Los Altos, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Los Altos, CA is simple. Follow these key steps:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and loose items from the interior. Carriers are not insured for personal property.

Clean your vehicle: Wash the exterior so you can document any existing damage with photos before shipping.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), and the battery is charged so it can be driven on and off the carrier.

Remove or secure accessories: Take off bike racks, roof boxes, and custom spoilers. Retract or remove antennas to prevent damage.

Disable alarms: Turn off your car alarm to avoid issues during transport.

Provide a key: Have a working key ready for the driver.

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Proper preparation ensures a smooth pickup from Los Altos and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Los Altos, CA. All carriers in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your shipment begins, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is valid and current. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection and peace of mind.

Your vehicle is covered from pickup in Los Altos to final delivery at your destination. If you’d like to review the carrier’s insurance certificate before transport, just ask—we’re happy to provide it.

We recommend scheduling your car shipping pickup from Los Altos, CA at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why early booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently and offer competitive rates
• More options: You’ll have access to more available carriers and flexible pickup dates
• Route optimization: Carriers can bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading in the same direction

Need faster service? Rush shipping is available if you need pickup within 1-5 days, though it typically costs more.

Peak seasons (summer and end of month) get busy, so add extra time during these periods. Contact us as soon as you know your moving dates, and we’ll work to accommodate your schedule.

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 uncovered trailers that carry multiple vehicles at once. It’s the most common and affordable option, costing 40-60% less than enclosed transport. Your vehicle will be exposed to weather and road debris during transit, but carriers use secure tie-downs and have insurance coverage.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle in a covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and road debris. This option costs more but is ideal for luxury vehicles, classic cars, exotic sports cars, or any vehicle with custom modifications.

Which should Los Altos residents choose? Most everyday vehicles do well with open transport—it’s safe, reliable, and budget-friendly. Consider enclosed transport if you’re shipping a high-value vehicle, a classic car, or a vehicle with a custom paint job that needs extra protection.

Learn more in our detailed open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service throughout Los Altos, CA and nationwide. This is our most popular shipping option because it’s the most convenient.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come directly to your home or business in Los Altos to pick up your vehicle and deliver it right to your destination address.

In most Los Altos neighborhoods, door-to-door service works perfectly. However, some areas have narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or tight turns that make it difficult for large car carriers to access. If your location has any restrictions, don’t worry—our driver will contact you to arrange a nearby meeting spot, such as a shopping center parking lot or gas station just a few blocks away.

Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drive to a terminal or arrange extra transportation. We handle the logistics so you can focus on your move.

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!