Car Shipping Insurance, the Bill of Lading and Damage Claims

Who insures the vehicle in transit

In the United States, the motor carrier that physically transports your vehicle is responsible for it while it is in their care, and federal rules require them to carry cargo insurance. Super Auto Transport is a licensed, bonded broker. We arrange the shipment, verify the assigned carrier’s operating authority and active cargo coverage before pickup, and help you through the claim process if needed, but the policy that pays a claim belongs to the carrier. Our terms and conditions set this out in the liability section, and our broker vs carrier guide explains the relationship.

What cargo insurance covers and what it does not

Covered

• Physical damage to the vehicle that occurs during loading, transit or unloading and is recorded on the Bill of Lading at delivery.

Not covered

• Personal items left in the vehicle. No carrier policy covers them and neither does Super Auto Transport.
• Mechanical or electrical problems that arise during transport, as opposed to physical damage.
• Pre-existing damage recorded at pickup.
• Damage from natural disasters and acts of God.
• Damage caused by loose or unsecured parts the customer was responsible for securing.
• Damage first reported after an unattended delivery or outside the reporting window.

The Bill of Lading: why it decides everything

The Bill of Lading, or BOL, is the contract and the condition report for your shipment. At pickup, the driver inspects the vehicle and marks every existing scratch, dent, chip and crack on a diagram, usually with photos. You review it and sign. At delivery, the driver and the receiver inspect the car again and compare it to the pickup report. Anything new is noted and both sign.

A claim is the difference between the two inspections. If the delivery report shows damage that the pickup report does not, the carrier’s insurer has a clear basis to pay. If the receiver signs a clean delivery report and finds damage later, the insurer has an equally clear basis to decline. That is the whole reason to be present, take your time and look at the car properly before signing.

What to do at pickup

1. Wash the car beforehand so the inspection is accurate.
2. Photograph every panel, the wheels, glass, roof, interior and odometer with timestamps.
3. Walk the car with the driver and check the condition report against what you see.
4. Make sure anything marked as pre-existing really is, and that nothing is missed.
5. Sign and keep a copy of the Bill of Lading.

The full checklist is in how to prepare your car for shipping.

What to do at delivery if you find damage

1. Do not sign a clean report. Inspect first, in daylight if at all possible.
2. Write the damage on the Bill of Lading with a clear description and location, and have the driver acknowledge it.
3. Photograph the damage from several angles alongside your pickup photos of the same area.
4. Accept the vehicle. Refusing delivery does not help a claim and leaves the car in limbo. Noting damage and accepting is the correct procedure.
5. Report to us and the carrier within 24 hours, as required by our terms, with photos and your copy of the signed Bill of Lading.
6. Get a repair estimate from a body shop. The carrier’s insurer will usually ask for one or two.
7. File the claim with the carrier’s insurer. We provide the carrier’s insurance details and help you through the process.

How long a claim takes

It depends on the insurer, the clarity of the documentation and the size of the repair. Claims with a clean paper trail, meaning damage noted on the Bill of Lading, photos from both ends and a repair estimate, move fastest. Claims that rely on memory and after-the-fact photos move slowly or not at all. Under our terms, claims do not excuse unpaid balances, so pay for the shipment as agreed and pursue the claim separately.

Coverage limits and high-value vehicles

Cargo policies have a limit per load and sometimes per vehicle, and they vary by carrier. For an everyday car the limit is not a concern. For a rare or very expensive vehicle, tell us the value before booking so we can confirm the assigned carrier’s limit is appropriate, and ask your own insurer whether your policy applies during transport. Our classic and exotic car page covers this in more detail.

Verifying a carrier’s insurance yourself

Every interstate carrier has a USDOT number and an MC number. We provide the assigned carrier’s details at assignment. You can look up their authority status and insurance on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. The same lookup works for brokers: our numbers are MC 1558624 and USDOT 4091281.

Book with the documentation built in

Every shipment we arrange includes condition reports at both ends and a verified, insured carrier. Get a price on the instant quote calculator or call (208) 500-0400.