Guide

Is my car insured during transport? Driveaway insurance explained

Last updated: June 2026

Yes. SelectDrive carries commercial auto liability and cargo insurance for vehicles in transit, and we also recommend you keep your own comprehensive auto policy active during the move. The most important protection, though, is the photo inspection at pickup and delivery, which creates a clear record of your car's condition so there is never a dispute about what happened.

Insurance is the question every careful owner asks, and a lot of car shipping sites are vague about it. Here is the straight version of how it works when a person drives your car.

What SelectDrive's coverage includes

SelectDrive carries commercial auto liability and cargo insurance that applies to vehicles in transit. Because driveaway means a vetted professional is driving your car on its own wheels, the coverage works much like it would for any insured driver operating a vehicle, rather than the cargo-on-a-trailer model. The exact policy details are confirmed with you at booking. We are completing federal operating authority; once that and the policy specifics are finalized, the numbers are shared directly.

Why we recommend keeping your own policy

Keep your own comprehensive auto insurance active throughout the transport period, and take two minutes to confirm with your insurer that your policy covers a hired-driver or driveaway arrangement. This is belt-and-suspenders: your coverage and SelectDrive's commercial coverage together are the simplest way to be fully protected. It costs you nothing and removes any gray area.

The real protection: photo inspection

The single best thing a transport service can do for you is document the car. SelectDrive takes time-stamped photos at pickup and again at delivery, so the car's condition before and after is on the record. If anything changes in transit, the photos show it, which means a claim is based on evidence, not memory or argument. Trailer carriers rely on a paper bill of lading; a clear before-and-after photo set is far stronger. You can compare the delivery photos directly against the pickup set.

What about belongings in the car?

Because a person is driving, your packed belongings travel attended, unlike a trailer where loaded items are typically excluded from coverage. Even so, carry anything truly high-value or irreplaceable yourself, cash, jewelry, documents, and confirm any specific coverage questions with your own insurer. See moving your car with belongings for what fits.

If something goes wrong

Tell us right away, ideally at delivery while the driver is still there, and we will walk you through it with the photo record in hand. Owner-operated accountability matters here: you are dealing with one company and one named driver, not a broker pointing at a load-board carrier you never chose.

Frequently asked questions

Is my car insured while SelectDrive drives it?

SelectDrive carries commercial auto liability and cargo insurance for vehicles in transit. We also strongly recommend that you keep your own comprehensive auto policy active during the move and confirm with your insurer that it covers a hired-driver or driveaway arrangement. Exact coverage details are confirmed with you at booking.

What happens if my car is damaged during transport?

Every job includes photo inspection at pickup and at delivery, which creates a clear, time-stamped record of the car's condition before and after. If anything changes in transit, those photos document it, so a claim is based on evidence rather than memory. Contact us right away at delivery and we will walk you through it.

Are my belongings in the car insured?

Personal belongings carried in the car travel attended with the driver, unlike a trailer where loaded items are usually not covered. For high-value or irreplaceable items such as cash and jewelry, we recommend you carry them yourself rather than send them, and confirm any coverage questions with your own insurer.

Should I keep my own insurance during the move?

Yes. Keep your own comprehensive auto insurance active throughout the transport period and confirm with your insurer that your policy covers driveaway service. It is the simplest way to be fully protected alongside SelectDrive's commercial coverage.