Preparing your vehicle for shipping from California to Michigan is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove Personal Items: Take out all personal belongings, including toll passes, GPS devices, and fragile items. Carriers are not responsible for items left inside your car.

Clean Your Vehicle: Wash your car inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage during the inspection process.

Document Current Condition: Take photos of your vehicle from all angles, noting any scratches, dents, or other damage.

Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), check fluid levels, and make sure your battery is charged. Your vehicle needs to start and drive for loading.

Secure Loose Parts: Remove or secure any loose exterior accessories like spoilers, antennas, or bike racks that could be damaged during transport.

Provide a Working Key: Have a spare key ready for the driver. Keep your main set with you.

For complete details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth shipping experience from California to Michigan.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from California to Michigan. 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 leaves California, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid for the entire trip to Michigan. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy for extra protection.

This comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against damage during loading, transport, and unloading. You can ship with confidence knowing your car is protected every mile from California to Michigan.

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

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More carrier options: Popular routes like California to Michigan fill up quickly
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup and delivery date options

If you need faster service, we can often arrange pickup within 1-7 days, but expect higher rates for expedited shipping. During peak seasons (summer months and holidays), book even earlier if possible.

Pro tip: The moment you know your moving date, contact us. Early booking saves money and reduces stress during your move to Michigan.

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 common and affordable option, costing significantly less than enclosed shipping.

Enclosed transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road hazards. This premium service typically costs 40-60% more than open transport.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily driver and want to save money on your California to Michigan move.

Choose enclosed transport if: You’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, or any car with custom paint that needs extra protection during the long cross-country journey.

Most customers shipping from California to Michigan choose open transport due to the cost savings. See our complete open vs enclosed guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

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

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your pickup address in California and delivery address in Michigan. Our assigned carrier will come to both locations to handle your vehicle transport.

In some cases, large trucks can’t access certain streets due to low bridges, narrow roads, or local restrictions. If this happens, don’t worry – our driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or gas station. This is still considered door-to-door service.

Door-to-door transport is our most popular option because it saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drive to a terminal or arrange extra transportation. We handle the California to Michigan route regularly, so our drivers know the best pickup and delivery spots in both states.

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!