Lakeland, FL Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Lakeland, FL is simple when you follow these key steps. First, remove all personal items from inside your car, including toll passes, GPS devices, and any fragile items that could be damaged during transit. Next, secure or remove exterior accessories like bike racks, spoilers, or antenna toppers that might come loose on the road.

Make sure your vehicle is clean and well-documented – wash your car and take photos of any existing damage before pickup. Check that your gas tank is no more than 1/4 full to reduce weight and meet safety requirements. Finally, ensure you have a working key available for the carrier and that your car is in running condition with proper tire pressure.

For a complete preparation checklist and additional tips, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps will help ensure your vehicle ships safely from Lakeland to its destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Lakeland, FL. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry minimum insurance coverage of $1,000,000 in liability and $100,000 in cargo protection.

Before your Lakeland car shipment begins, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is current 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 Lakeland through delivery at your destination. You can ship with confidence knowing professional insurance protection backs your transport.

We recommend booking your car shipping service from Lakeland, FL at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, scheduling even earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why advance booking helps:

• Better pricing: Carriers can group your vehicle with others heading to the same area
• More flexibility: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from
• Less stress: Avoid last-minute rushing and higher costs

If you need expedited shipping, we can often arrange pickup within 2-3 days. But expect to pay premium rates for rush service.

Peak season tip: During busy times (summer months and holidays), book 3-4 weeks ahead. More people move during these periods, so carriers fill up faster.

Ready to ship from Lakeland? The sooner you book, the smoother your car shipping experience will be.

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 where your car is loaded onto an open trailer alongside other vehicles. Your car is exposed to weather and road debris, but it’s perfectly safe for most everyday vehicles.

Enclosed auto transport protects your car inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road debris. This option costs about 50% more than open transport but is worth it for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.

For most Lakeland residents shipping standard vehicles, open transport works great and saves money. Choose enclosed transport if you’re moving a high-value car that needs extra protection. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for more details on which option fits your needs and budget.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers door-to-door service for Lakeland, FL residents. This means we pick up your car from your home or office and deliver it directly to your new address.

When you book with us, simply provide your pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to you in Lakeland and handle everything. No need to drive to a terminal or meet at a far-off location.

Sometimes, large trucks can’t reach certain areas due to narrow streets, low bridges, or HOA rules. If this happens in your Lakeland neighborhood, don’t worry. We’ll arrange a safe, nearby spot like a shopping center or gas station. This is rare, but we always work with you to find the best solution.

Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle. It’s included in most of our shipping options at no extra cost.

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!