Santa Monica, CA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Santa Monica, CA is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including items in the glove box, trunk, and console. Carriers are not responsible for personal property.

Clean your car: Wash the exterior so you can easily spot any damage during inspection. Take photos of your vehicle from all angles.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Make sure the battery is charged and connections are secure.

Remove or secure loose parts: Take off custom accessories, spoilers, or anything that could fall off. Remove toll passes and parking permits from the windshield.

Disable alarms: Turn off car alarms to prevent issues during transport.

Have keys ready: Provide one set of working keys to the driver. Keep a spare for yourself.

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

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Santa Monica, CA. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your Santa Monica car shipment begins, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy for extra protection.

This means your vehicle is covered from pickup in Santa Monica through delivery at your destination. Our comprehensive insurance requirements give you peace of mind during your car shipping experience.

For car shipping from Santa Monica, CA, we recommend scheduling your pickup at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and flexible pickup dates.

Santa Monica is located in a high-traffic shipping area, which works in your favor. However, booking early allows carriers to:

• Bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading to the same destination
• Offer better pricing through route optimization
• Provide more pickup time options that fit your schedule

Peak season timing matters: During busy periods (summer months and winter holidays), book 3-4 weeks ahead. For standard times, 2 weeks is usually sufficient.

Remember, Santa Monica’s dense urban environment can affect pickup logistics. Early booking helps ensure your carrier can navigate local parking restrictions and scheduling requirements smoothly.

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 car rides on an open trailer, exposed to weather and road debris. This works great for most everyday vehicles and costs significantly less.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer. It costs 40-60% more than open transport but shields your car from weather, dust, and road debris. This is ideal for luxury cars, classic vehicles, or cars with custom paint jobs.

For most Santa Monica residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport offers excellent value. Choose enclosed transport if you’re moving a high-value car or want maximum protection. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

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

When you book with us, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to you, making the process as convenient as possible. However, please note that some Santa Monica locations may have restrictions due to narrow streets, low-hanging branches, or parking limitations that prevent large car carriers from accessing certain areas.

If your specific address isn’t accessible, don’t worry – we’ll work with you to find a safe, nearby alternative location such as:

• A nearby shopping center or parking lot
• A local gas station
• A more accessible street in your neighborhood

Our goal is to get as close to your door as safely possible while protecting both your vehicle and our equipment. We’ll coordinate with you throughout the process to ensure a smooth pickup and delivery experience in Santa Monica.

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!