East Lansing, MI Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from East Lansing, MI is simple and straightforward. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove personal items: Take out all personal belongings, toll passes, and any loose or fragile items from inside the vehicle. Carriers are not insured for personal property.

Clean your vehicle: Wash your car inside and out. This makes it easier to document any existing damage during the inspection process.

Document condition: Take photos of your vehicle from all angles before pickup. This protects you if any issues arise during transit.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your vehicle has adequate fuel (about a quarter tank), working battery, and no major fluid leaks.

Remove accessories: Take off or secure any external items like bike racks, spoilers, or antennas that could be damaged during transport.

Provide a key: Have a working key ready for the driver at pickup.

For more detailed guidance, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps will ensure a smooth pickup from East Lansing and safe delivery to your destination.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from East Lansing, MI. All carriers in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

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

You’ll receive a copy of the carrier’s insurance certificate before your vehicle is picked up. If damage occurs during transport, the carrier’s insurance covers repairs.

Important: Inspect your vehicle carefully with the driver at both pickup and delivery. Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading right away. This makes filing a claim much easier if needed.

We recommend scheduling your pickup from East Lansing, MI at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, booking earlier gives you the best results.

Here’s why early booking helps:

• Better carrier availability: Carriers can plan routes and bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading in the same direction
• More competitive pricing: Last-minute bookings often cost more due to limited availability
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup date options to choose from

If you need to ship on short notice, we can often accommodate rush services within 2-5 days, though this may come with additional fees. Peak moving seasons (summer and end-of-month periods) typically require more advance notice.

Pro tip: Book as soon as you know your moving dates. You can always adjust your schedule if plans change.

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, but it’s the most affordable and common option—about 90% of vehicles are shipped this way.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle in a fully covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and road debris. This costs 50-60% more than open transport.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily-driver vehicle and want the most cost-effective option. It’s safe and reliable for most cars.

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

Both options are fully insured. For more details, see our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service throughout East Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or another address you choose, and deliver it directly to your destination.

When you book with us, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will do their best to reach those exact locations. However, some East Lansing neighborhoods have narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or parking restrictions that make it difficult for large car carriers to access. If this happens, our driver will contact you to arrange a convenient nearby meeting spot, like a shopping center parking lot or gas station.

Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle—no need to drive to a terminal or drop-off location. It’s our most popular shipping option and is included in most quotes at no extra charge.

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!