California to Massachusetts Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for the cross-country journey from California to Massachusetts is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove Personal Items: Take out all personal belongings, toll passes, and fragile items. Car carriers are not responsible for items left inside your vehicle.

Clean Your Car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage and makes the inspection process easier.

Document Everything: Take photos of your car from all angles, noting any scratches, dents, or damage before shipping.

Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), check oil levels, and make sure your battery is charged so the carrier can load and unload your vehicle.

Remove Accessories: Take off any loose exterior items like bike racks, spoilers, or antennas that could get damaged during transport.

Provide Working Keys: Have a spare key ready for the driver, as they’ll need to move your car during pickup and delivery.

For complete details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in Massachusetts.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from California to Massachusetts. 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 the carrier’s insurance is active and valid for your entire cross-country journey. This means your vehicle is protected from pickup in California all the way to delivery in Massachusetts.

For added peace of mind, all our contracted carriers also list Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy. This gives us direct access to policy details and ensures continuous coverage throughout your shipment.

Important: We recommend checking with your personal auto insurance provider about coverage during transport, as policies vary.

We recommend scheduling your car shipment from California to Massachusetts at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure a reliable carrier at competitive rates.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Last-minute bookings often cost 20-30% more
• More carrier options: Popular routes like California to Massachusetts fill up quickly
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup and delivery date options

If you’re moving during peak season (summer months or winter holidays), consider booking 4-6 weeks ahead. These are the busiest times for cross-country car shipping.

Need to ship sooner? We can often accommodate rush orders with 3-7 days notice, though premium rates may apply. Contact our team to discuss expedited options for your California to Massachusetts shipment.

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 budget-friendly option. Your car rides on an open trailer alongside other vehicles. It’s exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most cars. This method costs less and offers more scheduling flexibility.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer. Your car is shielded from weather, dust, and road debris during the long trip from California to Massachusetts. This premium service costs 40-60% more than open transport.

Choose enclosed transport if you have:

• A luxury, classic, or exotic car
• A vehicle with custom paint or modifications
• A car worth over $100,000

For most standard vehicles, open transport works great and saves money. See our complete open vs enclosed guide to help you decide what’s best for your California to Massachusetts move.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service for shipments from California to Massachusetts. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or preferred location in California and deliver it directly to your new address in Massachusetts.

When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your pickup and delivery addresses. Our assigned carrier will coordinate with you to schedule both pickup and delivery at times that work for your schedule.

Important to know: If your location has narrow streets, low-hanging branches, or other restrictions that make it unsafe for our large transport trucks to access, don’t worry. Our carrier will work with you to find a nearby safe location like a shopping center or gas station – usually within a few blocks of your address.

This door-to-door service eliminates the hassle of driving to distant terminals, making your California to Massachusetts car shipping experience as smooth as possible.

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!