Novato, CA Car Shipping

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

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and fragile items. Carriers typically don’t insure personal property left inside.

Clean your vehicle: Wash the exterior so you can document its condition with photos before shipping.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank) and a charged battery. Fix any leaks.

Remove or secure accessories: Take off custom antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and roof cargo. Secure or retract mirrors if possible.

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

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

For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Proper preparation helps ensure safe, smooth transport from Novato.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Novato, 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 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 reviewing it and taking photos of your vehicle before and after transport to document its condition.

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

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently and often offer lower rates
• More carrier options: You’ll have access to more available drivers in the Novato area
• Flexible scheduling: You can choose pickup dates that work best for you
• Route optimization: Carriers can bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading the same direction

If you need faster service, we can often arrange pickup within 3-5 days, though this may cost more. For last-minute moves, contact us directly to discuss expedited options.

Pro tip: Book 3-4 weeks ahead during peak moving season (May through September) when demand from Novato is highest.

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. Your car is exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s the most affordable and popular option. About 90% of vehicles shipped in and out of Novato use open transport.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and debris. It costs 40-60% more than open transport but is ideal for luxury cars, classic vehicles, or cars with custom features.

For most standard vehicles leaving Novato, open transport works great and saves you money. Choose enclosed if you’re shipping a high-value car or want maximum protection. Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service to and from Novato, CA. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home or business and deliver it directly to your destination address.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery locations. Our carrier will come to you in Novato, eliminating the need to drive to a terminal.

Important to know: Novato has some residential areas with narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or tight turns. If a large carrier truck cannot safely access your exact address, our driver will contact you to arrange a nearby meeting spot. This is usually a close parking lot, shopping center, or wide street that’s easy to reach.

Most customers in Novato can use door-to-door service without any issues. Our team will assess your specific location during booking and let you know if any adjustments are needed.

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!