Santa Maria, CA Car Shipping

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

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

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

Check for leaks and mechanical issues: Ensure your car runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Inflate tires to the correct pressure.

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

Leave a quarter tank of gas: Keep fuel levels low to reduce weight, but ensure there’s enough to load and unload the vehicle.

Provide a working key: Give the driver a key that starts the vehicle and unlocks all doors.

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. These simple steps will help ensure a smooth pickup from Santa Maria and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Santa Maria, CA. All carriers 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 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.

Your vehicle is covered from pickup in Santa Maria to final delivery. If you’d like to review a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate, just ask—we’re happy to provide it.

We recommend scheduling your car shipment from Santa Maria, CA at least 1-2 weeks in advance for the best results. However, booking earlier gives you more advantages.

Here’s why advance booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently and offer competitive rates
• More carrier options: You’ll have access to more qualified drivers heading your direction
• Flexible pickup windows: Earlier booking means less pressure on tight timelines
• Route bundling: Carriers can combine your shipment with others, reducing costs

If you need faster service, we can often accommodate rush shipments within 2-5 days, though this typically comes at a premium price.

Pro tip: Santa Maria’s location on California’s Central Coast means regular carrier traffic. Booking 2-3 weeks ahead usually ensures smooth scheduling and the best rates.

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 carrier alongside other cars, exposed to weather and road conditions during transit. This method is safe, reliable, and costs significantly less—making it ideal for most standard vehicles.

Enclosed auto transport provides complete protection inside a covered trailer, shielding your vehicle from weather, dust, and road debris. This premium option typically costs 50-60% more than open transport but is worth considering for luxury cars, classic vehicles, exotic sports cars, or any car with custom features.

For most Santa Maria residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport offers excellent value and reliability. However, if you’re transporting a high-value or specialty vehicle, enclosed transport provides peace of mind with maximum protection. Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service in Santa Maria, CA. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, business, or another address you choose, and deliver it directly to your destination.

When you book with us, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our assigned carrier will do their best to reach both locations. However, if your street has low-hanging trees, narrow roads, or weight restrictions that prevent large car carriers from accessing it safely, we’ll work with you to find a convenient nearby spot—like a shopping center parking lot or gas station.

Why choose door-to-door service? It saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drive to a terminal or arrange extra transportation. Most residential areas in Santa Maria are accessible, making door-to-door service the easiest option for most customers.

Our team will communicate with you throughout the process to ensure a smooth pickup and delivery experience.

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!