Can I ship personal items inside my car?

Technically, auto transport carriers are licensed to transport vehicles only — not household goods. This means the carrier's insurance does not cover any personal belongings left in your vehicle. If items are lost, damaged, or stolen during transit, you have no coverage and no way to file a claim. For this reason, we recommend removing all personal items from your vehicle before shipping.

That said, the industry-standard practice allows what carriers call "junk in the trunk" — approximately 50-100 pounds of soft, lightweight items stored in the trunk only. Think linens, clothes, soft bags, and non-fragile personal items. The front seats, back seats, and dashboard area must be completely clear. Items piled on seats create visibility issues for the driver and can shift during transport, potentially damaging your interior. Overloading the vehicle also adds weight, which matters because carriers must pass through weigh stations and can be fined for exceeding weight limits.

If you need to move a significant amount of personal belongings along with your vehicle, your best option is to use a separate household goods shipping service or a portable storage container. Mixing vehicle transport with household moving creates liability gaps that leave you unprotected. Keep your vehicle as empty as possible and you will have a smoother, faster experience.