deliver it directly to your new address.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your pickup address in Pennsylvania and delivery address in California. Our carrier will come to these exact locations whenever possible.

Sometimes we may need to use a nearby meeting spot instead. This happens when:

• Streets are too narrow for our large transport trucks
• Low-hanging branches or power lines block the route
• Local parking restrictions prevent safe pickup or delivery

If this occurs, we’ll work with you to find a convenient nearby location like a shopping center or gas station. Most customers find door-to-door service much easier than driving to a terminal, especially for long-distance moves from Pennsylvania to California.

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!