HIGHROAD / SHIPPING KNOWLEDGE
What Should You Remove From Your Car Before Shipping?
Remove valuables, unnecessary personal documents, loose items, and anything the accepting carrier prohibits. Confirm what vehicle equipment may remain, and keep the keys and operating information needed for loading available. A car-shipping booking should not be treated as permission to use the vehicle as a moving container.
Clear the cabin and storage compartments
Check the glovebox, center console, seat pockets, under-seat spaces, trunk, and cargo area. Remove money, jewelry, laptops, medication, personal mail, and other belongings you need to keep with you. Do not leave original ownership documents inside unless a verified process specifically calls for it.
Remove loose items that can move during loading or transit. Ask about child seats, portable accessories, spare parts, and extra wheels rather than assuming they are included. Keep a photograph of the prepared interior and the equipment the carrier agreed could remain.
Ask before leaving any restricted material
Tell the carrier about fuel containers, pressurized cylinders, chemicals, ammunition, batteries carried separately, or other unusual contents. Do not conceal them or assume that being inside the trunk makes them acceptable.
This is a disclosure and preparation checklist, not a classification of every material under hazardous-goods law. Obtain the responsible carrier's instructions and any specialist handling advice required for the actual item.
Deal with accessories and access
Discuss removable racks, exterior attachments, antennas, loose covers, and items affecting dimensions or securement. Use the manufacturer's instructions or qualified help where removal is not straightforward.
Ask how to manage toll tags, parking devices, dash cameras, alarms, and tracking features. Keep the car accessible and provide the necessary key or fob. Do not disable required operating or safety functions to prevent an alert. For app-controlled vehicles, agree a practical access method before pickup.
Ocean preparation can be stricter
Use the named carrier's current instructions for the exact route. Matson's preparation guide is one example of carrier-specific vehicle preparation; it is not a policy for every road transporter.
For Hawaii, also review documents and preparation requirements. Cleaning, loose contents, fuel, and vehicle acceptance should all be confirmed before port delivery. Permission from an inland driver does not establish ocean-carrier acceptance.
Finish with a handoff check
1. Confirm the permitted contents in writing. 2. Remove unwanted items and secure approved equipment as instructed. 3. Record the prepared condition with photographs. 4. Keep required keys and access instructions ready. 5. Tell the pickup contact what remains in the vehicle and why.
Planning example: a relocating customer wants to leave boxes in the trunk. The right step is to ask before booking, including about insurance and the ocean leg if any. An informal weight allowance found online is not authorization from the actual carrier.
Questions customers ask
Can the spare tire stay?
Ask which normal vehicle equipment may remain and how it should be secured.
Are belongings covered by the car's shipping insurance?
Do not assume so. Confirm any coverage and exclusions separately.
Can I leave a spare fuel can if it is empty?
Disclose it and follow the carrier's instructions; do not assume it is acceptable.
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.