Charlottesville, VA Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Charlottesville, VA is simple but important. Start by removing all personal items from inside your car – this includes electronics, documents, and any loose objects that could shift during transit.

Clean your vehicle inside and out before pickup. This makes it easier to spot any existing damage during the inspection process. Take photos of your car from all angles as documentation.

Make sure your gas tank is no more than 1/4 full to reduce weight and meet safety requirements. Remove or secure any external accessories like bike racks, spoilers, or antennas that could be damaged.

Disable your car alarm and remove toll passes like E-ZPass. Have a spare key ready for the driver, but keep your main set with you.

Finally, check your battery and tire pressure to ensure your vehicle can be loaded and unloaded safely. For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Charlottesville, VA with Sherpa Auto Transport. Every carrier in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your Charlottesville shipment to any carrier, we verify that their insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy, giving you extra protection.

This insurance coverage protects your vehicle from pickup in Charlottesville through delivery at your destination. You don’t need to purchase additional coverage – it’s all included in your shipping quote.

If you have questions about insurance coverage for your specific vehicle or route from Charlottesville, our team is happy to explain the details before you book.

For car shipping from Charlottesville, VA, we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance. However, the earlier you schedule, the better your options will be.

Here’s why advance booking matters:

• Better carrier availability: More carriers can fit your route into their schedules
• Lower costs: Carriers can bundle your car with other vehicles heading the same direction
• Flexible pickup dates: You’ll have more time slots to choose from

If you’re shipping during peak seasons (summer months, holidays, or winter snowbird season), book 3-4 weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are possible but may cost more and have limited pickup windows.

Pro tip: Charlottesville’s location along major highways makes it easier to find carriers, but planning ahead still saves you money and stress.

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 trailers where your car is exposed to weather and road debris. This is the most common and affordable option, costing significantly less than enclosed transport.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, road salt, and debris. This premium service typically costs 50-75% more than open transport.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily driver and want to save money. Most cars ship safely this way from Charlottesville.

Choose enclosed transport if: You own a luxury car, classic vehicle, or custom car that needs extra protection. The higher cost is worth it for valuable vehicles.

For detailed comparisons and pricing, check our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door service for Charlottesville, VA residents. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or any address you choose and deliver it directly to your destination.

When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses in Charlottesville. Our experienced carriers will coordinate with you to schedule a convenient time for both pickup and delivery.

In some cases, large transport trucks may not be able to access certain residential streets due to low-hanging branches, narrow roads, or parking restrictions. If this happens in your Charlottesville neighborhood, don’t worry – our carrier will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or gas station that’s easy for you to reach.

This door-to-door service saves you time and hassle compared to terminal-to-terminal shipping, where you’d need to drop off and pick up your vehicle at specific depot locations.

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!