Boston, MA Car Shipping

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

• Clean your car: Wash the exterior so you can document its condition with photos before shipping.
• Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes (like E-ZPass), and loose items. These aren’t covered by insurance during transit.
• Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car is in good working order with adequate fluid levels and a charged battery.
• Document existing damage: Take clear photos of all sides of your vehicle, noting any scratches or dents.
• Disable alarms: Turn off car alarms to prevent issues during transport.
• Provide a key: Have a working key ready for the driver.
• Keep fuel low: Maintain about a quarter tank of gas—enough to load and unload, but not too heavy.
• Remove accessories: Take off bike racks, spoilers, or custom antennas that could be damaged.

For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. If you have questions about preparing your Boston vehicle for transport, our team is here to help.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Boston, MA.

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 Boston shipment to any carrier, we verify their insurance is current and valid.

For added protection, all our contracted carriers list Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy. This means we monitor their coverage throughout your vehicle’s journey from Boston.

Your vehicle is protected from pickup in Boston until delivery at your destination. If you’d like to review a carrier’s insurance certificate before your shipment, just ask your transport coordinator.

We recommend scheduling your car shipment from Boston at least 1-2 weeks in advance for the best results. However, booking earlier gives you more advantages.

Here’s why advance notice helps:

• Better carrier availability: Boston is a major hub with regular routes, but carriers fill up quickly during peak seasons (summer and early fall)
• Lower costs: Last-minute bookings often cost more due to limited options
• Flexible scheduling: More time means you can choose pickup dates that work best for you

If you’re shipping during peak moving season (May-September) or around holidays, aim for 3-4 weeks advance notice. For urgent shipments, we can often accommodate requests with 2-3 days notice, though options may be limited.

Bottom line: Book as early as you know your moving dates. This gives carriers time to match your shipment with others heading the same direction, which keeps costs down and ensures reliable service.

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—this is the most common and affordable option. Your vehicle is exposed to weather and road debris during transit, but it’s perfectly safe for most cars. This is how dealerships ship new vehicles.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and road debris. It costs 40-60% more than open transport, but it’s worth considering for luxury cars, classic vehicles, exotic sports cars, or any car with custom paint or modifications.

For most Boston residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport is the smart choice—it’s reliable, cost-effective, and used for 90% of all car shipments nationwide. Reserve enclosed transport for high-value vehicles where extra protection justifies the added cost. Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service throughout Boston and the surrounding areas. This is our standard service and the most convenient option for shipping your vehicle.

When you book with Sherpa Auto Transport, we’ll ask for your preferred pickup and delivery addresses in the Boston area. Our carrier will come directly to your home, office, or specified location to pick up your vehicle and deliver it right to your destination address.

However, Boston’s narrow streets, low-hanging trees, and parking restrictions can sometimes make it challenging for large car carriers to access certain neighborhoods. If your street isn’t accessible for an 18-wheeler, our driver will contact you to arrange a nearby meeting point—such as a parking lot, gas station, or wider street nearby. This is common in areas like Beacon Hill, the North End, and other historic Boston neighborhoods with tight roads.

Rest assured, we’ll work with you to find the most convenient alternative location if direct door-to-door service isn’t possible at your exact address.

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!