Piedmont, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Piedmont, CA is straightforward. 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 loose items. These aren’t covered by insurance during transit.

Check for leaks and mechanical issues: Make sure your car runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Inform the carrier of any problems.

Secure or remove accessories: Take off or secure any custom parts, antennas, spoilers, or bike racks that could be damaged.

Maintain fuel levels: Keep your gas tank at about 1/4 full. This reduces weight while ensuring the carrier can load and unload your vehicle.

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

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

For more detailed guidance, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when transporting from Piedmont, CA. Every carrier in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

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

Your vehicle is covered from pickup in Piedmont until delivery at your destination. If you have questions about insurance coverage, our team is happy to provide you with the carrier’s insurance details before transport begins.

We recommend scheduling your pickup from Piedmont, CA at least 1-2 weeks in advance for the best rates and availability.

Booking early gives carriers more time to plan efficient routes and bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading in the same direction. This often results in lower costs and faster pickup times.

However, we understand that plans can change quickly. If you need expedited service, we can often arrange pickup within 2-5 business days, though this may come with higher costs due to the shorter timeframe.

Best practice: Book as soon as you know your moving dates. The more flexible you can be with your pickup window, the more options you’ll have and the better pricing you’ll receive.

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 affordable option. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air trailer alongside other cars, similar to what you see delivering new cars to dealerships. It’s safe, reliable, and costs significantly less than enclosed shipping.

Enclosed auto transport provides full protection inside a covered trailer. It costs 50-60% more than open transport but shields your vehicle from weather, road debris, and dust during transit.

Most Piedmont residents choose open transport—it’s perfectly safe for daily drivers and standard vehicles. Consider enclosed transport if you’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, exotic sports car, or any car with custom paint or modifications where extra protection is worth the premium.

Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service for Piedmont, CA residents. 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:

At Pickup: Our carrier will come to your specified address in Piedmont to load your vehicle. You’ll do a quick inspection together and sign off on the condition report.

At Delivery: The carrier will bring your car directly to your destination address, wherever that may be across the country.

Important Note: Piedmont has some narrow, tree-lined streets and steep hills. Large car carriers (which can be 70-80 feet long) may not be able to access every residential street safely. If your street has low-hanging trees, tight turns, or parking restrictions, the driver may ask to meet you at a nearby location like a shopping center or main road.

Don’t worry—if this happens, your driver will contact you in advance to arrange a convenient, safe meeting spot close to your home. We always work to get as close to your door as possible while keeping your vehicle and neighborhood safe.

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!