What to do if your car is damaged during shipping
Transport damage is uncommon, but when it happens, quick action and good evidence decide the outcome. A step-by-step guide to making a claim.
Most cars arrive exactly as they left. On our site, only a small share of reviewers report damage. But if it happens to you, what you do in the first hours matters most.
At delivery
- Don't sign a clean receipt. Write the damage on the delivery bill of lading first.
- Photograph everything with the driver present: close-ups and wide shots that show where on the car it is.
- Get names and numbers: the driver, the carrier company and its USDOT number.
The same day
- Contact the company you booked with in writing (email is fine) describing the damage, with photos attached.
- If you booked through a broker, contact the carrier too. The carrier's cargo insurance usually pays transport damage claims.
- Ask for the claim process, the deadline, and the insurance details.
Build your claim
- Get repair estimates from one or two reputable shops.
- Gather your pickup photos and bill of lading to show the damage wasn't there before.
- Keep copies of every message.
If you're getting nowhere
- Check whether the carrier's insurer will deal with you directly.
- Talk to your own auto insurer; your policy may cover it and they can pursue the carrier.
- You can file a complaint with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database.
- For larger amounts, small claims court is an option in many places.
Help the next customer
When it's resolved, or if it isn't, write a review describing what happened and how the company responded. That response often tells future customers more than the damage itself.