Do You Need My Keys To Ship My Vehicle?

Feeling uneasy about giving your car keys to someone else is normal. It’s not something we’re used to doing, and cars are expensive, but it’s a standard and necessary part of the job for auto movers. Here are the main reasons that your keys are required as part of having your car shipped:

• The driver has to move cars on and off of the transport carrier and occasionally may need to reorganize the positions of the vehicles. This is done so that they are in the correct order for drop off at their respective destinations, and so other cars can be picked up if necessary. Any driving of your vehicle is strictly limited to what’s needed to complete the job, and drivers can face serious consequences for not adhering to industry guidelines.
• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires a complete set of keys, including trunk, ignition, and glove box, to have a vehicle moved by a conveyance professional. Without the keys, the vehicle is considered inoperable and requires considerably more labor, additional equipment, and a special permit to ship, all of which cause the cost to increase dramatically, not to mention the chances of something going wrong.

Trusting An Auto Shipper With Your Car (And Keys)

Before handing your keys over, ensure you’ve received a bill of lading. This document should include the full details of the delivered cargo, more or less the invoice for your automobile delivery. The bill of lading should have the name of the party shipping the vehicle, the pickup location, the destination, and a description of the freight, including the car's current mileage. In other words, you’ll have an official document indicating how much, if any, your car was moved during shipping.

Several laws and regulations have been put in place recently that are working to increase safety, accountability, and oversight of the carrier industry. Starting with the Moving Ahead For Progress in the 21st Century Act in 2012 (also known as MAP-21), there is now more transparency and consumer protection available among motorcar conveyance companies than ever before.

A qualified professional will freely share their carrier information, such as their USDOT number and Motor Carrier License number, which are used to track and regulate freight carriers in the United States. This information can be used to look up company performance history and how long a company has been in business.

• Carriers require one working key at pickup; shipping without keys classifies the vehicle as inoperable, triggering specialized equipment, extra labor, and higher costs.
• Only one key is needed — provide it directly to the driver at pickup; key fobs must have a charged battery to allow gear selection and loading without delays.
• FMCSA requires a Bill of Lading — including current mileage — be issued before key handoff; verify the carrier's USDOT and Motor Carrier License numbers before proceeding.

It’s important to remember that transport carrier drivers are trained professionals with the qualifications and federal licensing required to operate as a motor vehicle carrier. If you ask questions and do some basic research, finding a professional auto-hauling company that you feel good about trusting with your keys is relatively simple.