Shipping a car from one destination to another is surprisingly common these days given the lack of time most of us have to just jump in the car and drive it somewhere. The process is fairly simple, but that doesn’t mean issues can pop up. One is insurance and who, specifically, will cover any damage to the car.

Before we discuss this question, one thing should go without saying. When shipping a vehicle, you should only use a transport company that is insured and bonded. If you use one that is not insured and the vehicle is damaged, you are going to have a hard time recovering anything from the shipping company since one without insurance is probably not exactly in good financial standing.

Once you’€™ve found a bonded and insured company, the question of who is covering what is something that needs to be both discussed and put in writing. The company will have an insurance policy that you can bet expressly details what is covered and what is not.  You would expect me to tell you what that is, but there is no standard. Some states require certain things to be covered and others do not. This is one of those areas where you can negotiate with the carrier. Again, just make sure it is in writing.

The second part of this question is what will you cover. The policy that you maintain for the vehicle should have a casualty and damage provision. Again, every states has different requirements. To find out what kind of coverage you have, pick up the phone and call your insurance company. They’€™ll let you know the ins and outs.

The goal, obviously, is to make sure that any possible damage is covered by either of the policies. If not, you might want to consider talking to another transport company or asking your insurance company if they will cover the gap. Only then can you be assured that you’€™ll be protected for the duration of the shipping process.