Indianapolis, IN Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Indianapolis is simple. Follow these key steps:

Clean your vehicle: Wash the exterior so you can document any existing damage with photos.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and loose items. These aren’t covered by insurance during transit.

Check for leaks and mechanical issues: Ensure your car runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Notify the carrier of any issues.

Secure or remove accessories: Take off or secure antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and other external items that could be damaged.

Maintain proper fluid levels: Keep your gas tank at about 1/4 full. This reduces weight while ensuring the car can be loaded and unloaded.

Provide a key: Have a spare key ready for the driver.

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

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth pickup from Indianapolis and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when transporting from Indianapolis, IN. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your shipment leaves Indianapolis, we verify that the carrier’s insurance policy is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection and peace of mind.

Your vehicle is covered from pickup in Indianapolis through delivery to your destination. If you’d like to review the carrier’s insurance certificate before transport, just ask—we’re happy to provide it.

We recommend scheduling your car shipment from Indianapolis at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best chance of securing competitive rates and flexible pickup times.

Here’s why advance planning helps:

• Better carrier availability: Carriers can bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading in the same direction, which often lowers costs.
• More scheduling flexibility: You’ll have more options for pickup dates that work with your timeline.
• Peak season consideration: During busy periods (summer months and end of month), booking 3-4 weeks ahead is ideal.

Need to ship on short notice? We can often accommodate rush shipments with as little as 24-48 hours’ notice, though expedited service typically costs more.

Bottom line: Book as early as possible for the best rates and options. Two weeks is a good target, but we’re here to help even if your timeline is tight.

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 uses open-air trailers that carry multiple vehicles at once. Your car is exposed to weather and road debris during transit. This is the most common and affordable option, used for about 90% of all vehicle shipments.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dirt, and road debris. This premium service costs 50-60% more than open transport.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily driver and want to save money. It’s safe, reliable, and perfect for most vehicles.

Choose enclosed transport if: You’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, exotic sports car, or any car with custom paint or modifications. The extra protection is worth the cost for high-value vehicles.

For Indianapolis residents, both options are readily available. See our open vs enclosed auto transport guide for more details on which option is right for you.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or any address you specify and deliver it directly to your destination.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come directly to those locations to load and unload your vehicle. This saves you time and eliminates the need to drive to a terminal.

Important to know: In some Indianapolis neighborhoods, large car carriers may face restrictions due to narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or tight turns. If your location isn’t accessible for an 80-foot carrier, don’t worry. Our driver will contact you to arrange a convenient nearby meeting spot, such as a shopping center parking lot or gas station. This is common and ensures safe, damage-free transport of your vehicle.

Door-to-door service is included in our standard pricing and is available for most Indianapolis addresses, making your car shipping experience as convenient 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!