San Diego, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from San Diego is simple. Follow these key steps:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including toll passes, GPS devices, and fragile items. Carriers typically don’t insure personal property left in the vehicle.

Clean your car: Wash the exterior so you can document its condition with photos before shipping.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your vehicle has adequate fluids and a charged battery. The gas tank should be about 1/4 full.

Remove or secure accessories: Take off custom antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and roof cargo boxes that could be damaged during transport.

Disable alarms: Turn off your car alarm to prevent issues during transit.

Provide a working key: Have a key ready for the driver to load and unload your vehicle.

For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps helps ensure a smooth pickup from San Diego and safe delivery to your destination.

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

Before your San Diego transport begins, we verify that your assigned carrier’s insurance is active and valid. All carriers also add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy for added protection.

This coverage protects your vehicle throughout the entire journey from San Diego to your destination. You’ll receive a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate before pickup for your records.

We recommend booking your car shipping service from San Diego at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, scheduling earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why advance notice helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently and often offer lower rates
• More carrier options: You’ll have access to more available drivers in the San Diego area
• Flexible pickup windows: You can choose dates that work best for your schedule
• Route optimization: Carriers can bundle your vehicle with others heading the same direction

Need faster service? We can often accommodate rush shipments with 2-3 days notice, though this may cost more and limit your carrier options.

For the smoothest experience, contact us as soon as you know your moving dates. We’ll work with you to find the best pickup time for your San Diego car shipment.

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 uses open-air trailers that carry multiple vehicles at once. Your car is exposed to weather and road elements during transit. This is the most common and affordable option, used for about 90% of all vehicle shipments.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle in a fully covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and debris. It costs 40-60% more than open transport but offers maximum protection.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard vehicle and want to save money. It’s safe and reliable for everyday cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Choose enclosed transport if: You’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, exotic sports car, or any car with custom paint or modifications. The extra cost is worth it for high-value vehicles.

For San Diego shipments, both options are readily available. See our open vs enclosed auto transport guide for a detailed comparison.

Yes! We offer convenient door-to-door auto transport service for all shipments to and from San Diego, CA.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our assigned carrier will come directly to your location in San Diego—whether it’s your home, office, or another address—to pick up your vehicle. They’ll then deliver it right to your door at your destination.

Important to know: In some San Diego neighborhoods with narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or tight turns, large car carriers may not be able to access your exact address. If this happens, don’t worry—your driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center parking lot or gas station, typically within a few blocks.

Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drive to a terminal or arrange extra transportation. It’s our most popular option and is included in your quote at no extra charge.

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!