Shipping Wrecked Cars Made Easy: Your Guide to Salvage Transport Services

Shipping a wrecked or damaged car requires more care than moving a running vehicle. Whether your car was totaled in an accident, damaged in a flood, or purchased at a salvage auction, it needs specialized transport to ensure it arrives safely and legally.

Professional salvage transport services, like those offered by AmeriFreight Auto Transport, make the process easy, secure, and worry-free. In this guide, we’ll explain how salvage transport works, what to consider before booking, and how to ensure your vehicle arrives without additional damage.

What You’ll Learn

In this guide, we will answer:

• What qualifies as a salvage or wrecked vehicle?

• How much does it cost to transport a non-running or damaged car?

• What insurance and legal steps are required for shipping a salvage-title vehicle?

Overview

Shipping a wrecked or salvaged car requires specialized equipment and planning. These vehicles often can’t run, so choosing the right transport is key to keeping them safe. What Is a Salvage or Wrecked Vehicle A car that’s totaled, flood-damaged, or not running. These often have salvage titles and require special handling. How Shipping Works You get a quote, book the transport, prepare your car, and the carrier picks it up using the right tools. After transport, you inspect it on delivery. Choosing a Transport Type Open carriers work for standard cars, enclosed for valuable ones, flatbeds for short trips or no-wheel vehicles, and rollbacks for local or heavily damaged cars. Before You Ship Make sure pickup and delivery locations are accessible, remove personal items, secure loose parts, and have your title and ownership documents ready. Why Use a Professional They have the right equipment, follow transport laws, reduce damage risk, and save you time and stress. Insurance and Legal Info Always use licensed, insured carriers. Insurance covers transport-related issues, but state salvage rules may differ. Choosing a Company Pick one with experience, proper licenses, insurance, and clear communication. Checklist Secure parts, clear the car of items, give accurate details, confirm pickup access, and take before-and-after photos. Delivery Be present when your car arrives, confirm unloading equipment is ready, inspect it, and note any new damage before signing.

What Counts as a “Salvage” or “Wrecked” Vehicle?

A salvage or wrecked vehicle is any car that has been declared a total loss, damaged in an accident, flooded, or otherwise non-operational. These vehicles often carry a salvage title, meaning they are not road-ready until repaired and re-inspected.

Common types include:

• Totaled cars after insurance claims

• Flood- or storm-damaged vehicles

• Non-op cars that do not roll, brake, or steer

• Vehicles with missing major parts, like wheels or axles

Whether you are restoring a project car or buying from auction, salvage car transport, wrecked car shipping, and non-running car shipping services ensure your vehicle reaches its destination safely.

How Salvage Car Transport Works

Shipping a wrecked vehicle with AmeriFreight is a straightforward process. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

1. Request a Quote: Share your car’s details, make, model, year, condition, and pickup/delivery ZIP codes to receive an accurate estimate.
   
   

2. Confirm Your Booking: Choose between open or enclosed transport depending on your vehicle’s condition and protection needs.
   
   

3. Prepare Your Vehicle: Remove personal items and secure any loose parts, such as mirrors or panels, to prevent further damage.
   
   

4. Carrier Pickup: The driver uses specialized equipment to load your vehicle safely. If the location isn’t accessible for large trucks, they’ll coordinate a nearby meeting point.
   
   

5. Transport and Tracking: Your vehicle is secured, transported, and monitored for safety throughout its journey.
   
   

6. Delivery and Inspection: Upon delivery, inspect your vehicle and document its condition for insurance purposes.

Choosing Open vs. Enclosed vs. Flatbed vs. Rollback

Type	Protection Level	Best For	Relative Cost
Open	Basic	Standard salvage cars	Low
Enclosed	Maximum	High-value or exposed components	Very High
Flatbed	Moderate	Short-distance or no-wheel vehicles	Medium
Rollback	High	Local or severely damaged cars	Medium to High

When to choose enclosed?

Use enclosed shipping if your vehicle has exposed wiring, cracked glass, or is a collectible classic.

Key Considerations Before Shipping a Wrecked Car

When transporting a salvage vehicle, a few details can make or break a smooth experience:

Benefits of Professional Salvage Transport

Shipping a wrecked car with professionals like AmeriFreight offers peace of mind and several key advantages:

• Specialized Equipment: Flatbeds, lifts, and dollies ensure safe handling of non-operational vehicles.

• Reduced Risk: Professionals know how to move damaged cars without causing further harm.

• Legal Compliance: Licensed carriers comply with DOT and FMCSA rules for safe transportation.

• Time and Cost Savings: Skip the stress of towing logistics or DIY setups.

Insurance and Legal Considerations

When shipping a salvage or damaged vehicle, it’s essential to understand your coverage and transportation requirements:

Carrier Cargo Insurance

Choose carriers that are properly licensed and carry the cargo insurance required by federal law. While this coverage protects your vehicle during transit, limits and exclusions may apply, especially for vehicles that are already damaged. 

State Regulations for Salvage Titles

Some states have guidelines that affect how salvage-titled vehicles can be moved. AmeriFreight helps coordinate shipments in accordance with applicable state rules and helps ensure that proper information is gathered before dispatch.

Protecting Against Additional Damage

For peace of mind, take clear photos of your vehicle at both pickup and delivery and review the bill of lading carefully. This helps with accurate documentation if you need to file a damage claim with the carrier.

How to Choose the Right Salvage Transport Service

When selecting a salvage transport company, consider these factors:

• Experience: Choose a company with experience in salvage or inoperable vehicles.

• Licensing: Verify DOT registration and carrier insurance.

• Customer Support: Look for responsive service and clear communication.

Checklist for a Smooth Damaged Car Transport 

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  Secure all loose vehicle parts.

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  Remove personal items before pickup.

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  Share accurate details about your car’s condition.

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  Confirm accessibility of pickup and drop-off locations.

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  Keep photos of your car’s condition before and after transport.

Delivery Logistics: Unloading Plans, Keys, Fluids, and Space

When your vehicle arrives:

• You or an authorized adult must be present to sign for delivery.

• Confirm forklift or wrecker availability for unloading.

• Inspect and photograph the vehicle immediately.

• Record any new damage on the Bill of Lading before signing.

Final Thoughts: Ship Your Wrecked Car Safely

Shipping a salvage or wrecked vehicle takes more than just loading it on a trailer. From understanding your car’s condition to choosing the right type of transport and equipment, each step helps protect your investment.

Why Trust AmeriFreight for Wrecked and Salvage Car Shipping?

With more than 20 years of top-rated service, AmeriFreight Auto Transport has built a reputation for reliability, care, and professionalism. Every shipment is coordinated through a carefully screened network of licensed and insured carriers, many of whom specialize in handling non-operational and heavily damaged vehicles. 

Whether your car is missing wheels or has been acquired from an auction, we help make the process simple and as stress-free as possible.

Get your free, no-obligation quote and experience why thousands of customers have chosen us for safe, secure, and expertly coordinated salvage vehicle transport.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I ship a car that doesn’t run?

Yes. Non-operational vehicles can be shipped using special loading equipment.

Is enclosed shipping worth it for damaged cars?

If your car has exposed components or high value, enclosed transport offers better protection.

How long does shipping a salvage car take?

Delivery times depend on distance and location. Cross-country shipments typically take five to 10 business days.

Does insurance cover existing damage?

Insurance covers transport-related incidents, not pre-existing damage. Always document your car’s condition before shipping.

What are the requirements for transporting a car without wheels?

Transporting a car without wheels requires specialized loading equipment, such as a forklift or flatbed, at both pickup and delivery locations, with the vehicle securely supported and adequately documented before transport.

Do I need a forklift at delivery?

Yes, if your car cannot roll or steer. The driver cannot unload a non-op car without assistance.

Can you ship a car with no keys?

Yes, but note this during booking. Special loading tools may be required.