Storing Personal Items in the Vehicle During Shipping: An Explanation

So you’ve selected a transport company and confirmed your carrier. Now what? While the transport logistics company you have chosen to work with should do most of the heavy lifting for you, the one thing they can’t do is prepare your car for shipping. There are many things you should consider when preparing your vehicle for transport - you can find a comprehensive list here -  one thing that can make or break your transport at the last minute is the weight of the belongings in your vehicle at the time of transport.

When discussing the weight of your vehicle, it is important to remember that your vehicle is typically one of many on the transport trailer. So while it seems reasonable at first glance to pack your car full of items, it can be problematic for the carrier if every car on their trailer were to do this. 

On average, carriers will accept 100 lbs or less of personal belongings in the vehicle during transport. All items must be below the window line to not impede visibility for the driver during transport. Also, it is important to note that anything that is not attached to the vehicle can be shifted during transport and potentially cause damage to the items themselves or even to your vehicle. In addition, you will want to choose the items packed in your vehicle very carefully. While all transport carriers are required to carry cargo insurance to cover your vehicle during transport, this insurance does not typically cover anything that is not considered a permanent fixture on the vehicle. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you avoid storing costly items, items that have sentimental value or are irreplaceable, and items or documents that include any private personal information.

If you need to store additional items that would exceed the 100 lbs limit this can usually be accommodated, however, this must be discussed before booking the transport and confirming a carrier. This way, we can ensure that the carrier assigned can accommodate the additional size or weight for the transport without issue. By adequately communicating and preparing for a ‘heavy weight’ transport, we can avoid last-minute cancellations by the carrier, additional fees, and other unforeseen issues or complications. One of the top reasons for carriers canceling, declining, or adding charges to a transport at the time of pick-up is due to the additional weight or size of the vehicle. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your transport logistics broker or the carrier directly if you have any questions regarding the personal belongings included in your vehicle. It is our job as the liaison to make your transport as stress-free as possible and the best way to do that is to engage in clear, candid conversations to ensure proper expectations have been set and therefore met. 

Happy Shipping!

Graham Family Auto Transport