Santa Cruz, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Santa Cruz, CA is simple. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth pickup:

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

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

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), working brakes, and a charged battery so it can be loaded and unloaded.

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

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

Provide a key: Have a spare key ready for the driver at pickup.

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Proper preparation protects your vehicle and helps avoid delays when shipping from Santa Cruz.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Santa Cruz, CA. Every carrier 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 valid and current. All contracted carriers also add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy, giving you extra protection and peace of mind.

You’ll receive the carrier’s insurance details before pickup. If you have questions about coverage, our team is happy to help explain what’s protected during your Santa Cruz vehicle shipment.

We recommend scheduling your car shipment from Santa Cruz, CA at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best chance for lower prices and more carrier options.

Here’s why early booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More flexibility: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from
• Route optimization: Your vehicle can be bundled with other shipments heading the same direction

That said, we can often accommodate rush shipments with as little as 24-48 hours notice, though expedited service typically costs more.

For the smoothest experience, contact us as soon as you know your moving dates. We’ll work with you to find the best solution for your timeline and budget.

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 (the kind you see on highways). It’s fully insured and safe, but exposed to weather and road debris during transit.

Enclosed auto transport provides complete protection inside a covered trailer. It costs 40-60% more than open transport, but shields your vehicle from weather, dust, and debris.

Which should you choose? Most Santa Cruz residents use open transport—it’s reliable and cost-effective for everyday vehicles. Consider enclosed transport if you’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, exotic sports car, or any car with custom paint or modifications.

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

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service for Santa Cruz, CA. This means we pick up your vehicle from your home or business and deliver it directly to your destination address.

When you book with us, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery locations. Our carrier will come to you in Santa Cruz, saving you the hassle of driving to a terminal.

Important to know: Santa Cruz has some narrow streets and residential areas where large car carriers cannot safely navigate. If your location has low-hanging trees, tight turns, or restricted access, our driver will contact you to arrange a convenient nearby meeting spot—like a shopping center parking lot or gas station.

This service works for most Santa Cruz locations, including Westside, Eastside, and surrounding areas like Capitola and Aptos. Our team will confirm accessibility when you schedule your shipment.

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!