HIGHROAD / SHIPPING KNOWLEDGE
Can Someone Else Release or Receive Your Shipped Car?
Someone else may be able to release or receive your car if the carrier accepts that arrangement in advance. Provide the representative's details, confirm the required authorization and identification, and explain their inspection and signing responsibilities. Do not assume an informal message to the driver satisfies every carrier or terminal.
Confirm who has authority to release the car
Tell the booking provider whether the pickup person is the owner, seller, dealer employee, family member, or another representative. Ask whether it needs a named contact, signed authorization, facility release, or a specific form.
At delivery, confirm the receiving person's name and phone number before dispatch. Ask how to update them if plans change. A last-minute substitution can cause a release problem even when everyone involved is acting honestly.
Agree what the representative will do
Give your representative a short written checklist:
- Verify the carrier and shipment details before handing over keys or accepting the car.
- Photograph and inspect the vehicle with the driver where safe.
- Compare condition with the existing record and note concerns accurately.
- Read the document before signing and obtain a complete copy.
- Confirm any agreed payment amount and recipient before paying.
- Contact you promptly if the paperwork, condition, or payment instructions differ.
Choose someone who has enough time and understands the vehicle. Simply being available to collect keys is different from being prepared to inspect and document a valuable shipment.
Ocean terminals may require more formal notice
As a named carrier example, Matson's pickup guidance describes advance notification when another person collects the vehicle, including booking and identity information. It also distinguishes requirements at Alaska ports.
Use the current instructions for your actual carrier and terminal. Do not generalize one company's policy into a nationwide rule. Submit identity documents only through a verified channel supplied by the responsible provider.
If the representative notices damage
They should record what they can see, retain photographs, and obtain a copy of the condition record. They should not invent a cause or sign a statement they know is inaccurate. Notify the appropriate carrier promptly.
For claims covered by 49 CFR Part 370, a damage notation alone is not the complete formal claim. Make sure you receive the evidence needed for any subsequent filing.
Planning example: you arrive in Florida after the car. A trusted person can potentially receive it, but the carrier needs to accept that person, the location must work, and inspection and payment arrangements should already be clear.
Questions customers ask
Is a power of attorney always required?
Do not assume so. Ask which form of authorization the carrier or facility requires for this handoff.
Can the driver choose a different recipient?
Resolve recipient changes through the agreed authorization process.
Should my representative sign a blank condition report?
No. Ask for a completed, accurate record and keep a copy.
Plan your shipment
Share the pickup and destination, vehicle condition, timing, and any document or access concern. Request a shipping callback to discuss the next steps. A form submission requests contact; it does not book transportation, confirm acceptance, or take payment.
Related guides
Browse all car shipping guides.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked October 10, 2026. General information, not individualized legal or insurance advice. Confirm current requirements for your shipment. Reference links do not imply agency or carrier endorsement of Highroad.