Plan the journey around your car’s finish, clearance and handling needs. Speak with a specialist before choosing the carrier arrangements for your classic or exotic vehicle.
Talk to a specialist · (224) 788-7777Have special loading or handling requirements? Speak with our team before booking.
(224) 788-7777
A classic, exotic or retro car can matter for reasons that go well beyond its market price. Original trim, restoration work, a delicate finish or the time spent finding the right example can all influence how you want it transported. The useful starting point is to explain what makes your particular car different, rather than relying on its model name alone.
A restored interior, older fittings or hard-to-replace trim can need specific handover instructions. Point out fragile parts and any features that should not be operated in the usual way. Share recent photographs so the team can understand the car before discussing the move.
A low spoiler, long overhang, lowered suspension or altered wheels can affect the loading approach. Provide the relevant measurements and describe the modifications when requesting a quote. Do not assume that a carrier suitable for a standard version of the car will suit your modified example.
Tell the team about custom paint, protective films, fresh restoration work or removable exterior pieces. Any instructions from the restorer or finish provider should be discussed before booking, including restrictions that might affect covering, handling or transport timing.
Older and specialist vehicles may have unusual starting procedures, battery cut-offs or alarm systems. Explain how the car starts, steers and brakes, and provide practical instructions for the driver. If something is unreliable, say so before the truck arrives.
Van 3 arranges the shipment through a carrier network. For a car whose finish or outdoor exposure is a priority, enclosed transport is an option to discuss: a covered trailer places a barrier between the vehicle and direct exposure to weather and road debris. The trailer type is only one part of the plan; the car also needs a suitable loading approach and clear handling instructions.
Ask the team to confirm the equipment proposed for your shipment. If a lift-gate, particular ramp approach or specific securing method is important to your vehicle, raise that requirement before booking. These arrangements must be checked with the carrier and are not automatic features of every enclosed move.
Keep the agreed transport type and special instructions with your booking documents. If the truck or loading arrangements differ from what was discussed, resolve the question before the car is loaded. A covered trailer does not remove the need to check clearance, handling and the condition record.
Read more about enclosed car transport and discuss whether it suits your vehicle. There is no universal value threshold that makes one service right for every classic: the decision should reflect the actual car, your priorities and the arrangements that can be confirmed.
Accurate details help the team discuss a workable service instead of discovering a loading problem at collection. Start with the year, make and model, then explain anything that changes the vehicle from its standard specification. Photographs and measurements are especially useful when a short model description does not show the relevant detail.
Give the exact vehicle details and describe body kits, altered suspension, wider tires, added equipment or changes to overall dimensions. Mention loose or removable parts and ask how they should be handled. The quoted vehicle should match the car that will be presented for loading.
Explain whether the car starts, steers and brakes normally, and provide clearance or overhang measurements where relevant. Tell the team about a flat battery, fluid leak or other issue that could interfere with loading. Report a change in condition after the quote so the plan can be reviewed.
Tell the team the value you need considered and ask what supporting documents the proposed carrier requires. An appraisal, purchase record or restoration information may help the discussion, but simply declaring a value does not create an agreed insurance payout.
Provide the pickup and delivery addresses, access restrictions and the people who will attend. Mention a dealership release, auction collection deadline or event date at the outset. A firm deadline needs to be discussed before booking rather than added after the carrier has been arranged.
For pickup at your address, see door-to-door car shipping. A transporter may need a nearby safe meeting point if the street or property cannot accommodate the truck.
Good documentation starts before collection. Photograph the car in suitable light, including the body panels, glass, wheels, interior and any delicate or previously repaired areas. Keep the images with the booking details and the written instructions you have shared. A useful record shows the actual condition of the car, rather than only attractive overall photographs.
Walk around the vehicle with the driver or arrange an authorised representative who knows the car. Check that existing marks and concerns are recorded on the inspection report or bill of lading. Read the document before signing and keep a copy, along with your photographs.
Inspect the car before signing the delivery paperwork. Compare its condition with the pickup report and photographs, and record any new concerns with the driver. Take clear photographs and retain the paperwork so there is a consistent record if a question needs to be raised.
Provide the keys needed to load and unload the car, and explain unusual locks, immobilisers or starting procedures. Tell the receiving person what was handed over so they can check the keys and the documented accessories at delivery.
Discuss spare parts, covers, tools and removable accessories before collection rather than assuming they can travel loose in the vehicle. Identify what is part of the agreed shipment and how it will be recorded. Do not use the car as a container for unrelated household belongings.
The car shipping preparation guide covers the wider handover checklist. If someone else will receive the car, send them the condition record and instructions in advance so they can inspect it with the same information.
Enclosed protection and carrier cargo insurance do different jobs. The trailer helps reduce outdoor exposure; the applicable insurance policy sets the coverage, limits, exclusions and claim requirements. A classic or exotic vehicle should not be assumed to have unlimited coverage simply because it travels inside an enclosed trailer.
Discuss the vehicle’s value, modifications and restoration work before booking, and ask for the coverage information relevant to the proposed carrier. Clarify what documentation is needed, how the vehicle is valued under that policy and whether any exclusions affect your car. If those answers influence your decision, resolve them before collection.
Van 3 arranges the transport, while the carrier operates the truck and carries the vehicle. Keep the carrier details, booking confirmation, condition reports and photographs together. If you notice a new concern at delivery, record it on the paperwork, photograph it and contact Van 3 promptly for help with the carrier’s process.
Read Insurance & Claims for the documentation and reporting steps. This page does not promise a particular insurance limit, an agreed-value settlement or a guaranteed claim outcome.
A car bought remotely or travelling to an event often has more than two addresses to coordinate. There may be a seller, auction office, storage contact or event organiser involved, each with different access and release arrangements. Give the team those details early so the transport can be discussed around the handovers that are actually available.
Confirm that the vehicle is paid for and can be released, and ask the seller or auction what identification, reference number or authorisation the driver needs. Share collection hours, the correct contact and any deadline or storage terms. Carrier transport should be coordinated with the release process rather than treated as a substitute for it.
Explain the event date, delivery access and who will receive the car. Discuss any return shipment separately, including the location and availability after the event. Do not assume that one booking reserves both journeys or guarantees arrival for a fixed time without confirmation.
If the car is not yet ready to move, say so before booking. Collection depends on both the vehicle being available and suitable carrier arrangements. Keep the seller and receiving person informed when the handover details are confirmed, especially if keys or access are controlled by a third party.
“My beloved VW Beetle arrived in excellent condition!”
In the customer review featured on Van 3’s existing website, Kris Johnson describes shipping a 1972 VW Beetle from Miami to Chicago and praises the communication during the booking experience. It is an owner’s account of a particular move, rather than a promise about the outcome or timing of another shipment.
Route: Miami → Chicago. The published review does not specify the transport type or review date.
Visit Van 3’s Google review profile.
A car’s age does not tell the whole story of its transport needs. Use the conversation with our team to explain your own vehicle and priorities. Explore more customer feedback about Van 3 while you plan the move.
FAQ
Should I choose enclosed transport for my classic or exotic car?
Enclosed transport is worth discussing when reducing outdoor exposure or protecting a delicate finish is a priority. The right choice depends on the car, its condition and the service arrangements available for the route. Explain any restoration work, low clearance or handling requirements so the team can discuss a suitable option rather than choosing solely on the vehicle's age or price.
Can you transport a lowered or non-running vehicle?
Tell the team about the vehicle before booking, including its clearance, overhangs, modifications and whether it starts, steers and brakes. Those details affect the loading plan and the equipment that must be checked with the carrier. Do not assume a standard loading arrangement will suit a lowered or non-running car; ask for the requirements to be reviewed for your shipment.
Is a lift-gate or a particular securing method included?
These are arrangements to confirm for the individual shipment, not automatic features promised for every booking. If your car requires a lift-gate, a particular approach angle or a specific securing method, explain the requirement before agreeing to the service. Keep the confirmed instructions with the booking and resolve any difference before loading.
Does declaring my car's value guarantee full coverage?
No. Giving a value helps the coverage discussion but does not establish a guaranteed payout. Ask for the proposed carrier's applicable cargo insurance information, including valuation terms, limits, exclusions and the records needed for a claim. Discuss restoration work and modifications in advance, and keep the pickup and delivery condition reports and photographs.
Can you collect a car from an auction or deliver it to a show?
Discuss the collection and event details with the team before booking. The vehicle must be ready for release, and the driver needs the correct contacts, access instructions and any required authorisation. Explain a firm deadline early and confirm the arrangements that can be made. A return journey should be discussed separately rather than assumed to be part of the original move.
Talk to a specialist about your classic, exotic or retro vehicle.
