Southfield, MI Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Southfield, MI is simple. Follow these key steps:

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and fragile items from your vehicle. Carriers typically don’t insure personal items left inside.

Clean your vehicle: Wash your car so you can document its condition with photos before shipping. This helps with any damage claims later.

Check for leaks and mechanical issues: Make sure your vehicle runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Inform your carrier of any mechanical problems.

Secure or remove accessories: Take off or secure loose parts like antennas, spoilers, and bike racks. These can be damaged during transport.

Maintain fuel level: Keep your gas tank about 1/4 full. This reduces weight while ensuring the vehicle can be loaded and unloaded.

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

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

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Southfield, MI. Every carrier we work with must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your shipment begins, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid. 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 pickup. If you have questions about coverage, our team is happy to explain the details and address any concerns.

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

Here’s why advance booking helps:

• Better carrier availability: More carriers can fit your route into their schedules
• Lower costs: Last-minute bookings often cost more due to limited options
• Flexible pickup windows: You’ll have more control over your timing
• Route optimization: Carriers can bundle your vehicle with others heading the same direction, which saves you money

If you need faster service, we offer expedited shipping with pickups possible in as little as 24-48 hours. Keep in mind this option costs more but works well for urgent moves.

For the smoothest experience, contact us as soon as you know your moving dates. We’ll work with you to find the best carrier and schedule for your Southfield pickup.

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 widely available option. About 90% of vehicles shipped in the U.S. use open transport, including most dealership deliveries.

Enclosed auto transport ships your vehicle inside a covered trailer, protecting it from weather, dust, and road debris. This premium service costs 50-60% more than open transport but offers maximum protection for high-value, classic, luxury, or custom vehicles.

Which should you choose? For most everyday vehicles leaving Southfield, open transport is perfectly safe and cost-effective. Choose enclosed transport if you’re shipping a classic car, exotic vehicle, or any car with custom paint or modifications that require extra protection.

Learn more in our detailed open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service for Southfield, MI residents. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home or business and deliver it directly to your destination address.

Here’s how it works:

• Convenient pickup: Our carrier will come to your location in Southfield to load your vehicle
• Direct delivery: Your car will be delivered right to your door at the destination
• No extra trips: You won’t need to drive to a terminal or depot

Important note: Some Southfield streets may have restrictions for large car carriers. These include narrow residential streets, low-hanging trees, or tight turns. If your location isn’t accessible for a full-size carrier, we’ll work with you to find a safe nearby spot, like a shopping center parking lot or main street intersection.

Most customers in Southfield can use door-to-door service without any issues. We’ll discuss your specific address when you book to ensure a smooth pickup and delivery.

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!