Manhattan Beach, CA Car Shipping

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

Clean your vehicle: Wash the exterior so you can document any existing damage with photos. This helps with the inspection process.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and fragile items. These aren’t covered by carrier insurance and can shift during transit.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough fuel (about 1/4 tank), the battery is charged, and there are no leaks.

Secure or remove accessories: Remove or secure loose parts like antennas, spoilers, and bike racks. Retract mirrors if possible.

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

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

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth pickup from Manhattan Beach and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Manhattan Beach, 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, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid. 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.

You’ll receive a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate before pickup. We recommend taking photos of your vehicle before and after transport to document its condition.

We recommend scheduling your pickup from Manhattan Beach at least 1-2 weeks in advance for the best results. However, booking earlier gives you more options and better rates.

Here’s why advance notice helps:

• Better carrier availability: Drivers can plan routes that include your pickup with other shipments in the Manhattan Beach area
• More competitive pricing: Earlier bookings allow carriers to optimize their schedules, which can lower your cost
• Flexible pickup windows: You’ll have more date options to choose from

That said, we understand that sometimes you need faster service. We can often accommodate rush shipments with 2-5 days notice, though this may come with expedited fees.

Bottom line: Book as soon as you know your moving dates. If you need last-minute service, contact us right away—we’ll do our best to help.

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.

The main difference comes down to protection and price. Open auto transport uses open-air trailers (the kind you see on highways) and costs less. Your vehicle is exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most cars. This is how 90% of vehicles get shipped, including new cars from dealerships.

Enclosed auto transport uses fully covered trailers that shield your vehicle from the elements and road debris. It costs 50-60% more than open transport, but provides maximum protection. This option makes sense for luxury cars, classic vehicles, exotic sports cars, or any car with custom paint work.

For most Manhattan Beach residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport is reliable and cost-effective. If you’re transporting a high-value or collector vehicle, enclosed transport offers peace of mind. Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service for Manhattan Beach residents. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home or business and deliver it directly to your destination address.

How it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery locations. Our carrier will come to you, making the process as convenient as possible.

Important note for Manhattan Beach: Some residential streets in Manhattan Beach have narrow roads, low-hanging trees, or parking restrictions that may prevent large car carriers from accessing your exact address. If this is the case, our driver will contact you to arrange a nearby meeting point, such as a parking lot or main street location. This ensures your vehicle stays safe throughout the process.

Our goal is to make your car shipping experience as easy and stress-free as possible. We’ll work with you every step of the way to find the best solution for your specific situation.

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!