Lake Forest, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Lake Forest, CA is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including items in the glove box, trunk, and console. Carriers are not responsible for personal property.

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

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Make sure the battery is charged and secure.

Remove or secure loose parts: Take off custom accessories, spoilers, or loose trim. Remove toll passes and parking permits from the windshield.

Document condition: Take photos of your car from all angles before pickup. Note any existing scratches or dents.

Provide keys: Have a spare key ready for the driver. Keep one set for yourself.

For a complete checklist, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth pickup process and protects your investment during transport.

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

Before your Lake Forest car shipment begins, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all our carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy for extra protection.

This insurance covers your vehicle during loading, transport, and unloading. Our quotes include all insurance coverage – no hidden fees or extra charges.

For car shipping from Lake Forest, CA, we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and reliable carriers.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More carrier options: Popular routes from Lake Forest fill up quickly
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from

If you need last-minute shipping (less than one week), we can still help, but expect higher costs and limited availability. For the smoothest experience shipping your vehicle from Lake Forest, book as early as possible.

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 option. Your car rides on an open trailer alongside other vehicles. It’s fully exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most everyday cars.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer. This costs 40-60% more than open transport, but it’s worth it for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.

For most Lake Forest residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport works great and saves money. Choose enclosed transport if you have a high-value car that needs extra protection from California’s sun, dust, and road debris.

See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service for Lake Forest, CA residents. We’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or any address you choose and deliver it directly to your destination.

When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our experienced carriers will handle the rest, making your move from Lake Forest as smooth as possible.

What if door-to-door isn’t possible? Sometimes large trucks can’t access certain streets due to low bridges, narrow roads, or HOA restrictions. If this happens in your Lake Forest neighborhood, don’t worry. Our carrier will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or wide street that’s easy for you to reach.

This service saves you time and hassle – no need to drive to a terminal or arrange additional transportation. It’s our most popular option because it offers maximum convenience for busy families and professionals relocating from Lake Forest.

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!