Your Car Just Arrived: 7 Things to Check Before Signing Car Shipping Tips

After days of watching the pickup window and tracking the route, the carrier finally pulls up outside. The driver unloads your car, hands you a clipboard or a tablet and asks for a signature. It is tempting to sign, grab the keys and get on with your day.

Take fifteen minutes first. When you sign the delivery Bill of Lading, you confirm that you received the car and accept the condition recorded on that form. If a scratch, chip or dent is not written down before you sign, it becomes very hard to show that it happened in transport, even when it clearly did. Our guide on what happens if your car is damaged during transport explains why.

Most cars arrive exactly as they left. The seven checks below are how you confirm yours did, and how you protect yourself in the rare case it did not.

Before the truck pulls up, have these ready:

• Your copy of the pickup Bill of Lading and the photos you took before pickup.
• A fully charged phone for photos and video.
• A flashlight, even in daylight. It helps with wheel wells, the lower body and the interior.
• Any balance due at delivery, in the form your order specifies. That is usually cash or a cashier's check made out to the carrier company. Personal checks are not accepted.
• A safe, open place to unload. Car carriers are long and cannot always fit on narrow streets or in cul-de-sacs, so the driver may ask to meet at a nearby parking lot. See why some ZIP codes are harder to ship cars to.

1. Confirm It Is Your Car: VIN, Odometer and Keys

Start with the basics before you look at a single panel. A car carrier often hauls seven to ten vehicles at once, and a quick check now rules out mix-ups with paperwork, keys or accessories.

• VIN. Match the VIN on the dashboard (visible through the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side) and on the driver's door jamb to the VIN on the Bill of Lading.
• Odometer. Compare the current reading with the mileage recorded at pickup. A few extra miles are normal, because the car is driven on and off the trailer and is sometimes repositioned at stops along the route. A difference of dozens or hundreds of miles is not normal and belongs on the Bill of Lading.
• Keys and accessories. Make sure you get back every key, fob and valet key you handed over, plus anything else that was with the car at pickup, such as floor mats, a cargo cover or a spare tire kit.
• License plates. If the car shipped with plates, confirm they are still attached.

2. Walk the Exterior Panel by Panel

This is the heart of the inspection. Instead of glancing at the car from a few feet away, walk slowly around it in one direction and look at each panel in turn: front bumper, hood, front fender, front door, rear door, rear fender, rear bumper and trunk or tailgate, then down the other side.

• Look at an angle. Scratches and small dents are much easier to see when you look along a panel from one end than when you face it straight on. Crouch down and look along the doors and fenders.
• Check corners and edges. Bumper corners and door edges get the most contact during loading and unloading.
• Do not skip the roof. On an SUV, truck or van you cannot see the roof from the ground. Hold your phone overhead and take photos or a short video.
• Look for spots on the paint. On a multi-level open carrier, a vehicle on the upper deck can occasionally drip oil or coolant onto the car below. Photograph any spots on the hood, roof or trunk, note them, and wash them off soon, because some fluids can harm paint if they are left to bake in the sun.

A layer of road dust, bugs or rain spots is normal on open transport and comes off with a wash. What you are looking for is anything that was not there at pickup.

3. Check the Glass, Lights, Mirrors and Trim

Glass and small exterior parts are easy to overlook, and on an open carrier they are the parts most exposed to road debris.

• Windshield and windows. Look for stone chips and cracks from both outside and inside the car, with the light at an angle. A small chip can spread into a crack later, so note it now.
• Lights. Check headlights, taillights and fog lights for cracks, chips or moisture inside the lens.
• Mirrors. Check the housings and the glass, and make sure power-folding mirrors still fold and unfold.
• Trim and small parts. Confirm the antenna, wipers, roof rails, spoiler, mud flaps and badges are all present and secure.

4. Inspect the Wheels, Tires and Lower Body

Carriers secure vehicles to the trailer with straps around the wheels or with chains attached to tie-down points, and each car is driven up and down steel ramps. That puts the wheels and the lower edges of the car closest to the equipment.

• Wheels. Look for fresh scuffs or gouges on the rims, especially where wheel straps sit.
• Tires. Check for cuts, bulges or a tire that looks low.
• Bumpers and lower edges. Use your flashlight on the underside of the front bumper, the front lip, the side skirts and the rear diffuser. Low cars are the most likely to scrape on a loading ramp.
• Underneath. Take a quick look under the car for anything hanging loose, such as a splash shield or an undertray.

5. Look Inside the Cabin and Trunk

The driver has to get into the car to load and unload it, so the interior deserves a look too.

• Seats, door panels and steering wheel. Look for new marks, tears or dirt.
• Dashboard and screens. Check for cracks or scratches on the dash, the infotainment screen and the instrument cluster.
• Trunk. If you shipped a few items in the trunk, confirm they are there. Carriers limit personal items, and those items are not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance. Our article on putting personal items in your car during transport explains the rules.

Seats moved slightly or a different radio station are not problems. The driver has to sit in the car to move it.

6. Start It Up: Warning Lights, Fuel or Charge and Leaks

The car was driven onto and off the trailer, so it should start and run the way it did at pickup.

• Warning lights. Start the engine, or power on an EV, and look for new warning lights such as check engine, ABS or airbag. A tire pressure light can come on after a long trip through changing temperatures, so check the tire pressures before assuming something is wrong.
• Fuel or charge. Cars usually ship with a quarter to half a tank, and EVs with a 30–50% charge. Expect about the same level at delivery, or slightly lower. See what is different about shipping EVs and hybrids.
• Basic functions. Test the windows, locks, lights and alarm.
• Leaks. After the car has been parked for a few minutes, look underneath for fresh drips.

A car that sat for several days can have a weaker battery, especially if the battery is older. That alone is usually not transport damage. If something feels wrong mechanically, tell the driver and write it down. Keep in mind that carrier insurance covers damage caused by transport, not mechanical problems that existed before pickup or normal wear.

7. Compare Against the Pickup Report, Then Sign

Now take out the pickup Bill of Lading and your own pickup photos. Anything marked at pickup is pre-existing. Anything new needs to go on the delivery section of the form before you sign. If you bought the car out of state, also compare it with the listing photos and the seller's walk-around video. Delivery may be your first time seeing it in person, as we cover in Buying a Car Out of State? 4 Things to Know Before Shipping It.

• Be specific. Write the location, size and type of each new mark, for example "3-inch scratch, rear passenger door, below handle." A vague note like "scratches" is hard to use in a claim.
• Have the driver acknowledge it. Make sure the driver signs the form with your notes on it.
• Do not sign "received in good condition" if it was not. Write the exceptions on the form first.
• Get a copy. Whether the Bill of Lading is paper or digital, get your copy before the driver leaves.
• Pay the balance as agreed. Noting damage does not change what is owed at delivery. Under Tiger Auto Transport's terms, the balance is paid in full without deductions, and damage is handled separately through a claim.

For a full explanation of the document you are signing, read What Is the Bill of Lading in Car Shipping?

Found Damage? What to Do Before the Driver Leaves

Finding a new scratch or chip is frustrating, but how you handle the next ten minutes matters more than anything else.

• Write it on the Bill of Lading. Note each item with its location and size, and have the driver acknowledge it.
• Photograph it. Take a wide shot that shows where the damage is on the car, then close-ups. Put a coin or a key next to small chips for scale, and record a walk-around video of the whole car.
• Do not refuse the car. Refusing delivery over cosmetic damage does not speed up a claim. The car may be taken to a terminal, and storage and redelivery fees can apply. Accept the car, document the damage and file a claim.
• Report it in writing right away. Under our terms, damage must be noted at delivery and reported to the carrier in writing within 24 hours, followed by photos and two written repair estimates within five business days.

Claims are paid by the carrier's cargo insurance and generally cover the cost of repairing damage caused during transport. Tiger Auto Transport will give you the carrier's contact details and help you through the process.

Night, Rain or a Dirty Car: Inspecting in Bad Conditions

Carriers run long routes on tight schedules, so some deliveries happen after dark, in the rain or with a car covered in road dust. None of that changes the rules: damage still has to be noted at delivery, whatever the time of day or the condition of the car.

• Find light. Ask to unload under a streetlight or in a well-lit parking lot or gas station.
• Hold your flashlight low. Shine it along each panel at a shallow angle, which shows scratches and dents far better than overhead light.
• Clean small areas gently. Rinse a dusty spot with water, or use a quick-detailer spray and a clean microfiber cloth. Do not dry-wipe a dusty car, because the grit can leave fine scratches of its own.
• Record the conditions. If darkness or rain limits what you can see, write that on the Bill of Lading, for example "delivered after dark, in rain." Photograph everything and look the car over again in daylight first thing the next morning.

A note about conditions does not replace a real inspection, and damage you did not note can still be hard to claim. Inspect as carefully as you can on the spot.

If Someone Else Is Receiving the Car

You do not have to be there in person. A family member, friend, coworker or dealership employee can accept the car for you. Their signature counts the same as yours, so prepare them:

• Name them as the delivery contact when you book, and give the driver their phone number.
• Send them the pickup photos, a copy of the pickup Bill of Lading and this checklist.
• Make sure they have the balance due in the right form.
• Ask them to send you photos and a walk-around video, or to video-call you, before the driver leaves.

Delivery is a window, not an exact appointment, so the person receiving the car should expect a call from the driver ahead of arrival. Our article on why pickup dates are windows, not exact times explains how scheduling works.

Quick Delivery Checklist

• VIN on the car matches the Bill of Lading
• Odometer is within a few miles of the pickup reading
• All keys, fobs, plates and accessories returned
• Every exterior panel checked at an angle, including the roof
• Glass, lights, mirrors and trim checked
• Wheels, tires, bumpers and lower body checked
• Interior and trunk checked, personal items accounted for
• Engine starts, no new warning lights, no fresh leaks
• Any new damage written on the Bill of Lading with location and size
• Photos and a walk-around video taken before the driver leaves
• Signed copy of the Bill of Lading in hand
• Balance paid in the agreed form
• Any damage reported in writing within 24 hours

Make Delivery Day the Easy Part

Delivery should be the best part of shipping a car. The waiting is over, and your car is back in your hands. A short, careful inspection keeps it that way: it confirms the car arrived as it left and makes sure any problem is documented while the driver is still there.

Tiger Auto Transport works with insured, vetted carriers on open and enclosed trailers, with door-to-door car shipping nationwide. If you are planning your next shipment, request a free quote.

FAQs

How long should a delivery inspection take?
For most cars, 10 to 20 minutes. Allow more time for a classic, exotic or high-value vehicle. Professional drivers expect you to inspect the car before you sign.

Can I refuse delivery if my car is damaged?
You can, but it rarely helps. The car may go to a terminal with storage and redelivery fees, and the claim still has to go through the carrier's insurance. Note the damage on the Bill of Lading, accept the car and file the claim.

What if I find damage after the driver leaves?
Contact the transport company in writing right away, with photos. Damage that is not noted on the Bill of Lading is much harder to claim, which is why the inspection at delivery matters so much.

Is it normal for my car to arrive dirty?
Yes, especially on an open carrier, where cars are exposed to road dust, rain and bugs. If you want the car protected from the elements, see when enclosed car shipping is worth the extra cost.

How many extra miles on the odometer are normal?
Usually just a few, from driving the car on and off the trailer and repositioning it along the route. A large difference should be noted on the Bill of Lading.

Do I still pay the driver if there is damage?
Yes. The balance due at delivery is paid in full, and damage is handled separately through a claim with the carrier's cargo insurance rather than by deducting from the payment.