Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is simple but important. Start by removing all personal items from inside your car – this includes electronics, documents, and loose items that could shift during transport.

Clean your vehicle inside and out before pickup. This helps you spot any existing damage and makes the inspection process smoother. Take photos of your car from all angles as proof of its condition.

Make sure your car is in good working order with proper fluid levels and tire pressure. Remove or secure any loose parts like spoilers, antennas, or bike racks. Don’t forget to remove toll passes and parking permits from your windshield.

Keep your gas tank between 1/4 and 1/2 full – enough to drive on and off the carrier, but not so much that it adds unnecessary weight. Finally, have a spare key ready for the driver.

For complete preparation details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips guide. Following these steps ensures smooth pickup and delivery for your Rancho Santa Margarita car shipment.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Sherpa Auto Transport requires all carriers to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage for your protection.

Our insurance requirements include:

• $1,000,000 minimum liability insurance – Covers damages to other vehicles or property
• $100,000 minimum cargo insurance – Protects your vehicle during transport

Before your Rancho Santa Margarita car shipment begins, we verify that your assigned carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy, giving you extra peace of mind.

This means your vehicle is protected from pickup in Rancho Santa Margarita through delivery at your destination. You can ship with confidence knowing professional insurance coverage protects your investment every mile of the journey.

We recommend scheduling your car pickup from Rancho Santa Margarita at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Booking early gives you the best chance to secure your preferred dates and often results in better pricing.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better carrier availability – More trucks are available with advance notice
• Lower costs – Carriers can plan efficient routes and offer competitive rates
• Flexible scheduling – You’ll have more pickup window options to choose from

If you need rush service, we can often accommodate last-minute requests within 2-3 days, though this may come with additional fees. For the smoothest experience shipping from Rancho Santa Margarita, book as soon as you know your moving timeline.

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 transport is the most common and cost-effective option. Your vehicle travels on an open trailer alongside other cars, exposed to weather and road debris. This method is safe and reliable for most vehicles.

Enclosed transport costs 40-60% more but provides complete protection inside a covered trailer. Your car is shielded from weather, dust, and road debris during the journey from Rancho Santa Margarita.

Choose enclosed transport if you have:

• Classic or vintage cars
• Luxury vehicles over $100,000
• Custom paint jobs or modifications
• Convertibles with soft tops

Most customers shipping standard vehicles from Rancho Santa Margarita choose open transport due to the significant cost savings. Both options are fully insured and handled by professional drivers. See our complete open vs enclosed transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service for customers in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. When you book your car shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our assigned carrier will pick up your vehicle directly from your location and deliver it to your destination address whenever possible.

In some cases, large car carriers may face challenges navigating narrow residential streets or areas with low-hanging trees in Rancho Santa Margarita neighborhoods. If this happens, our carrier will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot such as a local shopping center, gas station, or parking lot. This ensures your vehicle is transported safely while still providing maximum convenience for 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!