Electric cars travel well by carrier, they just ask for a different kind of attention. Weight runs higher than a similar gas model, ground clearance can be lower around the battery tray, and the car’s software likes to sleep when left alone. I haul EVs year round and I try to treat them like quiet, heavy appliances that need the right switch settings before they leave the driveway. Set the modes, charge to a sane level, keep the cables organized, and the rest of the trip feels routine. If you want a ballpark view of how distance, lane demand, trailer type, and timing shape a quote, this page helps you set expectations without guesswork: Car shipping costs.
Open trailers handle most electric cars. They run frequent schedules, load fast, and fit many budgets. Enclosed trailers shield paint and trim, add soft straps and liftgates, and appeal to owners moving low sedans or fresh details. Either way, the curbside routine looks the same. We walk the car, note condition on the Bill of Lading, set a secure strap pattern that does not pinch lines or stress underbody panels, and check tension before the truck rolls. At delivery, we repeat the walk-through and compare photos. No drama is the goal. If you prefer a full preparation sequence that lines up every step from first call to final signature, this guide keeps it neat: How to ship a car.
Step-by-step car shipping guide
This list is the pattern I use for EVs on interstate runs. It is not pretty. It works.
- Collect the basics. Year, make, model, battery state of charge, ground clearance setting, origin and destination ZIP codes, and whether the car drives under its own power.
- Pick trailer style. Open for most daily drivers, enclosed for low cars, high-trim finishes, or long legs during rough seasons.
- Set a pickup window. A one to two day span helps dispatch match your lane. Fixed dates still work, they just narrow the truck pool.
- Charge level. Aim for a mid-range target, roughly one third to one half. Enough to load, unload, and reposition at delivery without packing the cells full for days.
- 12-volt battery health. If that small battery is weak, the EV can refuse to wake for loading. A quick test saves curbside time.
- Transport or tow mode. Most electric cars offer one. Find the steps in the manual and be ready to show them. If the parking pawl needs a special sequence, write it on a sticky note and leave it in the console.
- Alarms and tilt sensors. Many EVs arm tilt or motion by default. Turn those off so straps and trailer angles do not set anything off at 2 a.m.
- Keys, cards, and app access. Hand over a physical fob or key card. If app access is required to open or drive, add a backup. Phones die and cell service drops on the road.
- Secure the charging gear. Pack the portable charger and adapters in a soft bag, zip it, and put it in the trunk. Do not leave cables loose on seats.
- Photograph the car. Time-stamped shots of every panel, roof, wheels, underbody edges near the battery tray, interior, charge port, and odometer. Save to one folder you can pull up fast.
- Pick workable meeting spots. Long trucks need space. If your street is tight or gated, choose a nearby wide road or lot and drop a pin.
- Walk the Bill of Lading together. Read the notes, fix anything that looks off, and only then sign.
Interstate auto transport process. Dispatch pairs your route with a truck that has space and the right gear for the car’s stance and weight. On pickup, the driver checks ground clearance modes, sets ramps or a liftgate, and places straps around wheels or approved points so nothing touches high-voltage covers or lower aero panels. Strap angles matter here. Too shallow and the car creeps. Too aggressive and tension runs where it does not belong. We tug, recheck, note the mileage, and head out. During the run, we check tie points at fuel stops, and if traffic or weather eats into the window, we call ahead.
The second half of the interstate auto transport process is delivery. Big rigs and tight streets argue with each other, so we often meet on a wide road or lot near your address. Another walk-around follows. If the car slept during the last leg, it might need a door open or a short wake step to shift into drive. If the charge sits low, we plan a short hop to a charger the moment tires touch the ground. Anything that needs attention goes on the Bill of Lading before signatures. Most drops end with a quiet handoff and a short drive to a plug.
State-to-state moving tips. Plan your first charge at the destination. Pick a station near the delivery spot and check access hours. Some garages close at night or limit visitor entries. If you need an adapter for local plugs, put it in the same bag as the portable charger and label it. If temperatures swing cold, the car may lose a few percentage points while parked. That is normal. A mid-range state of charge is kinder to the pack during travel and still gives room for that overnight drift.
More state-to-state moving tips that help on busy weeks: leave a printed card in the console with three items – how to wake the car, how to put it in transport or tow mode, and how to disarm the alarm. If the car uses electronic latches, show the driver the manual release. If it has height settings, leave it at a standard ride height unless the manual insists otherwise. Extreme low looks cool in photos and turns into ramp pain at the curb. Two contact numbers on the order beat one. If your phone dies or you sit on a plane during delivery, the route does not stall.
Now a quick word on money. Weight, distance, equipment, and timing drive the number on a quote. Heavy sedans and large battery SUVs change deck planning, which can nudge the slot we pick. Flexible pickup spans help dispatch tuck your order into a truck already running your lane. If your dates are fixed around flights or a move-in, say so up front and we build to that. For a clean look at how the pieces add up, start here: Car shipping costs. Then use the preparation page linked above to keep curb time short at both ends.
FAQ: Frequent mistakes when shipping a car
Sending an EV at 100 percent or near zero
High charge for days is not kind to a pack, and near empty can strand the car at delivery. Mid-range targets leave room in both directions and still cover loading and a short hop to a charger.
Leaving the portable charger loose on a seat
Cables slide and knock trim during hard braking. Bag them, zip it, and place the bag in the trunk or a covered cargo area.
Relying only on app access
Apps time out, phones die, and carriers pass through weak coverage zones. Hand over a key card or fob and keep a second one with a trusted contact.
Forgetting transport or tow mode
Some cars lock a parking pawl by default. Without the right steps, loading slows. Print the steps or leave them on a note in the console.
Arm-tilt alarms left on
Tilt or motion sensors can chirp at every strap adjustment. Turn those off for the trip and turn them back on later.
Assuming the driver knows every brand’s hidden tricks
We see many models, but software menus move around after updates. A quick demo at pickup saves time and avoids guesswork under pressure.
Setting ride height to the lowest setting
Looks good on a photo, turns ramps into math problems. Standard height gives better angles unless the manual says otherwise.
Packing valuables in the cabin
Coverage centers on the vehicle, not what you stash inside. Keep laptops, jewelry, documents, and medication with you.
Skipping the underbody photos
A quick set near rocker panels and battery tray edges helps if a scuff is suspected later. Five shots now beat long talks later.
No plan for the first charge
Know where you will plug in after delivery and what adapter you need. A short drive to a planned charger feels better than hunting with 8 percent left.
Electric cars do not ask for magic, they ask for calm habits. Share honest measurements, charge to the middle, bring a physical key, and leave the car in a mode that lets it roll when asked. Pick a meeting spot a long truck can reach, carry a tidy photo set from start to finish, and keep your charging plan simple at the other end. That is the pattern. It works for sedans, crossovers, and the big battery SUVs too. If you want price logic without fluff, use this breakdown first: Car shipping costs. When you are set to follow a steady prep list from booking to delivery, lean on this page: How to ship a car.
