How to Prepare Your Car for a Long-Distance Tow
A long-distance tow across the state or across the country is routine work, and it goes smoothly far more often when the owner has spent a little time getting the car ready. These are the steps that matter.
In this guide
1. Empty the car
Take out everything that is not bolted down. Loose items slide around in transit, and personal property inside a vehicle is not covered the way the vehicle itself is. That includes the trunk, the glove box and the door pockets.
Remove toll transponders too, unless you want to pay tolls for a trip you did not drive.
2. Document the condition
Photograph the car from every corner, plus the roof and the wheels, in good light and with the car clean enough to see the paint. Get close-ups of any existing chips, scratches or dents.
Do this before the truck arrives, and keep the timestamps. If a question ever comes up, this is the evidence that settles it quickly. A good transport driver will do their own walk-around and note existing damage. Compare notes and make sure you agree before signing.
3. Leave a quarter tank of fuel
Enough to load, unload and drive a short distance at the other end. More than that is dead weight, and on a multi-car carrier weight matters.
4. Check for leaks
A car that drips oil or coolant onto the vehicle below it on a carrier is a genuine problem. If you know it leaks, say so when you book: it changes where the car is loaded.
5. Deal with alarms and low clearance
- Disable the alarm, or tell the driver how to. An alarm that triggers repeatedly on the road is a real nuisance.
- Mention low clearance, body kits or lowered suspension. These need different loading angles, sometimes ramps.
- Fold or remove roof racks and antennas where you can.
- Retract or secure loose trim and anything already hanging.
6. Sort the keys and access
The driver needs a key to steer, brake and release the parking brake during loading. Hand over one key, not your only one, and keep a spare yourself.
7. Check tires and the parking brake
Even on a non-running car, tires need enough air to roll onto the deck without damaging the sidewalls, and the parking brake needs to release. A seized brake turns a quick load into a much longer job with skates. Moving a car that does not start? Read our guide to towing a non-running vehicle first.
8. Be reachable at both ends
Give a phone number that will be answered, and a second contact at the destination if you will not be there yourself. Most delays on a long-distance tow come down to nobody being available to receive the vehicle.
9. Sort the paperwork for a move
If the car is relocating for good, keep the title and registration with you rather than in the vehicle. Moving a car into Alabama means titling and registering it here; the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division explains what you will need. Leaving the state works the other way, so check the destination state’s rules before the car ships.
Long-distance tow checklist
- Car emptied, transponders removed.
- Condition photos taken and saved.
- About a quarter tank of fuel.
- Leaks, alarms and low clearance flagged at booking.
- One key handed over, spare kept.
- Tires inflated, parking brake releasing.
- Contacts confirmed at both ends.
- Title and registration kept with you.
Long-distance tow FAQ
Do I need to be there at pickup and delivery?
Someone does, to hand over the key and sign the condition report. It can be a friend, family member or colleague, as long as we know who to expect.
Can I pack a few things in the trunk?
It is best not to. Personal items are not covered in transit, and extra weight affects how the car is loaded.
We handle dealer, auction and long-distance transport out of Birmingham with condition photos logged at both ends. See our transport services or call (205) 210-8809 to schedule your long-distance tow.
