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Can I Put Things in My Trunk When I Ship My Car?

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Can Items Packed in Your Car or Trunk Be Shipped?
  2. Is It Illegal to Ship a Car Containing Personal Items?
  3. Things to Keep in Mind When Shipping Items in Your Car
  4. Make sure all items are securely fastened
  5. Don’t exceed the weight limit
  6. Don’t pack anything hazardous
  7. Be Wary of the Risk for Theft
  8. Why Store Items in the Trunk?
  9. It Will Likely Cost You a Bit More Money
  10. The Bottom Line
Can I Put Things in My Trunk When I Ship My Car?

Shipping vehicles has become more popular than ever, as more people turn to this reliable option.

Whether you’re moving, need to get your car from one dealer to another, or just want it at its destination faster than if you drove it there, shipping a car is an ideal solution. But can you put stuff in the trunk when you ship a car?

When choosing what to load in your trunk before moving a car, there are a few important considerations you should make. In this article, we'll go through what's acceptable when you pack your car for shipping.

Can Items Packed in Your Car or Trunk Be Shipped?

When it comes to packing items inside your car or trunk when shipping, the answer is yes—but there are some restrictions.

It should be pointed out that any items you pack in your vehicle must be securely fastened and not exceed the weight limit of the vehicle.

Additionally, all personal belongings should be packed in a way that won’t damage the interior of the vehicle during transport.

One of the most important things to remember is never to store anything that can be considered hazardous, combustible, or prohibited in your trunk.

This includes items such as narcotics, bombs, and weapons. If these items are found in your vehicle during transport, the auto shipping company has the right to refuse service and will likely report it to the authorities.

Moreover, never bring anything that could be harmed, damaged or affected by harsh weather or temperatures. This applies to food products, electronic devices and gadgets, and other potentially temperature-sensitive things.

can-items-packed-in-your-car-or-trunk-be-shipped.jpg

Is It Illegal to Ship a Car Containing Personal Items?

No, as long as the things are securely tied and do not exceed the rigorous weight limits of the automobile, it is permissible to export your car with personal items within it.

Furthermore, all personal belongings should be packed in a way that won’t damage the interior of the vehicle during transport.

The legislation surrounding the shipping of a vehicle with items inside it varies from state to state for what constitutes illegal items, so it’s important to check with your local laws before making any decisions to transport household items or additional items.

Finally, It is critical to consider that the auto shipping company is not responsible for any damage caused to your personal belongings during transport.

Please ensure that your belongings, especially fragile ones, are packed safely, and remove any valuables you can't afford to lose.

3 Things to Keep in Mind When Shipping Items in Your Car

1) Make sure all items are securely fastened

Before shipping your vehicle, make sure that all of your personal belongings are securely fastened and won’t move around during transport. This will help ensure that the items don’t damage the interior of the car or become a hazard to other drivers on the road.

2) Don’t exceed the weight limit

Make sure your car doesn't weigh more than the vehicle's weight limit when transporting products by adding up the weight of all of its contents.

Excess weight can incur additional charges or cause your cargo to be rejected.

3-things-to-keep-in-mind-when-shipping-items-in-your-car.jpg

3) Don’t pack anything hazardous

It is crucial to take into account that you should never store anything that can be combustible, dangerous, or unlawful in your car or trunk.

Be Wary of the Risk for Theft

It is permissible to ship your car with personal items inside, but doing so has some dangers.

For instance, the objects you store in your car can shift while it's being transported, harming the inside or posing a risk to other drivers.

The risk of theft can never be ruled out during the shipping process when using auto transporters and an auto shipper.

Take out a cargo insurance policy to protect your items in case of theft or damage to personal belongings and reduce the additional cost of the potential loss.

Insuring your car and items for transit offers you confidence and guarantees that your belongings are protected in the event of an accident or theft.

When shipping a car with personal belongings inside, it is crucial to be able to track your shipment.

Why Store Items in the Trunk?

It's crucial to keep in mind that it's better to store belongings in the trunk of your car, where there is more room, while shipping your automobile with personal items inside.

This is due to the possibility that goods placed in the passenger compartment of the automobile during transport could shift and harm the interior of the vehicle or turn into a hazard and endanger the driver.

Storing your stuff in the trunk also allows you to keep them locked away. If your hoods are sitting out on a seat, an opportunist thief may break a window to steal them.

It Will Likely Cost You a Bit More Money

It's crucial to keep in mind that shipping your car with personal belongings will probably cost you a little more money.

This is because the auto shipping company will need to factor in the additional weight of your belongings when calculating the cost of transport services.

On top of this, you should pay for additional insurance coverage for the goods to cover any potential losses. Remember, however, more insurance coverage means a higher premium.

can-i-put-things-in-my-trunk-when-i-ship-my-car-02.jpg

The Bottom Line

It's crucial to keep in mind that while you can place items in your trunk when transporting your car, there are some risks involved.

However with proper planning, it's a relatively risk-free process.

Be sure to take out a cargo insurance policy to protect your items in case of theft or damage and reduce the additional cost of the potential loss.

A-1 Auto Transport has experience in shipping all vehicle types, including shipping cars with a trunk full of stuff. We offer a number of reliable and safe shipping services with years of experience in both domestic and international transporting.

Get your free quote today to start the shipping process.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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