Preparing your vehicle properly is key to a smooth shipping experience from California to Massachusetts. Here's what you should do:
Remove personal items and accessories. Take out or secure any interior items like GPS units, phone chargers, or custom seat covers. Remove exterior accessories such as roof racks, spoilers, or custom mirrors that could get damaged or fall off during transit.
Empty the fuel tank. Drain your gas to a quarter tank or less. Carriers need fuel for loading and unloading, but excess weight increases costs and poses safety risks on a cross-country haul.
Check your tires and brakes. Make sure your tires have adequate tread and proper pressure. Test your brakes to confirm they work. Carriers inspect these systems before pickup, and issues can delay your shipment.
Disable toll passes and alarms. Remove or deactivate any toll tags, parking passes, or car alarms. These can trigger unexpectedly during transport and create problems for the driver.
Document your vehicle's condition. Take photos of your car from multiple angles, including the interior and exterior. This protects you if any damage occurs during shipping and is helpful for insurance purposes.
Have keys ready. Provide the carrier with working keys. They need access to move your vehicle on and off the transport truck.
Check the weather forecast. Since you're shipping across the country, review conditions along the route. Winter weather in the middle states can affect transit times. Learn more about how weather impacts your shipment in our guide on the impact of weather on car shipping.
For a complete overview of the shipping process, check out our cross country vehicle transport guide.