Guide

Car transport insurance: what to verify before booking

Last updated: July 26, 2026

Do not rely on the phrase "fully insured." Ask for current documents and confirm exactly which policy applies to your vehicle, transport method, and assigned driver. The policy and trip agreement control; a website summary cannot establish coverage for a particular loss.

This guide is a practical question list, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage terms vary, so ask the transport provider and your own insurer before the vehicle changes hands.

SelectDrive planning status as of July 26, 2026: SelectDrive is accepting quote and route-planning requests only while required federal interstate operating authority is pending. No interstate for-hire move will begin unless and until that authority is granted and active and the specific vehicle, driver, insurance, route, and signed agreement are approved.

Ask for a current Certificate of Insurance

A certificate gives you information to review, but it is not the policy and does not guarantee that every loss is covered. Check that the named insured matches the company on your agreement and that the policy dates include the trip. Then ask:

• Which policy responds to damage to the vehicle being transported?
• Does that policy apply to the planned method: driven on its own wheels or hauled?
• Is the assigned driver or carrier covered for this trip?
• What are the relevant limits and deductible?
• Which exclusions matter for mechanical failure, weather, road debris, contents, pets, or pre-existing damage?
• Who is the insurer or claims administrator, and how is a notice submitted?

Keep your own auto policy active

Do not cancel or suspend your policy for the move. Tell your insurer how the vehicle will travel and ask in writing how the policy treats an assigned driveaway driver or a trailer shipment. Ask whether you must name or authorize the driver and whether roadside assistance, comprehensive, collision, or personal-property provisions change.

Your provider's documents and your policy may address different risks. Neither should be assumed to fill every gap in the other.

Coverage is not the same as an inspection record

Insurance answers whether a covered claim may be paid. An inspection helps show the facts. At pickup, record every side of the vehicle, close-ups of existing damage, glass, roof, wheels, interior, odometer, fuel or charge level, warning lights, and keys. Make sure both sides can access the record.

Repeat the inspection before accepting delivery. Photos do not guarantee payment, but a clear before-and-after record is far better than trying to reconstruct the condition from memory.

Written approval does not establish coverage

A vehicle policy may exclude personal property and animal-related loss. A pet that travels well may accompany the vehicle it belongs to, and ordinary belongings that fit safely below the window line may be accommodated, but both require advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. Approval is separate from the price estimate and is never automatic. These accommodations are incidental to delivering the vehicle. SelectDrive does not offer household goods moving, standalone goods delivery, or standalone pet transport. No person may ever travel in the vehicle. Written approval does not establish insurance coverage, so ask SelectDrive and your insurer how each policy treats approved contents or pet-related loss. See the current policy.

If you notice damage at delivery

1. Inspect the vehicle before signing the delivery record.
2. Photograph the condition and the surrounding handoff area.
3. Note the issue clearly on the delivery record; do not sign a blank form.
4. Keep the quote, agreement, pickup photos, tracking record, delivery photos, and messages.
5. Notify the provider and the appropriate insurer promptly using the procedure and deadlines in the agreement and policy.

If safety is involved, deal with the immediate safety issue first. Do not repair or discard evidence before asking the appropriate insurer what documentation it needs, except where urgent action is reasonably necessary.

What a future SelectDrive customer should request

If authority becomes active and SelectDrive approves a trip, request the current insurance documentation and operating details applicable to that specific route and assigned driver before pickup. Confirm the written price, inspection process, tracking method, and claim contact at the same time. Public pages and planning estimates do not replace those trip documents.

The broader 12-question provider checklist covers identity, authority, pricing, cancellation, timing, and delivery in addition to insurance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether my car is insured during transport?

Request current documents and ask which policy applies to your vehicle, transport method, and assigned driver. Review the policy period, limits, deductible, exclusions, and claims contact. The trip agreement and policy documents control.

Should I keep my own car insurance active?

Yes. Keep it active and ask your insurer how it treats the exact transport arrangement. Do not assume a provider's policy replaces your coverage.

Are belongings inside a transported car insured?

Do not assume they are. Written approval for a pet or ordinary belongings does not establish coverage. SelectDrive is accepting planning requests only while required federal interstate operating authority is pending. Ask both SelectDrive and your insurer in writing. High-value items should not travel, and any declared exception requires advance written approval. Keep sensitive, hazardous, illegal, or irreplaceable items out of the vehicle.

What should I do if I notice damage at delivery?

Inspect before signing, photograph the condition, note it on the delivery record, retain all evidence, and notify the provider and appropriate insurer promptly under the agreement's procedure.