Preparing your vehicle for the cross-country journey from New York to California is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove Personal Items: Take out all personal belongings, including electronics, documents, and valuables. Items left in the car aren’t covered by insurance and can shift during transport.

Clean Your Vehicle: Wash your car inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage and makes the inspection process easier.

Document Current Condition: Take photos of your vehicle from all angles, noting any scratches, dents, or wear. This protects you if damage occurs during shipping.

Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and other fluids. Make sure the battery is charged and the car starts reliably.

Remove Accessories: Take off bike racks, spoilers, antennas, and other add-ons that could be damaged or cause damage during transport.

Provide Working Keys: Have at least one spare key ready for the driver. Your car needs to be moved on and off the carrier.

For complete details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in California.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from New York to California. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your car ships, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active 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 New York all the way to delivery in California. You can ship with confidence knowing your car is protected throughout the entire cross-country journey.

For car shipping from New York to California, we recommend booking 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 pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More pickup options: You’ll have flexibility to choose dates that work for your schedule
• Route optimization: Your car can be grouped with other vehicles heading to California

If you need to ship on short notice, we can often accommodate rush orders within 3-7 days, though this may come with higher costs. Peak moving seasons (summer months and end of year) require even more advance planning.

Pro tip: Book as soon as you know your moving date. You can always adjust pickup times if your 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 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 for most vehicles and costs significantly less.

Enclosed transport protects your car inside a covered trailer. It costs 40-60% more than open transport but shields your vehicle from weather, dust, and road debris. This option is ideal for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.

For most New York to California shipments, open transport works perfectly fine. Choose enclosed transport if your car is worth over $50,000 or has sentimental value you can’t replace. See our complete open vs enclosed guide to help you decide which option fits your needs and budget.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door service for shipping your car from New York to California. We pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or any address you choose and deliver it directly to your destination.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your pickup address in New York and delivery address in California. Our carrier will come right to you, saving you time and hassle.

Important to know: Sometimes large car carriers can’t access narrow streets, apartment complexes, or areas with low bridges. If this happens, don’t worry – we’ll arrange pickup and delivery at a safe, nearby location like a shopping center or gas station. This is still considered door-to-door service.

Most customers shipping from New York to California choose door-to-door because it’s the easiest option. You don’t need to drive to a terminal or take time off work for drop-off.

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!