La Mesa, CA Car Shipping

Getting your car ready for shipping from La Mesa, CA is simple with these key steps:

Clean and inspect your vehicle: Wash your car inside and out. Take photos of any existing damage for your records.

Remove personal items: Clear out all belongings, including toll passes, garage door openers, and fragile items. Carriers are not responsible for personal property.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has less than a quarter tank of gas. Check that the battery is secure and fluids aren’t leaking.

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

Have keys ready: Provide one set of working keys to the driver. Make sure your car starts and can be put in neutral for loading.

For complete preparation details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips guide. Following these steps helps ensure your car arrives safely at its destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from La Mesa, CA. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your La Mesa vehicle shipment, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all our carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy for extra protection.

This means your car is covered from pickup in La Mesa through delivery at your destination. Our insurance requirements exceed industry standards to give you peace of mind during transport.

For car shipping from La Mesa, CA, we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and flexible pickup dates.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More options: You’ll have access to more available carriers and transport dates
• Less stress: Avoid last-minute rush fees and limited availability

If you’re moving during peak seasons (summer months, holidays, or winter snowbird migration), consider booking 3-4 weeks ahead. La Mesa’s location near San Diego makes it a popular pickup point, so early scheduling helps ensure smooth transport.

Need to ship on short notice? We can often accommodate rush orders, but expect higher costs and fewer scheduling options.

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 cost-effective method where your vehicle is loaded onto an open trailer alongside other cars. Your car is exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most vehicles.

Enclosed auto transport provides full protection by shipping your vehicle inside a covered trailer. This premium service costs 40-60% more than open transport but offers complete protection from weather, dust, and road debris.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily driver and want to save money. This works great for most La Mesa residents shipping regular vehicles.

Choose enclosed transport if: You own a luxury car, classic vehicle, exotic sports car, or have custom paint work that needs extra protection.

Both options are fully insured and reliable. For most car shipments from La Mesa, open transport provides excellent value and safety. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service for La Mesa, CA residents. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home or office and deliver it directly to your new address.

When you book with Sherpa Auto Transport, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to your location in La Mesa to collect your vehicle. If your street has restrictions like low-hanging branches, narrow roads, or weight limits for large trucks, don’t worry. We’ll work with you to find a safe nearby location like a shopping center or gas station.

Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drive to a terminal or arrange extra transportation. Most customers in La Mesa can use this service without any issues.

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!