Can I Put Stuff in My Vehicle When Shipping It? (+ Top Tips)

Shipping your car can significantly simplify your move, offering professional assistance in relocating your vehicle. If you’re new to the process, questions may arise, especially about whether personal items can stay inside the car during shipping. While it may seem like a convenient way to save a trip, it’s crucial to understand each shipping company’s specific policy on personal belongings. This blog will shed light on these common concerns, helping you navigate the car shipping process more smoothly.

Can I Put Stuff in My Vehicle When Shipping It?

Remove all personal items from the vehicle before pickup. Personal belongings are not part of the vehicle-transport service and are not covered by the carrier’s cargo policy. If Mercury approves any exception, it must be confirmed in writing before pickup.

Personal items add extra weight to the vehicle, which affects loading, handling, and fuel costs for the carrier. They can also make it more difficult to safely load or unload the vehicle to and from the trailer during the trip.

Another reason shipping companies like Mercury Auto Transport ask customers to remove personal items is liability. Carriers are not responsible for personal belongings left inside a vehicle, since these items fall outside the scope of the vehicle-transport service and the carrier’s cargo coverage. 

With multiple vehicles loaded on a single trailer, there’s always a risk of theft or loss. Because personal belongings aren’t covered under the carrier’s insurance, anything left inside the car during transit is at your own risk, with no recourse if it goes missing.

Allowed Items to Ship Inside Your Vehicle

Many customers ask whether certain personal items can still be packed inside the vehicle during shipping. Under Mercury Auto Transport’s current policy, none of the following common item categories can remain in the car during transit — all must be removed prior to pickup unless a specific exception has been approved and confirmed in writing:

1. Clothing and Linens: Even everyday items like clothing, bedding, and linens need to be removed from the vehicle before pickup — they aren’t covered under the carrier’s cargo policy.
2. Non-Perishable Food: Canned goods and other non-perishable food items shouldn’t be left in the vehicle, since they fall outside the scope of the transport service.
3. Books and Magazines: Reading materials like books and magazines should be taken out of the car before shipping, along with any other personal items.
4. Household Items: Kitchen utensils, cookware, and other small household items should be packed and transported separately rather than left inside the vehicle.
5. Toys and Games: Toys, board games, and other recreational items must be removed from the car before the carrier arrives for pickup.
6. Personal Care Products: Toiletries, cosmetics, and other personal care products should not remain in the vehicle during shipping.
7. Small Electronics: Laptops, tablets, and cell phones should be transported with you or separately, not left inside the vehicle.
8. Baby Supplies: Diapers, formula, and other baby essentials need to be removed along with everything else before pickup.
9. Non-Valuable Items: Even items with little monetary or sentimental value should be taken out, since nothing left inside the vehicle is covered under the carrier’s cargo policy.

Policies can vary slightly between shipping companies, but Mercury Auto Transport’s policy is straightforward: the vehicle should be completely empty of personal belongings before pickup. If you believe your situation calls for an exception, speak with your representative — any approved exception must be confirmed in writing before your scheduled pickup.

Items Prohibited for Shipping in Your Car

Beyond Mercury Auto Transport’s policy of shipping vehicles empty of personal belongings, certain items are also broadly prohibited across the industry due to safety, legal, or regulatory reasons. Even with a carrier that allowed limited personal items, the following would still generally be restricted:

1. Hazardous Materials: Avoid transporting items classified as hazardous materials, such as flammable, explosive, or corrosive substances. These materials pose significant safety risks during transportation.
2. Perishable Goods: Do not pack perishable items like food, plants, or live animals in your car. They can attract pests, cause odors, and deteriorate during transit.
3. Illegal Substances: Steer clear of any illegal substances, drugs, or contraband. Transporting these items can lead to legal repercussions.
4. Valuables: Valuable items like jewelry, cash, or important documents should never be left in a vehicle during shipping due to security concerns.
5. Firearms and Weapons: Firearms, ammunition, and weapons should not be transported within your vehicle unless you adhere to strict legal requirements and regulations.
6. Sensitive Electronics: Delicate electronics like laptops, tablets, or other devices are susceptible to damage from shifting during transit and should never be left inside the vehicle.
7. Aerosol Products: Aerosol cans, including those containing cleaning products or personal care items, can potentially leak or burst under changing temperatures and pressure conditions.
8. Medications: Certain medications require specific storage conditions, and leaving them in a vehicle during shipping may compromise their effectiveness or safety.
9. Highly Valuable Items: Items of high monetary or sentimental value should always be transported through more secure methods than inside a vehicle during shipping.

Always check the specific guidelines provided by your shipping company, and remember that with Mercury Auto Transport, the safest and only compliant approach is to remove all personal belongings — regulated or not — before your vehicle is picked up.

Click here to get a quote from Mercury Auto Transport and see how we can help you safely and securely transport your car to your destination.

Can I Pay Extra to Send My Things With My Car?

No, not with Mercury Auto Transport. While some companies in the industry may offer to ship personal belongings inside your vehicle for an added fee, this isn’t part of our vehicle-transport service. Personal items are never covered under our carriers’ cargo policy, regardless of any fee paid, since they fall outside the scope of what we transport. If you believe your situation calls for an exception, reach out to your representative to discuss it — any approved exception must be reviewed and confirmed in writing before pickup. This keeps both your belongings and your vehicle protected throughout the shipping process.

Is it Legal to Ship Your Car With Personal Items Inside it?

The legality of shipping a car with personal items inside varies based on the shipping company’s policies and applicable state or international regulations. At Mercury Auto Transport, our policy is to keep the vehicle empty of personal belongings regardless of what may be legally permitted elsewhere, since these items fall outside our carriers’ cargo coverage. If you’re shipping internationally or working with a different provider, it’s still important to research that company’s specific guidelines and any legal requirements that may apply.

Top 7 Tips to Consider If You’re Shipping Your Vehicle with Personal Belongings:

Here are the top 7 tips to consider if you’re shipping your vehicle and also need to handle personal belongings during your move:

1. Review Company Policies: Confirm with your shipping company, including Mercury Auto Transport, whether any personal items are allowed. Most carriers, ours included, require the vehicle to be completely empty before pickup.
2. Minimal and Valuable Items: Rather than packing items in the vehicle, ship valuables and essentials separately through a mover or shipping service, or bring them with you, since they won’t be covered by the carrier’s cargo policy.
3. Secure Packing: If you’re transporting belongings separately, use proper packing materials and techniques to prevent shifting and damage, just as you would with any other shipment.
4. Weight Limits: Removing personal items entirely helps you avoid weight-related concerns or additional charges tied to your vehicle shipment.
5. Documentation: Create an inventory and take photos of your vehicle’s condition, inside and out, before pickup so there’s a clear record that it left your possession free of personal belongings.
6. Insurance Coverage: Check your personal or moving insurance for coverage on items transported separately from your vehicle, since the carrier’s cargo policy won’t apply to anything left inside the car.
7. Follow Regulations: If shipping internationally, research the destination country’s customs regulations and confirm with Mercury Auto Transport that your vehicle meets pickup requirements, including being clear of personal items.

Following these tips will help ensure a smoother, fully compliant experience when shipping your vehicle and handling your personal belongings separately.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, Mercury Auto Transport requires vehicles to be shipped free of personal belongings — they’re not part of the vehicle-transport service and aren’t covered under the carrier’s cargo policy. Rather than weighing convenience against the risk of theft, damage, or added costs, the safest approach is to remove your items ahead of time and arrange separate transport for anything you need at your destination. If your situation calls for an exception, contact your representative — any approved exception must be confirmed in writing before pickup. Always prioritize the safety of your belongings and the successful delivery of your vehicle to ensure a smooth and worry-free shipping experience.

FAQs about Can I Put Stuff in My Vehicle When Shipping It

What are the risks of leaving belongings in my car during shipping?

Leaving belongings in your car during shipping isn’t permitted by Mercury Auto Transport, and doing so puts those items at real risk. Personal belongings aren’t covered under the carrier’s cargo policy, so anything left inside the vehicle could be lost, damaged, or stolen with no recourse. The extra weight can also affect vehicle safety and add to shipping costs. The best approach is to remove everything from the vehicle before pickup unless you’ve received written approval for a specific exception.

How do I properly document items I’m shipping in my car?

Since personal items should be removed from the vehicle before shipping, documentation should focus on the vehicle itself. Take clear photos of the car’s interior and exterior right before pickup to confirm its condition and that it’s free of personal belongings. This documentation protects you and confirms the vehicle left your possession exactly as agreed, in case any questions come up after delivery.

Are there guidelines for packing items securely in my car?

With Mercury Auto Transport, personal items aren’t packed inside the car for shipping — the vehicle should be cleared out entirely before pickup. If you’re transporting belongings separately, whether through a moving company or on your own, the same general packing principles apply: use sturdy boxes, cushioning material, and even weight distribution to prevent damage in transit.

Let Us Handle Your Auto Transport Needs

Mercury Auto Transport is an auto transport broker that presents offers from FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration) licensed and insured carriers. We have access to a wide range of car transporters through National Dispatch Boards, and together with you, we can often strategize and negotiate far better rates.

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