Santa Monica, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Santa Monica is simple. Follow these key steps:

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

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

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

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

Keep fuel low: Leave only about a quarter tank of gas. This reduces weight and meets safety requirements.

Provide a key: Have a working key ready for the driver to load and unload your vehicle.

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Proper preparation ensures a smooth pickup from Santa Monica and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Santa Monica, 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. This gives you peace of mind knowing your vehicle is protected throughout the journey from Santa Monica.

For added protection, all our contracted carriers list Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy. This means we monitor coverage to ensure it remains in good standing during your entire shipment.

Your insurance coverage is included in your quote at no extra cost. If you have questions about insurance or need a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate, our team is here to help.

We recommend scheduling your pickup from Santa Monica at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best rates and more carrier options.

Here’s why advance booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan efficient routes and bundle shipments
• More flexibility: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from
• Peak season buffer: Summer months and holidays get busier

Need to ship sooner? We can often accommodate rush orders within 2-5 days, though expedited service costs more. If you have flexible dates, booking 3-4 weeks out typically gets you the lowest price.

Santa Monica’s location in the Los Angeles metro area works in your favor. It’s a major hub with frequent carrier traffic, making last-minute bookings more feasible than rural areas.

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 (like those you see on highways) and is the most common and affordable option. Your vehicle is secured on a multi-car carrier but exposed to weather and road elements during transit.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and debris. This premium service costs 50-60% more than open transport.

Which should you choose? Most Santa Monica residents use open transport—it’s safe, 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. The extra protection is worth it for high-value vehicles.

Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service throughout Santa Monica, CA and nationwide. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or preferred address and deliver it directly to your destination.

How it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to your location in Santa Monica to load your vehicle and deliver it right to your door at your destination.

Important note for Santa Monica residents: While we always aim for true door-to-door service, some Santa Monica streets have parking restrictions, narrow roads, or low-hanging trees that large car carriers cannot navigate. If your street isn’t accessible for our trucks, don’t worry—we’ll arrange a convenient nearby meeting spot like a shopping center parking lot or gas station. This is common in residential areas throughout Santa Monica.

Our team will work closely with you to ensure a smooth pickup and delivery experience, regardless of any street limitations.

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!