Frequently Asked Questions about Enclosed Auto Transport

Questions once you have an order booked to ship your car with Intercity Lines:

Q: Can I put personal items in the car with Intercity Lines?

A: Yes, but we need access to the driver’s side seat and must be able to see out the windows. Items must be limited to 100lbs due to weight regulations. Since our insurance only covers your vehicle, we cannot be responsible for items that become lost or damaged during transport. Illegal, flammable, hazardous, and dangerous items are not allowed in the vehicles.

Q: What forms of payment does Intercity Lines accept?

A: Intercity Lines accepts MasterCard, Visa, cashiers check, E-Check, and cash. For credit card payments, we require the cardholder signature on file. Our credit card payment form: Credit Card Authorization Form or sign right from your phone or computer with our electronic signature form: Intercity Lines Payment Authorization Form

Q: How can I prep my car for transport?

A: Before having your car shipped you want to ensure there is enough fuel in the vehicle to drive on and off the trailer; the typical rule of thumb is a quarter of a tank. You also want to clean your vehicle, so the driver can easily and accurately inspect your vehicle. If your car is dirty and the driver is unable to inspect certain areas accurately, it becomes harder to prove transport damage occurred or not because the inspection will say “to dirty to inspect” in that area. You also want to ensure you have taken your EZ-Pass or other toll transmitters out of your car along with any valuables. You may leave up to 100 lbs of items your vehicle, but Intercity Lines is not liable for those items and request that they do not block the front seats or view out of the windows. For more information read Things to Do Before Shipping a Car

Q: What are your auto transport drivers trained to do to ensure the vehicle isn’t damaged?

A: Intercity Line’s auto transport Drivers are trained to carefully look over a car before it is loaded to note any scratch, ding, dent. Anything and everything to acknowledge the condition of the car before it is loaded. The drivers are trained in proper tie down techniques, to use two car covers on every car, and know where to position cars to make the safest ride across the country.

Questions about our auto transport services:

Q: Do you transport motorcycles?

A: Yes, enclosed transport is available for motorcycles including sidecars, tricycles and other custom motorcycles. Our drivers are highly skilled in hauling motorcycles. Motorcycles can be transported as is as long as they roll. Motorcycles do not need to be crated or anything of the sort to be transported. They are also fully covered by our $2 million worth of cargo insurance with 0 deductible to you.

Q: Do you offer open car transport?

A: No.We only offer enclosed transport due to the risks that come with open transport.

Q: What level of insurance does Intercity Lines carry?

A: Intercity Lines carries $2 million worth of cargo insurance with zero deductible to you. An insurance certificate is available upon request.

Q: Do you have terminals?

A: No. Our only warehouse is in Brookfield, MA. Our service is door-to-door (some restrictions apply).

You can learn more about our enclosed auto transport services at: Guide to Shipping a Car with Intercity Lines

First time shipping a car? Questions about the auto transport industry:

Q: Why should I choose an enclosed auto transport?

A: The most significant benefits with enclosed transport are: the vehicle is inside away from the elements, there’s greater security, a soft tie down system gives more peace of mind as there is no hardware near the car itself, and reputable enclosed auto transport companies are the most skilled and careful in the auto transport industry.

Q: Is dealing directly with a specialty car hauler with its own drivers more preferable than working with a company that is a broker, who may farm out shipping to other trucks?

A: Dealing directly with the carrier allows customers to get direct answers regarding vehicle handling, timing, and most importantly, driver contact. You can read more about types of auto transport companies at Auto Transport: Types of Companies

Most reputable carriers do not require a deposit, whereas brokers normally charge a deposit. When you deal directly with the carrier they do not broker it out, so the customer knows exactly who is hauling the vehicle, and with what type of equipment.

INTERCITY LINES does not contract or broker any orders; we haul all cars we book with our drivers and our trucks.

Q: Enclosed carriers are known to have higher costs than open carriers but what would you tell a classic car owner about the added value they get with enclosed?

A: There is greater security, no exposure to the elements, higher insurance coverage, more competent drivers, better equipment, and the ability to ship additional parts.

Q: How should classic car owners research reputable shipping companies?

A: We recommend independent websites like transportreviews.com; websites like this allow people to report and review carriers of all sorts with experiences good and bad. We cover researching shipping companies in more depth here: How to Research an Auto Transport Company

Q: What specific car hauler trailer features should car owners look for to help avoid damage during loading/hauling/unloading?

A: Customers should look for lift gate loading, drip barriers in between decks (if it is a stacking trailer), nylon wheel saddles for tie downs, plastic covers for the seat and floor mats, and the driver covers your car with at least a cloth car cover.

Q: What is the cheapest car transportation service?

A: The cheapest car transportation services are open car transport with a lesser reputable company. These companies are on websites like uship.com where carriers with small customer bases are bidding for your business. These competitive marketplaces offer some of the lowest cost for transporting your vehicle, but carry the most significant risk to your car. Some of those risks are your vehicle is exposed to the elements, debris, and other road hazards along with those companies tend to have significantly lesser insurance coverage, less experienced drivers, and they typically use chains to secure your vehicles. We cover these companies more in Price of Shipping a Car and Be Wary of Auto Transport Brokers

Q: What’s the best way to ship a car?

The best way to ship a car is with a reputable enclosed auto transport company like Intercity Lines. Intercity Lines has nearly 40 years of experience shipping the world’s rarest and most valuable cars. This experience combined with our top of the line enclosed trailers makes us the best way to ship a car.

If you still have questions on shipping a car, please read 10 things to know when shipping a car and Tips for Shipping a Classic Car

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