California to Missouri Car Shipping

Preparing your car for the long journey from California to Missouri is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Clean and inspect your vehicle: Wash your car and take photos of any existing damage. This helps with insurance claims if needed.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and loose items from inside your car. Carriers aren’t responsible for personal property.

Check fluids and battery: Make sure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and a working battery. Your car needs to start and drive onto the transport truck.

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

Have keys ready: You’ll need to give the driver a working set of keys when they pick up your vehicle.

For a complete checklist and more detailed tips, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in Missouri.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from California to Missouri with Sherpa Auto Transport.

Every carrier in our network must carry:

• $1,000,000 in liability insurance – covers damage to other vehicles and property
• $100,000 in cargo insurance – protects your vehicle during transport

Before your car leaves California, we check that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to list Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection throughout your California to Missouri shipment.

Important: While carrier insurance covers most situations, we recommend checking with your personal auto insurance about coverage during transport. Some policies offer additional protection for car shipping.

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

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better carrier availability: More time allows carriers to plan efficient routes
• Lower costs: Early bookings often qualify for better pricing
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from
• Route bundling: Carriers can group your shipment with other vehicles heading to Missouri

If you need last-minute service, we can still help. However, expect higher costs and limited pickup windows. For the smoothest experience shipping your car from California to Missouri, book as early as possible.

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, exposed to weather and road debris. It’s safe and reliable for most vehicles shipping from California to Missouri.

Enclosed auto transport provides full protection inside a covered trailer. Your car stays shielded from weather, dust, and road hazards during the long cross-country journey. This option costs 40-60% more than open transport.

Choose enclosed transport if you have:

• Classic or vintage cars
• Luxury vehicles over $50,000
• Custom paint jobs or modifications
• Convertibles with soft tops

For standard daily drivers, open transport works great and saves money. Most cars shipped from California to Missouri use open trailers without issues. See our complete open vs enclosed guide to help you decide what’s best for your vehicle and budget.

Yes, we offer convenient door-to-door auto transport service from California to Missouri. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle at your home, office, or any address you choose in California and deliver it directly to your specified location in Missouri.

When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our assigned carrier will coordinate with you to schedule both pickup and delivery at these exact locations whenever possible.

In some cases, large transport trucks cannot access certain residential streets due to low-hanging branches, narrow roads, or local parking 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 that’s easy for you to reach.

This door-to-door service saves you time and eliminates the hassle of driving to distant terminals. You can focus on your move from California to Missouri while we handle getting your car there safely.

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!