San Marcos, CA Car Shipping

Getting your car ready for shipping from San Marcos, CA is simple. Here’s what you need to do:

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

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including toll passes, garage door openers, and fragile items. Most carriers won’t cover personal items if they’re lost or damaged.

Check fluids and battery: Make sure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Your battery should be secure and working.

Remove or secure loose parts: Take off custom accessories, spoilers, or anything that might fall off during transport.

Have keys ready: You’ll need to give the driver at least one working key.

For a complete checklist, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps will help ensure your car arrives safely at its new home.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from San Marcos, CA. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your San Marcos car 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 comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle throughout the entire journey from San Marcos to your destination. You can ship with confidence knowing your car is protected by professional-grade insurance coverage.

For car shipping from San Marcos, CA, we recommend scheduling your pickup at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and reliable service.

Here’s why booking early matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan efficient routes and bundle shipments
• More carrier options: Popular routes from San Marcos fill up quickly
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup date choices

If you need last-minute shipping, we can often accommodate rush orders within 3-7 days, though this may cost more. Peak seasons like summer and holidays require even more advance notice.

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

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 budget-friendly option. Your car rides on an open trailer, exposed to weather and road debris. This works great for everyday vehicles and costs significantly less.

Enclosed auto transport ships your car inside a covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and road debris. This premium service costs 40-60% more than open transport but is worth it for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.

Most San Marcos residents choose open transport for regular cars. Consider enclosed transport if your vehicle is worth over $50,000 or has sentimental value. Both options are safe and reliable – it comes down to your budget and peace of mind.

Need help deciding? Check our detailed open vs enclosed auto transport guide for more information.

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

When you book with us, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to both locations to handle your vehicle. This saves you time and hassle compared to driving to a terminal.

However, some San Marcos neighborhoods have narrow streets or low-hanging trees that large car carriers cannot navigate safely. If this happens, our driver will work with you to find a nearby safe location like a shopping center or gas station – usually within a few blocks of your address.

Door-to-door service is included in most of our San Marcos car shipping quotes at no extra cost. It’s the most popular option because it offers maximum convenience for busy 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!