Preparing your vehicle for shipping from California to Illinois 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 under seats. 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 loose trim. Remove toll transponders, GPS devices, and parking passes.

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

Provide spare keys: Give the driver a working set of keys. Keep your main set with you.

For complete preparation details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in Illinois and speeds up the pickup process.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from California to Illinois. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your car ships, 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 coverage protects your vehicle against damage during loading, transport, and unloading. Your car is covered from pickup in California until delivery in Illinois.

Important: While rare, if damage occurs, report it immediately to the driver before signing the delivery receipt. This ensures a smooth claims process.

For car shipping from California to Illinois, we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance. However, scheduling even earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can group your car with other shipments heading to Illinois
• More pickup dates: You’ll have flexible scheduling options
• Peak season protection: Summer and winter months get busy fast

If you need last-minute shipping, we can still help. But expect higher costs and fewer carrier options. The key is flexibility – the more flexible your dates, the better deal you’ll get.

Ready to ship? Contact Sherpa Auto Transport today for a free quote and lock in your California to Illinois car shipping dates.

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 uses uncovered trailers that expose your car to weather and road debris. It’s the most popular option because it costs less and works well for everyday vehicles.

Enclosed transport protects your car inside a covered trailer. It costs 40-60% more than open transport but shields your vehicle from weather, dust, and flying debris.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard car and want to save money. Most cars ship this way without problems.

Choose enclosed transport if: You own a luxury car, classic vehicle, or custom car with special paint. The extra cost protects your investment on the long trip from California to Illinois.

Both options are safe and reliable. Your choice depends on your car’s value and your budget. See our complete open vs enclosed guide for more details.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers door-to-door service for California to Illinois car shipping. This means we pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or chosen address in California and deliver it directly to your new location in Illinois.

When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to these exact locations whenever possible. However, some residential areas may have restrictions like narrow streets, low-hanging branches, or weight limits that prevent large car carriers from accessing them safely.

If your location isn’t accessible, don’t worry – we’ll work with you to find a convenient nearby spot like a shopping center, gas station, or open parking lot. This is still considered door-to-door service and saves you from driving to a distant terminal.

Door-to-door shipping is our most popular option for California to Illinois routes because it offers maximum convenience for your cross-country 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!